historical state rivalry
as the second quarter came to an end, that feeling and look in the stands was familiar. the let down. the disappointment! the stands quiet as the whole energy shifted. i remember the feeling of breathing in that cool, colorado air, as the cu buffs danced with defeat year after year, at the rocky mountain showdown.
rivalry is rarely predictable.
i learned not to talk too much trash for the showdown by my sophomore year as a buff. some of my cousins are rams and the sting of the loss is too much to take!
this is a historical state rivalry, one that goes back to 1893 (more history here). coach prime stated earlier this week that he was unfamiliar with the history of this game. and that showed on the field. you can never underestimate the power of your opponents getting into your head during a rivalry, no matter how good you are - especially if they play as well as CSU did.
let me be clear- i am a proud buff through and through! and this game and the classist undertones were always hard for me. during my time as a student (2008-2013), and still now - it has always been city team vs. small town, “Flagship University vs. Agricultural College.” you hear it in the chants, you see it on the signs. on ESPN this year, there was a fan sign that went viral, comparing CSU fans to smelling like greeley. this is a long held racist and classist trope about greeley. this trash talk is funny, especially more now as an adult that my (righteous) anger is not all consuming. but it is completely devoid of the reality that these smells come from living near the beef industry and being close to the source of our food. a reality that is based in socio economic class, nation wide. a reality that many kids who attend CU, many from california $$ have never had to experience. i'm a northern colorado girl, small town, Chicana from the east side of Greeley! i am from green chile and frijoles. so attending our state’s flagship university was a dream, and i was always so proud of my academics and community work that got me there. i am still proud for that work and to be a buff! and that small town heart and consciousness often made it hard to participate - not in the rivalry itself - but in the classist ways it always plays out.
last night i came home after watching the first half at our compadres, and couldn’t get the game here. i kept watch of the score online. listened to some Erykah Badu. chilled and reflected. i kept refreshing my phone. eventually, i got distracted by the vanity fair october feature on bad bunny (it’s really good).
on that final refresh, in double overtime, i quietly celebrated the buffs win at 1am. what a game! what a historical state rivalry. a rocky mountain showdown for the books. and bragging rights for one more year.
welcome to colorado football 💛
