Everything you've said is true. Everything I've said is true. If you want to call it a dance, sure.
Drake has been everything you've said. Consummate leader, loyal and a good kid. Not dragging him through the mud, or speaking ill. But when DT was hired - Drake had his eye on leaving. He asked how to get in the portal and there were discussions that led to him getting to more money. I don't think he wanted to leave, but definitely wanted to feel valued. And Tom made that happen. It never got toxic, or whatever kids like to say now, and Drake was always content to be a Hawk.
I think Drake is a great hawk and have only heard good things about him as a person. He got hired as an assistant at ISU, and immediately went to work. And his job now is to make ISU as good a program as he can.