SAAC Spotlight: Taylor Rappaport
Get to know the KU Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) representatives each week through our SAAC Spotlight series. This week’s spotlight is Taylor Rappaport, a senior baseball player from Riverside, California. SAAC is composed of appointed representatives from each of KU’s 18 varsity teams and helps promote communication between faculty, administrators, coaches and student-athletes. SAAC members meet monthly to discuss ideas and issues pertinent to KU Athletics, the Big 12 and the NCAA.
SAAC Spotlight: Taylor Rappaport
SAAC Position: Big 12 SAAC Representative
Class: Senior
Major: Sports Management
Team: Baseball
Hometown: Riverside, California
KU
Why did you choose KU?
When I took my visit to KU I fell in love with the university. The campus is amazing, the athletic facilities are unreal and everyone I came in contact with made me feel so welcome.
How did you choose your major?
Sports have always been my main focus so it was a no brianer to study them in college.
What’s your favorite class you’ve taken at KU and why?
Personnel Management in Sport. The class is taught by my favorite professor, Dr. Bernie Kish. Dr. Kish is an amazing man and leader to learn from and he made every day interesting. I enjoyed hearing all of his “nuggets” of advice.
Where is the best place to sit for lectures?
I always liked to sit next to the wall so I had something to rest my head against.
What advice would you give to incoming KU freshmen?
To not take any day for granted and to not be afraid to try new things and meet new people. We are so unbelievably blessed here at KU and it is foolish to not enjoy every minute of it.
What do you think is the prettiest place on campus?
I have always thought the view from the Campinile looking down on Potter lake and the football stadium was beautiful.
Most underrated place to study on campus?
Baseball lounge or breezeway in-between wagnon and Allen field house.
What leadership skills have you learned while being a student-athlete at KU?
I’ve learned that everyone leads in different ways and the importance of understanding how you lead. I also learned the importance of setting a good example and just being a good friend/teammate.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from balancing the demands of being a Division I student-athlete and academics?
Probably that it is important to prioritize things in your life. You have to find what is really important to you and focus on that. Its easy to get distracted in college so being able to say no to things is also huge.
Popular Culture
Favorite TV show…
Sons of Anarchy
Favorite movie…
The Sandlot
Favorite book and/or magazine…
Mens Health magazine
Favorite singer or musical group…
Blink 182 or The Eagles
Sports
Favorite pro sports team…
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Favorite athlete…
Nolan Ryan
The athlete I would most like to compete against…
Bo Jackson
Favorite athletic memory…
Throwing a complete game against number one team in league in high school to clinch playoff spot.
Team you’re most looking forward to competing against…
LSU
Pre-game/match superstition/Pre-game/match ritual…
Always put my left cleat on first and always stepped onto pitchers mound left foot first.
Extras
In 10 years, I would like to be…
A firefighter-paramedic back home living at the beach.
Most prized possession…
My truck, I call her the Bernice the Black Beauty
I would like to trade places for a day with…
The President
Best piece of advice you’ve received…
Never let anyone tell you whats possible and impossible. At the end of the day, you dictate how successful you will be.
If you could have dinner with any 3 people (alive or dead), who would they be?
George W. Bush, Nolan Ryan and Bo Jackson
Dream event (non-sport or sport-related) you would like to attend…
Game 7 of world series where a perfect game is thrown.
Who tweets too much on your team?
I don’t have twitter but im going to assume Jeremy Kravetz
Pop or Soda?
Soda
Cats or Dogs?
Dogs
Early Bird or Night Owl?
Early Bird
