Editor's Note:  This is the most recent piece in a series of stories shared by Gorillas to Gorillas as we all embark upon this new "season" in our lives. These certainly are unprecedented times, for young and old alike. Our hope is for Gorilla student-athletes, past and present, coaches and members of Gorilla Nation to read these pieces, awaken their Gorilla memories and then compose their own story to share with us. There is strength in numbers.
 
Long before "grit" became a trendy buzzword, a tradition was being built on it in a small town in southeastern Kansas. No one really knew what it was then but a group of men that donned helmets with the word "Pitt" on the side sure knew it was something special. 
 
When I stepped on campus in August of 1993, I was like a lot of Gorilla football players before and after me. A simple walk-on with a promise from the 'Big Man' that, if things went well, I could earn a scholarship and an opportunity to be a part of a great tradition of winning football.
 
As a small-town kid that grew up 45 minutes away from Pittsburg, I knew all the success stories and the men that came before me. I went to camps and games as a high school student, and even had a front row seat for the infamous "Feud at the 50". I just wanted a chance to step on the field at Carnie Smith Stadium and be a part of the Gorilla Tradition.
 
I found out really quick like what went in to all those victories when we started that August. No one was going to outwork the boys from SE Kansas and for the first time in my life I really got to see what it was like to be a part of a football family with a bond that could not be broken.
 
As an offensive lineman, there was a rich heritage before me, and it was like a rite of passage for the veteran lineman, like Doug Bullard, to teach us young ones what it meant to be a part of that group. The bad news for an offensive lineman (especially a freshman one) was the fact that you had to line up against our defensive line in a test of physical and mental toughness every day. If you did not possess some toughness, you were not going to make it through a year on the scout team lining up across from guys like Chris Hanna and Chance Rudzik.
 
There is no doubt one of the things that made us great was the fact that we pushed each other to greatness every period of every practice; and I can still visualize that big box with the bulbs flashing what period we were in. The best defensive lineman I ever faced were my teammates I went against during the week. Honestly, games were easy compared to what we pushed ourselves through in practice each week. Anyone that survived Coach Broyles lining you up for board drills can testify to that and the number of ibuprofens it took to get you through the rest of practice.
 
It was upon those practice fields that are currently buried underneath the Robert W. Center that grit was established; and a Gorilla brotherhood was built on sweat.
Our Gorilla family was probably like most people's nuclear family:  you have your ups and you have your downs but one thing you could always count on was that they would always, and I mean always, have your back. Trust me, it seemed like I always found myself in a little "tussle" with linebackers like BJ McGivern or Matt Pinamonti because they had this problem of throwing accusations of holding at me. But the one thing I knew without a doubt was that when the times got tough, we would get through things together and we dang sure would be the ones on top.
 
And the crazy thing is, I know I can count on my brothers 25 years later and they know they can count on me. It truly is a special thing to be a part of and when you are in the moment you know it is fun and cool, but it takes a few years for you to appreciate what an amazing time in your life it really was. When you can get that many men to commit to a common cause, great things can happen; and we were lucky enough to have each other for some amazing moments. You have not lived until you've won a game in overtime to go to the National Championship game – those emotions are irreplaceable. I never was able to win the big game, but I know my fellow Gorillas that have can verify that it is something pretty dang special and life changing.
 
So, how did all this sappy brotherhood and supposed grit translate to the football field? It translated into a ton of victories and a few hard-fought losses. It translated into us winning a lot of games that we probably should not have won. It translated into a lot of teams folding before they stepped on that field. It translated into the Pittsburg State Gorillas becoming THE team in Division II football. When we stepped onto that field, we were a band of brothers and we were something special for a few hours every Saturday.
 
I think it is safe to say we were not the fanciest or even the most innovative team – it wasn't like we were running RPO's before anyone else or running defensive schemes that no one had ever seen before. We were just running to the ball on defense with absolutely no fear, we were running RRO's (Run Run Options) up and down the field for 300+ yards a game.  We were mentally engrossed and dialed in from the first play to the last play and no opponent was going to leave that field feeling good about what just happened to them.
 
As a high school football coach, I have always told my players that when you step on that field you have to play with confidence, not arrogance, confidence. Arrogance means you take things for granted, confidence means you play with knowledge that you have prepared harder, sacrificed more and are willing to give that extra effort the entire game that your opponent is not. I learned these lessons as a Gorilla. We never took anything for granted and always wanted more. 
 
So where does this put us in 2020?
 
We currently are in one of the most unique situations we will face in our lives. When you face tough times, you have to persevere and rely on your grit to get you through. You have to rely on your family as a source of strength. I know my fellow Gorillas are facing a lot of challenges, but I know they have the strength to make it through and come out stronger on the side.
 
They know what it is like to battle against the odds and come out victorious, just like we did with our backup QB J.J. Dalton in 1997 at Central Missouri or like we did in 1995 in Kingsville, TX when Jeff Moreland ran into the end zone to go back to the National Championship Game. I know my fellow Gorillas are staying positive and strong.
 
As for the 2020 version of the Gorillas, this is your opportunity. The situation is far from perfect, but it is the same for every football team you will face this year. This is when your character must reveal itself and you must separate yourself from the ordinary. You have been given a great opportunity to push yourself and commit to greatness by doing things that others are afraid to do, by taking the time to get that extra work in, by taking the time to figure out how you can give yourself a competitive advantage.
 
I promise you this, you will never ever regret making those extra sacrifices and seeing how far you can push yourself. It defined me and has made me a better father, husband, educator and man for life. Build your identity and when you get the opportunity to step on the field with your brothers this fall, you will not quit until you find yourselves victorious.
 
And when you do, trust me, the Gorillas before you will be there to celebrate with you and revel in your glory because OAGAAG.
 
KAWC
 
Brandon Claypool
 
Brandon Claypool was a three-time All-MIAA offensive lineman for the Pitt State football program during his final three seasons with the Gorillas (1995-97. The Nevada, Mo., native was a three-year starter and member of Pitt State's 1995 NCAA Division II National Runner-up squad. Claypool is a long time educator and football coach in the Kansas City metro area. He is currently at Shawnee Mission West High School, but also had stints at SM South and Turner H.S. Brandon and his wife, Mary, reside in Stilwell, Kan. They have two children, Garrett and Emma.
 
Please share your own personal stories/thoughts via email to dwilkes@pittstate.edu. We want to share them! (PSU Athletics reserves the right to edit content for space and appropriateness. We cannot promise to publish every submission, but we will do our best.) Thanks Gorilla Nation!
 
Through the Eyes of a Gorilla Archives
Vol. I - Dan Wilkes, Associate AD/Communications (Apr. 3)
Vol. II - Levi Wyrick, Football/Track & Field Athlete (Apr. 7)
Vol. III - Amanda Davied, Women's Basketball Coach (Apr. 10)
Vol. IV - Chris Hanna, PSU Alum/Football Athlete (Apr. 13)
Vol. V - Jeff Moreland, PSU Alum/Football Athlete (Apr. 15)
Vol. VI - Emily Hanenberg, Volleyball Athlete (Apr. 17)
Vol. VII - Ashley Balazs, Softball Coach (Apr. 20)
Vol. VIII - Peter Euler, PSU Alum/CC T&F Athlete (Apr. 22)
Vol. IX - Caitlin Demarest, PSU Alum/WBB Athlete (Apr. 24)
Vol. X - Tyson Cushman, Baseball Athlete (Apr. 27)
Vol. XI - Oscar Gonzalez, PSU Alum/Men's Basketball Athlete (Apr. 29)
Vol. XII - Russ Jewett, Cross Country/Track & Field Coach (May 1)
Vol. XIII - Ronald Moore, PSU Alum/Football Athlete (May 4)
Vol. XIV - Emily Regier, Volleyball Athlete (May 6)
Vol. XV - Wendi (Rickson) Horak, PSU Alum/Softball Athlete (May 8)
Vol. XVI - Josh Lattimer, PSU Alum/Football Coach (May 11)
Vol. XVII - Brad Buckley, PSU Alum/Baseball Coach (May 13)
Vol. XVIII - Piper Misse, Cross Country/Track & Field Athlete (May 15)
Vol. XVIV - Alexa (Bordewick) Dreiling, PSU Alum/WBB Athlete (May 18)
Vol. XX - Jen Gomez, Volleyball Coach (May 20)
Vol. XXI - Harlan Hess, PSU Alum/Football Athlete (May 22)
Vol. XXII - Kaity Kukowski, Softball Athlete (May 25)
Vol. XXIII - Eddie Lomshek, PSU Alum/Play-By-Play Broadcaster (May 27)
Vol. XXIV - Jenni (Miller) Croy, PSU Alum/Women's Basketball Athlete (May 29)
Vol. XXV - Jesse Wall, PSU Alum/Football Athlete (June 1)
Vol. XXVI - Marcus Canipe, PSU Alum/CC T&F Athlete (June 3)
Vol. XXVII - Kim Anderson, PSU Men's Basketball Coach (June 5)
Vol. XXVIII - Tucker Horak, Football Athlete (June 8)