Ramsen Golpashin: From Bowls to Business

Author: Nima Movassaghi of Greenbloods Editor: Ahsan Awan of American Presswire

During his time as a football player, Ramsen Golpashin played in three games. He was an offensive lineman for the Ducks from 2007-11. He was on the team that won the Rose Bowl in 2012. He earned his Master’s in Business Administration degree after completing his undergraduate requirements, and chose to do what so many NCAA athletes choose to do, he put on a suit and joined the workforce.

Ramsen recently sat down with Greenbloods and shared his thoughts on, among other things, Oregon football and what it means to be a Duck.

Greenbloods: Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? Where did you play high school football?

Ramsen Golpashin: I played tackle and guard at Saugus High School in Saugus, California. Small school, but we had some really good players at the time.

GB: You played for Mike Bellotti and , what was the biggest difference between the two coaches?

RG: They were both really good coaches. I thought Chip was more hands on and more involved. He wanted it done his way.

GB: What other teams were you recruited by, and what made Oregon your choice?

RG: I attended the UO football camp and Coach Greatwood told me that if I didn’t have any offers I could walk on. I didn’t have any offers so I was headed to Oregon. But at first I didn’t like Oregon so I quit and went home. A few weeks later I decided I was going back. I never was someone who quit something so I knew I had to go back.

GB: What was the best part of being a student-athlete at the University of Oregon?

RG: The tight-knit community for sure. For the four or five years you’re at Oregon everyone treats you like a celebrity.

GB: Were you a redshirt? If so, what was the most difficult part of not playing a football game for more than a year?

RG: Yes I was a redshirt. I didn’t play a game from November 06 to September 08 so it got discouraging at times, but on the other hand it gave me a lot of time for improvement.

GB: Your senior season was cut short by an injury. How did your role change?

RG: Well, I wasn’t playing but I found ways to get involved. Whether it was watching extra film to help out, or making a scouting report for guys, there were always ways to get involved.

GB: I’m sure you had plenty of great experiences while at Oregon. Which experience sticks out as your best one?

RG: I’d say winning the Rose Bowl was the best experience.

GB: Describe the feeling of walking out to midfield for the coin toss of the Rose Bowl. After everything you had gone through at Oregon, how special did that feel, even though you couldn’t play due to injury?

RG: At the beginning of the season the 15 captains sit down and each person decides what three games they want to be a captain for. The three I chose I couldn’t be at due to my knee. So on game day Coach Kelly came up to me and asked me if I wanted to suit up and I said yes. Then he told me he wanted me to go out for the coin toss. Being from LA that was really special.

GB: Most inspirational speech you heard from a coach at Oregon. When was it?

RG: The cool thing at Oregon was that we didn’t need inspiration. We were already in a mindset that nobody could affect.

GB: Do you have any aspirations to become a football coach at the collegiate and professional level?

RG: I’m actually coaching O lineman at my high school right now. If the opportunity presents itself at the next level, I’d be open to it.

GB: While you were at Oregon, did your old locker room and weight room seem to be top-notch? Or did you think it was time for an upgrade?

RG: I thought it was really nice except for the bathrooms. When they asked seniors for input, there were lots of things we said needed improvement. But you don’t really ask for a building like that.

GB: What do you miss most about being a Duck?

RG: Now I just miss the University in general, but towards the end, you are always itching to leave.

GB: What felt better in the moment? Rose Bowl or MBA.

RG: I can’t hide that one. The Rose Bowl. Mostly because I grew up in LA and I would always watch the game and dream of winning it.

GB: It has been said that players have to pay 50 dollars to keep their jerseys. Did you keep all of your jerseys? If not, which ones do you still have?

RG: I kept everything. Helmets and Jerseys. I’m probably going to build a trophy room in my house someday.

GB: You obviously have plenty of shoes, what do you do with all of them now?

RG: I’m one of those guys who really doesn’t wear their old stuff they received. I’m saving all my stuff from Oregon. Some guys go and destroy their stuff while showing it off. But I’m saving my stuff for a trophy room.

GB: When you aren’t busy, what types of things do you enjoy doing?

RG: With work and everything I don’t have much extra time, but I like to work out and stay in shape. I also spend a lot of time with my coaches I’ve had.

GB: Do you plan on coming up to Eugene to go to any games this year?

RG: I’d like to if work permits, but if not I’ll be following them on TV. I may try and go to a road game.

GB: If you had to leave me here knowing one thing about you what would it be?

RG: I had a dream. You don’t have to be the fastest or strongest to play as long as you have the mindset that you are going to keep working hard to get better. If you have that mindset, everything else will take care of itself.

Indeed, excellence is about passion and commitment. Ramsen Golpashin is just one of many examples of how, if you love what you do and do what you love, everything will work out well. For him, it certainly seems to be.

Follow Author Nima Movassaghi on Twitter (@NimaUSTA1998) Greenbloods: @greenbloodsus; Editor: @quackarazzi