I suppose it's something that's been in the back of my mind for 47 years or so.

During last weekend's three-day, eight-hour driving saga, it just became completely crystal clear.

The University of Wyoming could, in fact, play a home football game without me. A Homecoming game, even. Almost did.

The fact that they didn't was nearly miraculous.

UW could have its parade down Ivinson Avenue and up Grand without me standing in front of "my" old house on the corner, whooping at the Pi Phis, singing with the band and trying not to get "abducted" by SAE's. Yes, there was a parade, and I wasn't there.

Since February 22, 1894, the University of Wyoming has played football on a fairly regular basis.

Since moving to the state in June 1962, there have been some whole years, but not very many, when I did not see at least one game in person.

Oddly, many of those were when sports writing was my job, and on Saturdays, it was critical that I stay in the office to manage the flow of high school copy.

But not anymore. Now we own season tickets, and therefore, only every -- every -- road closed would prevent us from going.

They don't have to win all the time to have our affection. They just have to play.

So it was last weekend, when the friend achieved forever superhero status by getting us to the stadium on time. We won "best getting here story" at several different locations after the game.

Roads closed in two of three critical directions were not enough to stop us.

With New Mexico's team buses relying on a two snowplow, one Highway Patrol captain escort plowing their way over the closed Summit, I wasn't smart enough -- OK, realistically I wasn't important enough -- to jump in behind the caravan of important people.

The friend heard in the hotel lobby that I-25 North was open, and he thought it was a reasonable thing to suggest that we drive home on the open road, turn on the mtn., and watch the game from our recliners, fire blazing and wine in hand.

Nope. That was completely and totally unacceptable.

So we took I-25 North, but only to our cutoff. By then the sun was out and the temperature was hovering around 9 -- but 9 above. We saw bighorn sheep, buffalo and elk. The fact that we traveled 2 1/2 hours when we started out 47 miles from Laramie was insignificant.

We made it in time to put on our layers and were in our seats by the National Anthem.

As I looked at the signs proclaiming our bowl appearances, and listened to the biographies of this year's distinguished alumni and distinguished service award winners, and watched our new coaches' wives take in their first UW Homecoming game, it hit me.

Doesn't matter who the head coach is. Doesn't matter where the quarterback's from. Doesn't matter what the game time temperature is.

The show will go on, with us or without us. It's just a lot more fun when we're there, hanging out in Section G.

Community News editor Sally Ann Shurmur can be reached at (307) 266-0520 or sallyann.shurmur@trib.com. Read Sal's blog at tribtown.trib.com/Sal/blog and follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WYOSAS