Ah, the 2009 Northern Colorado Bears football team! Who wouldn't want to take a stroll down memory lane and revisit this unforgettable season? Well, maybe most folks actually do want to forget it. Coached by Scott Downing, this team, part of the University of Northern Colorado, didn’t exactly set the football world on fire. The Bears, playing in the Big Sky Conference, were on a contentious journey filled with thrills for some and plenty of spills for others. Let’s break it all down as we head back to the gridiron of fall 2009 and reminisce about a year that was exhaustive, to say the least.
To say the Bears had a rough year would be putting it diplomatically. The season kicked off on the first day of September, and when their cleats hit the field, the team embarked on a 3-8 record kind of journey. Playing home games at Nottingham Field in Greeley, Colorado, the Bears attracted some loyal fans, but even their most optimistic supporters sometimes found it hard to cheer amid all the fumbles and failures. The 2009 squad was plagued by an almost comedic array of setbacks, including injuries, poor play calls, and turnovers. Who, what, when, and where may have been established, but the 'why' often eluded even the most dedicated fans and analysts.
First and foremost, let's talk about the offense that seemed allergic to scoring. Over the course of the season, the Bears plowed through competition like a kitten through quicksand. It was painful to watch at times. Imagine juggling flaming swords while blindfolded and standing on one leg; that was something like the Bears' offense in 2009. They struggled to score, and it showed in a significant way. Week after week, fans and critics alike could only shake their heads.
The defense wasn’t exactly the Berlin Wall either. Opponents sometimes walked through with ease, making the Bears seem like they were playing touch football instead of tackling. The team consistently failed to stop their adversaries, and it was this defenseless defense that contributed to many of the losses. By the end of the season, fans may have been wondering if the Bears had any ferocity left.
One of the brighter spots in an otherwise grim season was their final victory against Idaho State. But, sadly, a single victory was not nearly the saving grace they needed to amend all that had gone awry in prior matches. Nevertheless, the players pushed forward, showing a measure of grit that could at least be admired.
It was also a year marked by the development of several players despite the team's shortcomings. Key players such as quarterback Bryan Waggener and wide receiver Brandon Smith did their best to jolt life into a team that, for the most part, seemed slightly comatose. These athletes did manage to provide some moments – brief, shining blips of excitement.
Ah, good old Nottingham Field! Reverberating with the echoes of passionate fan chants and the peculiar sound of disappointed murmurs. Despite the broken dreams and dashed hopes, each game was an opportunity for community members to gather and rally around a common goal. There is something warmly conservative about people coming together, strong-willed and unified despite obstacles. Athletes competed bravely even when the odds were stacked against them, and the fans stood by.
Isn’t it fun to remember a time when sports weren’t the playground of the perpetually offended? Political correctness and gridiron greatness were never meant to be bedfellows. The Bears may not have had the best year, but they played for the love of the game and a sense of competitive spirit sometimes hard to find these days. These small-town heroes weren’t worried about microaggressions. They put their game faces on despite every pundit forecasting doom.
Let's face it, adversity builds character. When you face an entire season that feels like a trial by fire and come out the other side, you figure out what you’re made of. Sure, the 2009 Northern Colorado Bears football team isn’t going down in history as legendary by any stretch of the imagination. But in football, as in life, sometimes you need to learn what failure looks and feels like to build a foundation for success.
In the annals of the gridiron, this team might well be remembered more for the experience than the triumphs. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. After all, there’s much to be said for playing against all odds, disregarding naysayers, and standing firm in your convictions. It’s an old-fashioned, gritty approach that celebrates the trials of life as much as the trophies.
Next time you think about Northern Colorado football, maybe take some lessons from the bears of 2009. While not everything goes your way, the game is still worth the play.