July 16, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The appeal of Texas A&M University to the NCAA for a partial year of eligibility for Aggie senior basketball player Derrick Roland has been denied.
"I am disappointed to hear the news that Derrick Roland would not be given back this past year here at Texas A&M," Aggie men's basketball coach Mark Turgeon said. "We knew it was a hard and fast rule and the appeal would be a long shot, but we wanted to make the effort on D-Ro's behalf."
"D-Ro has been working really hard and is back to 100 percent," Turgeon continued. "He is ready to pursue a professional career and he will do well. Along with BD (Bryan Davis) and (Donald) Sloan, D-Ro will be greatly missed. They will be remembered as the guys who put together the winningest career in A&M basketball history.
The trio of seniors led Texas A&M to a school-record 100-38 overall record for their four years. The Aggies made four straight second-round NCAA Tournament appearances. A&M and Pittsburgh are the only two NCAA schools to achieve that success the past four years.
"I appreciate all that Coach Turgeon and Texas A&M have done for me," Roland said. "Not only with this appeal, but for my career and for helping me to grow into the man I am today. I would have loved to come back for even half of a season, but it did not work out. At least I went out with my brothers--BD & Sloan. We gave it everything we had. I will be okay."
Roland went down on Dec. 22, 2009, in a game against Washington in Seattle. The compound fracture of his lower right leg was horrific as he broke the tibia and fibula bones. The senior from Dallas had started all 12 games to that point of the season. The Aggies finished the 2009-10 season with an overall record of 24-10 reaching the second round of the NCAA Championships. A&M finished 11-5 in Big 12 play without the services of Roland, tying for second place in the league.