Hometown: Whidbey Island (Oak Harbor High School)
School: Idaho State
Year: Junior
Sport: Football
What he did: Was named to the Associated Press All-America team for NCAA FCS Division schools. Rumble set Idaho State and Big Sky Conference records with 112 receptions, turning those into 1,348 yards and nine touchdowns.
What’s next: Rumble has one season of eligibility remaining and says he’s on target to graduate with a Mass Communications degree in the fall.
TWO-MINUTE DRILL
OK, first of all, you caught five passes in the season finale against Eastern Washington. Were you guys running the wishbone that game or something?
No. (Pause) You want me to be honest? I got ejected on our third possession of the game.
Really? What happened?
It was nothing serious. I guess the referee always catches the third or fourth person getting involved, and I guess I was that guy.
Was there a brawl or something?
No, nothing like that. I was away from the play, I got tackled, and the ball was the opposite way. The referee saw me react, and I got ejected.
So a team finally figured out a way to stop you, huh?
You could say that. Yes, sir.
The reason I mentioned that game is because the five receptions marked your season low. In nine of your other 10 games, you had at least nine receptions. Twice, you had 14 in a game. How does a guy catch 112 passes in a season?
I was super-blessed this year with how my quarterback was throwing the ball. And we threw at least 40 times a game. They’ve got to go somewhere, and I guess it had to me.
In your first game of the season, you caught 10 passes for 218 yards against Washington State. You get the feeling new Cougars coach Mike Leach would like those kinds of numbers?
Not if we were playing them again. (Laughs)
Think your old teammate at Oak Harbor, Marshall Lobbestael, is wishing he had another year at WSU so he could play for Leach?
Oh, yeah. Sure. That was a great hire for them. Marshall, I haven’t talked to him about that, but I know he’d probably love to be there.
What about Marshall having another year with you, like back in the high school days?
That would’ve been damage. I wish he would’ve come to Idaho State. That would’ve been cool.
What does it mean to be named first-team All-America?
It’s just a huge blessing. I’m very fortunate, lucky to be on that team. It makes me want to be better than I am. I feel like I’ve got so much to improve on in my game, things like speed and strength. I hope I get night-and-day better over the summer and into next fall.
Did Michael Buffer present you with the award?
Who’s that? Oh, wait, I remember now. (Laughs) No, he didn’t.
I ask because he made the phrase “Let’s get ready to rumble” famous. I bet you’re pretty sick of hearing that from friends and teammates over the years.
You know what? You’d be surprised how it never comes up until I meet somebody new. They’re like, ‘Oh my god … Rumble?’ I’m like, ‘That’s my name, get over it.’
Have you ever had any good nicknames that came out of it?
No, no. I’ve never been a heavy drinker, so you couldn’t really call me Rum. But my dad, he’s a pastor, they call him Rev Rum.
Your name would seem to give you one foot in the door when it comes to being a professional wrestler or fighting in the UFC.
Yeah, but no way would I want to do any of that stuff. But I have thought that being a running back would be pretty cool with my last name. I’d bring the wood.
Was running back ever an option?
No. I’m 6-2. Real long legs.
You were born in Japan. What can you tell us about that, and how did you end up in Oak Harbor?
My father was in the military (retired in 1998). I was born in Japan, but I have no idea what that’s all about. My sister went to school there. I live on a Navy base right now on Whidbey.
And why Idaho State?
I was extremely, extremely blessed to make it to Idaho State, how I was in high school. I was fortunate I met a few coaches, and it’s worked out for both sides.
You said “How I was in high school.” What did you mean by that? What kind of a player were you in high school?
I was good. Man, that’s an arrogant statement. I don’t know how to put it. I was good, but we had a good team. I made all-area, and all-Everett Herald, but I was blessed to have Marshall throwing the ball to me. Marshall and Johnny (Encinas), those were my quarterbacks. And they were great quarterbacks. I was just really raw, that’s the word I’m looking for. I was completely raw. And I didn’t have good grades.
Who else recruited you?
Washington State. They came and offered me (a scholarship) late. But I didn’t make (the NCAA) clearinghouse. So I ended up staying in high school for another semester. I had actually graduated, and I came back and did two classes — in geometry. They came back and told me they already had two recruits, so they weren’t recruiting me anymore. Which is fine; it’s a business, and I didn’t hold up my end of the bargain. When I got the offer from Idaho State, I took it without hesitation.
Of course, Christmas is on Sunday. So what’s one to get a guy who already has 112 receptions, nine touchdowns and a spot on the All-America first team?
And is home for the holidays, which is great. Hmmm. I want a brand new Charger. That’d be great. But of course that’s not something we can just go out and buy around these parts. But I can dream, right?
Rev Rum doesn’t make that kind of dough?
No, he’s not paid that great. (Laughs)
Maybe you could ask for a senior season that doesn’t include any of those measly five-reception games and ejections.
Yeah. Ejection’s such a hard work, but I guess that’s what happened. Besides that, I just want my health. And I want good grades. Grades come out (this week), so that would be an early Christmas present.
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