UNI’s Robert Rathje learns to be a center, and a good one

CEDAR FALLS — The blocking, the line calls, those were things that didn't give Robert Rathje a problem when Northern Iowa coaches asked him to move to center as a red-shirt freshman.

What slipped him up was the most basic, rudimentary thing about the position.

'Just learning how to snap,' the senior from Benton Community said. 'The blocking schemes and the mental and physical part of it came along well. But just learning how to snap, then get my block done correctly was the biggest adjustment.'

Rathje made that adjustment, as he will make his 43rd career start at center Saturday when UNI hosts South Dakota State in a do-or-die regular-season finale at the UNI-Dome (4:05 p.m. kickoff). The Panthers (5-5) need a win to finish with a winning record and to have any shot at an at-large berth to the FCS playoffs.

A win for South Dakota State (7-3) gives it its first Missouri Valley Conference championship.

'It's a really big football game for both teams,' Northern Iowa Coach Mark Farley said. 'Look at what's at stake on both sides. It'll be a very good football game.'

Rathje has become a really good football player. He played in nine games, starting five, as a freshman, then started all 14 games in 2014.

He started 13 of 14 games last season as a junior, when he also was selected a team captain. There have been 10 more starts this season.

An 11th is on the horizon, even though he showed up for an interview Monday wearing a walking boot on his left foot.

'Robert is really just a smart player,' Farley said. 'He came in here, and he has always been stable, consistent. The one thing you can say about Robert is his consistency. He's very intelligent, he's the same person he was when he first walked in the door, as far as work ethic and the demeanor and effort he brings to practice and games. He makes all the decisions for us at the line of scrimmage. He has played hurt, played injured ... He has played four hard years of football here. To do that every week at center is not that easy to do.'

Rathje is proud of his durability.

'It is impressive, but it's also just methodical, as far as how you handle your body,' he said. 'In practice, what you do nutrition wise, exercise wise, to make sure you are always going to be healthy. For me, I take food very seriously. I'll eat a lot that has anti-inflammatory properties and what not. Then I tried to stretch literally everything to make sure I don't get an injury that way. That would not be ideal.'

As you can tell, the kid is smart, an all-academic selection in the MVC. A biology major, he will attend physical therapy school somewhere after he gets his diploma from UNI.

Northern Iowa's offensive line has improved as the season has worn on, which has helped the offense grow significantly.

'It's been great to be a part of this program,' Rathje said. 'I've been here when we had our lows and highs. To be there as a constant, dependable person for the team has been just really awesome for me. Just to see how people can grow throughout the whole program, how much the program has changed me, giving me a stronger work ethic. Those are values that are applicable later on through life.'

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