Roman Oben
Encyclopedia
Roman Dissake Oben is an American football
offensive tackle who retired in 2008. He co-hosts the New York Giants
pre and post game show on WFAN
in the fall as well as being a television color football analyst for MSG Varsity
high school sports television network. In 2011 Oben left CBS Outdoor
as an Account Executive
to become Regional Director of [Advantage3 http://www.advantagethree.com] as well as the East Coast Director for [School of The Legends http://sotl.com], while still being actively involved in many charity
, community
,and civic organizations. Oben was formerly Vice President of Development for The Corporate Playbook, an on-line job board that matches former college and pro athletes with top companies for employment. In February 2009 Oben was appointed by Morris County, NJ to serve as chairman for the local Democratic Party
in Kinnelon, New Jersey
. The Head Start Program of Dover, NJ added Roman Oben as its newest board member in October 2009.
, Fork Union Military Academy
and the University of Louisville
and they settled in Washington, D.C.
In high school Oben played for Gonzaga College High School
and spent one year at Fork Union Military Academy
.
His wife's name is Linda Claude-Oben.
at the University of Louisville
, and was a four-year letterman in football and three year letterman in track and field. In football, he was an All-National Independent first team selection as a junior. In track and field, he placed at the Metro Conference Championship on the shot put. Oben was also Vice President of his collegiate chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity.
in the 1996 NFL Draft
Oben was the first Cameroonian
born NFL player drafted. Previously Oben has started over ninety percent of his games played in his twelve year NFL career for the New York Giants
, Cleveland Browns
and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
. He was also the starting left tackle on Tampa Bay's 2002 Super Bowl
champion team.
to the Buccaneers for the rights to Oben. Oben was used with the pick obtained from the Giants in the Rivers-Manning trade. Oben quickly became a fixture at the left tackle position and after bouncing back from a career threatening foot injury he spent the 2007 season as more of a player-mentor as a reserve on the Charger's young offensive line.
in 2001 when he played for the Cleveland Browns.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive tackle who retired in 2008. He co-hosts the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
pre and post game show on WFAN
WFAN
WFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
in the fall as well as being a television color football analyst for MSG Varsity
MSG Varsity
MSG Varsity is a high school sports television network focused on the New York metropolitan area, that covers schools from Connecticut, New Jersey, Long Island and New York City. Owned and operated by Madison Square Garden, Inc. the network is advertised as "another Optimum exclusive" and only...
high school sports television network. In 2011 Oben left CBS Outdoor
CBS Outdoor
CBS Outdoor is the outdoor advertising division of media conglomerate CBS Corporation. It is the third largest outdoor media owner in revenue terms...
as an Account Executive
Account executive
The job role executive admin. covers various descriptions depending on the specific industry covering mainly marketing role.In IT organizations, an account executives is a senior management role, responsible for executing large contracts. Control of the Profit & Loss is one of the main...
to become Regional Director of [Advantage3 http://www.advantagethree.com] as well as the East Coast Director for [School of The Legends http://sotl.com], while still being actively involved in many charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
, community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
,and civic organizations. Oben was formerly Vice President of Development for The Corporate Playbook, an on-line job board that matches former college and pro athletes with top companies for employment. In February 2009 Oben was appointed by Morris County, NJ to serve as chairman for the local Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in Kinnelon, New Jersey
Kinnelon, New Jersey
Kinnelon is a Borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 10,248. It is a low density, suburban community, with many parks and trails....
. The Head Start Program of Dover, NJ added Roman Oben as its newest board member in October 2009.
Hall of Fame
Roman Oben has been inducted to the Athletic Hall of Fame at Gonzaga College High SchoolGonzaga College High School
Gonzaga College High School is a Jesuit high school for boys located in Washington, D.C. The school is named in honor of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, an Italian saint from the 16th century...
, Fork Union Military Academy
Fork Union Military Academy
Fork Union Military Academy is a private, military boarding school located in the town of Fork Union, Virginia. The school is more commonly known by its acronym FUMA ....
and the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
Early years
At the age of four he moved with his mother to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and they settled in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
In high school Oben played for Gonzaga College High School
Gonzaga College High School
Gonzaga College High School is a Jesuit high school for boys located in Washington, D.C. The school is named in honor of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, an Italian saint from the 16th century...
and spent one year at Fork Union Military Academy
Fork Union Military Academy
Fork Union Military Academy is a private, military boarding school located in the town of Fork Union, Virginia. The school is more commonly known by its acronym FUMA ....
.
His wife's name is Linda Claude-Oben.
College career
A two-sport college athlete, Oben played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
, and was a four-year letterman in football and three year letterman in track and field. In football, he was an All-National Independent first team selection as a junior. In track and field, he placed at the Metro Conference Championship on the shot put. Oben was also Vice President of his collegiate chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
fraternity.
NFL career
Originally selected by the New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 1996 NFL Draft
1996 NFL Draft
The 1996 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 20–21, 1996...
Oben was the first Cameroonian
Cameroonian
Cameroonian may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to the country of Cameroon* A person from Cameroon, or of Cameroonian descent. For information about the Cameroonian people, see Demographics of Cameroon and Culture of Cameroon. For specific persons, see Lists of Cameroonians.* Cameroonian...
born NFL player drafted. Previously Oben has started over ninety percent of his games played in his twelve year NFL career for the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
. He was also the starting left tackle on Tampa Bay's 2002 Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
champion team.
San Diego Chargers
In 2004, the Chargers traded a fifth round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
to the Buccaneers for the rights to Oben. Oben was used with the pick obtained from the Giants in the Rivers-Manning trade. Oben quickly became a fixture at the left tackle position and after bouncing back from a career threatening foot injury he spent the 2007 season as more of a player-mentor as a reserve on the Charger's young offensive line.
Community
As a leader on and off the field, Oben has remained committed to helping athletes make the transition into the workplace. While serving as the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) team representative for three teams over seven years, Oben was integral in drafting a resolution that ensures NFL Player Programs pay for continued education for retired players and as an active team representative, Oben was a charter member of the NFLPA Benefits Committee that ensured future medical coverage for all NFL players. Oben has been honored for his outstanding work with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America in San Diego where he was recognized as the 2007 Man of the Year. Oben earned his bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Louisville in 1995 and was one of the only NFL players over a ten year year span to take graduate courses each off-season in order to earn his master's degree in public administration from Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson University is a private university founded as a junior college in 1942. It now has several campuses located in New Jersey, Canada, and the United Kingdom.-Description:...
in 2001 when he played for the Cleveland Browns.
External links
- http://www.thecorporateplaybook.com/news_events.php?id=120
- http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/4035
- http://www.romanoben.com/