Former Canfield football star tries to score big on NBC hit game show

By Elise Franco

Now a John Carroll athlete, he auditioned to help his college team buy equipment.

CULVER CITY, Calif. — Frank Ross graduated from Canfield High School with a regional football title under his belt and a name not soon forgotten by teammates and coaches.

After tonight, the former Cardinals quarterback may be leaving another legacy with his teammates at John Carroll University.

Ross, 21, will appear tonight at 8 on NBC’s hit game show “Deal or No Deal” for a chance to win $1 million, and the nationally ranked wide receiver said he’s donating all his winnings to the university’s football program.

“Auditioning was almost like a fundraiser to get money for my football team to get new uniforms and new gear,” he said. “We don’t have any funding for that stuff at the Division III level.”

Ross said that when he started playing football for John Carroll, he couldn’t believe how badly the team needed new jerseys and equipment.

He said his decision to send in an audition tape was one he made on a whim.

“I just had this crazy idea, and I went with it,” Ross said. “I looked it up online and talked to my guys about it, and I submitted a video with them.”

He said that in February, along with sending an 11-page paper application, he taped a video explaining why he needed the prize money and that he would use it to help his team.

“When I sent this tape in back in February ... my friends were saying, ‘Are you serious ... You’re never going to get picked,’” he said.

His family had a different take, though, telling him to prove the skeptics wrong.

And in March, when Ross received a call from “Deal or No Deal” producers asking to schedule a phone interview, he began to do just that.

Over the next few months he spent countless hours talking to producers via telephone, trying to convince them he was perfect for the show.

“It was a long, daunting process. They wanted to know everything,” Ross said. “When producer [Matt Ponfret] called, he said, ‘Start at birth.’”

Finally, in September, after months of uncertainty and waiting, Ross was informed that he would be flying to Culver City, Calif., to film a spot on the show.

“I was excited, but at the same time I was in football camp in the middle of two-a-days,” he said. “I thought I wouldn’t be able to go.”

Luckily, the day of the show’s filming, Sept. 12, was a bye week for John Carroll.

“I had no intentions of missing practice. I love football and I’m not going to sacrifice a game or practice,” he said. “Everyone told me to go, and it just worked out.”

Ross said that since he’s under contract, he’s not allowed to discuss details about the show, but did disclose that he heeded the advice of his family and friends.

“Most people told me those shows make you greedy,” he said. “It’s an opportunity I had to win, and there’s no point in not winning something.”

Ross said he checked with his coaches who told him one set of jerseys for 100 players cost just under $10,000.

So, did he take home enough to cover the cost?

“I can’t say for sure,” Ross said. “You’ll have to tune in on Monday and find out.”

efranco@vindy.com