Rollie Miles Graphic
Anthony Jeffries
Roland "Rollie" Miles Was An All-CIAA and All-American Quarterback At Saint Augustine's

Football Office of Sports Information

BLACK HISTORY FALCON FACTS: Pro Football Legend Roland "Rollie" Miles

RALEIGH, N.C. (Feb. 18) – An argument can be made that Roland "Rollie" Miles was the greatest student-athlete in Saint Augustine's College/University history.

In 1950, Miles was a serious professional football and baseball prospect. In football, he led the CIAA in touchdown passes to earn All-CIAA and All-America honors. A splendid infielder, Miles batted over .400 on the baseball team.

Miles was so good in baseball that the Cleveland Indians wooed him before he signed with the Boston Braves organization of the National League. It is believed that Miles and Saint Augustine's teammate Cliff Statham were the first blacks from the South to sign pro baseball contracts.

It turned out that pro football was in Miles' future. In Edmonton for a baseball tournament, Miles met the Edmonton Eskimos Head Coach, who convinced him to play football. Miles reported to football camp more than a week after his baseball obligations ended.

He immediately impressed the head coach with his blazing speed and superior kicking and passing skills. At 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, Miles was a multi-threat running back who also starred on defense and special teams.

One of the most versatile players in CFL history, Miles was a Western Conference All-Star eight times – three as a running back, three as a linebacker and two as a defensive back.  He helped the Eskimos make five appearances in the Grey Cup (equivalent to the NFL's Super Bowl).

Edmonton dominated in the mid-1950s, winning three consecutive Grey Cups during his 11-year career.

More honors poured in for Miles after his playing days. He was voted one of the top 50 players in the CFL's modern era, and the city of Edmonton named the Rollie Miles Athletic Field in his honor.  He is in several hall of fames including the CFL Hall of Fame, the Alberta Hall of Fame, the Saint Augustine's Sports Hall of Fame, and the CIAA Hall of Fame.

His jersey was added to the Eskimos Wall of Honour in 1983.

A Washington, D.C., native, Miles passed away in 1995 at the age of 68.

A civic-minded individual, Miles and his wife started the Mr. Roland and Dr. Marianne Miles Endowed Scholarship as a way of giving back to Saint Augustine's University.

If you would like to contribute, click this link - https://saintaugustinesuniversity.formstack.com/forms/giving_form
 
Click this link to watch Miles throw an option pass - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N88xCwZaZA8
 
Highlights of the Rollie Miles Athletic Field - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx4DrFN_imc
 
More highlights of Miles are on YouTube.
 
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