By Jeff.Caves
@cumulus.com
I went looking for a friend in the dark cold night in Fort Collins before the Boise State – Colorado State game. He is a good client and we usually meet when I am here for the game. I strained my lower back this week so walking wasn’t easy. I also didn’t want to walk through the corporate tent area and tailgates in my BSU gear. I went anyway and got yelled at, stared at and felt uncomfortable at times. I quit looking and just sat down in the empty student union area and punished myself with a veggie wrap.
Yuck. I quit.
With 11:19 to go in the first half, Boise State went down to CSU 28-3. I watched Harsin closely to see what his emotions were. Boise St had just given up 230 yards of offense, lost a fumble and gave back an interception for touchdown on a roughing the passer call. He never flinched.
He didn’t quit.
At halftime, I went to meet my friend for a drink in the CSU club section at field level behind the CSU bench. I limped over there, Boise State down 35-17, and was yelled at by the CSU fans. I watched the CSU team run right by me into the tunnel and the band pushed me against the wall. I looked into the mob of CSU wearing fans and couldn’t see him. A security guard noticed a BSU hat wearing guy like me and asked me for my pass. I showed it to him. I wasn’t allowed into the club area to look for him. I gave up and limped to the bathroom and felt sorry for myself that I wouldn’t get a chance to see my friend.
I quit.
Tyler Horton was one on one with future NFL wide receiver Michael Gallup most of the night. Horton gave up most of the 10 catches for 102 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Horton had a high school coach of his die earlier that same day. He had a lot on his mind and anybody could understand why he wasn’t playing better. Except him. Gallup caught one more pass for 0 yards the rest of the night. ONE. Horton recovered the final fumble of the game at the Boise State 3 yard line.
Horton NEVER quit.
I plugged my phone into an outlet along the wall behind the Boise State bench and right in front of the CSU student section. The students had been razzing me and the Boise State players all night fueled by beer, thumping music and an ass kicking on Boise State. I typed a tweet about the Boise State offense fighting on with the phone still plugged in. A group of CSU students yelled out every word as I typed it and made fun of me. They won. They made me feel something about myself I was uncomfortable with. I grabbed my phone and moved it and went away.
I quit.
Brett Rypien had command of this offense at times and was still getting pulled in favor of Cozart. I didn’t think Cozart was seeing the field too well when he dropped back to pass and his runs were becoming predictable. Cozart, a QB!, finished with 0 yards passing, 1 run for 13 yards and 6 runs for 18 yards. Boise State was behind the entire game and needed to throw the ball to win it I was convinced. Rypien threw a bad interception with 6 minutes to go in the game, Boise State down 45-38 and CSU took the ball at the Boise State 43. They scored 3 minutes later to take a 14 point lead with 2:55 to go in the game. Did Rypien sulk? Did he know it wasn’t his night? Would he just finish the game with a couple hundred yards passing, 2 sacks and an interception?
NOPE.
Rypien threw 2 touchdown passes in 2 minutes and completed a 15 yard pass on 3rd and 4 to Roh in OT to lead Boise State back to a thrilling 59-52 win.
Rypien never quit.
I felt Boise State had lost this game when they were down by 14 points with 2:55 to go. I started to look ahead to how I would spin it, where the blame should go and how they still could win their next 2 games. I was halfway even thinking of bagging the post-game and going back to my hotel because I had been up for 20 hours that day already. I got slightly lifted when Boise St was only down by 7 with 1:40 to go and had to try the onside kick. I had very little faith.
I quit.
Cedrick Wilson was in and out of the game all night. He got injured and stopped returning kickoffs. Gallup had stolen his thunder in the first half and Modster in the 4th quarter. Wilson had 0 catches in the 4th quarter comeback, dropped a TD catch and was wearing a brace on his arm at the end of the game. It wasn’t his best night. He has a pro career to think about and it just wasn’t going his way. So, of course, he jumped up and could of touched the top of the backboard when he recovered that onside kick. He slowly got up after his best catch of the night and didn’t even have the energy to celebrate.
Wilson didn’t quit.
I don’t want to write anymore. I have told enough of a story. I have only slept 4.5 hours. How much more do I need to do?
I want to quit.
Leighton Vander Esch is the leader of the defense. While it’s true he had 13 tackles, his team had just allowed 52 points, 570 yards and 33 first downs. 185 lb. Dayln Dawkins had rushed and received his way to 229 yards himself and burned the linebackers all night long. CSU was driving to tie the game in OT. They ran the ball right at an exhausted Boise State defense 3x right down to the 6 yard line. Vander Esch assisted on 2 of the tackles and lined up to stop CSU on 3rd and 2. He made his final tackle of the night, his 3rd on 4 plays, and forced a fumble to win it. Quit? He found his next gear.
Vander Esch has no quit in him.
Muhammad Ali said,” Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a CHAMPION.”
That Mountain West championship is closer for Boise State but not done yet. I don’t think they will quit till it’s accomplished. Quitters never win and winners never quit.
I just don’t know where that leaves me.
