UL safety Maurice Rolle Jr. maintains a personal connection with Florida Atlantic's football team through Owls cornerback Tavious Polo.

Rolle and Polo were prep teammates at South Plantation High School in Fort Lauderdale. Although Polo did not make the trip for Saturday's game, Rolle said he stays in close contact every week.

"I text him with a morning inspiration that I get from someone I know," Rolle said earlier in the week. "I'm still sending him inspirations this week, but (on Saturday) it's going to be 'May the best man win.'"

Rolle is one of 34 players from Florida to play for the Cajuns since 2001. This year's team currently has 20 players from Florida. That's the fifth-most in the nation among non-Florida schools behind Troy (28), Middle Tennessee (27), Michigan (21) and South Carolina (20).

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Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • October 25, 2009