Paywalled article for the athletic about Maxx's sobriety
https://theathletic.com/2806112/2021/09/...-and-back/
This was interesting:
Crosby was, in fact, sober his entire last season at Eastern Michigan .. after getting in a drunk-driving accident leaving a party that spring.
“I wrecked my car and got arrested,” Crosby said. “I knew I was going to face some kind of suspension. Coach (Chris) Creighton told me it was going to be a two-game suspension, but that second game was against Purdue … that’s a huge game. At Eastern Michigan, if you’re playing a Big Ten team, that’s a monstrous game. I was like, I cannot miss that game. And I was waiting for a couple of weeks to see what he was going to do. It was a scary time.”
Creighton made Crosby a deal.
Crosby had to stay sober the entire season, get drug-tested and breathalyzed frequently, do a lot of community service and the suspension would only last the first game. If Crosby drank after any game or failed a test, he would be suspended again immediately.
Crosby was planning to enter the NFL Draft early after that junior season, so it was a no-brainer. And a white knuckler.
“He challenged me,” Crosby said. “And I stayed sober and was able to get to the draft. Without that challenge, I don’t know if I would be here today. Looking back on it, obviously, I went to the pros and had my struggles again, but a year and a half later, our relationship is so strong. (Creighton) always reaches out to me.”