Leave Me Alone, I'm Watching the Game!
Myron’s Roll Has Nothing to Do with Football
By Ali Danois
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This past Saturday evening, the Florida State Seminoles slapped around the University of Maryland Terrapins, 37-3, at Byrd Stadium in a crucial, Atlantic Coast Conference football match up. The game was huge for both teams, with ramifications that extended beyond the battle for the ACC’s Atlantic Division crown. Both teams were 7-3 and a possible a $17.5 million BCS bowl game appearance was the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for the victor, supposing they win the remainder of their games.
Unfortunately for Florida State, their best player was not on the field at the start of the game. And before your mind takes you there, he wasn’t suspended for any drug infractions, criminal activity or academic deficiencies.
Standout Safety Myron Rolle, an incredible athletic talent with a certified future as a first round draft pick in the National Football League, had another commitment to tend to earlier that day.
The pre-med major with a 3.75 GPA was in Birmingham, Alabama, to interview for the Rhodes Scholarship. Only 32 students are annually awarded the opportunity to study for two years at Oxford University in England. To be selected as a Rhodes Scholar is the most prestigious academic honor an American undergraduate can receive.
Rolle, who completed his college degree in only two and a half years, is the youngest of five brothers. His parents, natives of the Bahamas, have always been academic minded. Ever since middle school, Rolle has had his sights on a career as a neurosurgeon.
When speaking about the prospect of being awarded the Rhodes Scholarship a few weeks ago, he said he planned to study medical anthropology with some of the greatest minds in the world. The knowledge he’d gain with his study of the cultural and social tentacles of medical care would be a tremendous asset, given that he plans to open low cost clinics in the Bahamas and around the world.
Last spring, Rolle spent six months studying abroad in London and Morocco. He was awarded a $4,000 cancer research grant this summer. This year, he’s also one of 15 finalists for the Bednarick Award, which is annually given to college football’s top defensive player. He’s currently taking graduate school classes in public administration.
By his junior year of high school, at the Hun School in Princeton, New Jersey, he’d already had his goals laid out. He wanted to play big-time college football and graduate in three years. He wanted to be a top pick in the NFL draft, become a doctor and help people in need.
At the conclusion of his interview in Alabama, Rolle was informed that he, indeed, was awarded the scholarship. He then hopped a private jet and flew to Maryland. He arrived at the stadium slightly after 8:30pm and entered the game with 1:30 left in the second quarter.
Now, the young man has a true dilemma on his hands. He’ll have to choose between immediate NFL millions or the ultimate two year commitment toward scholarly prestige and academic pursuits.
Rolle seems very comfortable setting aside a guaranteed bonus that could exceed $20 million in order to follow his heart.
“I’m a student first, I’ve always valued education,” Rolle recently told Stewart Mandel of Sports Illustrated. “People who are Rhodes Scholars have continued to tell me this is an experience you can’t get anywhere else. It would be hard to turn it down.”
In today’s major college sports culture rife with academic scandal and criminal conduct, we need to cheer the young man who already has a degree, some perspective, a fabulous future at hand and a Rhodes Scholarship, to boot.
And maybe he’ll inspire more big time athletes to miss a portion of a big game or two, and not because they failed some classes, tested positive for drugs or got arrested.
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Great piece on Myron. He is an inspiration to all. The only unfortunate aspect of his story is that his priorities are the exception and not the rule in today’s college game. Hopefully this piece will continue to open the eyes of kids who are just starting to formulate their dreams. Myron has a bright future and is a true hero— and should be emulated by as many kids as possible.
Great writing by Ali Danois
> Mike Foley
Inspirational story! How fortunate to have such wonderful opportunities. Terrific piece, AD.
> Diane
This is the kind of story not only sports media but media in general need to report on. Thanks Ali D. keep it coming.
> Zack Coleman
What an extraordinary young man! Myron defies all stereotypes and redefines what is possible. Hopefully coaches and teachers will take note of his accomplishments. It’s not always youngsters who pigeonhole themselves. All too often, students athletes are forced to choose athletics or academics by teachers or coaches who are too rigid about scheduling conflicts.
Nice article!
P.S. Just don’t tell me Myron’s and amazing musician, volunteer fireman, and olympic marathon contender too. While I’m proud of him, Myron already makes the rest of us feel like we could do so much more.
> yowoody
I agree with you Ali, we must place more emphasis on those athletes that are strong off the field. With such a small portion of college athletes making it to the pros there are plenty collegiate athletes placing their priorities on their academics but you can’t flip on CBS to watch these students hit the books, revise a resume, or sweat through an interview. Yes the sports channels make an effort to highlight those athletes with strong academics but that is not the focus of these channels and as a result the academic strengths of our nations college students are highly underplayed. But people don’t turn on CBS to watch academic and professional development and the responsibility is not in the hands of CBS, nor should it be. The responsibility is in the hands of the universities and athletes. Our universities fight to win the big game to get big bucks, placing pressure on the athletes who are already pressured to hold on to their athletic scholarships and make the grade, where do you find room as an collegiate athlete to become an academic Rolle model? I applaud Rolle and other athletes such as himself and I hope our colleges and mainstream media find a way to highlight more individuals such as Rolle, our youth need it.
> Keelan
This article is exactly the type of information that must be uncovered and shared with all. The stakes are higher and the bar grows daily. More of our youth must pursue education, commerce, entrepreneurship, as well as any of many professions as viable opportunities beyond sports and entertainment to make it.
Why should his decision surprise and even shock some? Because a price tag can’t be placed on dreams, goals and commitments. But, as he mentioned, he will no doubt accomplish all of the goals that he has set and more, including becoming a Rhodes Scholar as well as being drafted in the NFL. Another reason for his decision could be attributed to the fact that he didn’t set the C.R.E.A.M. as one of his goals.
Keep Pushing,
RK
> Ricco Keyes
This a great piece. It is very well written and is in fact more entertaining than the actual game.
I watched a portion of the game on Saturday and do hope that Rolle becomes a role model for the athlete of the future. If we can have change at the Presidential level we can only hope that similar change is possible on the athletic fields.
> Deano
Good to see the concept of a big time college student athlete isn’t always an oxymoron. Nice work Ali.
> Tony Frazier
tony frazier,
did you call me a moron? lol
i knew that myron rolle’s story would resonate with folks. and althought there may not be rhodes scholars around every corner, college rosters DO have some wonderful young men and women who take their studies very seriously.
and we should be giving those true student/athletes as much pub as we give the knuckleheads who cause nothing but public relations nightmares for their schools and athletic departments.
> ali
Great work as always, AD. I must admit that while sport is not my thing, I am nevertheless fascinated by each player’s story - what makes them tick, the aspirations, the challenges, the triumphs. I’m looking forward to seeing what this cat does next. Thanks.
> S. Dot
I can’t say that I’m a loyal follower of football, pro or college, but I do enjoy reading articles like this when they come to my attention. What I just read just screams of positivity on so many levels. We hear so much about pro and college level athletes who are finding themselves on the wrong side of the law these days; it’s refreshing to hear about an athlete like Roll who’s doing his thing academically, and to have the kind of choices that he has for his future. I also commend the author (of whom I’ve read his articles before) for continuing to highlight profiles such as these, in a positive and inspiring manner. I look forward to a follow-up from Mr. Danois when Rolls makes his final decision and/or when he’s done with his 2 year Rhodes committment.
> S. Marquez
As usual your article is inspiring, exciting and refreshing. Keep up the good work.
> Christopher Cisco
With all the negativity that is always publicized (especially when the athlete is black), it is refreshing to read about a young man of Myron Rolle’s character. I believe he is headed for big things whether or not he decides to play Pro Football. A real success story and a credit to his Family.
> Carl Elliott
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