Have you ever had some event that unexpectedly triggers a whole flood of memories and emotions? The other day I stumbled across an ESPN 30-for-30 episode about the University of Colorado Buffaloes football teams of the late 80s and early 90s. Under Coach Bill McCartney, the Buffaloes rose from obscurity to national prominence for a few years.
Our late, special-needs son Peter was a football nut, as described in my memoir of him, He Made Us Better: A Story of Faith, Family, Friends (and Football). Peter loved college football, but was mostly loyal to the Purdue Boilermakers and the Big Ten. But for some reason, during those years he really took an interest in Colorado’s football team, and followed it pretty closely.
I really hadn’t thought much about the Colorado Buffaloes for years. But this episode really took me back to those days, for a bunch of reasons:
– Peter and I used to have a running discussion over which college team had the coolest mascot. One that was always prominent in the conversation was “Ralphie,” Colorado’s live buffalo mascot. Before every home game, a team of handlers would run as fast as they could alongside Ralphie as it led the team onto the field. If you’re never seen it, it’s awesome!
– Colorado’s star running back during those days was a guy named Eric Bieniemy (pronounced “be-enemy”). Peter and I always used to call him “Eric the Enemy.” He really was pretty much of an enemy to opposing defenses.
– One time Sandra, Peter and I were at some kind of regional Spina Bifida Association conference in Ohio. During the morning and early afternoon, we split up and each of us attended different breakout sessions about some aspect of dealing with spina bifida. But by mid-afternoon, Peter and I skipped out of our sessions and went back to our hotel room to watch Colorado play Nebraska for the Big 8 championship. (Sandra didn’t find out till later). During Peter’s life, we had always tried to live as “normally” as possible. We probably missed some scintillating presentation on urinary tract infections or something. But on that day we left the abnormal behind, to enjoy the normal. We had much more fun, and I’ve never had the first regret.
– One day we were in Indianapolis for a bunch of doctor appointments. Somehow that night I wound up taking Peter to some Fellowship of Christian Athletes event, I believe, where Coach McCartney was the speaker. Afterward, Coach McCartney saw Peter in his wheelchair, made his way over to him, and talked to him at some length. He even let Peter try on his national championship ring.
I’ve enjoyed a number of the 30-for-30 episodes. But this one hooked me emotionally more than any of the others, and I shed more than a few tears.
Peter’s not here anymore, and I still miss him tremendously–especially during bowl season. Of necessity, Peter and I spent a whole lot of time together, and a lot of it wound up being centered on football. I’m so thankful to have had those experiences and all of the fun that went with them. I cherish those memories beyond my ability to express, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
Thank you, Colorado Buffaloes.
