by ALEXIS MARTIN and CADY MAAS
Tom Rosso could not believe his ears. The Chadwick senior had spent the last three summers attending football camps and showcases, making his name in the football world.
At the end of the season, on a walk with the head coach, a life-changing decision appeared before him: an offer to play football at Fordham University … but not alone.
He’d be continuing his football and academic careers at Fordham
with his best friend, senior Max Polin. What better way to jump start the season?
Rosso and Polin, Chadwick’s quarterback and tight end, respectively, became friends at the onset of their ninth-grade year.
“We’ve grown our chemistry, both on the basketball court and the football field. I think we really started to bond when we saw that we had the passion for the same sports,” Rosso said.
As they face the future together, this bond only figures to grow. Attending Fordham isn’t just a win for the pair athletically; the university surpassed their expectation academically and geographically.
Centered in the Bronx, New York City, Fordham is close to Wall Street and has plenty of alumni connections. “I knew I wanted to get out of California. I thought New York City seemed like the best option,” Rosso said.
At Fordham, Rosso and Polin are looking forward to connecting
with the world of business. Both have an interest in pursuing business as a potential career.
“Being close to New York is definitely an upside for that sort of study, especially because [New York] is kind of like the hub of all business activities,” Polin said.
Beyond the classroom, student life is another major draw for the two. Polin describes Fordham as having a “winning culture.” “Here, people are competitive in both sports and academics. I think that’s very exciting,” he says.
As the seniors look toward the future at Fordham, they acknowledge the special place that the Chadwick football team holds in their hearts.
“On this team, we all want to succeed, and we all want to work hard,” Rosso says. “That will help build relationships that I want to keep … not just throughout the football season, but hopefully throughout my life and on the football end of things. If we continue to keep building, we can win.”
Chadwick football has taught the duo more than just game play. According to Polin, some of his biggest life lessons come from football.
One of Polin’s favorite quotes is credited to Chadwick’s football coach Jordan Ollis, who tells the team to “do what they [the opponents] won’t do today, so you can do what they won’t do tomorrow.”
Lessons like that inspire Polin to tackle each day meaningfully.
Ollis has been as big an inspiration to Rosso and Polin as they have been to him.
“I can’t even begin to describe how dedicated these two are to mastering their craft,” Ollis said.
“It’s been an absolute joy for me to watch them grow and be a part of their journey. More than any yards gained, touchdowns scored or wins achieved, what truly makes me proud is the example they’ve set for our younger players. They’ve set a standard that will continue long after they move on to Fordham.”
Next year, Rosso and Polin will need to make the major adjustment of dealing with a much larger school and campus community.
“I’ll miss the very small community and the small classes that Chadwick has, where you can build relationships with not only the students in your class but also the teachers,” Polin said.
In college and beyond, both Rosso and Polin have the ambition of pursuing either business or a career in football.
Says Rosso: “I’d love to continue playing football, whether it’s in the NFL or in a different country, overseas or somewhere.”
No matter where life takes them, however, the two will remain friends.
As they walk the path of life, one thing is certain: They’ll always have each other’s backs.
The Mainsheet 