Bowling Green State University Athletics
Q and A with Rachel Durbin
Our student-athlete question and answer session is with Rachel Durbin, senior cross country and track and field student-athlete. Rachel is the immediate past president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and, with her leadership, BGSU's student-athletes ranked seventh nationally in community volunteer hours a year ago.
Name: Rachel Durbin
Sport: Cross Country/Track and Field
Hometown: Armada, Mich.
Major: Individualized Business
Why did you choose to attend BGSU?
I didn’t even know BGSU existed until I was recruited by Coach Snelling. His recruiting and generous scholarship first drew me in. Two and half hours from home seemed like the perfect amount to be independent. I also liked how the college of business was nationally ranked and I got to meet the Dean through the Primrose Dean’s Scholar program. After my official visit, and meeting the girls on the team, there was no more doubt.
What is your favorite campus location to hang out?
Anyone in the athletic training staff will know I tend to be in the Sebo training room a lot (some joke I need to pay rent). Although we aren’t supposed to be “hanging out”, I have spent countless hours in there working through injuries, rehab, and prevention. It may be a place to get work done but it holds a lot of memories and great people.
Where is your favorite place to study?
Library, simple enough, is where I do my best studying. Being surrounded by people working keeps me focused.
What would you like to do professionally with your degree?
My end goal is to be a collegiate athletic director. My business degree is individualized with sport management classes and I am currently applying for grad school to get a masters in sport administration. Obviously I can’t become an athletic director right away, so I would like to get my start in athletic administration within a communications or marketing department.
What is one thing that the Falcon faithful needs to know about your team?
Before I came here, BG cross country was dead last in the Mid-American Conference. In 2015, we finished runner-up and in 2016, we placed third and that is due to more than just talent, but real dedication and teamwork. As collegiate distance runners, we do not get a break. We are the only athletes on campus that have three championship seasons - cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. Although it feels like our low profile sport can be overlooked, I know that the small group of girls on both the cross country and track team will forever be role models of what a true Falcon is.
Why is a scholarship important for you?
A scholarship is more than just money; it provides a chance for us student-athletes to reach our potential. Without the scholarships you help provide, many of us would never be able to get the dream jobs we work so hard for. It is the difference between settling for a school versus thriving at a school. They help us focus on our school work and athletics without having to stress about copious student loans we would otherwise have to pay off later.
If you could have dinner on campus with three people, who’s invited?
I am going to keep this simple. I would first invite my sister who is in the Marines and I rarely get to see. The next two spots would be for my high school cross country and track coaches. They are the people who inspired me to be the athlete I am today, became secondary dads to me, and are now friends I consider great company.
Any interesting fact that you would like to add?
Interesting fact, I played flag football for seven years before college. Through high school, my team won four straight championships. If flag football was a collegiate sport, I may not be a runner! Unless being a running back counts.
Name: Rachel DurbinSport: Cross Country/Track and Field
Hometown: Armada, Mich.
Major: Individualized Business
Why did you choose to attend BGSU?
I didn’t even know BGSU existed until I was recruited by Coach Snelling. His recruiting and generous scholarship first drew me in. Two and half hours from home seemed like the perfect amount to be independent. I also liked how the college of business was nationally ranked and I got to meet the Dean through the Primrose Dean’s Scholar program. After my official visit, and meeting the girls on the team, there was no more doubt.
What is your favorite campus location to hang out?
Anyone in the athletic training staff will know I tend to be in the Sebo training room a lot (some joke I need to pay rent). Although we aren’t supposed to be “hanging out”, I have spent countless hours in there working through injuries, rehab, and prevention. It may be a place to get work done but it holds a lot of memories and great people.
Where is your favorite place to study?
Library, simple enough, is where I do my best studying. Being surrounded by people working keeps me focused.
What would you like to do professionally with your degree? My end goal is to be a collegiate athletic director. My business degree is individualized with sport management classes and I am currently applying for grad school to get a masters in sport administration. Obviously I can’t become an athletic director right away, so I would like to get my start in athletic administration within a communications or marketing department.
What is one thing that the Falcon faithful needs to know about your team?
Before I came here, BG cross country was dead last in the Mid-American Conference. In 2015, we finished runner-up and in 2016, we placed third and that is due to more than just talent, but real dedication and teamwork. As collegiate distance runners, we do not get a break. We are the only athletes on campus that have three championship seasons - cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. Although it feels like our low profile sport can be overlooked, I know that the small group of girls on both the cross country and track team will forever be role models of what a true Falcon is.
Why is a scholarship important for you?
A scholarship is more than just money; it provides a chance for us student-athletes to reach our potential. Without the scholarships you help provide, many of us would never be able to get the dream jobs we work so hard for. It is the difference between settling for a school versus thriving at a school. They help us focus on our school work and athletics without having to stress about copious student loans we would otherwise have to pay off later.
If you could have dinner on campus with three people, who’s invited?
I am going to keep this simple. I would first invite my sister who is in the Marines and I rarely get to see. The next two spots would be for my high school cross country and track coaches. They are the people who inspired me to be the athlete I am today, became secondary dads to me, and are now friends I consider great company.
Any interesting fact that you would like to add?
Interesting fact, I played flag football for seven years before college. Through high school, my team won four straight championships. If flag football was a collegiate sport, I may not be a runner! Unless being a running back counts.