\u201cI was in my boxers, cleaning my room. I had watched the first round, because I had one or two teammates who were going to go in the opening round.\u00a0That season at Georgetown, I was a bit more of a role player \u2026 I just didn’t think I had enough to show for myself at that point.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rothrock had only spent one year in the Sounders Academy as a schoolboy \u2013 \u201cI was always a little undersized, and under-recruited as well,\u201d he noted \u2013 so a homegrown contract wasn\u2019t in the offing, which further drove home his parents\u2019 emphasis on a university education.<\/p>\n
Rothrock\u2019s first weeks as a pro weren\u2019t particularly auspicious, either. He felt compelled to finish coursework for his college degree before reporting to Toronto, then picked up both hand and ankle injuries almost immediately after debuting for the Reds\u2019 second team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did two years in Toronto, had some brief stints with the first team there,\u201d he said. \u201cIf I’m really reflecting on it, I don’t think I was really ready for the professional game at that point. I wasn’t ready for the league. I don’t think my habits were good enough. I didn’t think I had a clearly defined purpose at that point.<\/p>\n
\u201cI actually had most of my family telling me there’s never a good time to quit, and that I should stop. I just felt like there was more left in it for me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n