With the game tied at 27, one second remaining in regulation and 52,946 fans aching to tear down the goal posts in front of him, Aldrich swung his leg from the 24 yard line, hoping to put one last exclamation point on an improbable 24-point Colorado comeback. But he choked on a miracle. The football sailed wide right. His field goal was no good by fewer than 12 inches. The Buffaloes lost in overtime.
Wide right happens.
And athletes choke more often than they would like to admit. Sykes probably has done it himself. But choking is not a sin. It's part of the game. Any CU competitor or fan unable to accept a missed field goal makes a crueler indictment of his own weaknesses than any mistake by Aldrich, a graduate of Northglenn High School.