#97Strong GoFundMe
The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics spearheaded a fundraising effort to assist with Bobby Roundtree's current and future health care expenses. DIA has created a GoFundMe account, called #97Strong: Fight for Bobby Roundtree, with all donations directed into an irrevocable trust established by Head Football Coach Lovie Smith for Roundtree's care.
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By Mike Pearson
FightingIllini.com
Big Ten officiating crews haven't noticed, but Coach Lovie Smith's Fighting Illini defensive unit has been playing with an extra man this season. And though Bobby Rountree hasn't personally recorded any quarterback sacks in 2019, his indomitable spirit has every one of his teammates playing with a supernatural purpose.
Emerging from drills last spring, the talented junior was tabbed to be a shoo-in first-team All-Big Ten defensive end this fall. However, on May 18, Roundtree suffered a several spinal injury in a swimming accident near his home in Largo, Fla. He's been rehabilitating at the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab in Chicago. Roundtree's Illini teammates and coaches have been in regular contact with the personable 21-year-old they call their "brother."
"We try to talk to him as much as possible," said junior defensive end Ayo Shogbonyo. "Sometimes we'll call him during our D line meeting and we try to call him after every game because we know he's watching. He's like, 'Hey, Ayo, you missed that sack, blah, blah, blah. You're better than that.' I'm like, 'Yeah, Bob, I know. I'll get that one next time. Don't worry.' He's just the same guy this year that he was last year and that he'll forever be. That's just Bobby."
Another frequent Roundtree "FaceTimer" is junior linebacker Jake Hansen.
"It's really cool getting to talk to him after the games, especially after wins," Hansen said. "Whether it's a win or a loss, we know he's going to have a positive attitude. When we can bring a smile to his face, we know that we're making his day."
Shogbonyo smiles when recalling his introduction to Roundtree three years ago.
"Meeting Bobby for the first time was like meeting a Little League kid," he said. "He was ready to play, ready to go out and show what he could do, and just ball out and have some fun. He was like 'Come on … I want to play … let's go, let's go, let's go!' Bobby's a very high energy kind of guy. I was like, oh yeah, this is a guy that's going to be something (special)."
Shogbonyo especially admired Rountree's unique personality and drive.
"There are very few things that can stop Bobby Roundtree," he said. "If he's in the meeting room, he's like 'I've gotta work on this' or when a coach tried to get on him about doing something wrong, it was always 'Okay, Coach, I'm gonna fix that.' Bobby has this hard-headed personality and that's what I really love about him. You just can't tell him no. He's a fighter. We're the Fighting Illini and he fights. That's what's great about him."
After Shogbonyo's first career sack last season against Purdue, it was difficult to figure out who was more fired up, Ayo or Bobby.
"Of course, I was super excited, but when he came over he was so excited for me that he almost tackled me," Shogbonyo laughed. "He's a very unselfish guy who was like 'Man, I'm so happy for Ayo that he got his first sack'. It was crazy that he had more energy than I did!"
Hansen admires Roundtree's remarkable ability to be upbeat in difficult situations.
"We struggled a lot last season," Hansen said, "but Bobby was able to be happy and bring great vibes to the program. Now, when I see him in the hospital, he still has a great energy about him. Even with all he's been going through, he's been able to smile through it and be happy."
"That's the type of dude he is," Hansen continued. "He's going to influence others to do better no matter what he's doing and, despite his circumstances, he's still doing that. It's truly inspiring and amazing to see."
And though No. 97 hasn't been able to physically play, Roundtree's example is clearly omnipresent to his teammates.
"Bobby is our motivation," Hansen said. "We're playing for him. We've got to do it for him now. It's way deeper than doing it for ourselves. It's doing it for someone who can't be there. I've never been a part of something like this. He can't do a lot of things that I and other players can do now. We know that if Bobby was here, he'd be doing it 10 times harder than all of us, so we've got to step it up a notch."
Shogbonyo make it crystal clear that Roundtree was "that guy" on Illinois's defensive line.
"We all know that Bobby was the guy who was going to give you maximum effort and make plays," he said. "He's just a freak of nature on the field. Without him, we knew that we had to step it up. We've got to do the things that Bobby would do. He would make this play, so we've got to get together and work harder. We've got to hit the sled more and we've got to lift harder and we've got to run harder."
Hansen and Shogbonyo are especially grateful that Illini fans have stepped up to meet and far exceed the original $97,000 goal in an ongoing GoFundMe effort called #97Strong to support Roundtree's current and future health care expenses. The goal has now been extended to $197,000 for expenses that are expected to reach the high six figure annually.
"Honestly, I'm not surprised by the support that's been shown," Hansen said. "For a guy like Bobby, I can't imagine why someone wouldn't want to donate. He's a dude that's always been so inspirational and positive."
Shogbonyo has a personal message for his good buddy.
"The success that I've had personally this season is really all of Bobby's work," he said. "Every tackle, every sack, every TFL, every recognition that I've gotten has all been Bobby. Without him, I don't think that I would be able to do what I'm doing right now."
