Tuskegee's Golden Time of Day

In a way, its not hard to believe that the Golden Tigers of Tuskegee University lost the Turkey Day Classic to the hapless Alabama State Hornets. ASU, after all, is an FCS program. But TU was perfect coming into the game, and had been for a very long time.

This season, this streak, this achievement, are all gone.

But people will remember how they got here. 26 times a whistle blew and Tuskegee and their opponent were on equal terms. 26 times another whistle blew and Tuskegee was the center of attention. Last second victories, blowouts, the Golden Tigers could give it to your team any way they wanted to, and often, there was nothing the opposing team could do about it.

Some will take pleasure in the Tigers’ cloak of invincibility coming off in such a surprising way, but truth be told, this loss makes their achievement that much more legendary. There is a measure of relief in the Tigers’ being able to exercise expectations. Going forward, they will only have the opposing team to face on game day, instead of the team and the possibility of imperfection.

Nothing lasts forever in football. The New England Patriots, the University of Southern California, they can both testify about what it’s like to fall from the top. Departure from the altar of greatness hurts, but not nearly as bad as the pain and sacrifice it took to reach that unreachable pinnacle. To seize a prize reserved only for the wildest of imaginations.

And now, a historically black college can join the ranks of those instantly-classic teams. The rest of the country may not be aware, or even care about such an accomplishment out the Division II giant. But we know what it means, and we know its significance.

26 consecutive victories? Without segregation? Now that’s something to smile about even through this gut-punch of a loss.

For Alabama State, head coach Reggie Barlow might have staved off those calling for his job until next season. He won the biggest game on the schedule after a 2-8 regular season that had many fans and supporters of the Hornet program doubting their native son’s ability to compete in the SWAC.

And the ASU program finds legitimacy in its season by upsetting two years worth of perfection.

Isn’t it funny how things work out? Tuskegee will be remembered for losing this game far more than Alabama State will be remembered for winning it. And for Golden Tiger faithful, that’s something to celebrate in this, their golden time of day.

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