Smith noted how psychologically important improvement is to self-motivation.

"For an injury that could require nine months or longer to heal, one should make short-range goals. Breaking up the healing process into intervals gives the athlete a success and hope, and this encourages a speedier recovery."

But once healed, how does an athlete overcome the fear of re-injury?

"Sometimes a person can't," Smith says. "An athlete that decides to play again is naturally tentative about the past injury. This insecurity might wear off right away, and everything is fine, but other times, an old injury leaves nagging reminders that may never stop tormenting the athlete's mind."

Two prominent Harvard athletes attempting to overcome nagging serious injuries are tennis' Jonathan Cardi and soccer's Derek Mills.

Cardi, playing number-two doubles with freshman Mike Shyjan, has been plagued since last fall by what he thinks could be a torn rotator cuff.

"The doctor's aren't sure exactly what is wrong," Cardi says, "but I had been improving until recently. Now it's starting to bother me again, but I'm still playing. It's a love of the game, a love of the competition, that keeps me interested."

Mills would concur. As a freshman, Mills was touted as being the nation's best 18-year-old soccer player. Now, he battles daily with a knee injury.

"I spent my freshman summer rehabilitating my knee, and I returned the following year completely out of shape," Mills says. "Then my knee gave me problems again and this year. I competed in only five games. You only get 44 chances to prove yourself in this sport, and every game counts."

McCormack, Cardi, Mills. Three of the many competitors on Harvard athletic fields who have suffered an injury in the past or play with one today.

There is no magic in an athlete's road to recovery. If there is a common denominator, however, it is a desire and a will to succeed. Reaching goals--a slice of what Harvard is all about.

The only real magic is seeing that athlete back on the playing field.

Watching Scott McCormack slice between defenders and deftly flick the puck past a sprawling goalie.

Applauding Jonathan Cardi for a service ace or a booming forehand smash.

Cheering Derek Mills as he scores on an overhead kick, Pele-style, and celebrates, forgetting about his knee for the briefest of moments.