What a week!
Okay so this Fall I have been going to college football games with my friend Liana and her family. Her husband was in Kuwait and they had season tickets so I was able to go in his place and it was a lot of fun. Liana's husband was in the KU marching band so by association I became a fan of KU. Well yesterday, I was able to accompany them to the KU / MU "Border Showdown" football game. Liana's husband is back from Kuwait but they still had a couple of tickets extra. I got one and a good friend of Mike (Liana's husband) got one. He was the lone MU fan in the middle of our little KU cheering section. Liana and her mother-in-law had chosen our seats well, aisle seats in the first two rows underneath the overhang on the lower level, which proved awesome because it snowed for the whole game. KU hasn't been doing so great and it showed in the crowd, which I estimated to be about 3-1 favoring MU, a team which is going to the Big 12 championship next week. Despite being the underdogs, the game got off to an awesome start for KU and there was a lot of cheering amongst the KU contingent. The lead changed a couple of times, creating an incredibly emotional situation for fans of both teams and when MU stole the lead with just under two minutes left in the game, KU fans became quiet but still hopeful. But KU wasn't done and, showing incredible focus under tremendous pressure, the KU quarterback took them back down the field for a touchdown to lead by 3 points. KU fans rejoiced loudly. But wait, there were still 27 seconds left on the clock and Missouri would get the ball, and with a kick returner as dangerous as any around, KU fans began to worry once again. A field goal would tie the game. MU marched quickly back down the field and with 5 seconds left and barely within field goal range they had to go for it. Every MU fan in the arena held their breath, every KU fan made as much noise as possible to try to break up the play. I could barely see between all the fans in front of me. The MU line sprinted towards the ball and all I saw was the ball sailing through the air but with nowhere near enough height or velocity to make it to the goal. Before the ball even hit the ground the KU fans exploded into joyous screaming! It was the most amazing feeling! The stadium quickly began to empty of MU fans. We stuck around to revel in the feeling as the border trophy was presented and the ecstatic KU players celebrated. It was the most awesome feeling entering the sea of humanity, tightly packed, making it's way back to the parking lot singing the "rock chalk jayhawk KU" chant http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pnpy3HSmHS8 and chanting the names of the quarterback and receiver who caught the final touchdown pass. Then we went back to Liana's in-laws for an indoor tailgate party of brats and beans. It was the perfect ending to a perfectly awesome week.