Friday, November 28, 2008

Myron Rolle: Emerging Community Leader


Not all college football players take their studies seriously. Some do.

Among those who go "beyond serious" on the field and in the classroom is Florida State University safety, Myron Rolle.

The New York Times' Pete Thamel told part of Rolle's story in last Thursday's edition of the paper ("For Florida State Player and Scholar, Game Day Is Different"). I think y0u'll be inspired and encouraged.

Here's how the story begins:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — By 5 p.m. on Saturday, Florida State safety Myron Rolle will find out if he is among the 32 winners of a Rhodes Scholarship, perhaps the world’s most prestigious postgraduate academic award.

At 7:45, Rolle’s Seminoles teammates will play at Maryland in a pivotal Atlantic Coast Conference matchup. Because Rolle’s final interview is in Birmingham, Ala., a private plane and about 700 miles will play an integral part in one of the most compelling story lines in college football this weekend.

Rolle’s decision to risk missing all or part of the game in order to be interviewed for the Rhodes Scholarship, and find out if he joins elite student-athletes like Bill Bradley in winning the Rhodes, has resonated deeply at Florida State. The university is in the final stages of dealing with an academic scandal in the athletic department that affected the eligibility of 60 athletes and resulted in three firings and self-imposed probation.

Read the entire report here.

1 comment:

Jeremy Gregg said...

Amazing story! After his announcement that he not only won the award but will forego his senior year to accept the award, I found this nice report on the contrasts provided by the media coverage of sports:

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_140212.asp

Let us celebrate the hero that is, not the hero who never allowed himself to be.