11/25/2008 - Mike Corey, GoDuke.com Columnist

DURHAM, N.C. – The college sports world, and the media that covers it, runs on assumptions much like the society it serves. And one of the assumptions that has developed over the years has been the notion that major sport athletes aren't as capable off the field as they are on it. In the past year, two very prominent counterexamples have arisen to refute that notion.

One was the awarding of a Rhodes Scholarship to Florida State's Myron Rolle, one of America's top football players and now, one of the world's best-known students.

The other has been Duke's Reggie Love, a former football and basketball player that traded in a brief stint with professional sports to a front-row seat to history. Working as President-Elect Barack Obama's "Body Man" over the past two years, Love has become a media fixation of sorts, having been profiled on ESPN, in The New York Times, and having even been named as one of America's most eligible bachelors.

But while Obama prepares his cabinet for the transition into the presidency in January, Love has at least a little time to unwind from the grind of the campaign trail—and to try and absorb the enormity of his boss' victory.

"I don't think a feeling has set in yet," Love wrote. "There are so many tasks ahead that it is hard to really look back at what has been accomplished. The celebration was nice. Tons of familiar faces and old friends and there were even some new faces. I spent election night at Grant Park until about 1 a.m. For the most part I just answered phone calls and returned messages for the President Elect; after the event I sat around a table in my hotel room with my classmate and [former Duke] football teammate Darryl Scott."

Scott's not the only former Blue Devil to have spent time with Love and Obama over the past year. Grant Hill, Chris Duhon, Shane Battier and Jason Williams, among others, have all become acquainted—or fund-raised or played basketball with—Obama and Love on the campaign trail.

But Obama infamously participated in a pick-up basketball game with North Carolina's basketball team earlier this year, hobnobbing with vaunted Tar Heel coach Roy Williams and gliding through the UNC defense with alacrity.

"The scrimmaging with the Tar Heels was put together kind of last minute, so we didn't get a chance to discuss strategy with any of the Duke alums," Love recalled. "Though I'm still hoping that we get a chance to visit Duke and our Blue Devil players."

That isn't the only team Love has kept tabs on, however.

"I think Coach Cutcliffe has done a fantastic job and he has restored a lot of faith in confidence in Duke football," Love said. "Though I still believe that the entire Duke Football program (alums, players, coaches, everyone) has a lot to do."

So, too, does Love, who says he's still not sure what the future holds for him.

"I'm not 100 percent sure that I will go to law school," Love wrote. "It is something that I want to do. I would probably study civil rights law. I don't see myself having a career in politics."

But for now, at least, Love is just enjoying the ride.

"My role in the Obama Administration will be similar to my role in the campaign, however it will be a lot less traveling," said Love, weary of the sojourner's life.

It's a good thing he'll continue working for Obama and not for someone else in the Administration: UNC alum Melody Barnes was appointed earlier this week to serve as chair of the Domestic Policy Council.

She's certain to do a lot of traveling.

The views expressed in this column are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of Duke University or the Duke University Department of Athletics.