Former FSU star and Lott Trophy Finalist Rolle funds children’s health program
Former Florida State football All-American Myron Rolle has teamed with the U.S. Department of the Interior to begin a program aimed at improving the health and physical fitness of American Indians.
Rolle, who begins a Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford next week, first became involved with this issue at FSU while working with the Seminole tribe. His foundation and the Department of the Interior will fund the “Our Way to Health” programs at five Bureau of Indian Education-funded schools in Arizona and New Mexico beginning this fall. The six-week programs will offer incentive-based activities that stress team building, nutrition and education about diabetes, which strikes many American Indians.
“There will be educational and athletic components that will be tailored to each specific tribe,” Rolle said. “We want these kids to embrace exercise and diet for themselves, but also to teach it to their siblings and parents.”
Students will be divided into teams that will compete for points. The winners from the two states will be honored at an Arizona Cardinal game in January.
Rolle put a possible professional career on hold to pursue the Rhodes Scholarship, a decision he said he has never regretted. He will study medical anthropology at Oxford, an area that looks at the social and cultural aspects of medicine. Rolle plans to eventually earn a medical degree and play professionally.
The former defensive back continues to follow FSU and coach Bobby Bowden.
“They made some things happen last week at BYU (in an upset of the then-No. 9 Cougars) but their defense still needs to get on the right page,” Rolle said. “I think it’s going to be a 10- or 11-win season with a big bowl game. … And I hope Coach Bowden stays as long as he can. I’m a big fan, and once he retires, all of college football will suffer a loss.”
Named after Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Founded in 2004 by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The Lott Trophy is the first and only college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. The Lott Trophy is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation and the Legends Coaches which is a distinguished group of former college football head coaches. The sixth annual Lott Trophy dinner will be held December 13th at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California. For more information on The Lott Trophy visit: http://www.LottTrophy.com.