It’s been nearly 9 months since I walked out of the Premier Center in Sioux Falls face hurting from the smile that wouldn’t leave my face following the Coyote women cutting the nets and on their way to scare the holy crap out of some teams in the NCAA tournament.
We all know what happened since that day. And know all to well the uncertainly and unpredictability of the days since. Merely playing a game is blessing in the year and in the circumstances that is COVID 2020.
Following my six year stint in the Navy and bouncing around a bit job wise after, I got the opportunity to return to South Dakota, and even better locate within a stones throw of Vermillion. The home of one of my childhood teams, the Yotes. At the time, the “Crazies” wore tshirts that said ‘Casual fans, step aside’ and if I was being truthful with myself, I’d have to do just that. I had zero idea who the 3rd WR on the football team was or who the returning leading scorer on the basketball teams was.
I purchased season tickets in 2005, and as the years went by my fadom grew and grew. As it specifically relates to basketball, you learn very early on that there are points in the game where you stand in cheer. When you need a defensive stand, or to stop an opponents scoring run, to will your team the final seconds of a quarter or half. It’s just part of it. It’s just what you do.
I can only speak for myself, but over the course of the years, this standing and cheering went from a ‘thing you just did’ to something you felt in your bones was going to make a difference. The WNIT run, a game versus Michigan St, finally cutting the nets in Sioux Falls- as a fan you felt like you mattered. You could make a difference in the outcome. You had in some small way the outcome in your hands.
As I watched the Yotes women compete in Sioux Falls versus the number 1 and number 18 team in the land, I couldn’t help wonder, what if we were there? What if we could have helped? Would South Carolina still have outscored us by 20 in the 3rd? Would Gonzaga really been able to overcome being down 18? Questions we will never know the answer to.
But today in my email inbox came a ticket. To a real live game in the SCSC. A chance to be there, a chance to participate. A chance to make that difference. Part of me wonders if I’ll get emotional walking in. Most of me is sure I won’t want to leave. Because if Covid and 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that tomorrow isn’t promised. There’s no telling how many chances we’ll get to let them hear how much we love them, how much we want them to win. How much we are willing to help them achieve it.
I can’t wait for Sunday. Go Yotes.