MORNINGMANIAC's Blog

On New Years Day...we said goodbye to a man who lived his life for the man above...

A man who had two of his own children and many other young men that looked at him as a father figure...I first met Dennis Roland on a hot summer day in El Paso, TX...He was one of four coaches in the Sun Bowl the day I worked out with the teams starting Quarterback...After the workout coach remarked that he'd take me on the defensive side of the ball if I got tired of playing wide receiver...From that point on he became a fan of mine and even more importantly I was one of his biggest fans too...

It was just a few words that he shared with me some time later during a seven on seven drill during practice...He told me that "I could be something special, if I wanted to be" and those words stay with me to this day...Even when I didnt deserve a fan he found a way to lift me up--and I've never forgotten his support--

This past Saturday we paid our respects  in Coach's home town of Cochran,GA.... At his homegoing service we heard many stories of the lives he touched...the racial barriers he broke down...the friends he made and more importantly kept...And  the fact that those who knew him best--never heard him even whisper an ill word about another human being...He couldn't lived a better life--leading many young men to the word of god...and not only sharing his love for his savior but living it as well...He walked the walk and talked the talk for the lord....His son found a scripture scribbled on a piece of paper in his hospital room which summed up the character of Dennis Roland...It was from the book of Job 13:15 and simply read..."Though he slay me...I will still trust in him...

Coach Roland was put here not just to win football games...he was put here to help shape and mold better young men...In that regard he is the winner and will always be thought of as a winner!  For Coach lives on in all the young mens' lives that he touched-including yours truly....Those angels in heaven had better get in shape because a new head coach is running Gods' offense now and he loves to air it out! God Bless Coach Roland and Thank you so much for the life lessons!