Witness to a Miracle

A month ago, I requested today off with intentions of spending the morning beside a shallow pond, taking my son out for the South Zone youth waterfowl season. Those plans changed earlier in the week, when we were offered a pair of tickets to the Purdue/Ohio State game. When I told Barry about the opportunity, he said, "We can hunt ducks all winter!" That's my boy.

I've been a Purdue fan all my life. It's the same sort of disease the North Siders in Chicago suffer. The Boiler football team and the Cubs always seem to let their fans down. Especially this year. I accepted the invitation fully expecting to watch a slaughter, complete with obnoxious Ohio State fans who bought up all the tickets offered up by season ticket holders who couldn't bear to watch. And there were LOTS of them. The south end zone, and a the northwest corner of Ross-Ade were awash in red. The rest of the stadium sported a dissapointing number of empty seats. What a shame.


We sat with my friend Mike and his son. The group around us was all season ticket holders, and they shared a common sense of forboding. Except for one gal who was convienced that Purdue would prevail.

Purdue kicked off, and their defense came to life. Soon the Boilers took the lead, and never looked back.


Barry had never been to a football game. He started out mildly interested, and wondering where the nearest concession stand was located. As the game progressed, and Purdue continued to play well, Barry became as excited as the fans around us. High Fives at every success. Boos at every percieved blown call. Singing the Fight Song. And chanting "One, Two, Three, FIRST DOWN!" as the Boilers moved down the field. I have to say, I was as excited to see him into the game as I was about Purdue's success.

In the end, the Buckeye's chant of "O--H--I--O" faded into silence, and their 4th quarter rally fell short. Purdue pulled off an improbable victory. While it wasn't really a miracle, the game showed us in West Lafayette what our team really is capable of. It also exposed Ohio State to be good, but not elite. Perhaps #7 in the nation was a bit generous.

We won't make it out for the youth waterfowl season. Tomorrow, I have to work. The price I have to pay for a Saturday of Father-Son time. But it will be worth it. Purdue won, and Barry and I forged another memory together.

Boiler Up!