If you don't live in Fresno, Boise, or have a football team in the Mountain West conference, then this may be news to you. On Friday night, after eight, EIGHT years of heartbreaking losses, Fresno State, my Alma Mater, finally beat Boise State. Like I said this may mean zilch in your college football loving heart. You may care less about college football than you do about the NFL, and that's ok, but this game meant more to mean than just a long awaited win. Once it sank in that we (Fresno State) had finally broken the curse, I realized that this game symbolized so much more.
The last time Fresno State beat Boise State, I was a newlywed. Just seven months into my blissful journey as Mrs. Crutchfield. I was bright eyed, bushy tailed, and so very naive. We, the Hubbs and I were both in that sweet spot. Still living in the bubble of just wedded bliss. The, I wish you would pick up your socks, put the seat down, please but I'll let it slide because I love you so much bliss. You know what I'm talking about. That time when you will do just about anything to make the other one happy. Even biting your tongue until it bleeds. Eight years ago it was just me and The Hubbs. No babies, just us, living the dream. And when Fresno beat Boise, seven months into our lives as husband and wife, we were unstoppable, on top of the world even. But like so many games, or in our case challenges, in our married life, victory wouldn't always come so easy or so sweet.
What followed were eight years of not so wedded bliss. Like Fresno State we put our best foot forward. We fought the good fight, but our victories were sometimes hard won. Other times there were no victories (like the games against Boise). What no one bothers to tell you is that marriage is hard work. So hard in fact that sometimes you want to throw in the towel. That you say horrible things to each other. That one of you nags the other constantly, that one ignores the nagging constantly. No one tells you that sometimes you have to fight one yard at a time. That many times you are 4th and inches, and sometimes you go for it, and sometimes you don't. No one tells you that every yard gained is a small victory even when your are just shy of a first down.
Friday night was a huge win for Fresno State, but also a huge win for us. The Hubbs and I have been working towards our own win since 2005. After eight years of marriage we are back where we started. We remember why we took those vows, we remember why we like each other, and want to spend time together. For all the crap I talk about football season, the tailgates that start at dawn (I'm only kidding a little), and the late nights in the stadium; I love Fresno State Football. It reminds me that at our core, we are still those college kids cheering on our Alma Mater. We are still those newlyweds without a care in the world. We are still those parents that can sneak away for a Friday night to cheer on our team as they win big, bigger than they have in eight years.
Because my marriage won big too.
And just like our team, we've worked so very hard for this win.
