Gabriel Rubio Interview: Former Notre Dame DL & Steelers Draft Pick Talks Journey, Mindset, & NFL

Cole Kruggel: You gotta play with violence. Violence is a currency that everybody understands. When you go to Pittsburgh, it's gonna be violent. It's gonna be tough. They're known for this stuff. Is that an original bar by you, or is that a saying that runs in the Rubio family? You gotta be a little off to play the game of football. Every day you gotta get one percent better. You're either this or you're this. I'm really disappointed that they decided to end it. It is One of my favorite games too, at the end of the year you either go to USC, play them for your last game, or like halfway through the year they come to you and you can kick the c out of them. You're tuning in to the First and Gold Podcast, your Notre Dame football coverage presented by Throw flowers up front. We we were doing side bets on what time you'd probably hop on. He showed up right on time. Right on the money. Right on time. Like what? Yeah, we we really appreciate it. And ⁓ no, the the the whole goal is this is ⁓ just you know getting to know you better and getting to know your story better. You've been popping up a lot. I know that you're battling right now for for a roster roster spot with Pittsburgh. And I've also just saw that open up. Like as you transition to the NFL, I'm I'm very curious. Like, what's been the biggest adjustment for you as as you've taken this next step, this next evolution in your career? Yeah, man, definitely. I think the biggest like adjustment is like the speed of the game. You know, you're playing with guys that are in the league for four, five, six, seven years already. And you know, they've been doing this stuff for so for so long. They have muscle memory down and coming in as a rookie, you're used to playing a certain type of way in college. And you gotta basically, you know, out with the old in with the new and this kind of stuff. So definitely the speed of the game and then just, you know, getting to learn ⁓ all the little hidden gems of knowledge that the vets will throw at you. And ⁓ speaking of adjustments, I you know, looking back at like your time at Notre Dame when you were a freshman coming out of high school. What were some of the biggest adjustments that you had to make while you stepped into this kind of foreign land of South Bend? Like I you know, like it's it's a it's a different world for sure. How how did that, you know, take you? How how did you adjust to all that? Because you always hear about that freshman adjustment that has to be made. Yeah, and that's always hard. You know, everybody reacts differently to it, but it's definitely like a you're on your own thing. ⁓ and you gotta learn how to like operate as an individual now. You know, doing all the right things, being on time and being ⁓ punctual with like everything that ⁓ you're asked to do. And you know, being a freshman, you're bottom of the totem pole and you gotta work your way up, earn trust and everything. So again, that's another aspect that you have to lean into. I I didn't play ⁓ division one college football. ⁓ I had a pretty rasco adjusting to college in my freshman year. I had a little bit too much fun. I had to sit down with my dad and ⁓ lock back in. But ⁓ I can only imagine ⁓ taking that kind of jump. I mean, especially if you're if you're kind of balling out in in high school, you know, you kinda I I don't know, I don't want to speak for you, but I feel like I'd have a bit of a big head. I'm going to a blue chip program, you know, these guys wanted me, but hitting the ground running super important. ⁓ and I guess you're just making that a a bigger version of that transition now. Yeah, absolutely. You know, there's a lot of fun that comes ⁓ with it. And, you know, you gotta really stay focused on everything ⁓ like that. The vets will want you to get something done. ⁓ they'll send you to the store to grab something that they want and everything like that. And it's it's basically your duty that ⁓ to go do that for them. Otherwise, you know, you're seen as a d a guy that's not like a team player or something like that. Not not to say that that's like everywhere, but you know, that's just my experience, you know. Recently, whenever we started full camp and everything, me and the other ⁓ D line rookie, we had to go to the Walmarts that was like right ⁓ down the street and just pick up like three hundred dollars worth of freaking snacks, like little Debbie cakes and C's and honey buns and all that kind of stuff. So definitely that's ⁓ a part of it, you know, inflated. ⁓ you get you get ahead about yourself and everything like that. But then you get put in your place real quick. And then they got you doing office coffee runs. Yeah, basically. Later on in in the season and and everything, if I make that ⁓ fifty-three man roster every week I'll have to be buying them Popeyes and everything. So that's something that I won't be looking forward to. Speaking s of just kind of like egos at because that you you can't have any career worth mentioning if you don't have somewhat of an ego. And with that, of course, head coaches in college football, we we know that they all have them. Head coaches at every level, we know that they have them. And this is one that I I I know was kind of a loaded question, but you went through a very transitional phase at Notre Dame as far as the program is concerned. Your freshman and sophomore year, I believe Mike Elson was your D-line coach, Brian Kelly was your head coach, and then the rest of your college football career, it was Al Washington as your position coach, then Marcus Freeman as your head coach. Can you talk about some of those adjustments that you had to make? Then like Kind of what that all was like. ⁓ not to mention, I mean, you had Marcus Freeman as your defensive coordinator, and then Al Golden steps in. Can you talk about what that experience was like and just kind of what the energy was around the program and with yourself while you were there? Yeah, absolutely. So with Brian Kelly and Mike Elston, I love Mike Elston. He was definitely a a very big role model, part of the reason why he got me to Notre Dame. and ⁓ he was really a centerpiece in learning how to play D line correctly at a three-tech and at that ⁓ higher level in the nose guard and and four eyes and everything like that. But ⁓ with coaching change comes a little adversity, you know, bumpy roads and everything like that. But under Marcus Freeman, you know, he completely flipped the program. He is a fantastic coach, a fantastic leader. ⁓ and with him and his guidance and the people that he brought in, it ⁓ Almost how would I say, like a complete shift in energy. He brought in all these high energy dudes, guys that he used to play with, guys that he knew from, ⁓ his time in in the NFL, and then just all of his connections. And with that change brought Al Washington and Al Golden, the defensive coordinator. Al and now Al Golden was an NFL guy to begin with, and he was fantastic from the the get go, a very intelligent person. He understood defense like no one that I've ever met. And he really made it. simple to play the game of football at a high level like that, ⁓ almost doing ⁓ pro style defense. And with Al Washington, he brought in such high energy and such a high standard into the defensive line room, it was hard not to ⁓ excel in that. And then with ⁓ Chris Ash coming in, ⁓ you know, he's just like Al Golden, he's a very analytical mind. He's a very intelligent ⁓ football ⁓ guy. And you know, he really understands how the game of football is supposed to be played and and situations and everything like that. So definitely been very fortunate in these ⁓ times of like changes and and turmoil when other guys were uncertain about their position, ⁓ in the the grand scheme of things, I felt like I had to, you know, ride the wave, see how things went. And with that game ⁓ success and, you know, ⁓ great ⁓ relationships with these coaches. Really cool. I ⁓ this w we don't even have to use this call because it is kind of like an in the leads question. I was just watching Charlie Partridge and like some of his coaching clinic tape. For whatever reason it's on YouTube when he was like coaching JJ Watt. And I found it interesting. Like he said that when you're reading your keys, like how he coaches it is to read like the the lineman's knee that you're shaded off of. Well was Al Washington and Mike Elson similar. Was it like shaded off like you're reading the shoulder? ⁓ or or was it neither of those things? Yeah, no, he was definitely both of them were definitely like that. It is such a vital part of playing D-line. ⁓ any movement you gotta get off the ball because if you're a half a second late, I mean that's the difference between being on the front side of the block and the backside of the block, especially if it's a reach or a cutoff type of deal. So both of them, ⁓ Coach Elston and Coach Washington, they're both ⁓ in the NFL right now, one's coaching linebackers, the other's still coaching D ⁓ D line. ⁓ both of them really harped on burning your eyes onto the key, you know, not letting it out of your sight. And as soon as ⁓ your key wiggles, bam, you're shooting off. So definitely ⁓ A focal point in all defensive line play across the board. Gabriel, I just have a question. Now that you've been ⁓ at you know out of Notre Dame for a few months, you're kind of seeing the inside of an NFL organization. What's ⁓ what's something that Marcus Friedman emphasized that you're really seeing that actually translates to a professional level, something that you've kind of carried with you? We had a time where it was the twenty twenty five season, whenever we went to the national championship. He emphasized the bumpy road to better. You know, you're gonna have ups and downs. Every day's not gonna be the same. And ⁓ when you have those ups and downs, it's important not to get not to ride the high too high and not to ride the low too low. You gotta stay really consistent. And in that consistency, you gotta keep getting better. It's an it's constant elevation of play and progression and practicing ⁓ how to reach your full potential. That's another big thing. Reaching your full potential is something that he really harped on too. And I believe he'll continue to harp on it because it's it's true. Every day you gotta get one percent better. You're either the he goes, you're either this or you're this. So you always want to be this. Get get that one percent better. Focus on that one thing that you need to do and good things will happen. Connor asks like a a a really good question and then my question is gonna probably directly contradict what you just said, talking about consistency, talking about daily habits. And I'm gonna like try to get you to take a trip down memory lane. We'll see how this goes. ⁓ but I think that it like we we all have kind of like a what if moment, right? And we likely we probably have more than just one what if moment. But I wonder about your time at Notre Dame with all the change that have gone down. I I wonder if you have a what if moment from your time there. Yeah. So you see I was always committed to Notre Dame, even through all the the coaching changes and everything. I made a personal decision that whatever happens, happens. I'm gonna be sticking it out here at the university because that's what I wanted to do. I I am I feel like it's in my character that that's who I am. I'm a very, you could say stubborn when it comes to my choices. Like once I like I make my decision, I stick to it pretty well. And along with that, I really don't That I had any what-ifs. I mean, maybe whenever I was in high school, I'd be like, what if I went to a different college other than Notre Dame? But since I took my recruiting trips and I got to meet Mike Elston and all these different guys, there hasn't been a what if. I really felt like those guys were the guys to be around. And so yeah, I feel like I'm I'm pretty consistent on that side. There hasn't been anything ⁓ else. I haven't even thought of like transferring out, yeah. So It's pretty consistent. I f I figured that that was gonna be the answer that you were gonna give. So that's that's first class and that's that's a great way to live, man. That really that really, really is. Shifting gears real quick. And I'm gonna pass this over to Connor. It's the last question that I personally have for you. And I don't know if you've given this much thought at all, but I wonder what your current thoughts are on the ⁓ Notre Dame versus USC rivalry. Like what are your thoughts there? Yeah, Clayton. So I'm really disappointed that they decided to end it. I I'm playing with a couple guys who are have been a part of the USC team, and we both talk back and forth and we're like, no, it's because you guys ended it. No, you ended it this, this, and that. But in the end of the day, we both agree that it was a poor decision. Like that rivalry has been such a long standing tradition, and to get rid of it is nothing short of just a shame, you know? It is One of my favorite games too. At the end of the year, you you either go to USC, play them for your last game, or like halfway through the year they come to you and you can kick the shit out of them. Yeah. Well, hey, I guess you can get some revenge ⁓ on your own time, at the next level. Right. And ⁓ it's gotta be interesting playing alongside guys that you either played against or even if you didn't play directly against them or on teams that as a Notre Dame man You y you'd find a hard time ⁓ letting yourself like ⁓ too much, or it's gotta at least be a weird feeling. Yeah, at the beginning it was a little weird, but as time has progressed, you know, you get to ⁓ see them more and more as your own teammates and everything. And the past ends up being the past. I ⁓ play with ⁓ another teammate, Eli Heidenrich. He's ⁓ a Navy guy. And so for the past five years, he and I have been butting heads and everything like that. And then to be at the next level and we're both like on the same team, you know, there's no bad blood. We're we're all teammates at the end the day. It'll be fun to watch the Navy game with him, I'm sure. I'm sure. We'll we'll be back and forth the entire time, I'm sure. That's awesome. Well, ⁓ I did want to ask, ⁓ pardon me for reading this off, but I didn't want to get this wrong. So, Gabriel, your your father was drafted by the Steelers back in nineteen ninety eight. Twenty-eight years later, you know, same organization gives another Rubio a call. What's ⁓ what's something that has been said between the two of you regarding ⁓ you know, his time in Pittsburgh and what it's like taking that next step ⁓ to the NFL? Yeah, definitely. Ever since I was young, he's always given me advice on how to play the game right and how to play the game ⁓ effectively so that you can stand out at the next level. Excuse me. But One of those things was always, you know, have a motor about you. You know, everything is high effort, you know, you never know when it's gonna be your last play. And so you gotta make sure that you guys are out there given everything you got to the game. And then another thing was is ⁓ you gotta play with violence. Violence is is a currency that everybody understands. So being ⁓ the most violent player out there, you know, getting those big hits, you know, engaging with your hands, leading pushing them off ⁓ the ball, getting into the backfield. Those are all things that he really ⁓ harped on and told me, hey, when you go to Pittsburgh, it's gonna be violent. It's gonna be tough. They're known for this stuff. And he was right. Wait, violence is a currency that everyone understands. Yeah. Is that an original bar by you or is that is is that a saying that runs in the Ruby of Sam like? Shoot, man, I don't know. I probably heard it from somewhere, but I'm gonna claim I'm gonna claim this one. Claim I heard it. That's a clippable moment right there. And just ⁓ Gabriel, real quick, just to ⁓ to piggyback off of talking about your father. ⁓ so I had read in an article ⁓ by Jose de Jesus Ortiz in Ar Esquina that your father often used the mantra somos Pocos pero locos, meaning we are few but crazy. Personally, I love that to even go along with, you know, that little mantra we just discussed right now. ⁓ can you unpack what that mantra has meant for you, not only your life in football, but every day growing up, as well as going through Notre Dame and now that you've entered the NFL? Yeah, somos pocos para locos means we are the few, but we are the crazy, you know? We are people who choose to wake up and play this sport and be, you know, crazy about it. You gotta be a little ⁓ off to play the game of football. You know, it's it's not something for everybody and it is definitely a very violent sport at times. So when my dad was playing, he used to say that to his teammates, he used to say that to himself and everything. And that was his playstyle. He was always well, what he instilled in in me, very violent, very ⁓ High motor, run it to the ball everywhere. And ⁓ growing up, I hadn't heard that saying very often. But when he did tell me, you know, it kind of like flipped the switch a little bit, if you can ⁓ catch my drift. Like it would really turn the idea like, yeah, something has to be wrong with you to to play this game at my position, because you're You're getting in a car crash every single play. You got you got and you want that violence. You want to get into it. So being ⁓ being ⁓ one with that saying, and then I feel like that's the family saying, ⁓ it means something special to us. We're gonna be talking about strength of schedule. ⁓ just because it's one of those like lazy national narratives that gets kind of s spit up. Of of course, you know, who who pays attention to it, who doesn't? I I know that the people that listen to this channel absolutely pay attention to it. I I don't know if you've done like a deep dive on Notre Dame's schedule or not, but the big hitters are SMU, Miami, of course. ⁓ and then, you know, of course, week one against Wisconsin. And I'm not gonna forget about BYU for a second. That would be a game in which I would have loved to have seen you in, by the way, that BYU game. Yeah. But like big boy. It is, yeah. My one of my very first games was a Shamrock series against BYU in Las Vegas. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, that one was a crazy one. There were a couple of plays where I I got my butt kicked, but you know, I I think I held out pretty well. ⁓ that happened. I mean, they're freaking those are those guys are massive. They are massive. Yeah. And they go on their mission trips, they come back, they're ready to roll because they've been gone for like two years. So all they want to do is play football. So kudos to them, man. BYU is a great program. They got a great coach and it's gonna be a good matchup. How do you think that this season plays out for Notre Dame? If you were to put an analytical hat on. Yeah, I haven't done much thinking about it, but I definitely feel like they're gonna be in a good spot. I wanna say that they're gonna go twelve and ⁓ mainly because they're my team, they're my guys. I still love every single one of those dudes on that staff in the locker room. I want them to go all the way and win this championship. But analytically, you know, only time will tell. Makes sense. And I I we really appreciate this. And of course, Fole and Connor, I like I want you to to say something at for me, but Gabriel, like we really appreciate you hopping on. That was very nice of you to do, very generous with your time. We were just talking before you hopped on. Of course, like, man, there are a million different things that you could have done and you decided to hop on with us and just talk a little bit of balls for a while. I can't even tell you how thankful we are for that. Seriously. Yeah, no, man. Thank you guys for your time and everything like that. ⁓ you know, I had nothing else better to do tonight. So I was like, hey, let me go talk to the guys ⁓ over at the Irish Trillium. Let's let's let's get something rolling. You know, get get it out to the people and everything like that. But no, it it's definitely good to talk about Andy. It's always ⁓ a fun time and I you know, I miss it. Well, hey, I don't wanna I don't wanna go backwards. I've got one more question, kind of a send off for us. ⁓ but you were a part of a pretty are arguably the best run Notre Dame has had since their last championship. ⁓ and and you you were a part of, you know, being there with the team ⁓ and and and going head to head with some of the finest teams in the country ⁓ in in 24. ⁓ if you had to give ⁓ I don't know, locker room speech, a little bit of hype to your boys, just to just to say, hey, I've been there, we can do this. ⁓ and for going into this season, ⁓ just to give them some perspective about what it takes to get there and what it's like going through that kind of gauntlet. It's not about what you can do, it's what you're willing to do. So you don't have to be the best player on the field. You don't have to, you know, be flying around every every single play, headhunting and being that kind of guy or being like the super hype man. It's about embracing your role, knowing what you're good at and w how much are you willing to do for your team. You know, you do it for the guys beside you, not for yourself. It's ⁓ what Coach Freeman would call delayed gratification. We wanna win as a group. You know, individual glory that comes later. You know, you can have all the individual glory after this. But when you are in that locker room, you're sitting next to the guys that you put blood, sweat, tears, all these emotions, high and low, ⁓ together, you only have one goal in mind and that's to win. Gotta be ready to run through a brick wall, man. I'm so excited for this season. ⁓ what a pleasure it is to have you on. ⁓ we're gonna be we're gonna be watching out for you at the next level. And ⁓ you know, we're all we're all praying and hoping for the best for ya. ⁓ and ⁓ selfishly, ⁓ when you make your spot, ⁓ I'm gonna pick up the the Steelers in one of my three fantasy leagues, pick up their defense. So ⁓ I I am expecting big things. Right on. I appreciate that guys. And if you guys ever want to do another thing like this, just hit me up. Just give me a call.