KALAMAZOO, MI -- An early bit of tough truth helped shape Tim Lester into the coach he is now and the Western Michigan leader learned it from an unlikely source: Steve Spurrier.
The legendary, retired coach guided the Florida Gators through the 2001 season and had recruited Lester out of Warrenville South High School in Wheaton, Ill.
Then the unthinkable happened: Lester blew out his knee in the first round of the high school playoffs, had surgery, then made a phone call.
"I called up my recruiting guy and said, 'Hey, I blew my knee out and I want to let you know I had surgery,' and he's like, 'Hold on,'" Lester recalled.