Scholar Stories: Furbush Finds Career Path in Costa Rican Class
9/6/2017 3:00:00 PM | Football, Features
Continuing the popular series that began in 2016-17, each Wednesday MGoBlue.com will highlight a Michigan student-athlete and their academic pursuits. These are our Scholar-Athlete Stories, presented by Prairie Farms.
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Linebacker Noah Furbush was an integral part of the University of Michigan's defense in the season-opening win over Florida.
Furbush scored a touchdown by pouncing on an end-zone fumble by Gators quarterback Malik Zaire that teammate Chase Winovich caused with a big hit. Furbush also played on the line of scrimmage in the "stack" defense that Matthew and Nicole Lester Family Football Defensive Coordinator Don Brown devised to keep Florida off balance, and he made two tackles as the unit denied the Gators entrance to the red zone or end zone.
Furbush, from Kenton, Ohio, is beginning his third season of eligibility, and it's hard telling where his rising talent might take him someday in pro football.
He is, however, certain about the beginning of his long-range career path.
Furbush, enrolled in the College of Engineering as an aerospace engineering major, wants to combine knowledge gained from his academic pursuits with his recent study experiences in Costa Rica to create more efficient and sustainable farms in countries lacking ample natural resources.
He spent three "life-changing" weeks between football seasons in Central America for a course called Food, Water and Energy Systems in Costa Rica.
Furbush said: "Costa Rica is, I believe, a 90 percent renewable energy methods country, which is amazing. For an entire week (last spring), the entire country ran on renewable energy.
"So, what we did was take a look at their country's approach in how they are such a sustainable country and how they combat global warming, and how it's a part of their culture, too, to fight against global warming.
"It was an incredible, close look at a lot of the operations that they have with the hydroelectric dam, geothermal plant, wind (conversion) farm, solar farm. I went to numerous different plantations and banana farms. We lived on a banana farm for a while. We got to see so many incredible things, and so it was a life-changing experience for sure."
Costa Rica also provided plenty of picturesque settings and recreational opportunities.
"It was so much fun," said Furbush. "Costa Rica's a beautiful place. I didn't go surfing, but I would've liked to have tried surfing. But we went boogie boarding on the beach on the (Pacific Ocean) west side, and they had the biggest waves I've ever seen, probably 10-foot waves. So, I was just jumping on those waves and riding them back to shore. It was awesome."
Now, it's back to football for Furbush and his teammates, many of whom studied or interned in Europe after the team's trip to Italy for practices, sightseeing and cultural experiences.
Furbush scored the final points in the 33-17 win over Florida, in which both Gators touchdowns came on interception returns. He beat Winovich, who caused the fumble, to recover it in the end zone.
"It was a phenomenal play by Chase," said Furbush. "He came 100 miles an hour at the quarterback and popped the ball out. I just happened to be in the right place and scooped it up. ... It's all instinctual -- jump on the ball and cover it up.
"I hate that I took the touchdown from him, but I don't really hate it."
Furbush laughed and then admitted that Winovich gave him some grief for stealing his gold, so to speak.
"I told him I was sorry I had to take that touchdown away," said Furbush.
Furbush had three fumble recoveries as a senior at Kenton High and made 124 tackles (30 for lost yardage) that year. So, he has a knack for recoveries.
"It's just being in the right place at the right time and running to the football," said Furbush.
Furbush, 6-foot-5, 238 pounds, had to be in several places in the defensive schemes against the Gators, playing up on the line frequently.
"We did a lot of the 'stack' this game," said Furbush, "and it's another piece we're putting in and something we can do. We stuck with it the whole game."
Furbush said that wasn't "necessarily" the game plan, but added, "We were definitely going to run that package in the game and wanted to see how it worked out. There are all kinds of different things we're going to do, and we can use them all."
Brown, known for his aggressive approach, also coaches the linebackers, making him Furbush's position coach.
"I've had a lot of one-on-one experience with him," said Furbush, "and I love him. He's a great coach. You can tell he really cares about the guys that he's coaching, and as a player that means a lot to you, to have somebody care that much about you and who wants you to succeed and wants you to play well."
I asked Furbush how he's improved this season.
"I have one more whole spring practice and fall camp under my belt now," said Furbush. "And so it's just been thousands of reps. I think I've improved every area of my game."
Learning to play in the "stack" defense, which began being practiced in the spring, has been part of both the team and Furbush learning to "maximize potential" by adjusting to stop a variety of opponent offenses.
"We practiced it every day for a month and tried to get it down to a science and do the best we could with it," said Furbush. "It's just another piece and a way of coming at an offense.
"For me, it's different having your hand in the dirt (down stance) rather than standing up."
Dirt is something Furbush became pretty familiar with in Costa Rica. He discovered a way to combine his major and passion into a dream career.
Said Furbush, "I'm looking at how aerospace applications can be applied to climate change to make the world a better place, like cultivating land in places where they don't have as much water or resources or nutrients in the soil.
"I'm thinking about a master's program based on remote sensing, which is looking down on the earth from a satellite. I want to help figure out how we can apply that to agriculture operations, and how we can use that to form more sustainable and efficient farms."
The "science" of football and a more sustainable world are topics Furbush never tires of learning more about.
