Photo by: Parker Waters
How NOLA Built Me – By Kaleb Roper
Jul 13, 2018 | Baseball, WE ARE
I loved growing up in New Orleans and I couldn't imagine living anywhere else.
I have always been awed by the camaraderie of the city, especially growing up around the Saints and Pelicans. Everybody is like one big family in the fall. Once the Saints are on, nobody cares about what else is going on. We all watch the game, and then get on with life after that.
The city really helped shape who I am. Growing up, I learned a lot from my parents and just from being around the city. I think this city shapes people in a great way.
New Orleans is different from anywhere else and the culture of this city is unique. You can walk downtown and see people playing buckets as drums and tap dancing with coke cans on their feet. You don't see that stuff anywhere else and absolutely no place else beats the food. This is a very friendly, warm, and welcoming city to live in.
As much as I love this city, I didn't take a clean, easy path to Tulane. I wasn't highly recruited early on in high school but between my Junior and Senior years I was blessed with the opportunity to play for the EvoSheild Canes on their national team. We played from coast to coast that summer. The opportunity really opened the recruiting doors for me and led to my commitment to Arizona. Unfortunately, I had Tommy John surgery my senior year. I heard criticisms about my training and coaching causing the injury. However, it was determined that my elbow had been injured for years and had somehow gone undiagnosed before finally giving out. After I signed a scholarship to play baseball at the University of Arizona, I was asked why I was going across the country instead of staying home and going to LSU or Tulane.
I always think about a quote from Case Keenum. He said he doesn't try to prove people wrong, he tries to prove the people who believe in him right. That's my favorite quote in the world. That's kind of what I live by, to prove right all the coaches that have believed in me and put their necks out for me and tried to help me reach my goals.
Leaving New Orleans to go to school in Arizona was the first time I had lived on my own, and it was a very long way from home. My parents, and even this city, did a good job of preparing me for that and teaching me how to make decisions for myself. I grew up a lot there, being on my own.
After two years in Arizona, I went to San Jacinto College in Houston, which was a big year for me. We weren't the most talented San Jac team, but we were a close-knit team and I think that kind of resembles how people are in New Orleans.
That became a big step for me to return home and play at Tulane. I earned a starting job last year by working hard to prove the people right that made it possible for me to play the game I love in my hometown.
Being home was a big thing for me. Going almost all the way across the country, I didn't have the support from family on a daily basis. Now that I'm home I'm able to pitch in front of friends and family every week. It's incredible. I have a big family and they all come every week to watch me pitch. Having that family support is really what matters the most.
I kind of took Tulane for granted out of high school. One of the biggest mistakes I made coming out of high school was looking past Tulane. Going away and coming full circle back to Tulane, I realized a lot of things.
The education here is unbelievable. My dad told me the other day that a degree from Tulane is worth over a million dollars. Coming out of high school, I just wanted to play ball, but I know that getting my degree this year is really going to help me going forward.
I looked forward to getting back home and getting in front of Coach Jewett and playing in front of family and friends. My experience with baseball and the classes at Tulane has been great. I love Coach Jewett, and I think Coach Latham is going to be a big addition for us this year. His experience as a former player here along with his experience of both playing and coaching in the postseason will be something the whole team can draw from.
My experience here has rejuvenated me and I'm really looking forward to getting out there and leaving a positive mark during my last year at Tulane.
I grew up here my whole life. Living here has become easy. I guess that's why we call it the "Big Easy." After playing in so many other cities, I realized that no city is like New Orleans. It's just built differently. Being unique is something New Orleans is popular for, and that's what I really like about it.
My name is Kaleb Roper, and I am NOLA Built.
I have always been awed by the camaraderie of the city, especially growing up around the Saints and Pelicans. Everybody is like one big family in the fall. Once the Saints are on, nobody cares about what else is going on. We all watch the game, and then get on with life after that.
The city really helped shape who I am. Growing up, I learned a lot from my parents and just from being around the city. I think this city shapes people in a great way.
New Orleans is different from anywhere else and the culture of this city is unique. You can walk downtown and see people playing buckets as drums and tap dancing with coke cans on their feet. You don't see that stuff anywhere else and absolutely no place else beats the food. This is a very friendly, warm, and welcoming city to live in.
As much as I love this city, I didn't take a clean, easy path to Tulane. I wasn't highly recruited early on in high school but between my Junior and Senior years I was blessed with the opportunity to play for the EvoSheild Canes on their national team. We played from coast to coast that summer. The opportunity really opened the recruiting doors for me and led to my commitment to Arizona. Unfortunately, I had Tommy John surgery my senior year. I heard criticisms about my training and coaching causing the injury. However, it was determined that my elbow had been injured for years and had somehow gone undiagnosed before finally giving out. After I signed a scholarship to play baseball at the University of Arizona, I was asked why I was going across the country instead of staying home and going to LSU or Tulane.
I always think about a quote from Case Keenum. He said he doesn't try to prove people wrong, he tries to prove the people who believe in him right. That's my favorite quote in the world. That's kind of what I live by, to prove right all the coaches that have believed in me and put their necks out for me and tried to help me reach my goals.
Leaving New Orleans to go to school in Arizona was the first time I had lived on my own, and it was a very long way from home. My parents, and even this city, did a good job of preparing me for that and teaching me how to make decisions for myself. I grew up a lot there, being on my own.
After two years in Arizona, I went to San Jacinto College in Houston, which was a big year for me. We weren't the most talented San Jac team, but we were a close-knit team and I think that kind of resembles how people are in New Orleans.
That became a big step for me to return home and play at Tulane. I earned a starting job last year by working hard to prove the people right that made it possible for me to play the game I love in my hometown.
Being home was a big thing for me. Going almost all the way across the country, I didn't have the support from family on a daily basis. Now that I'm home I'm able to pitch in front of friends and family every week. It's incredible. I have a big family and they all come every week to watch me pitch. Having that family support is really what matters the most.
I kind of took Tulane for granted out of high school. One of the biggest mistakes I made coming out of high school was looking past Tulane. Going away and coming full circle back to Tulane, I realized a lot of things.
The education here is unbelievable. My dad told me the other day that a degree from Tulane is worth over a million dollars. Coming out of high school, I just wanted to play ball, but I know that getting my degree this year is really going to help me going forward.
I looked forward to getting back home and getting in front of Coach Jewett and playing in front of family and friends. My experience with baseball and the classes at Tulane has been great. I love Coach Jewett, and I think Coach Latham is going to be a big addition for us this year. His experience as a former player here along with his experience of both playing and coaching in the postseason will be something the whole team can draw from.
My experience here has rejuvenated me and I'm really looking forward to getting out there and leaving a positive mark during my last year at Tulane.
I grew up here my whole life. Living here has become easy. I guess that's why we call it the "Big Easy." After playing in so many other cities, I realized that no city is like New Orleans. It's just built differently. Being unique is something New Orleans is popular for, and that's what I really like about it.
My name is Kaleb Roper, and I am NOLA Built.
Players Mentioned
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