Former DIII Player Campaigning For A Tryout In New England

Abiola Aborishade campaigns outside of Gillette Stadium. Aborishade is committed to earning a tryout with the Patriots. Photo: The Post Game

May 25, 2016

Peter Solari Follow @4PeteSakeNY

 

I love stories like this, about people who continue to perceive through great odds and adversity. If nothing else, this guy has already proven he's a hustler and committed, at least in my opinion. 

I only came across this story today, but it's actually been going on for more than a month. According to a report from The Post Game, Abiola Aborishade, a former Division III wide receiver from UMass-Dartmouth, has been arriving at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, five-days-a-week, in the wee hours of the morning, armed with a campaign style poster, hoping to get the attention of Patriots coaches, and earning a tryout with the team. Check out a picture of Aborishade with his campaign poster below.

Photo: WSOC TV

At this point, you may be thinking that Aborishade is a little bit crazy, but there's more to his story that makes it kind of inspirational. Every morning at 7AM, he travels several miles to a nearby Enterprise Rent-A-Car, where he works for six hours. When his shift ends, he returns to Gillette Stadium to continue stumping for his cause. So, far, the coaches haven't paid him any attention, but Aborishade says he has interacted with a few players.

Okay, so maybe you're still thinking Aborishade is a little crazy, but I'm rooting for him! Where's the harm in Patriots coach Bill Belichick giving this guy a tryout? It's not like the team is stocked with elite receivers, and Belichick is no stranger to finding diamonds in the rough. Hopefully the Patriots do the right thing and give Aborishade a tryout. If not, perhaps another team gets wind of this story, and gives him a shot. The Patriots, and any other team for that matter, would have absolutely nothing to lose by trying Aborishade out.

MassLive caught up with Aborishade outside Gillette Stadium and gave him a chance to make his case, in his own words. Check out the video below, and think of this as his official campaign ad.

Video: MassLive

Check back with The Monday Morning Quarterback for any potential movement on this story, which we will be covered in full. 

Read all about Abiola Aborishade's unorthodox journey to the NFL at The Post Game, MassLive, and WSOC TV.