Being a basketball walk-on is a labor of love. This year's Iowa walk-ons are a special bunch.

I was fortunate to have walked on to the Iowa basketball team in 1979-80, the same season it would reach the Final Four.

I had a front row seat for that drama. And at every home game, I got to bask in the fanatical atmosphere of the sold-out Iowa Field House. I was equally grateful to have had the opportunity to play for a future hall-of-fame coach. Perhaps best of all, I was able to share the experience with my folks — former basketball players in their own right, who made the round-trip drive from West Des Moines to Iowa City for nearly every game.