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And on Wednesday night, inspiration came down like a hammer.

The Saint Louis Billikens, my Alma Matter, upset the No. 2 Louisville Cardinals on a last second lay-up by Marque Perry. The Billikens won the game, the nation's longest winning-streak came to an end in St. Louis, MO, and it may have provided the single bright spot in an otherwise dismal SLU season this year.

Oh yeah, and the students rushed the court.

It got me thinking back to the last time SLU students rushed the court. Or at least, the last time I remember anyone rushing the court. Way back in early 1999. No. 1 Cincinnati had come in to town. This was the team that featured Kenyon Martin and a bunch of other thugs that were only on the basketball court because of a special "inmate release" program Bob Huggins had set up ... or so I'm told.

Anyway, the game is on ESPN, SLU comes away with the upset, we get to rush the court, everyone is happy. The only bad part about the whole thing is that it took four more years before anyone could rush the court again.

You see, there is one problem with charging the court. It isn't a usually a sign of good times.

Not following me? Let me break it down for you a different way. Charging the court is a lot like that one night you get lucky enough to go home with the hottest girl at the bar. Hey, you know it's going to be a great night. You even know it's something you can brag to your friends about for the next year. But in the back of your mind, you know it's something that might never happen again.

And while having a bad team makes for very rough times, it also makes those big wins that much sweeter. Hey, anyone can rush the court. I saw the University of Kansas students rush the floor when they beat No. 3 Texas. It was a great game and a huge win for the Jayhawks, but you could tell by the look in their eye they weren't believing this was really a "let's charge the court" kind of moment. They won a big game and went through the motions.

Truth be told, KU is too good of a school to ever charge the court unless they've won a national title. Same goes for Duke, Kentucky, and Arizona. Too much history, too many big wins to get that excited over beating a Top-10 team.

On the flip side, no matter what they're ranked or what you're ranked, if you beat one of those teams, you get to charge the court. And if you're a fan of those teams, don't get down, charging the court is the ultimate sign of respect from college basketball fans. It says, "this is a big enough win for us that we'll take the chance of getting arrested for trespassing and get pepper-sprayed to come down here and celebrate it."

Never charged the court before? Not sure how to do it? Let me give you a few tips from a guy that has been there.

1. Get a Good Starting Point

The key to charging the court is getting out there as soon as the game is over. You want to be jumping down and screaming at the top of your lungs while the cameras are still rolling.

The fastest people should be at the front of the charge in order to expedite the process. If you get some slow, meandering cows in front, the only person you'll be dancing with is the janitor as he sweeps up.

2. Leave the Women and Children Behind

Okay, you're at the game with your girlfriend. She's tired and she wants to go home. She doesn't like basketball that much anyway, she just went because everyone else will be there. With 6.2 seconds left, she asks if you want to get out now to beat the rush.

Sure, you could go with her, just make sure you do a testicular check on the way out the door. Or, you could tell her that for one night, you're calling the shots and she's staying until you're ready. She doesn't want to charge the court, that's cool. Just make sure she knows where to meet you when you're done with your celebrating.

Oh, and it might be a good idea to make other plans for after the game, because she is going to be pissed.

3. Find the Cameras

This one is big. The most important part of celebrating a win on court is getting right up to the camera and telling everyone you're No. 1. Even when you're more like No. 236. It helps if you're really excited when you do this, but not so excited that you come off looking like a deranged killer on camera. Remember, there is a chance this could be broadcast on ESPN -- don't do anything to embarrass your family.

4. Celebrate the Win, Don't Fight the Man

An upset win is cause for celebration. Everyone is jumping around, ecstatic that they can be out on the court. Sometimes when people get in this frame of mind, they think they're capable of anything.

When someone tells you it's time to go home, it's time to go home. Don't go ruining the night by shoving a police officer because you're not done jumping up and down with your buddies. It's a good way to ruin the fun win, and it's a good way to get hauled down to the city jail.

5. Do Not Mock the Other Team

Ever. This might be last, but it's also the most important. These guys are a lot bigger than you. They just lost a big game or they've been upset. They're tired, they just want to go home. You start shoving a finger in their face, and it's not out of the question that it'll be ripped off.

And you know what they say, "It's all fun and games until someone gets their finger ripped off and shoved up their nose."

If you're every lucky enough to charge the court, make sure you cherish the moment. It doesn't come along very often. And if you're ever lucky enough to go home with the hottest girl at the bar, take pictures -- it might never happen again.

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