Myron Rolle Is Rhodes Scholar Candidate.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- For Myron Rolle, the student part of being a student-athlete comes first.

Even on game day.

The Florida State safety will be a late arrival to the Seminoles' crucial game at No. 25 Maryland on Saturday night because earlier in the day he'll be interviewing in Alabama to become a Rhodes Scholar.

After a month of bad publicity for Florida State football because of player suspensions, and with the school also waiting to hear from the NCAA about penalties for an academic cheating scandal, the positive attention Rolle has brought the Seminoles couldn't come at a better time.

"In the midst of the troubles that have gone on here at Florida State academically, there are still student-athletes doing the right thing," Rolle said. "Possibly we can move that perception from being a school that's just focused on partying and athletics."

The 22-year-old aspiring neurosurgeon could become the school's second athlete, and third student, in three years to win a Rhodes Scholarship and the opportunity to study for two years at the University of Oxford in England. NCAA shot put champion Garrett Johnson of Tampa was one of 32 Americans to earn the scholarship three years ago.

It'll be quite a busy Saturday for Rolle. He's scheduled to finish his day in Birmingham, Ala., at roughly 6 p.m. (ET) before boarding a private plane to catch up with his teammates in College Park, Md., that starts at 7:45 p.m.

In a muddled Atlantic Coast Conference race, it's a huge game. Maryland (7-3, 4-2) can win the Atlantic Division by winning its remaining games. The Seminoles (7-3, 4-3) need two victories and some help to take the division title and earn a spot in the conference championship game on Dec. 6 in Tampa.

So being without Rolle, one of Florida State's best defensive players, is no small thing for coach Bobby Bowden. Still, the 79-year-old coach didn't hesitate to give Rolle his blessing.

"It's a no-brainer," Bowden said. "I know academics comes first."

Bowden has never coached a Rhodes Scholar during a career spanning six decades.

"I really don't know of anything higher than to have a player who is a recipient of a Rhodes scholarship," Bowden said Wednesday.

Whether he wins the scholarship, Rolle, a junior, has also talked about possibly entering the NFL draft early.

He could face a unique choice -- the NFL or Oxford.

Bowden said Rolle's game could use more schooling.

"He definitely needs to make more big plays," the coach said.

Rolle has started 36 straight games at safety since arriving at Florida State from New Jersey as one of the nation's most celebrated recruits.

He's been a dependable tackler, but he has only one interception in his career, and none the past two seasons.

In the class room, however, Rolle has few weaknesses.

He's working on a master's degree in public administration after graduating earlier this year with a degree in exercise science and a 3.75 grade point average.

Rolle arrived at Florida State with quarterback Christian Ponder on the same day in January 2006 to begin class work a semester early. Both graduated in August, with Ponder earning a 3.71 in the university's business college.

"We were always comparing GPA's," Ponder said. "We've always been pretty competitive about it."

Although he'd like a crack at pro football, Rolle's long-term goal is to earn a medical degree and he's spent time on stem cell research at Florida State.

He's dreamed about the Rhodes possibility since Johnson, a friend and mentor to Rolle, was selected just a few months before Rolle arrived on campus.

He wrote a 1,000-word personal statement that he revised "about 17 or 18 times" and provided letters of recommendation from professors at Florida State and people in the community who have known him.

Perhaps no individual has worked much closer than defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews.

When Andrews got a call last week that Rolle had a C-plus on a graduate course, he couldn't believe what he'd heard.

"I couldn't wait to approach him on it," Andrews said. "I don't think he's ever had a C."

But Rolle told the coach not to worry.

"I'll never make a C in that course," Rolle told him.

"How many times do you get a guy like that?" Andrews asked. "A guy you don't ever have to discipline."

Whatever happens, Saturday is a day that Rolle won't forget.

"Win or lose, it'll be a great day for him," said Johnson, who is now back at Florida State where he's resumed training throwing the shot put. "It's an exhilarating experience. The culmination of a lot of hard work."

Rolle Wins Rhodes Scholorship.

Florida State safety Myron Rolle won a Rhodes scholarship less than three hours before the Seminoles kicked off in College Park against Maryland.

Rolle was one of seven finalists who interviewed in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday. He then boarded a charter plane and flew to Baltimore to join his teammates.

Rolle is the third Florida State student, and only football player, to win the award in the last four years. NCAA shot put champion Garrett Johnson and Joe O'Shea also won. Rolle, an aspiring neurosurgeon, will now decide between the NFL and an all-expense paid scholarship for two or three years of study at Oxford University in England.

He finished the interview in Birmingham, Ala., around 6 p.m. EST before boarding a private plane to catch up with his teammates for the game that started around 7:45.

Rolle arrived in the second quarter but did not immediately get into the game.

Florida State entered with an outside chance of playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game next month. The Seminoles (7-3, 4-3) needed to beat Maryland and have the Terrapins defeat Boston College next week.

Rolle is one of Florida State's best defensive players, but coach Bobby Bowden was quick to allow the student-athlete to miss the start of the game.

"It's a no-brainer," Bowden said earlier in the week. "I know academics comes first."

Bowden, 79, had never coached a Rhodes scholar during a career spanning six decades.

He seems like a good kid. I liked the Gatoraide dunk on him last night.

FSU needed that. Congrats to a bright young man. I saw the clip of him on ESPN yesterday morning. He has a great head on his shoulders,and is one of the few that remembers academics>athletics.

He's an outstanding football player also. Great to see, I wish more would follow his lead.

I wonder if this will keep him from playing in the NFL?

haha its so weird hearing about an intelligent fsu player

its great, jus very unusual haha