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Fines Makes His Family Proud

National Signing Day At Freedom High School

Freedom High senior defensive lineman Rolando Fines enjoys signing day with his mother, Jezreel, left, sister Genesis, grandmother Maria and sister Natasha.

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By Nick Williams of The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 6, 2008

New Tampa - 2:30 p.m. - National Signing Day was a joyful and emotional day for Rolando Fines and his family. On Wednesday inside Freedom's conference room, Fines signed his letter-of-intent to play for Jacksonville University, but securing the next four years of his life wasn't all the 6-foot-2, 250-pound defensive lineman accomplished. He will be the first person from his family to attend college.

A year before his birth, Fines' grandmother, Maria, decided it was time for her family to leave Puerto Rico for the United States. Maria left with her daughter, Jezreel (Fines' mother), and her two brothers.

''Grandma brought everybody down,'' Fines said. ''We started a new life down here.''

But life in Florida wasn't easy. Jezreel was forced to raise four children as a single parent. Fines, the oldest child, also received interest from The Citadel, but wanted to stay in Florida to be close to his family. Other than his two uncles, he is the only male in the family.

''I wanted to stay close to my mother,'' Fines said. ''I have three sisters and six cousins that are all girls.''

Fines was dressed in a slick black suit with a green vest and tie. He said he couldn't get enough compliments on his attire at school.

''People were shaking my hand as I walked down the hall,'' he said. ''I'm an usher at my church, so I have all types of suits in different colors.''

Freedom punter Cass Couey also signed on Wednesday, deciding with The Citadel.

''It feels great to know where I'm going,'' Couey said.

First-year Freedom coach Marquel Blackwell, the former USF quarterback, was happy for his players.

''I'm excited for those two guys,'' Blackwell said. ''Since I got there, they came to work every day.''

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