I 've been a Gophers fan as long as I can remember. One particular memory stands apart.
It was November 2nd, 2002 and I was an impressionable 12-year-old. The Golden Gophers faced the Ohio Buckeyes in Columbus. I don't know what the circumstances were, but for some reason, I did not watch the game live during the day. Without knowing the results, my dad had queued up the replay for my brother and I to watch that evening.
Coincidentally, it was date night for my dad and mom. Before they left, my dad sat my brother and I down and told us, "Guys, keep your eyes peeled to the Gophers game tonight. It's gonna start to look a little ugly, but guys, this was the best Gopher football game I have ever seen. You are in for a treat. Don't get discouraged when things start to go poorly. All I can say is.........................comeback."
We were fricken locked in! Ohio St. scores 7-0. Ohio St. scores again 14-0. Another quick TD for the Buckeyes, 21-0.
Every passing Ohio St. score my brother and I got more excited. "Oh my god, this is going to be such a great comeback!!"
When the rout was on in the 4th quarter, my brain was scrambling to figure out how we were going to pull it off. TD, onside kick, TD, onside kick, it was going to be EPIC!
The clock hit 0.00 and the score was 34-3, Buckeyes. My brother and I were in tears. The feeling of despair was indescribable. It wasn't just that they lost, but I was 100% sure that they were going to take down the #6 team in the country.
Shortly after the game ended, my dad and mom returned.
"Why did you do that Dad!?!?"
"Do what??"
"Lie about the Gophers!"
"I just wanted you knuckleheads to behave for three hours. Looks like it worked."
Moral of the Story: There had been a lot of painful memories for all of us during our Gopher fandom, some of which have been passed down from generation to generation.
I will be in attendance on Saturday with my brother and a**hole dad to witness the official revival of Gopher football. All past trauma will be worth it with a W on Sat.
It was November 2nd, 2002 and I was an impressionable 12-year-old. The Golden Gophers faced the Ohio Buckeyes in Columbus. I don't know what the circumstances were, but for some reason, I did not watch the game live during the day. Without knowing the results, my dad had queued up the replay for my brother and I to watch that evening.
Coincidentally, it was date night for my dad and mom. Before they left, my dad sat my brother and I down and told us, "Guys, keep your eyes peeled to the Gophers game tonight. It's gonna start to look a little ugly, but guys, this was the best Gopher football game I have ever seen. You are in for a treat. Don't get discouraged when things start to go poorly. All I can say is.........................comeback."
We were fricken locked in! Ohio St. scores 7-0. Ohio St. scores again 14-0. Another quick TD for the Buckeyes, 21-0.
Every passing Ohio St. score my brother and I got more excited. "Oh my god, this is going to be such a great comeback!!"
When the rout was on in the 4th quarter, my brain was scrambling to figure out how we were going to pull it off. TD, onside kick, TD, onside kick, it was going to be EPIC!
The clock hit 0.00 and the score was 34-3, Buckeyes. My brother and I were in tears. The feeling of despair was indescribable. It wasn't just that they lost, but I was 100% sure that they were going to take down the #6 team in the country.
Shortly after the game ended, my dad and mom returned.
"Why did you do that Dad!?!?"
"Do what??"
"Lie about the Gophers!"
"I just wanted you knuckleheads to behave for three hours. Looks like it worked."
Moral of the Story: There had been a lot of painful memories for all of us during our Gopher fandom, some of which have been passed down from generation to generation.
I will be in attendance on Saturday with my brother and a**hole dad to witness the official revival of Gopher football. All past trauma will be worth it with a W on Sat.