Killer Threes, part 2

If you are a long-time reader of “Strangers In Kenya,” you’ve probably noticed the sidebar link that says “2009 National Champions.” Well, truth is, I’ve been updating that link every year since 2005—waiting, hoping, praying that my Penn State football team would fulfill my prophecy. It hasn’t happened yet. But this year, this year, it was primed to happen. We beat our toughest foe on the road (Ohio State), and we were one of the few undefeated teams left in the country. Our last three games were against lesser foes, and a trip to the national championship game seemed very, very possible.

But it wasn’t to be. Another killer three came along.

Listening to the game on Internet radio (very choppy feed but I heard enough to follow along), I was barely awake at 2:30 am on Sunday morning. Penn State had dominated the whole game, but the scoreboard didn’t show it. Iowa drove down the field with just minutes left and set themselves up for a field goal. With six seconds left on the clock, the kick went up for Iowa and down came Penn State’s hopes for an undefeated season. The three points put Iowa ahead 24-23, and Penn State had no chance for a comeback.

And so next year, I’ll change the sidebar to “2010 National Champions” and keep waiting, hoping, praying it comes true.

Tomorrow, the good killer three.