Rockne returned home [from Pittsburgh] exhausted,

In season it's not uncommon for them to spend at least 40 hours a week, often 50 or 60 hours (on their sports). These guys do it willingly because they believe they can win the lottery and become a high-paid pro athlete.

You've got to admire the guy, coming into this very tough system and figuring out how to beat it.

Apparently, there's a big pile of letters at home for me and my mum said I got a thong in the post,

My heart was left in Australia, and to be able to be here makes me think I'm back home again.

As I told the kids on the way home, this conference is tough. We have to build mental as well as physical toughness to be competitive.