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When everything in your life is going so perfectly smooth and the world seems to be your oyster, isn’t it always the case that somehow, someway, something happens that causes everyone to look at you a little differently?

Now who knows, it may have been bad timing, a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time or a butterfly may have flapped its wings a few times over in Thailand and started a downward spiral of events but, in this case I really wish somebody would have grabbed that butterfly and ripped its wings rights off. Anything in order to avoid the unfortunate series of events that affected so many people in so many ways.

March 2006: The Duke lacrosse team’s accusations of being rapists were so far outta left field that people were like, “Wow, maybe it could be true?” Sure, for a time I was one of those people, and was constantly watching CNN for the latest updates. However, having been a part of the NCAA college scene, I know a lot of crazy sh*t happens and parties do get out of hand, but this just seemed way too out there!

Fortunately for the players involved, they were acquitted of all charges and have subsequently had their names cleared and for the most part, moved on. Some of the players have gone back to Duke, others to new pastures and new futures. But what about the man that took the brunt of this case? Former Duke head coach Mike Pressler literally took one for the team. He was put in a terrible spot by all of this and without weighing all the facts, the school board acted and left Pressler out in the cold Durham night with nothing to stand on.

I found this article while reading Men’s Health this week. (Tutka pick one up, it might help you get out of the house.) It’s a great article about the man, the coach, and how it affected his life but didn’t defeat him. I praise Coach Pressler for what he has been able to accomplish since his Duke departure. This is what lacrosse is made of. Genuine people who only want the best for their families and the kids they coach!

Check out the story here, along with a video segment on Pressler.

“Adversity doesn’t build character … it reveals it.” Mike Pressler, Head Coach of the Bryant Bulldogs

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