FauxMo

May 21st, 2017 at 5:04 PM ^

I saw this last night on the ESPN ticker. If I remember correctly, he is the one who said, "I went to bed a Wolverine, and woke up a Seminole." Everyone on the Scout board (where I was a member at the time) said he was full of it, talking about his academic commitment but choosing FSU over UM. Welp, he was legitimate... Good for him... 

SeattleWolverine

May 21st, 2017 at 5:19 PM ^

The guy who woke up a Seminole was Travis Johnson, DT in 2000. 

 

Rolle was obviously a legit smart guy, but he did have FSU and OK in his final 5 which was kind of indicative that while academics mattered, the football program was still a huge factor in his recruitment. The Scout/Rivals "insiders" in that 2005 (?) class relied on his comments and concluded that he was going to M over some other schools because of his talk about the importance of school. But what they should have picked on was the oddity of having FSU/OK as finalists and how tthat actually reflected a decision process with different criteria than what he was saying in interviews, rather than a potential competitive advantage for M because of the better academics. Oh well. 

A2toGVSU

May 22nd, 2017 at 9:27 PM ^

As a 16 or 17 year old recruit, he openly stated his goal to be a Rhodes scholar. He challenged Michigan and FSU to show him how the respective programs would help him get there. Rolle was fully aware that Michigan was the higher rated institution academically. Michigan knew this, too, and gave him a fairly generic academic presentation about how great it is here. FSU put together a fully tailored and specific plan for him to get where he wanted to go. His recruitment is the greatest example anyone can point to of Michigan Arrogance backfiring.

True Blue Grit

May 21st, 2017 at 5:06 PM ^

you had to bring up his name - one of the Michigan recruitments I am still most angry about.  I felt all along he and Michigan were perfect matches, only to see him stolen away by FSU at the last second.  Still stings.  Nonetheless, I'm happy for the guy and glad to see he has achieved his dream of becoming a doctor.  

LSAClassOf2000

May 21st, 2017 at 5:26 PM ^

He was a Rhodes Scholar too, as I recall, one of only four to ever come from Florida State. If I remember correctly, the NCAA had to make a special provision for him to fly to that interview as it was the week of the FSU-Maryland game in 2009, and he was awarded the scholarship about three hours before the game was scheduled to start.

Great read and good luck to him. 

lhglrkwg

May 21st, 2017 at 7:56 PM ^

Some people just have an unfair collection of skills. High level FBS player, Rhodes scholar, Harvard medicine, handsome dude. Save some for the rest of us man

Craptain Crunch

May 21st, 2017 at 9:07 PM ^

There are other schools where young men can go play football, play school and have success other than at Michigan.

 

 

seegoblu

May 22nd, 2017 at 7:24 AM ^

I lumped him in with all of those recruits who say that they are prioritizing academics when listing their ideal fit for college...and then pick a football factory (I'm looking at you De'Shawn Hand).

Dr. Rolle seems to be the exception. Damn if he didn't get it all done, as he said he would. However, I wonder if he could have accomplished what he wanted had he attended UM. I had a pre-med roommate freshman year (insanely bright, and insane) who proved that you could (and probably needed to) study 24 hours a day. I don't know how anyone could have added 40 hours of FB practice/meetings every week for the first semester and still stay on track for pre-med at UM.

Kudos to Dr. Rolle.