Sometimes, dreams are just thoughts conjured up in the mind with bits of detail scattered about. Some people go about their days wishing for dreams to come true, while others take hold and make them happen. Jeff Hoblick ‘14 is one of those go-getters; he had a dream, he chased it, and tackled it into reality.
As founder and president of the Rollins College Football Club, Hoblick’s dream of bringing football to Rollins has come true. This fall, students, strapped up in shoulder pads and helmets, will be lining up to play the game they love. Fans will tailgate before games and families and friends will cheer from the bleachers. Touchdowns will be scored. Games will be lost and won. The game of football will bring a community together and strengthen our student body, a goal of Hoblick’s from day one when he first thought of bringing football to Rollins.
“I wanted to build upon the campus life and bring positive attention to Rollins,” said Hoblick. “Football can be used to unite a campus and provide a sense of pride within the students and faculty.”
Just recently, the Rollins Football Club has become the newest member of the National Club Football Association. Not only does this further prove the legitimacy of the program, but it also puts Rollins alongside other schools such as Clemson University, the University of North Carolina and the University of South Alabama, who all have club teams on campus.
Four games have been scheduled, starting with a controlled scrimmage on Sept. 3 against Ave Maria University in Bonita Springs, Florida. The team will then travel to Mobile, Ala. on Oct. 1 to face the University of South Alabama before hosting Weber Int’l at Showalter Field in Winter Park on Monday, Oct. 24. It will be the first college game in Winter Park in over 60 years. The last scheduled game is Oct. 30 at Chattahoochee Tech in Marietta, Ga.
Hoblick spearheaded the idea of bringing football to Rollins, but this is not the first time he has had a big idea. Growing up playing sports, Hoblick was always around different athletic events. Sports became a major role in his young life but he was not merely a player on the field—he was a thinker, too. As a youngster, Hoblick kept notebooks full of made-up leagues where he took elements from the games he knew and combined them with others to make something original.
In high school, Hoblick was the proud founder of Extreme Pool Basketball, a two-on-two basketball league that played in the chlorine-filled pools of Central Florida. It caught on with quite a following after a Facebook page was made and matches between Winter Park and Maitland were created. I am not clear on all of the rules but surely dunks from a diving board were outlawed. Or maybe not. They could have just counted extra.
While the goal behind those games may have been to have fun, Hoblick has higher hopes for the Rollins football team. “Ideally, my goal for this season is to have safe and effective practices and to keep players on task in academics and conduct,” said Hoblick. “For our home game on October 24, I would love to have a huge crowd with pregame entertainment suitable for all ages. A family tailgate atmosphere. We really want to compete and score some touchdowns to give fans something to cheer about.”
Hoblick hopes that football and all that it offers will help bring a campus and a community closer together. Soon, burgers will sizzle and hot dogs will blister over an open flame. The sweet smell of roasted pork will permeate through the crisp fall air. Smoke will rise toward the sky, signaling the home of a new festive environment. Kids full of smiles and Kool-Aid stained lips will run and play freely. Neighbors, family, alumni, students — a community — will come together for a team with history yet to be made. It is football season in Winter Park, the Rollins way.
For more information on how to get involved with the Rollins Football Club, visit Rollinssports.com.
Sometimes, dreams are just thoughts conjured up in the mind with bits of detail scattered about. Some people go about their days wishing for dreams to come true, while others take hold and make them happen. Jeff Hoblick ‘14 is one of those go-getters; he had a dream, he chased it, and tackled it into reality.
As founder and president of the Rollins College Football Club, Hoblick’s dream of bringing football to Rollins has come true. This fall, students, strapped up in shoulder pads and helmets, will be lining up to play the game they love. Fans will tailgate before games and families and friends will cheer from the bleachers. Touchdowns will be scored. Games will be lost and won. The game of football will bring a community together and strengthen our student body, a goal of Hoblick’s from day one when he first thought of bringing football to Rollins.
“I wanted to build upon the campus life and bring positive attention to Rollins,” said Hoblick. “Football can be used to unite a campus and provide a sense of pride within the students and faculty.”
Just recently, the Rollins Football Club has become the newest member of the National Club Football Association. Not only does this further prove the legitimacy of the program, but it also puts Rollins alongside other schools such as Clemson University, the University of North Carolina and the University of South Alabama, who all have club teams on campus.
Four games have been scheduled, starting with a controlled scrimmage on Sept. 3 against Ave Maria University in Bonita Springs, Florida. The team will then travel to Mobile, Ala. on Oct. 1 to face the University of South Alabama before hosting Weber Int’l at Showalter Field in Winter Park on Monday, Oct. 24. It will be the first college game in Winter Park in over 60 years. The last scheduled game is Oct. 30 at Chattahoochee Tech in Marietta, Ga.
Hoblick spearheaded the idea of bringing football to Rollins, but this is not the first time he has had a big idea. Growing up playing sports, Hoblick was always around different athletic events. Sports became a major role in his young life but he was not merely a player on the field—he was a thinker, too. As a youngster, Hoblick kept notebooks full of made-up leagues where he took elements from the games he knew and combined them with others to make something original.
In high school, Hoblick was the proud founder of Extreme Pool Basketball, a two-on-two basketball league that played in the chlorine-filled pools of Central Florida. It caught on with quite a following after a Facebook page was made and matches between Winter Park and Maitland were created. I am not clear on all of the rules but surely dunks from a diving board were outlawed. Or maybe not. They could have just counted extra.
While the goal behind those games may have been to have fun, Hoblick has higher hopes for the Rollins football team. “Ideally, my goal for this season is to have safe and effective practices and to keep players on task in academics and conduct,” said Hoblick. “For our home game on October 24, I would love to have a huge crowd with pregame entertainment suitable for all ages. A family tailgate atmosphere. We really want to compete and score some touchdowns to give fans something to cheer about.”
Hoblick hopes that football and all that it offers will help bring a campus and a community closer together. Soon, burgers will sizzle and hot dogs will blister over an open flame. The sweet smell of roasted pork will permeate through the crisp fall air. Smoke will rise toward the sky, signaling the home of a new festive environment. Kids full of smiles and Kool-Aid stained lips will run and play freely. Neighbors, family, alumni, students — a community — will come together for a team with history yet to be made. It is football season in Winter Park, the Rollins way.
For more information on how to get involved with the Rollins Football Club, visit Rollinssports. com.
Be First to Comment