Just in case you wonder why I don’t follow NCAA football:
The Red Raiders spotted Minnesota a 31-point, third-quarter lead, then rallied for a stunning 44-41 overtime victory in the Insight Bowl Friday night, the largest comeback in Division I-A bowl history….
Tech (8-6) appeared finished after Minnesota (6-7) took a 38-7 lead with 7:47 to go in the third quarter. But the Red Raiders mounted a furious comeback, scoring 31 unanswered points in less than 20 minutes.
Obviously, this is new, being a new bowl record. But it’s part of a theme… I used to go to Gopher football games back when they still played outside, on campus, but I’ve never attended a single game in the wretched Metrodome.
If you think being a Vikings fan is difficult, then stop and consider that this die-hard Vikings fan won’t even think of following Gopher sports because it’s far too painful. The one time the basketball had success back when I was following it – the 1976 Mychal Thompson team that went 24-3 and won the Big Ten – had all of its wins stripped and its title revoked for a minor violation that I can’t even remember.
Sure, the hockey team has won five national titles, but as the Fraters Libertas can – and will, in great detail – testify, they probably should have won twice as many considering how much hockey talent they’ve possessed.
Anyhow, this is just the latest salt in the wound. I’ll stick with the Vikes, even though they’re sitting home again this offseason with a coach who may be the reincarnation of Les Steckel. I hope not, I don’t think the evidence is fully in yet. But it doesn’t look good, that’s for sure.