Freshman Q&A: Rachel Bobo
1/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Alabama Softball welcomes five newcomers to the team this season, so we'll be chatting with all of them this week. Our first newcomer is Rachel Bobo from Seabrook, Texas.
How did you get your start playing softball?
"I always did ballet and the basic little girl stuff. One day, my mom asked me if I wanted to play softball. I was about four years old and I thought it was something different than what I was used to. She took me to the softball field and I started playing little league and I've loved it ever since."
What other sports did you play in addition to softball?
"I played mostly softball up until I started seventh grade when I could play middle school sports. After that, I tried volleyball, tennis, track and basketball. When I got to high school I narrowed it down to softball and volleyball."
Was playing sports in college a goal for you?
"I had always wanted to play softball in college. Ever since I came to my first game here at Alabama, I loved it. Both of my parents graduated from here and I love the campus. I basically grew up here even though I lived in Texas."
When it became time to choose colleges, what was that selection process like?
"I had gotten some offers from Tyler Junior College and Marion Military Institute, but I always wanted to go to Alabama. I didn't even apply anywhere else. When other coaches expressed interest, I always said that I wanted to go to Alabama. There was no chance I was going anywhere else, it was just a matter of whether I would be playing softball or not."
You came to Alabama knowing that you wanted to try out as a walk-on. What was that process like?
"The first week of class, I called Coach Aly that Monday and she emailed me and some other girls later that week about a tryout. One of my high school coaches Amy Cox, who was a four-year starter at Texas A&M, always taught me that `you're never nervous, you're always excited', so I wouldn't say I was really nervous but I was just really excited to get the opportunity to try out and possibly play for the University of Alabama."
When did you finally get the good news that you had made the team?
"After they met with us, they told us they would let us know by the next Friday. They called me and a few others in for individual meetings. They liked our skills but wanted to make sure our personalities would be a good fit. I had a very awkward class schedule last semester so it was hard to schedule a lunch meeting with them but I managed to fit one in that Friday. I was the last of the girls that they met with and they just sat with me and talked about why I wanted to be a part of the program and just wanted to get to know me and learn about my family, where I grew up and things like that. At the end of the meeting, Aly asked me `So, what number do you want to be?' and I was shocked. We were in this little restaurant with a few people there so I didn't want to be super ecstatic in front of all these people in a public place, but I was super pumped."
When Aly asked, you chose to wear #4. Was there any significance to that choice?
"My number in high school was five, but Chandler Dare is already five so I wanted something close to that. I was going through the roster in my head so I asked if four was taken and it wasn't. A good friend of mine in high school volleyball wore number four so I thought it was a good one to pick."
Was it intimidating or difficult to fit in on the team as a walk-on?
"I'm generally a very sociable person. Sit me in a room with anyone and I'll start a conversation with them. Getting to know the girls personally was a bit challenging at first but they're all very approachable and very welcoming. At first I felt a little out of place but Haylie [McCleney] invited me to sit with them at the football game that weekend and they were all nice and gave me hugs and welcomed me to the team. It ended up not being very difficult at all."
When you walked out for your first day of practice at Rhoads Stadium, what was going through your mind?
"It was honestly a dream-come-true. My mom is really into Alabama softball so on my seventh birthday, me and some friends of mine did some birthday thing at an Alabama softball game where a group of little girls got to go on the field and they say some stuff about you. I remember standing there and thinking `I want to play here'. Going out to practice was one of those moments where it hit me that this was a dream-come-true.
"One of the funnier moments though early in practice was that I was running to the back of the line for a drill and my cleat got caught on my shoelace so I literally faceplanted straight into the ground. It was the most embarrassing thing ever but I thought it was a good icebreaker!"
This season, what are some of your individual goals and what are some of the team's goals?
"Individually, I just want to be able to do whatever the team needs me to do. I love being able to help anyone out so if anyone needs extra practice, I want to be able to help them. I'll definitely do my best during the games whether I'm on the field or just supporting the team. As a team, our goal is definitely winning a national championship and I believe with all my heart that we can do it."
What advice would you give a young athlete who wants to play softball in college?
"Never give up, no matter who tells you that you can't do it. Believe that you can do it. When your parents tell you that you can do it, believe them! Work hard and when you see someone slacking off, be able to pick them up and be a good teammate. Keep your morals where they need to be."
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