In the first three rounds of this year’s NCAA Tournament, Davidson’s Stephen Curry absolutely torched teams, averaging 34.3 points per game and leading his team to their first Regional Championship since 1969. Though Kansas defeated Curry and the tenacious Davidson team in the Elite Eight, the Wildcats will still go down as the Cinderella team of 2008.

It was only two years ago that Curry was overlooked by several other schools whose seasons ended long before Davidson’s. Curry was a scrawny, 6-1, 155-pound senior, considered too small and frail to handle the physical play of the AAC and SEC. Many major Division I coaches could not get past his physique. But one coach, Bob McKillop, looked beneath the physical appearance and saw the heart of a champion.

Each December, I look forward to joining my fellow track and cross country coaches from all over the state at our annual coaches’ clinic. It’s sort of a kick-start to the upcoming track season. One of the highlights is the Hall of Fame luncheon, which honors several people who have achieved great success in Missouri Track and XC over the years.

Early in my career, I felt a sense of awe as I listened to the introductions of these inductees and wonder if I’d ever be able to achieve the things they had. The funny thing was, though, that I’d never heard of most of the recipients until I attended those luncheons. As a result, their accomplishments (however impressive) didn’t mean much to me, either.