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Neville alumnus Rubin enjoying NFL ride
By the time Barry Rubin played his final down of football at Northwestern State University in 1979, he had all but abandoned his dream of an NFL career. Sometimes, though, things aren't the way they seem.
When the Philadelphia Eagles' training camp opens next month, Rubin
will begin his 16th season as an NFL strength & conditioning coach – a distinguished career highlighted by a Super Bowl championship, a Pro Bowl appearance and induction into the USA Strength and Conditioning Coaches Hall of Fame.
Taking advantage of the down time before the grueling season begins, Rubin spent part of his vacation time visiting with family
in Monroe where father Sam and brother Mark live and Mer Rouge where
his sister, Lori Spires, resides.
Getting started Rubin was exposed to weight training in the late 1960s at a time when strength & conditioning was still in its infancy.
While in elementary school, he began lifting with his older brother,
Mark.
When Rubin reported to Lee Junior High,
Neville's feeder school, he was greeted by Al Miller. Now the head strength and conditioning coach of the Oakland Raiders, Miller was a trailblazer in the field.
"I was very fortunate to get started on the right track at such a young age," Rubin said. "Al Miller — what a start that was. He really used to put it on us."
Moving on to Neville, Rubin played for the legendary Charlie Brown.
"When I moved up to Neville, coach Brown put Willie Ragan in charge of the weight room and he did a wonderful job. I was very fortunate to have learned from some very, very good people. That's how I got my start." Rubin signed with LSU as a tight end/punter, before spending the final three years of his college career at Northwestern where he trained under Kent Johnston.
Rubin was reunited with Miller in 1981 when he was hired as a graduate assistant while pursuing his master's degree at Northeast Louisiana University (now ULM). He was promoted to head strength coach when Miller was hired by Bear Bryant at Alabama in 1982. Rubin's resume' includes three stints at ULM (1981-83, 87-90 and 94) and a stop at LSU (1984-85).
The break
Meanwhile, Johnston landed in the NFL as head strength coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When coach Ray Perkins' staff was let go, Johnston hooked up with the Green Bay Packers.
That's when Rubin caught his big break. "Kent and I maintained our friendship through the years," Rubin said.
"After he had been in Green Bay a couple of years, Mike Holmgren told him he could hire an assistant. I was at NLU —ULM at the time — and Kent called and offered me the position in 1995."
Rubin has never forgotten the two men who influenced his career the most.For the full story, subscribe to the The Ouachita Citizen's NEW E-Edition! |
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