As mentioned in an earlier post, football season is here. The time for upsets, underdogs, inspirational stories, and of course, the ever-present beat downs. Growing up outside of West Lafayette, IN, home of the Purdue University Boilermakers, I have always been aware of how the football team is doing, good or bad. We’ve had some of the football greats dig their spikes into the sod at Ross Ade Stadium – players like Bob Griese, Leroy Keyes, Mike Alsott, and Drew Brees. We’ve had some great seasons - 1929, 1931, 1932, 1943, 1952, 1967, 2000 to name a few. But I have to ask, “When the %&#$ are the Boilers going to win the ‘Big Game’?”

I am all for supporting teams through thick and thin. Take my Chicago Cubs for example, who have not won the World Series since 1908 and are annually labeled “the loveable losers.” But this weekend really got me thinking, why do we continue, year-in and year-out to get our hopes up for a great season. Not only did my beloved Cubbies get swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS, my alma mater, Purdue, was absolutely embarrassed on national television by the Ohio State Buckeyes. Now, some of you (Heidi & Katie) might be asking, “why did you think it was going to turn out any other way?” But, the truth is, we continue to think, “THIS year will be different.” Just like the Cubs seem to let you down at the end of the year, EVERY YEAR, Purdue football seems to always let you down in the big games. Over the last few years, we have started out great, demolished the teams we should beat, and glided through the first four or five weeks. But as soon as Purdue plays a “good” team, they buckle and exit the Top 25 polls as quickly as Coach Tiller goes through his cup of ice chips. Purdue’s last win over a ranked team was against No. 10 Iowa back in 2003, but lost to No. 4 Ohio State the very next week, to start the current string of losses to ranked teams.

Who knows, maybe they are another “loveable loser,” and I should just accept them for that. But as long as there is next year, I think I will continue think things will be different “next year.” Don’t we all root for those teams, or even those people who just continue to disappoint, but we love them just the same? Who are your loveable losers?

P.S. I was forced to write this blog post, as I lost a bet to the Buckeye fans at BLAST.