Harvard's Rose finds fame in football and TV

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

He's got brains and brawn, and now Harvard quarterback Neil Rose has star power.

Rose, of Mililani, enhanced his star status this season by appearing on the Best Damn Sports Show Period, a national sports-junkie program that pokes fun at athletes and celebrities.

Organizers of the show, intrigued about the so-called Harvard quarterback controversy between Rose and backup Ryan Fitzpatrick who filled in admirably while Rose was out with a back injury, invited Rose to be their next victim.

"It was a good time," Rose said. "Actually, they asked for the interview after the controversy was kind of over. I had just come off the game of my career (a 31-26 victory over Dartmouth on Nov. 2) and all of a sudden I have to do the Best Damn Sports Show and talk about the controversy again.

"It was fun, though," said Rose, who shot the breeze with Tom Arnold, Chris Rose and John Salley. "They made fun at us for being at Harvard."

They also razzed the quarterback about Harvard's unconventional communication network.

"I guess they saw a clip where I had a cell phone on the sideline," Rose said. "They were wondering what I was doing with a cell phone. I had to explain that we don't have a headset for the quarterbacks. So to talk to my offensive coordinator, I use a cell phone."

At practice this week, Rose has found that his football skills and Harvard education speak enough for him.

"Neil's got a chance to be an outstanding player," Kai head coach Mack Brown of Texas said. "It's fun for him to be here. It's a great compliment for him to return home as an all-star. Shoot, any graduate from Harvard can make more money out of football than they can in."

Kliff Kingsbury, the record-setting Texas Tech quarterback who will play with Rose on the Kai team, agreed with Brown.

"He's good," Kingsbury said. "He's got a solid frame, real good feet and a strong arm. And you know he's smart being from Harvard. He's a great guy and I think he has a great future ahead of him."

Currently, Rose works as a portfolio manager and analyst at Ho-nolulu investment advisory firm Cadinha & Co. Inc. Rose said he has no visions of playing in the NFL.

"I've worked really hard at football," Rose said. "I love college football to death, but just growing up I never saw myself being an NFL player. There's so many things in life I want to do. I've had the whole experience and I'm kind of ready to move on."

During his Harvard career, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound Rose rewrote the school record book. He owns or shares 18 school records, including career marks for passing yards (5,959), touchdown passes (41) and completions (455). In 2001, Rose guided Harvard to a 9-0 season and the Ivy League title, a feat he called his most memorable college football accomplishment.

Rose won numerous accolades, including First Team All-Ivy and New England Player of the Year from the Grid Iron Club of Greater Boston.

This past season, Rose returned for his fifth year (he did not play one season because of injury) and was voted by teammates to be the 129th captain of Harvard football; the first time a quarterback earned the honor in 50 years.

Rose's back injury this season hindered his performance and dropped his statistics. Because of the setback, he figured getting a chance to play in Saturday's Hula Bowl would be lost. But to his surprise, he received an invitation to play in the college all-star game.

"I'm very grateful," said Rose, who will play with teammate Carl Morris, the top receiver in Harvard history and a two-time Ivy League Player of the Year. "I've always wanted to come home and play in this game in Hawai'i. I really didn't expect (the invitation), but when it came, I was so glad.

"It's tough playing on the East Coast, playing away from home, away from family and friends," Rose added. "I'm glad I get to play one more time in front of my family and friends."