About the only people who might have a bad thing to say about Michael Roos are the opposing defensive ends that he dominates on a weekly basis in the National Football League.
The former Eastern Washington standout and current offensive tackle for the Tennessee Titans is a man of few words, but someone whose generous actions speak for him. The 6-foot-7, 313-pounder exemplifies the American dream. He’s an immigrant who rose from poverty in Estonia to making well-deserved millions in the NFL. He and his wife, Katherine, have used the fame and fortune to make a difference. Roos ranks 22nd on the list of the Big Sky Conference’s “50 Greatest Male Athletes.’’
In 2006, he and Katherine, who is also an Eastern Washington graduate, started the
Michael Roos Foundation, whose mission is, “To offer encouragement, comfort and support to children enduring profound and emotional, physical or mental distress.
“When we started the Foundation, we wanted to provide a way for people to give back to their community knowing that their contribution is going where it’s supposed to go….to the children who need it most,’’ Roos is quoted as saying on the foundation’s website. “We are so grateful to those who have joined our team to make a bigger difference in the lives of so many children.’’
Since 2009, the couple has also hosted the Michael Roos Foundation Fish & Chip Celebrity Weekend, which benefits the Boys and Girls Club of Spokane, Wash. In 2010, Michael and Katherine donated $500,000 to Eastern Washington to help fund the school’s red turf, which has become its identity. The venue was renamed Roos Field, and his No. 71 was retired by the school.
“I’ll never be able to thank him enough,’’ said Eastern Washington head football coach Beau Baldwin. “His unselfishness and generosity to donate and be the main contributor was just amazing. I understand he’s making good money, but still. That turf gave us an identity and a presence in certain places we didn’t have. It gave us a home identity that we hadn’t had before.’’
Since the red turf was installed in 2010, Eastern Washington has compiled a 21-3 home record. Eastern Washington won the 2010 Division I national championship, winning three home playoff games en route to Frisco, Texas. The Eagles are undefeated at home this season heading into Saturday’s second-round game against South Dakota State.
“Eastern Washington was the recipient of its largest cash gift ever on the back end of one of the worst economic times in our country,’’ said Marc Hughes, Eastern Washington’s Associated Athletic Director for Development. “That fact can’t be lost in it all. Michael and Katherine agreed to a huge cash gift when they weren’t really popular at the time.’’
“He understands what Eastern Washington did for him,’’ Hughes added. “He wants to help, and he wants to make sure the football program is taken care of.’’
Roos was born in 1982 in Tallinn, Estonia as Mihkel Roos. A year after the fall of the Soviet Union, his mother, brother and sister immigrated to Vancouver, Wash. Roos was 10. He earned all-league honors in basketball at Mountain View High School, and also threw javelin
Former Eastern Washington coach Paul Wulff took a chance on Roos, who played just one year of high school football. He arrived at Eastern Washington as a tight end with more basketball than football experience. The Eagles initially played him on the defensive line. As a freshman, he had 17 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He moved to the offensive line in 2002.
Baldwin arrived at Eastern Washington in 2003 as the school’s offensive coordinator. By that time, Roos was an All-Conference player, but he had heard the stories of Roos’ earlier years.
“It took him a year to kind of get a feel,’’ Baldwin said. “In fairness, he had only played one year of high school football. By the time I got here, he was special. You saw this guy who moved his feet like a guy who played basketball.’’
Roos started 35 consecutive games at left tackle. He was honorable mention All-Conference as a sophomore and junior, and then dominated as a senior. He had 113 knockdown blocks, and 17 blocks that resulted in touchdowns, and allowed just two sacks in 2004. He earned All-America honors, First Team All-Conference Honors, and was considered the best football player in the Big Sky in 2004.
“He was one of the smartest players, too,’’ Baldwin said. “Michael understood the game, and still does. To go along with all of the amazing talent he has to play left tackle, he’s also one of the sharpest players I’ve been around. He doesn’t say much, but when he does, he knows what he’s talking about. He sees things and understands the game so well.’’
Roos was selected in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. He’s been an anchor, starting all but one game during his nine-year career. He was named First Team All-Pro in 2008. He’s played in Pro Bowls and playoff games. He started in 119 consecutive games before missing one game with an emergency appendectomy in 2012. Roos was the only member of the 2005 draft class to start all 112 regular-season games from 2005-2011.
“We probably won’t appreciate him until he’s gone, unfortunately,’’ Tennessee offensive line coach Bruce Matthews told Grantland.com earlier this year. “He’s such a solid guy and so consistent, that when the void’s there, it’s going to be ‘Oh yeah, we took him for granted.’ That’s the highest form of praise for an offensive lineman.’’
Roos will be preparing for Sunday’s road game against Denver on Saturday when the Eagles take the field to face South Dakota State. If he could, he’d be in Cheney rooting on his Eagles. Earlier this year, during the Titans’ bye week, he was on the sideline in Missoula, Mont., when the Eagles beat Montana. He was on the sideline at the national championship game in Frisco.
Because of Roos, Eastern Washington will perform Saturday on a first-rate surface. When Roos played at EWU, the Eagles struggled to find a suitable practice field because the grass was either frozen, torn to shreds, or a mud bowl.
“It allows us right now, and it allowed us in 2010 to have a quality practice field under the lights,’’ Baldwin said. “Back in 2003 and 2004, we had to figure out where we were going to practice. This has allowed us to have a quality practice field so we can perform well in playoff games.’’
“Michael is a guy who cares so much about the time he spent here,’’ Baldwin added. “He’s going to stay connected in a huge way.”
Although he didn’t play a down for the Eagles in 2010, it can be argued his gift was instrumental in Eastern Washington winning the national championship, and the program’s success in recent years. Baldwin’s club is centered on speed and great athletes.
“We went from an old field, which was an uneven, grass field and a mud pit by November to a steady field with a coach who has a really fast team,’’ Hughes said. “It was a significant factor in us winning the national championship.’’