Miami great Lewis offers encouragement to Ole Miss RB Lacy - ESPN

GLENDALE, Ariz. — As Ole Miss standout running back Kewan Lacy made his way to the locker room after the Rebels' 31-27 loss to Miami in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, former Hurricanes and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis pulled him aside.

Lacy was hurting in every way after the end of the Rebels' chaotic season. He was still wearing a black brace on his arm to restrict his movement from an old injury, and a black bandage on his right hamstring, which he injured Thursday night during an electric 73-yard touchdown run to start the second quarter.

With his lips pressed together tightly in disappointment and frustration, he looked Lewis in the eyes without speaking. He listened as one of Miami's most decorated defenders told him he learned more from his losses than his wins.

«Sometimes, the battles sharpen you so that you can deal with them,» Lewis said. «These kids, their hearts are broken. I grabbed him because I'm a fan of Lacy. I think he's dynamic. I watched him from the middle of the season all the way through it. But when you get to this point, you're like, 'Oh my gosh, my life has ended.' No, it's just beginning. Now, you got to learn something. Pick your teammates up.»

The Rebels have been forced to pick up each other since their former coach, Lane Kiffin, left for LSU on Nov. 30. But they never quit — certainly not against Tulane in the first round, not in a 39-34 win against No. 3 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal and not in the fourth quarter against Miami. After what was a thrilling matchup that included six lead changes and came down to the final play, those within the Ole Miss program agreed that the adversity they faced on and off the field brought them closer, enabling them to make history in spite of it.