BleedGopher
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- Nov 11, 2008
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Heck, life as a Minnesota sports fan is not easy. But it's the life we've chosen. Sure I'd love to have some odd reason to cheer for Duke even though I'm originally from Wisconsin (just giving you a hard time Pewter! 
) but heck, I choose pain and continued frustration even over an alma mater that recently won a national championship and is currently #1 in the nation. Why? Because you don't give up the on a passion, even if it continues to punch you in the gut. Over and over. Oh, and over again.
Here is a text converation I had with JohnnyGopher right after the game last night (I cleaned up the text-english):
JG: Only the Gophers can do this to us time and time again.
Me: It really is amazing isn't it.
JG: At least the Twins season is coming up.
Me: Yep, I can't wait for Sept when we get swept by the Yanks after Nathan blows a 2 run lead in the 9th in game 2 of the playoffs.
JG: Yea, but by that time we'll be pumped about Gopher football season.
Me: Yep, I can't wait for mid Sept when we have USC on the ropes and we let them off the hook in the 4th.
JG: Yea, but by that time we'll be pumped about the Vikes season.
Me: Yep, I can't wait for Jan. when we commit a once-in-a-decade penalty to lose a playoff game.
JG: And on we go.
It's the life we've chosen. If you add up all of the heartache, frustration, gut-punching loses from multiple sports in both pro and college it will be hard to find a city that treats its fans to such disappointment and torment year in and year out. Last night was a blast at the Barn, we got to watch a great opponent who plays incredible D succomb to our pressure, crowd and emergence of a sophomore big man that (hopefully) is growing before our eyes. We got to watch a team that has dealt with such incredible adversity this year (much of its own doing - Royce, Al and possibly Trevor; and much of it beyond our control - Tubby's Dad, Paul's sister and possibly Trevor) yet they haven't given up on a coach or system that frustrated them earlier and they played their guts out to only fall inches short (again) against a top team (again).
In a season of too many if's, and's and but's, and shoulda, coulda and woulda's, we find ourselves a few points from a lock in the NCAA but more likely hosting a home game after the BTT ends. My wife asked me last night why I keep putting myself through this disappointment and I told her that at some point, things will turn for us. The Gopher football will have that amazing breakthrough season, our 2009-2010 basketball preseason expectations will come to fruition and teams like the Vikes/Twins, etc. will not break our hearts.
Despite so many offseason possibilities (Trevor, Cory, Al, transfers, etc.) I do feel better about where we are now than I did after the Michigan and NU games. Much better. But until we see who is on the roster next November, we still have a few devestating loses to shake our head at up here 'Sota.
Go Gophers!!
) but heck, I choose pain and continued frustration even over an alma mater that recently won a national championship and is currently #1 in the nation. Why? Because you don't give up the on a passion, even if it continues to punch you in the gut. Over and over. Oh, and over again. Here is a text converation I had with JohnnyGopher right after the game last night (I cleaned up the text-english):
JG: Only the Gophers can do this to us time and time again.
Me: It really is amazing isn't it.
JG: At least the Twins season is coming up.
Me: Yep, I can't wait for Sept when we get swept by the Yanks after Nathan blows a 2 run lead in the 9th in game 2 of the playoffs.
JG: Yea, but by that time we'll be pumped about Gopher football season.
Me: Yep, I can't wait for mid Sept when we have USC on the ropes and we let them off the hook in the 4th.
JG: Yea, but by that time we'll be pumped about the Vikes season.
Me: Yep, I can't wait for Jan. when we commit a once-in-a-decade penalty to lose a playoff game.
JG: And on we go.
It's the life we've chosen. If you add up all of the heartache, frustration, gut-punching loses from multiple sports in both pro and college it will be hard to find a city that treats its fans to such disappointment and torment year in and year out. Last night was a blast at the Barn, we got to watch a great opponent who plays incredible D succomb to our pressure, crowd and emergence of a sophomore big man that (hopefully) is growing before our eyes. We got to watch a team that has dealt with such incredible adversity this year (much of its own doing - Royce, Al and possibly Trevor; and much of it beyond our control - Tubby's Dad, Paul's sister and possibly Trevor) yet they haven't given up on a coach or system that frustrated them earlier and they played their guts out to only fall inches short (again) against a top team (again).
In a season of too many if's, and's and but's, and shoulda, coulda and woulda's, we find ourselves a few points from a lock in the NCAA but more likely hosting a home game after the BTT ends. My wife asked me last night why I keep putting myself through this disappointment and I told her that at some point, things will turn for us. The Gopher football will have that amazing breakthrough season, our 2009-2010 basketball preseason expectations will come to fruition and teams like the Vikes/Twins, etc. will not break our hearts.
Despite so many offseason possibilities (Trevor, Cory, Al, transfers, etc.) I do feel better about where we are now than I did after the Michigan and NU games. Much better. But until we see who is on the roster next November, we still have a few devestating loses to shake our head at up here 'Sota.
Go Gophers!!
