But there was something more to the win, something beyond the game, beyond the sidelines. It's a word often tossed around in sports to describe athletes who do the unthinkable, who are always a step above the rest, who always endure. When Michael Jordan fought off the flu to lead the Chicago Bulls to the 1998 National Basketball Association championship, he had heart. And when John Elway claimed his first Superbowl trophy and Superbowl MVP award in 1997, he had heart.
Heart is an intensity essential to sport and is often a mark of greatness.
Drake athletics has shown its share of heart over the years. The sun was burning high above Drake Stadium on a warm Saturday in central Iowa. The band was blasting the school mantra deep into the heart of the crowd while the player's untarnished helmets and uniforms were moving methodically through pre-game ceremonies. Excitement was in the air. It was opening day at Drake Stadium.