The 5 a.m. wakeup calls for weights. The 6 a.m. timed mile run. The off-road conditioning test at Lake Tahoe’s 6,200-foot altitude. The tongue-lashings delivered after each loss. The grueling practices meant to test your internal fortitude. The extra shots taken with the gym lights dimmed. The hours upon hours of film study.
That schedule isn’t for everybody. It takes complete devotion to your craft. It takes a champion’s desire. Not many teams are filled with players willing to take on that challenge, to grind for 12 months when nobody's looking. But Nevada proved Saturday, and throughout this season, it is one of those teams.