Will The Colts Win A Game This Year?
PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND
September 25, 2025
WILL THE COLTS WIN A GAME THIS YEAR?
September marks the beginning of another football season with all of its hopes and expectations, ups and down, frustrations and disappointments. After just a few weeks, I am not sure what to expect this year and have no idea of what might happen.
Saturday, September 3rd, Diane and I sat through Purdue’s first football game, fully expecting them to lose to a supposedly lesser opponent, Middle Tennessee. Finally, they were able to put the game out with a final drive.
The next week Diane and I listened on the radio as Purdue almost beat Rice at their place, falling short when a lost second field goal was blocked. There seemed to be a glimmer of hope for the season.
Saturday afternoon, September 16th, while Diane and I were enjoying our granddaughter in Alexandria, Virginia, Purdue beat Southeast Missouri State 59 to nothing, gaining 627. Southeast Missouri gained only 153 yards, never crossing Purdue’s forty yard line.
Saturday night, October 1st, Purdue will be playing Notre Dame at home. Which Purdue team will show up? Will it be the one who barely beat Middle Tennessee and lost a close game to Rice? Or will it be the team that beat Southeast Missouri State? Or will it be a completely different team? What kind of expectations should I have for the game?
Changes are taking place in the Big Ten Conference. For the first time the teams have been divided into two divisions with a playoff game to determine the conference champion. Two teams from the conference are in the top ten, but one of them is not Ohio State who has fallen out of the top twenty-five. However, one is Nebraska who was not even a member of the conference last year.
The Big Ten is not the only conference to see a change of membership. One needs to have a scorecard just to keep up with what schools belong to what conferences.
When I was a seminary student at Southern Methodist University, the school was a member of the Southwest Conference. While I was there SMU was the conference representative to the Cotton Bowl. Today, the conference does not even exist. Since the conference dissolved, the former teams have moved from conference to conference. Every year I have to check who is playing where.
Matters are no better in the NFL. The Chicago Bears won their first game against the Atlanta Falcons, giving indications they were contenders for the division championship. The next week they lose 31-13 to the New Orleans Saints and then to the Green Bay Packers 27-17, making one wonder if they will even make the playoffs.
Perennial doormats of the North Conference of the National Conference have been the Detroit Lions who have won their first three games. September 18th they beat the Kansas City Chiefs with a convincing 48 to 3 win. Perennial contenders the Minnesota Viking have lost their first three games, the third to the Lions. At least the Green Bay Packers are running true to form.
For nine years the Indianapolis Colts have won at least ten games a year. Just before the start of the season there was some expectation they would be able to make it ten. Unfortunately, their quarterback, Peyton Manning, found that he would not be able to play, perhaps for the whole season. After three games some are wondering if they will even win a single game this year, especially after the lost to the Cleveland Browns.
In many ways what is happening in college and professional football is a reflection of what is taking place in society today. There is a great deal of uncertainty. It is hard to know what to expect. Upon what can one really count? Peyton Manning could not be the quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts forever.
The Book of Ecclesiastes teaches that there are many things in life that have value, but they are only passing value. We are to enjoy them for a season. Since they will one day pass away, we should not give them ultimate significance. We should accept them for what they are. Peyton’s run was something to behold while it lasted. Perhaps he might return, but this would only delay the eventual day when he will no longer participate.
(This article was originally published September 25, 2011. Comments may be sent to davidh15503@embarqmail.com.)