Duke offensive lineman Fred Roland is entering his senior season with the Blue Devils. Expected to anchor the front line, Roland took time to talk with theACC.com about sports, family and his thoughts on the upcoming season.
Starting off easy...What is something you can do that most people probably don't know?
I've been told I can sing. That's one I usually keep to myself.
How many brothers and sisters do you have?
I have four brothers and one sister.
What sports did you play growing up?
I actually didn't do much in other sports. I helped with basketball a little, doing drills with my brother. I did a little bit of track but nothing major.
Did you play football growing up?
I didn't as a child. I grew up in a household where all hands were on board to help work, so I didn't get involved in football until my eighth-grade year. I tried out in seventh grade but didn't make the team. I've pretty much been with it since eighth grade.
How supportive is your family?
Once I got involved, everyone was very supportive of me. It was hard to get me to start. I was mainly focused on making a living and trying to do well in school. I figured I would try it and I ended up loving it. My family has been very supportive ever since then. I come from a family full of athletes, from the oldest to the youngest, so it seemed like the natural path for me to take.
How many of your brothers and sisters played in college?
Three of us played in college. My second oldest brother Marcus played basketball in Alabama at Snead State Community College. My other brother Calvin played basketball at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Did you go to each other's games?
There is a lot of involvement from a distance. Our traveling abilities are a bit limited. We stay in contact with each other over the phone. They try to catch the games on TV whenever they can, and I would do the same for them when Calvin was in school. In high school they made almost every game, but now that I'm out of state, it's a little bit strenuous for them to get back and forth.
Why did you choose Duke?
The proximity to home. It is far enough away that I can't go home every weekend, but still close enough that I can get home if I need to. It is a great school. I wanted a chance to get a really good education and compete in the best conference in the United States. It is the best of both worlds for me.
What are your expectations for the upcoming season?
I have really high expectations for the season. I feel like this will be a season unlike any other.
What has changed from last year to this year with Coach Cutcliffe?
There is a higher level of accountability amongs the team and then from the coaches to the team and also from the team to the coaches. There is a heightened sense of accountability for everyone to do their jobs.
How was the conditioning this offseason? How much weight have you lost?
There is nothing but positive results from the conditioning. As a team we did really well. We each set goals with the training staff and the coaches and, to my knowledge, everyone made it. My goal was to lose 10 pounds and a little over two percent body fat and I surpassed that as far as body fat and still maintaining weight. That was really good. You can see the positives from that and you can see the effects in the way we practice and the way we prepare for each scrimmage and game.
Duke opens the season on Saturday when they welcome James Madison to Wallace Wade Stadium at 7:00 p.m.
