Some of the best kept secrets can exist right under our noses.

Witness the Slippery Rock University football program.

Yes, it’s steadiness in terms of won-loss record has been well-documented. The team has endured only six losing seasons in George Mihalik’s 25 years as head coach.

But this program extends far beyond its successes on the field.

This past season, SRU had the highest cumulative grade point average of any football team in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

It had 21 players earn PSAC Scholar Athlete Awards in 2011-12 for posting GPA’s of 3.50 or above.

It had 37 players with cumulative GPA’s of 3.0 or higher on the 2012 roster.

Two seniors — Aaron Moul and Josh Gardner — had semester grade point averages of 4.0 in the fall.

So much for the “dumb jock” stereotype so many of us like to hang on football players.

So many football teams at all levels boast of being a family. These guys really are.

Mihalik doesn’t use boys to win football games. He develops men while winning football games.

The players appreciate it.

Running back Akeem Satterfield and defensive end Jeff Thompson came to The Rock from rough backgrounds and were two of the team’s captains by their senior years.

Both were teary-eyed when talking about their time at The Rock during the team’s recent banquet.Both had a hard time dealing with Mihalik when they first arrived on campus.

He’s like a father-figure to them now.

Mihalik and his wife host that year’s seniors for dinner in their home after the conclusion of each season. It’s a time to reflect, enjoy each other’s company, wish everybody well.

That’s why homecoming is so important to Mihalik and his staff. It’s like an extension of their own family coming home for a weekend.

Even the most successful of Rock football players have their education to fall back on.

Brandon Fusco graduated from SRU before he was even drafted by the Minnesota Vikings.

Randy McKavish, the SRU quarterback who led the team to four consecutive PSAC West titles and three Division II playoff appearances, turned down chances to play pro football to accept a position in the pharmaceutical industry.

He decided to begin his life’s work rather than pursue an extension of football.

How often does a guy make that choice?

SRU football players have such options in life, more often than not.

Mihalik has produced 167 wins as a head coach at Slippery Rock.

He’s also produced hundreds of productive citizens and turned around numerous lives.

Those are the wins that count.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle