A win is a win; cherish WKU’s Saturday victory

Andrew Robinson

Saturday night may be one of those moments where you’ll always remember where you were.

Some day we’ll look back at the history books and remember what this program went through. All the trials and tribulations, all the bumps in the road.

And our grandkids will ask, “Where were you when it finally ended?”

Everyone will have a different answer.

One student I talked to earlier this week said she wasn’t going to follow the game closely after weeks of being disappointed. Instead, she said she’d check the score when it was over.

Others may have watched or listened to the game on the web, hanging on to every play.

Some may have given up on the program weeks or months ago only to hear of the victory from friends or family members.

Yes, Oct. 23, 2010 may be a watershed moment for the program, the university and Head Coach Willie Taggart.

Taggart arrived at WKU less than a year ago as a favorite son. More weeks like this past one and he’ll quickly become a favorite father to the program.

Let’s not forget that WKU’s darkest days in its athletic history are by no means over, but Saturday was certainly a step in the right direction.

It was nearly a year ago that myself and a few other reporters waited for Paul Petrino to get off a plane at Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport to interview with WKU officials for the head coaching vacancy late last season.

Saturday night, we were there again — this time joined by hundreds of starving fans. Their presence proved they’re ready to support this program and rally behind them.

Yes, everyone at that airport will remember being there. The brothers, sisters, moms, dads, girlfriends, grandparents, the pilots, the crew, the airport employees.

How many Southwest Airline employees can claim they carried a victorious WKU football team home?

This is one that will stick in the brain for a while.

The fireworks on campus when the busses arrived may have been a bit over the top. Let’s at least act like we’ve been here a few times.

But as far as greeting the team at the airport, that should become a tradition after each road victory.

Where else in the country do hundreds of fans greet their team week after week? It’s a chance for the WKU community to make a name for themselves.

Yes, it’s just a win, and one out of the 27 games WKU played since moving to the Football Bowl Subdivision. There’s plenty more work to do. The Toppers could still finish 6-2 in Sun Belt Conference play.

That would be quite an accomplishment.

But for now, enjoy this. Remember it, and remember that right now, evenings like Saturday don’t come around too often.

Or at least not yet.