A friend sent Joe the poem "Don't Quit" in January, 1977.
Joe read the poem to his classmates, many of them teammates, in his Rhetoric 160 class. Taught by professor Fred Stripp, the emphasis of the course was public speaking.
"Don't Quit" captures the spirit of Joe's life and inspired the name of the film.
First published in the early 20th Century, the poem's author is anonymous. Grammy nominated artist Shawn Mullins put the words of the poem to music for the film. The song is available via iTunes.
Eric Anderson saw Joe read "Don't Quit" in the last week of January, 1977.
The classroom, 60 Evans Hall, where Joe presented "Don't Quit" to his classmates.