University of Georgia Athletics
A Quick Chat With ... Brandon Kublanow
October 27, 2016 | Football
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
With 32 straight starts (and counting) on Georgia's offensive line, senior center Brandon Kublanow is among the Bulldogs' most experienced, veteran players. He admits to coming a long way, both as a person and a player, since his freshman year.
The 6-foot-3, 293-pound Kublanow, from Marietta, Ga., isn't a high-energy talker, but he is a thoughtful one. He sat down for a quick chat following Thursday's practice and discussed what sports have taught him, his favorite beverage, how he's changed at Georgia and much more.
Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: What's something from your childhood that you really miss?
Kublanow: Probably tennis. I was a baller back in the day and I haven't been able to get back on the courts lately. When my career is over I'll probably be that old man at the country club playing tennis.
Frierson: Former Georgia coach Jim Donnan plays out at the Athens Country Club all the time. Do you ever go watch the Georgia teams play?
Kublanow: I've got a couple of good buddies on the [men's] team, so it's always really exciting to go watch them play, and to see something so different from football.
Frierson: What is something that years of playing sports and competing in sports has taught you?
Kublanow: I think sports teaches you a lot of life lessons. Sports teaches you how to manage your time, how to treat people on the field and off the field, and it opens up a lot of doors. It's been a real blessing for me.
Frierson: What's the most creative thing you do? Or what's something creative you wish you could do?
Kublanow: I wish I could play the guitar, that would be pretty cool. My dad bought me an electric guitar back in the day and I could never really pick it up. I had all these guitar lessons, too, and my mom was like, 'you need to go in your room and practice,' and I never practiced.
Frierson: I tried learning to play when I was in college and my left hand could never really do what I needed it to do.
Kublanow: I couldn't get it, I just couldn't get it.
Frierson: What do you do in the quiet times, away from football and school?
Kublanow: I like to relax, sleep, get as much sleep as possible, because during the season it's just crazy. Other than that it's just go home and hang out with family and friends.
Frierson: What's the best thing that's entered your life in 2016? It can be a movie, an album, food, music, a person — whatever.
Kublanow: Oh, man, does it have to be something serious?
Frierson: No, the less serious the better, frankly. I prefer silly.
Kublanow: Then it's mango Powerade [officially it's Powerade Tropical Mango]. It's now my favorite drink and I'm so happy it entered my life.
Frierson: Given the amount of fluids you guys consume on a daily basis, I'm sure you're all connoisseurs.
Kublanow: The nectar of the Gods, that's what I call it.
Frierson: Do you get ritualistic when you drink it?
Kublanow: (Laughs) Yeah, we light candles.
Frierson: Who's the funniest guy on the team?
Kublanow: There's just been so many in the past, but now that I'm older it's hard to laugh at some kids. I love Solomon Kindley, the freshman. That kid cracks me up — he's just a big goofy kid.
Frierson: How different are you now than you were as a freshman, both as a person and as a player? Do you feel like a totally different person and player?
Kublanow: Yeah, it's crazy. When you go back and think, wow, I was just sitting in the back row at team meetings and now I'm in the front. It's definitely different; you take on a lot more responsibilities and as you get older you get better at football, and people expect more out of you.
It's been good, man. It's all helped me grow.
Frierson: If you could go back and talk to your 18-year-old self that was just arriving at Georgia, what would you tell him?
Kublanow: I'd probably tell him to just relax and enjoy the time. Sometimes I think when you're young and you get here and you have a lot of things stress you out, like you might not be playing right away or things aren't going you way, but just relax and enjoy your the time while you can enjoy it.
Frierson: How hard is it to come here and suddenly be surrounded by nothing but good players? If you come to Georgia you were almost certainly a superstar player in high school, but not everyone can be stars at Georgia.
Kublanow: I remember getting here and seeing [Amarlo Herrera and Ramik Wilson], our starting linebackers, and I was like, holy cow, I've got to block those guys? Oh my lord. After you get that first hit you realize, I think I can do this.
It's just a shock — everyone's big and everyone's strong.
Frierson: Say it's after a game and you can eat anything you want, what are you going to have?
Kublanow: After games I'm normally going to eat with my family, but my favorite restaurant in Athens is Peppino's, by far. I wish they were open on Mondays, but they're not. I've done that a couple of times, where I say I'm going to Peppino's tonight and no, it's closed.
I go there every Thursday with my mom, so I love the place.
Frierson: Is there a football movie that's kind of gotten it right, really capturing what it's like for you guys? Is there one that you really love?
Kublanow: My favorite football movie is "Varsity Blues." Rest in peace to old Big Bill ... the real fat guy, Billy Bob, he was my favorite.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
