Florida State's Rolle headed for Oxford

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -Florida State safety Myron Rolle will study at Oxford instead of entering this year's NFL draft.

Rolle won a Rhodes scholarship in November and plans to seek a one-year master's degree in medical anthropology, The New York Times reported Monday in an entry on its college football blog.

"I'm very excited to go," Rolle wrote in a text message to the newspaper.

Rolle, projected to be an early round pick, said he plans to enter the 2010 NFL draft.

Rolle, from Galloway, N.J., got his undergraduate degree in pre-med after two and a half years, and has been taking graduate courses at Florida State this year.

After his NFL career, Rolle has said he plans to attend medical school and then open a clinic for the needy in the Bahamas.




[Edited 1/13/09 15:31pm]

Florida State's Myron Rolle wins Rhodes Scholarship
By DEREK REDD

Special to The Palm Beach Post

Saturday, November 22, 2008

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Bobby Bowden has had Heisman Trophy, Lombardi Trophy and Thorpe Award winners on his Florida State football team. He's never had a Rhodes Scholar - until Saturday.

Safety Myron Rolle won one of 32 Rhodes Scholarships following interviews in Birmingham, Ala. He is the fourth FSU student to win the prestigious award and the third in four years. Rolle also is the second FSU student-athlete in four years to win, joining former NCAA shot put champion Garrett Johnson, who won in 2006.

"I've learned so much just by going through the process of application and interviews, and I am a better person for it," Rolle said in a university release. "The interview process requires candidates to evaluate their long-term goals and plans, and it has made me think about how I can make the most impact in terms of service to society.

"The whole experience has been inspiring," he added, "and I appreciate the assistance of so many faculty and staff at Florida State as well as the encouragement and support of my football coaches."

It was the first half of a whirlwind day for Rolle, who left Birmingham and flew via FSU-chartered jet to College Park to join his teammates at Saturday's Florida State-Maryland game.

Rolle earned his undergraduate degree in exercise science in 2 1/2 years and is studying for a master's in public administration with designs on going to medical school.

He earned his bachelor's with a 3.75 GPA. He founded "Our Way to Health," a curriculum addressing diabetes and obesity for fifth graders at a charter school run by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. He also helped this summer in conducting research on cancer and stem cells.

"Florida State University's most treasured values of strength, skill and character live in Myron Rolle," President T.K. Wetherell said in a university release. "He is a remarkable young man and a tremendous example for all of our students."

Rolle, second on the team in both tackles and pass break-ups, will enroll at Oxford in a master's degree program in medical anthropology, studying the sociocultural aspects of medicine.

Following that, he hopes to play in the NFL before attending medical school. He would like to practice medicine in the United States, as well as help in developing countries.

Awesome.

I wonder if he's related to Samari Rolle?

violator said:

From wikipedia:

Samari Rolle is the cousin of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco and former NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson. He is also a distant cousin of Florida State safety Myron Rolle.
[Edited 1/13/09 15:38pm]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.- High academic achievement? Check. Integrity of character? Check. A spirit of unselfishness, respect for others, potential for leadership and physical vigor? Check, check, check and check.

Florida State University student-athlete Myron Rolle, 22, is seemingly the living embodiment of the criteria established more than 100 years ago for the Rhodes Scholarship - one of the oldest and most prestigious awards for international study. The Rhodes Trust agreed, and today named Rolle one of 32 U.S. Rhodes Scholars for 2009 - the first time in nearly 25 years it has awarded the scholarship to a prominent college football player.

“I feel very fortunate to have been selected as a Rhodes Scholar,” Rolle said. “I’ve learned so much just by going through the process of application and interviews, and I am a better person for it. The interview process requires candidates to evaluate their long-term goals and plans, and it has made me think about how I can make the most impact in terms of service to society. The whole experience has been inspiring, and I appreciate the assistance of so many faculty and staff at Florida State as well as the encouragement and support of my football coaches.”

Rolle is the fourth Florida State student ever to be named a Rhodes Scholar. He follows in the footsteps of former Student Body President Joe O’Shea (2008), student-athlete Garrett Johnson (2006) and Caroline Alexander (1976). The scholarships provide all expenses for up to two or three years of study at the University of Oxford in England.

“Florida State University’s most treasured values of strength, skill and character live in Myron Rolle,” said President T.K. Wetherell. “He is a remarkable young man and a tremendous example for all of our students. The entire Florida State community joins me in congratulating him on this wonderful accomplishment.”

The Rhodes is a crowning achievement for the student-athlete who aspires to both the NFL and medical school. Graduating in just two-and-a-half years with a 3.75 grade point average, Rolle completed all the necessary pre-medical requirements and earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Florida State in August. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public administration.

Along the way, Rolle founded Our Way to Health, a fifth-grade curriculum that addresses diabetes and obesity for students at a charter school run by the Seminole Tribe of Florida; conducted research on the metabolic profile of stem and cancer cells; tutored at-risk eighth-graders; studied abroad; and played the position of safety - he’s one of the best in the nation - for the Florida State Seminoles football team.

He also racked up numerous academic, athletic and leadership awards. Among them:

-Florida State’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Award, which provides $4,000 for undergraduates to pursue research in their field of study.

-Vires Award, given annually to one FSU student who best represents “intellectual and moral strength.”

-Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, inductee.

In addition, Rolle has held several leadership positions since arriving on Florida State’s campus as a freshman in spring 2006. He currently serves as a student representative on the University Athletics Committee and the Equity and Student Athlete Welfare Committee and is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference Student Athlete Advisory Council. He previously served as vice president of the Student Athlete Advisory Council and as a member of the executive board for the Seminole Student Boosters.

“We are extremely proud of Myron Rolle,” said Director of Athletics Randy Spetman. “This is a tremendous honor for Myron and reflects the outstanding academic environment our students have at Florida State University. To accomplish what Myron has academically and with his commitment to community service while handling the sometimes-overwhelming demands placed on someone playing football in such a high-profile program is remarkable. We are proud that he represents this university and college football so well.”

Rolle, who hails from Galloway, N.J., began receiving national attention while still in high school. He was rated the No. 1 high school prospect in the country by ESPN and in 2006 received the Franklin D. Watkins Memorial Trophy Award, which is awarded to the top African-American high-school senior student-athlete in America.

At Oxford, Myron will enroll in a master’s degree program in medical anthropology that examines the sociocultural aspects of medicine. After completing his studies there, Rolle hopes to play professional football - many analysts project that he will be a first round pick - before going to medical school. He would like to practice medicine in the United States as well as assist medical efforts in developing countries, especially the Bahamas, his parents’ native country.

“Myron is a determined and focused leader who is an excellent student, a superior athlete and a compassionate humanitarian,” said Jamie Purcell, director of Florida State’s Office of National Fellowships. “I’m delighted that Myron will have the opportunity to join the distinguished community of Rhodes Scholars, which includes our own Garrett Johnson and Joe O’Shea. To know that Joe and Myron will be studying at Oxford together next year is an absolute thrill.”

For any university to have three Rhodes Scholars in four years is no small feat, according to Karen Laughlin, dean of Undergraduate Studies. The selection process is highly competitive with more than 1,000 nominees seeking 32 scholarships. Two scholars are chosen from each of 16 regions across the United States.

“We are tremendously proud of what Myron has achieved,” Laughlin said. “His commitment to research and to serving the community has enriched his work in a very demanding pre-med curriculum and has prepared him well to be someone who can continue to make a difference in the lives of others. It is truly inspiring to see how he has maintained his academic focus while also performing at a high level in his sport.”

Yey!!!!!

Oxford is amazing.

That's some husband material right there.

SCNDLS said:

Them some GREAT genes. Damn! ALL of those dudes?

MuthaFunka said:

You ain't neva lied.

Good on him. The sports and entertainment worlds need more folks like this guy, and less wannabe thugs and drunk girls.

Wonderful news!!

Glad for him, but schools don't close. I hope he still has NFL quality stuff in a year.

Mars23 said:

For the Rhodes scholarship it was now or never.