"My teammates are the most important people to me," he said. "They are my best friends; they're greatest guys. That has made this experience most worthwhile--playing with all those guys. And on top of all that, they are all good football players too."

Family is equally important to Menick. At the Dartmouth game this year, Menick was given the game ball. He promptly passed it onto his father.

"He pretty much taught me how to run with the ball," the younger Menick said. "I owe so much to him. My father and mother have been everything to me.

"Never giving up, the desire to be the best you can possible be, no matter what--that I learned from my father and mother. They raised my sister and I that way. My father came to every single one of my games, trying to help make me better. My father always brought me back to earth."

But his MCL injury brought him back to earth last weekend. It called into question this coming weekend. It would have threatened what should be the crowning jewel on a sparkling career.

Even with its star rusher back, Harvard still faces a tough adversary--the aggressive Yale squad, boasting the No. 1 defense in the Ivy.

Looking back on his academic and athletic career at Harvard, Menick gets a little sentimental.

"I walked into Harvard as a naive, young kid who didn't really appreciate how much relationships mean," he said. "On the field and in school I gained an appreciation for hard work and discipline, but also being close with people who care about you. It's been a really good experience in all aspects and I feel like I've really matured a lot."

So now going into what will be the final game of his amazing career, a mature Menick will also have to hope that his hunger and motivation has been absorbed by his teammates.

In his own words, he takes "pride in getting that extra yard."

Fittingly, Menick nearly ended his career on a play in which he sacrificed everything for a single extra yard.

Fortunately, it wasn't the last time he has that opportunity.