When VCU fans look back on the 2007 CAA Championship game, most remember the heroics of Eric Maynor down the stretch in a 65-59 victory. However, with Michael Anderson in foul trouble, 6-10 center Calvin Roland came off the bench and gave the Rams one of the defining performances of his college career with 12 big points in 21 minutes.
Roland was also an inspirational figure for that VCU team. A native of Hephzibah, Ga. Roland played two years at Aiken Technical College before then-Rams’ coach Jeff Capel spotted him. Roland spent some of that time sleeping on the floor of the locker room.
As a junior, Roland averaged 4.3 points and 2.9 rebounds. His expectations were high heading into his senior year, but a back injury forced him to miss the entire 2005-06 season.
The following season, Roland’s father passed away from congestive heart failure. All the while, Roland kept working on his game and his grades. He eventually earned his master’s from the VCU Center for Sport Leadership in 2008. Since, he has played professionally in Germany and Iceland. This year he is suiting up in for CSU Sibiu in Romania, where he is averaging 7.9 points and 3.9 rebounds. Around The Horns recently caught up with Calvin Roland.
ATH: Calvin, most Rams’ fans last saw you when you were a part of that great 2006-07 VCU team that beat Duke. What have you been up to lately?
CR: Well these last years I've been doing quite a bit. As you all know I played in Germany for a few months but it didn't work out well because of some misleading information that I received while I was there with that team. I came back to Richmond and put my nice college degrees to some good use working at U-Turn Sports Academy where I worked for maybe a month before I was shipped off to Iceland to play there for a few months. Again, things didn't work out with that team I came back to Richmond to resume my post as a performance specialist for basketball at U-Turn for the rest of the year. I was an assistant coach for the 17U AAU boys team at U-Turn for the summer. I talk about U-Turn so much because I was able to make a living teaching what I love and still train to keep pursuing my dream to play professional basketball. So it all worked out pretty well. I left U-Turn to play for a semi-pro team that was based in my hometown of Augusta, Georgia. Even though there were some financial issues with that team I was glad that my family and friends could see me play at the professional level and they didn't have to take a 10-hour flight to do so.
ATH: How has Europe been treating you? How difficult of an adjustment was it for you to live in Europe half of the year?
CR: As far as the basketball side of things, Europe has some tough challenges for me, being the type of player that I am. My role changes because I'm expected to do so much more. Some places I've had to change my game around because of my size, because I'm not as tall and big as I thought I was. It's tough because I have to try and transition myself into this type of player by a certain time, then when management sees you play then you find out quickly that you’re not the type of player they are looking for. When this happens I just go back to the drawing board and work on everything for three possible positions I could play and that eliminates all the confusion. As far as the people, weather, and food it varies from place to place, but once I find out things I really like I tend to stick with those things.
It all depends on the contract you receive from the team, for instance most places have 3, 6, 8, 10 months you could be there.
For me I'm looking to complete my first season in Europe this year with no problems and I really hope all goes well with that. I think the biggest adjustment for me my first time was trying to learn the language because most people speak English but it's not the best but if you are willing to learn the language you will gain many friends who will teach you.
ATH: When you’re not in season, where can we find you?
CR: Well this off-season I will be in Richmond, Lima, Ohio and down in Augusta and Atlanta perfecting my craft. I actually picked up a new trade as well last off-season I worked in a dental lab making models for dentures and I really loved it and may pursue it in the future just to say that I've worked in dentistry.
ATH: In the eyes of VCU fans, the 2006-07 season has been described as magical. What do remember most about that experience?
CR: Wow! There are quite a few things that I remember from that season. The preseason was Holy Hell because we worked extremely hard to accomplish all that we did that year. Coach Grant believed, and he made us believe that we could do more than what we were doing. He challenged us academically and athletically to do our very best, and that if and when we did that, everything else would fall into place, which eventually happened. What everyone didn’t know is how hard the preseason was, along with practices and individual workouts, which allowed us to play and have fun in front of the VCU fans.
ATH: Your college experience was full of triumph and tragedy, from injuries and losing your father, to the NCAA Tournament. How did you manage to get through it all?
CR: I just prayed that God helped focus those things into positive energy and used all those things to fuel a fire that is burning deep within me to persevere and pursue what I was put on this earth to do. It wasn't easy because the year I redshirted was my final year and it was going to be my best year. I knew it, the coaches knew it and my teammates knew it because I had worked extremely hard in the off-season to have a better year than my first year at VCU. It was crazy because I talked with my dad after I got the news about me not being able to play and before I could tell him he told me that I was not going to play that year and that he had dreamed about it. I just felt like all of the work I had put in that off-season was all going down the drain, but it also opened my eyes and allowed me to know that I will not be able to play this game forever, and that I needed to focus more on my academics. I couldn't have made it without the support of my family, friends, teammates and a lot of the people at VCU that who showed their concerns for me at that time. Those people know who they are and if any of them get a chance to read this I would like to thank you all for showing your love and support.
ATH: Tell me something cool about Romania that you’ve seen or done over there.
CR: Well here quite a few of my teammates have had birthdays and one the traditions here is that when it's your birthday you have to buy a beer for everyone. So it's very different from the U.S. because as we all know when it's your birthday in the U.S. you get drinks bought for you.
ATH: You earned your bachelor’s degree in sports management, as well as a master’s in sport leadership from VCU. Given all that you’ve been through, what do those degrees mean to you?
CR: I have an associate's as well, but it's funny because growing up as much as I loved basketball I never thought I would play at the college level. That's only because I didn't believe in myself that I could do it. Then as I kept playing people begin to see my potential and told me how good I could really be, and if I gained some confidence I could get a scholarship for basketball. All of this was new information to me because once I found out that if I received a college scholarship I didn't have to pay for anything and my parents didn't have to pay for anything the hard work immediately began. On the other hand I was the first to graduate from college in my family three times and that was a major accomplishment for me because I finally believed in myself that I could do something with my life. Honestly, the education I received pursuing those degree's means so much more because I gained so much experience and knowledge and that's something no one can ever take away from me. As far as my degree's they helped me get ahead of my competition in the working world.
ATH: That 2006-07 VCU team is one of the best in school history. What was it about that team that made it so successful?
CR: I think it had to be with us getting a new coach and us trusting him and buying in to what he was teaching us. For that that to happen we had to create a chemistry and a bond with each other that no one could break. I can truly say that I love each and every person that was affiliated with that team.
ATH: Your father passed away on Christmas Eve in 2006. What’s the most important thing your father ever taught you?
CR: My father taught me many important things growing up but the most important would be the value of hard work. My dad worked me and my brothers and my sister hard growing up. My dad worked full-time for Kimberly-Clark, and he had his own business on the side (Roland Construction), along with some farming here and there. So you can imagine the big family I have and we had to help him with his construction and with the farming. So my summers were tough. I saw how hard my dad worked to provide for the family and he worked so hard until he became ill. That's when I put in my mind I wanted to work hard and provide for my family, but I will also work smart so I can watch my family grow and be a part of the many things to come with my family.
ATH: When your basketball career is over, whenever that may be, what do you see yourself doing?
CR: I really want to coach basketball, because for me being a player, I’ve learned so much from the coaches I've played for. Since I've been playing professionally you realize how strategic the game becomes because of the players and the general managers. I have many things that I want to pursue when I'm done playing. I may even want to work in dentistry for some time. Only God knows and I know.
ATH: What do you miss most about your college days at VCU?
CR: Wow! I truly miss running out into that sea of black and gold on game nights. I miss the many friends that I accumulated in my three years there. I must say I do miss VCU because I cherished every moment there.
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CATCHING UP WITH CALVIN ROLAND 
ATH: How has Europe been treating you? How difficult of an adjustment was it for you to live in Europe half of the year? 
ATH: Your college experience was full of triumph and tragedy, from injuries and losing your father, to the NCAA Tournament. How did you manage to get through it all?