By Steve Gahagen

A month ago I was at one of the most epic football games in the University of Minnesota’s history - the biggest game they have played in decades for sure. It was a late morning contest between the Gophers (ranked #13) and Penn State (ranked #5). Both Big Ten teams entered the game at 8-0, something that had not happened in a Big Ten game in forty years. Penn State with its powerhouse football program entered the game as strong favorites over Minnesota’s football program that has been anemic for decades. Had it been over at halftime, I wouldn't have been surprised.

Instead, the Gophers took the early lead and the entertaining, high-octane offensive game went back and forth with Minnesota hanging onto the lead into the waning minutes in front of an emotionally charged, sold out stadium of 51,000 plus. And now Penn State was driving and was within striking distance to take the lead with less than two minutes left. At this point I knew that this was a game where there would be an ecstatic conclusion for the home fans or one that was disastrous. There was no longer anything between. The battle fought back and forth was now going to be decided one way or another.

When Penn State completed a pass to the Minnesota two yard line with a minute left, the ending appeared disastrous. I started preparing myself for the inevitable agony of defeat. But there was a yellow flag lying on the field near the ten yard line. Penn State was flagged for offensive pass interference and the penalty moved the ball back to the Minnesota twenty-five. At third and goal essentially, the Penn State quarterback sent a pass into the end zone to a receiver that seemed open. A Gopher jumped the route and made a diving interception that closed out the game and sent the crowd into a frenzy. After a couple of Gopher perfunctory kneel-downs in the victory formation, the crowd of students rushed onto the field in a game like few others could ever be. Anyone who attended this game will likely remember it forever because of the charged emotional atmosphere and because agony and defeat hung in the balance. By the time the game was decided, one was so emotionally vested in the game, it would be impossible to walk away without feeling depressed or ecstatic.

I’ve been to a few games like that. I think that’s one of the draws of being a sport’s fan - to experience those epic moments. I’ve been there for both the agony of defeat (Vikings missed kick after enduring three hours of -30 degrees) and the thrill of victory (Minneapolis Miracle) in the big game. The electric environment of victory is so emotionally overwhelming that one crosses what are normally strong social barriers such as hugging and high-fiving strangers. Do that on the streets of any city and one might get arrested.

In our real lives we fear moments like these and are drawn to them at the same time - moments when we have so vested ourselves and our talents that we are beyond the point of return. It is going to be very good or very bad - we are all in. And though we fear defining moments like these and culture tends to direct us more to safety than adventure - these are the moments that define who we are. These are the greatest moments of life even if they don’t turn out like we had hoped. Yes, even if they don’t turn out well - at least we were all in.

Questions to Consider:

1. What are a few defining moments in your life or work in which you were so vested, that the outcome was going to be really good or really bad?

2. Where are you investing your talents to create epic moments/outcomes for yourself or others?

3. What holds people back from being all in?

4. Why are these the best of moments no matter the outcome?