a l u m n i f e at u r e s
“ The energy in the stadium — you couldn ’ t describe it !” exclaimed Gober . “ Saying it was electric doesn ’ t touch it . It was pretty special .”
The MLB season is glamorous , but for Gober , who has a wife and three daughters in Pennsylvania , the season can sometimes be hard on his family . The season lasts 162 games , not including playoffs . These 162 games occur over about 180 days . Gober might get two days off a month .
“ The baseball season is both a sprint to the finish and a marathon ,” said Gober . “ It ’ s a long , daily grind . It ’ s 100 miles per hour everyday for six to eight months .”
Gober is married to alumna Michelle Edenton Gober ’ 97 , who received her bachelor ’ s degree in athletic training and played basketball , lacrosse and softball at Shenandoah . She is the associate athletic director and senior women ’ s administrator at Kutztown University in Kutztown , Pa . Gober explained how busy she is and the many different NCAA committees on which she serves .
Gober ’ s success began at Shenandoah . Playing the sport he loved and getting the education he needed to take steps toward his career was a dream come true . Shenandoah ’ s small-school atmosphere suited him better than a larger institution . He said he would have been lost in the mix at a big school and that Shenandoah ’ s small classes and individualized attention helped him immensely .
“ Shenandoah offers a diverse range of programs that can be catered to almost anyone ,” Gober explained . “ When I started , I wanted to be a physical therapist . I ended up an athletic trainer . I had an option . A lot of kids at 18 don ’ t really know what they want to do . Shenandoah provided me with different opportunities to adjust , and it worked out quite well .”
“ I often say she has a fancier title than me ,” remarked Gober .
The couple ’ s three daughters ( ages seven , five and two ) are an energetic bunch . Thanks to technology , Gober is able to “ facetime ” every day with his family , and that makes life easier . His daughters are thrilled when school is out and they can attend baseball games with their dad .
“ I always say I have to go to the office ; this is my office ,” Gober said , pointing to Nationals Park . The stadium , located along the Anacostia River in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Washington , D . C ., seats more than 40,000 people and cost more than $ 600 million to construct . “ I don ’ t really consider it a job . It ’ s not a hobby , because I get paid , but it ’ s really easy to come to work each day .” m a g a z i n e
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