My roommate Dave is chasing the dream. With laser-like focus on scoring a career in baseball, he drove to sunny Pittsburgh this weekend to explore an opportunity.

Let us also mention that the journey exceeded 10 grueling hours, three tanks of gas, and more Pennsylvania small towns than you can shake a fist at.

The topper: a red eye drive with his grandparents’ car that had him and two charitable roommates back in Cambridge by 7:00 a.m. on Sunday morning.

I’ll wager that Dave’s determination ultimately leads to success.

And hence the particular character of Harvardians seeking sports careers. The myth of the lazy, Doritos-chawing couch potato has long been replaced by the reality of the well-educated, successful, and unabashed fanatic.

Studies show that sports fans generally tend to be smarter—and work harder—than the societal mean.

So what does this all mean for Harvard?

I am reminded of an article from last week’s Fifteen Minutes entitled “Not Unpacked?” in which the authors argued that college is the last time when “rocking a new Boomer Esiason throwback and some boxfresh Air Force 1s can still be considered a power move.”

This is true.

But readers be advised: college won’t be the last opportunity you have to entertain a pipe dream.

—Staff writer Alex McPhillips can be reached at rmcphill@fas.harvard.edu.