College at its Finest

There are few moments capable of defining the college experience. Last night happened to be one. The entire state and college football nation had centered around Columbia, Missouri the last few days and our school and team rose to the challenge.

College Gameday, a national TV show that highlights the biggest game of the week, descended on Columbia Friday and we set the record for most in attendance with 18,000.

Commentator Erin Andrews wondered if we had cancelled class and thought she saw professorsin the crowd. My roommate woke up at 3 AM Saturday to stand in the rain so he could have a place to stand close to the stage. The early wakeup call still had him standing 150+ feet from the stage. Lee Corso didn’t pick us to win and neither did just about anyone else inthe country, including myself. It was the first time I was not overtly optimistic about Mizzou’s chances in any game.

I remember my freshman year saying, “Just once in my college career I want to rush the field or court.” Before I decided on getting an MBA, the last chance was the KU basketball game in February 2009. We won on a last second shot and those seniors who never had the chance before, rushed the court. Yesterday, a few weeks from my second and final graduation, was the last football game with a chance to rush the field and the Tigers poetically came through again in arguably the biggest win in Mizzou history. The video below highlights the pre, during and post game celebration of Saturday as seen through my eyes.

Via an article on ESPN: As the final second ticked off, and thousands of Missouri students raced onto the field, an unlucky few had the misfortune to be arrested for trespassing. A local sheriff loosely guided one young Tigers fan, his hands cuffed behind his back. The fan veered toward a Missouri player and, with adoration in his eyes, said, "I fu@kin' love you guys." Well said. I have already heard of teachers cancelling quizzes tomorrow.

Post game we walked to the infamous goalpost cutting Harpo’s. The police had already blocked off the streets and there were thousands chanting, singing and sawing away. One could buy a $2 saw for $20-$30 from quick thinking entrepreneurs and start hacking. At one point I laid claim to a piece and had it in hand before it magically disappeared.

A local paper described the scene: “Mobs stopped traffic, revelers scaled balconies, hundreds of bodies crushed into a single mass of crazy, jubilant celebration at the intersection of Tenth and Cherry streets, where the fans gathered outside Harpo's to cut the goal post in pieces.” It was really was quite the scene.

As Missouri fans, we have generally been on the losing end of these games, and I have traveled to many games coming home disappointed so it’s nice that my 4 years at Mizzou started reversing that trend with a few big wins. After speaking with my grandfather this morning on the phone, he said he had "waited a long time for a day like this and it was a really special day." He has been probably waiting for the 55+ years since he played halfback for Mizzou.

There are a few days in life you will not forget, Maybe the day you get married or completed your first marathon. The newest day on my "will not forget list" is October 23, 2010, the day Mizzou beat #1 Oklahoma.

To see more pictures of my experience click here.