Langreck: Boiler Up, always

To say I have been extremely disappointed during this year’s March Madness would be a complete understatement. I know it’s just basketball, but for me and several others it felt like a sense of normalcy was returning after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, despite having to wear masks to the games and all 67 games being played in Indiana.

I was beyond excited that the tournament was going to take place this year, and as I mentioned in my last blog, as soon as I heard the tournament would be played completely in Indiana, I made a promise to myself that no matter what game it might be, I would go to one.

To clarify, I did have the opportunity to go to a game, and although I never really followed either Drake University or the University of Southern California, for me it was a thrilling game and I cheered as hard as I could for Drake while wearing my Purdue University clothing.

That game wasn’t what was disappointing to me. What was disappointing was the night before when Purdue lost its first-round game to the University of North Texas. I had put all my hopes and anxiety-fighting skills into rooting and watching Purdue develop as a team and go far in the tournament.

It took some tears and time for me to realize that the players on the Purdue basketball team, who are very young, ranging anywhere from 19 to 22 years old, already had the eyes of thousands of fans on them and didn’t deserve to have my disappointment added to their consciousness.

Yes, I know they didn’t directly feel my disappointment, but instead of taking to Twitter to bash any of the players or coaching staff, I chose to not be ashamed of a team of young players that banded together and got a No. 4 seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament that some didn’t even think they would be in.

So, I will continue to wear my Purdue sweatshirts and T-shirts and of course buy more to add to my collection and keep cheering them on and waiting for the next basketball season to start.