Our medical school puts the highest percentage of graduates into pediatrics and family practice in the country.

In my 25 years in academia, I have never seen such a focused and effective response launched in a quicker amount of time.

That's why it's so exciting. It was not something we applied for. It's not a lobbying thing.

In terms of self-confidence and faculty believing we can accomplish great things, it's a shot in the arm. ... It gives us an advantage in recruitment and tells students they can stay in the state and go to a great school. And I hope it gives our state citizens a boost, a point of pride.

We're hoping he'll go back and remember one or two or three of the wonderful things we're doing. And that he'll remember us as one of the places on the map.

When I had him in the Olympics in the summer of 2004, after every practice and after every game throughout the whole time that I had him, when he would take his shoes off, his socks would be red on the inside from the blood coming from his big toe.