This summer I had the chance to rewatch Rudy, one of my favorite sports movies of all time.

Its a great movie because it makes you root for the underdog. Its a great movie because it poignantly shows how the human soul can be indomnitable and that sometimes dreams come true. Its also a great movie because its based on a true story.

I have to admit, though, that I really didnt think I would ever come across that type of heroism in real life. Maybe a story that was fit for a movie, but certainly it couldnt be a movie story fit for real life.

But my thinking changed after Saturdays football game. I had to chance to watch Rudy personified. I watched a fifth-year senior beat the odds and make a dream come true in front of his family in the stands. I watched a person who had been knocked down in years past, courageously get up and have the performance of his college career. I saw Josh Staph run on Saturday , and I think everyone who reads this page should hear his incredible story.

My apologies to those who expect a more conventional football column. I could talk about the Ivy title implications of Harvards win., the improved defensive unit or the Crimsons ability to hold on to the football and win close games. But trust me on this one. I wouldnt spend time retelling this story if I didnt think it was important.

Josh Staphs story begins in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was raised on a steady diet of football. His father, a die-hard Steelers fan, and his older brother, a loyal supporter of the local Browns, made sure that Josh knew nothing other than blocking, passing, running and tackling.

My father and brother are, simply put, the reason I started playing football, Staph said. I can remember watching football with them before I was even old enough to know what was going on.

As a young boy, Staphs father and brother would take him out to a local field and play pick-up games. He was too little to actually compete, but he didnt mind playing all-time center and snapping the ball to his life-long role models.

In high school, Staph was a standout player who could play flanker, tailback or fullback. In his final high school game, the 100th playing of the University-Western Reserve rivalry, Staph scored three touchdowns to lead his team to the win in a driving snow.

He wouldnt score three touchdowns or even get that much playing time until Saturdays game. But how he got back to success on the gridiron deserves more mention than dwelling on the accomplishment of 152 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

You see, Staph wasnt even supposed to be in a Harvard uniform last weekend. In fact, he should have graduated last spring. He had many opportunities to stop playing football and was nearly forced to stop on a few occasions. But he persevered. He only wanted to compete and to play, and although his prospects were dim, he only worked harder.

In the fall of 1997, when Staph arrived at Harvard, he already had a long line ahead of him at tailback. Crimson great Chris Menick 99, Troy Jones 99 and Damon Jones 00, were just some of the talented backs ahead of Staph on the depth chart.

So, after two years of not logging any playing time, Staph was not invited back to practice with the team at the next camp. As a junior, Staph realized that his chances of ever playing for the varsity team were slim at best.

But he didnt give up.

Probably the most difficult hardship Ive faced playing football was not being invited back to camp, Staph said. And the most difficult decision Ive had to make was whether or not to come back.