Gregory Roper Named Faculty Athletic Representative

IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas athletics department announced Gregory Roper, Ph.D, an Associate Professor in the English Department and four-year men's soccer player, the next Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR). Roper follows Dr. Thomas Jodziewicz who was in the role since 1992 and retired this year.

"I am thrilled to follow in the footsteps of Tom Jodziewicz and be the new Faculty Athletic Representative for the university," Roper stated. "The University of Dallas offers athletics a wonderful chance to consider and achieve the classical ideal of a mens sana in corpore sano – a sound mind in a sound body, pursuing the good, the true, and the beautiful both in the classroom and on the field, court, course, track, and diamond."

Roper suited up for the Crusaders from 1980-83 and scored in his first match. He also helped UD reach their first appearance in postseason play in the NAIA District playoffs and also their first postseason victory.

"I never thought I would play sports beyond high school and it was on my tour of UD that Bob Jenkins, a Junior, told me that UD even had a soccer team, and encouraged me to come out and play," Roper reflected. "I tried it and loved that I could continue to play the sport I had loved since I was seven when only a few hundred kids in Dallas were playing this weird foreigners' game. I made friends with upperclassmen I would never had met, like the 3.97 GPA Physics major senior and the 3.99 GPA Economics major junior."

Roper was fantastic in the classroom himself, earning the inaugural UD Scholar-Athlete of the Award in 1983-84.  

"UD athletes also embody and celebrate Christian anthropology: the incarnate soul, the spirit and flesh working together to achieve the heights of what a human can be. I have played, coached, and watched sports my whole life because they embody these ideals—because they are beautiful, because they challenge us intellectually and physically, because they ask us to strive for the best while acting in fairness, justice, and community. That's what it means to win, but know that there are more important things than winning."

Roper was a three-year captain and believed his teammates grew and learned and fought for each other back then. He is excited to begin serving in his new role with UD athletics and continue to support the Crusaders.