This post is sponsored by EA Sports NCAA Football 2011.
Everybody has their favorite moments.
Maybe it was Corby flipping into the endzone against Nebraska in 1997. Maybe it was Sonny Riccio finding Victor Sesay in the endzone in 2003. Maybe Brad Smith's dash against South Carolina in 2005 was the most breathtaking moment you could imagine in the midst of such a comeback.
Then, of course, you can pick all your moments from 2007. Pig going goalline to goalline with a fumble recovery against Illinois. The endless golden wave at Faurot Field against Nebraska, replete with booing upon reaching the NU section.
Of course, there are more painful memories, both recently and in the annals. A pass bouncing off of Martin Rucker's hands and falling into the arms of Curtis Lofton in San Antonio. Shevin Wiggins' foot connecting with Matt Davison. Watching Darrell Stuckey catch Chase Daniel from behind in the first half in 2008. Every moment outside of the Iowa State game in 1985. Kerry Freakin' Meier.
But, for as much as we Missouri fans love to dwell on the negative and make ourselves sick over the hard times, it's the positive moments that capture our imagination and capture our hearts. More importantly, they let us capture distinct points in time, not just in the world of sports, but in real life.
Why do I remember Todd Reesing getting sacked in the endzone in 2007? The No. 1 ranking was the easy answer. The story behind the scenes was my ability to experience this moment with my family at home in Texas, culminating in a big bearhug from my father, who reminded me that I attended school at the home of the nation's top football team.
Why do I remember Tony Temple scampering and hobbling across the goalline in a semi-decrepit stadium on New Year's Day 2008? Not just because it was a Cotton Bowl record in the middle of an absolute beatdown, but because I got to take in a magnificent achievement for Mizzou athletics in my hometown with the company of my closest friends in the world.
My favorite moments aren't just the moments themselves -- it's the memory of everything else they entail that stays with me forever. I imagine the same is true for any number of the stories I've heard. We've heard emotional stories about sons getting the chance to see one last game with their fathers. We've heard about parents who beam as they take their children to their first game. I can tell you about the gentlemen behind us at the Cotton Bowl, who with tears rolling down their cheeks, explained that they were MU grads of '77 and '81 and beamed with pride because their football team pulled off a 12-win season and slaughtered Arkansas in a prestigious bowl game.
Full narratives are fantastic. They give perspective. They give context. But moments are what make us sports fans, because they give us the greatest part of all:
Something to feel.
Question for discussion: Forget your "favorite" moments. Tell us about some of your most memorable moments, for whatever reason, and more importantly, tell us what else you remember about it -- where you were, what it meant to you, who you were with, how you felt, etc. EVERYONE remembers the Reesing sack in 2007 and knows its importance. Tell us about a moment with special significance to YOU.