It’s the time of the year when the secularists show up not only to delete Christ from Christmas, but to excoriate those who stick up for Jesus.

(A Tme magazine writer ridicules the John Birch Society for defending the birth of the Savior in a December 24 article.)

But it’s also the time of the year when God, who Christians believe is still involved in the affairs of men and women, shows up in unexpected venues.

Take the Heisman Memorial Trophy awards, which were televised on ESPN earlier this month, and which took place at the Nokia Theater in Times Square in New York City. This year there were three nominees (all star quarterbacks) vying for the title of “Most Outstanding College Football Player.” They were Tim Tebow of the University of Florida, Colt McCoy of the University of Texas, and (the 2008 winner) Sam Bradford, of the University of Oklahoma.

Moments after his name was announced, Bradford, a member of the Cherokee Nation and the only Native American to ever win the award, went on the offensive: “First, I need to thank God. He’s given me so many blessings. He’s blessed me with so many opportunities, and He’s put so many wonderful people in my life that I give all the credit to Him because without Him, I’d be nowhere.”

Maybe that kind of talk is to be expected from a young man raised in the heart of the Heartland, the so-called buckle of the Bible Belt (Oklahoma City), but the fun was just starting. After the Nokia Theater festivities ceased, the trio were transported to the Sports Museum of America, located in lower Manhattan, where reporters (including yours truly) and photographers eagerly awaited them for a press conference.

Tebow, the third place vote-getter and last year’s Heisman recepient, blitzed the media by sharing that he had given Bradford advice about what to say if the Sooner quarterback won. “I told him [Bradford] to give God credit. I think he did a great job with that.”

Tebow is the guy who sports a Scripture verse (Philippians 4:13) on his eyeblack during games while he’s channeling David and Goliath and annihilating the opposition. So maybe that admission wasn’t too startling.

But then the second place vote-getter, McCoy, didn’t punt when a reporter inquired if he was planning to spend his senior year as a Longhorn or go to the NFL.

“God has a plan for me. He has a plan for this team. I’m just going to do His will,” McCoy quietly replied, as if addressing a church congregation.

It’s safe to assume that, by then, the hard-nosed liberal New Yorkers associated with the Heisman Foundation or in the press had had their fill of this fellowship of Christian athletes. But Coach Bob Stoops, Oklahoma’s no-nonsense head football coach, added the extra point.

His public comments about the self-effacing Bradford included this observation: "I would just say this, as great a player as Sam is, I think he is a better Christian, a better son, a better teammate, a better student. He’s what you want to be.”

As I returned home from Gotham that evening, I had to chuckle at the irony: These college kids – worshipped as gods in many circles for their football prowess – acknowledging the one true God.

In that respect, victorious or not in their January bowl games, these quarterbacks are already on the winning team.

May their tribe increase.

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (6)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/Hide comments

RichardR369

December 30, 2008

143.166.255.42

Votes: +0

• 
• 
• 

Future

With his Christian upbringing, I wonder if the hatemongers will stop him from going to the NFL/AFC?

Peter Steele

December 30, 2008

69.182.132.100

Votes: +1

• 
• 
• 

RE: Questions We Have Asked God

Why Vietnam and Korea were two questions my family asked God? Why? Why did government leave the aethiestic Communist and Socialist Parties in New York City as well as the anti-American United Nations. I ask that question to the John Birch Society friends. Peter F. Steele

Rich147

December 30, 2008

24.251.239.170

Votes: +1

• 
• 
• 

Why?

Because said government is controlled by atheistic socialists. But what has any of this to do with the Heisman awards?

danwhitehead1

December 31, 2008

71.170.95.225

Votes: +3

• 
• 
• 

Very uplifting

This has to be the most uplifting new item in a long, long time. It's refreshing to know that there are young people like these who have not bowed down to secular humanism. If there is any hope at all, it is in young people like these.

D. Watson

January 02, 2009

24.253.200.147

Votes: +1

• 
• 
• 

...

John 14:6, John 3:16-17, Romans 10:8-13, Ephesians 2:8-9. You, too, can give God the glory in all that you do. You, too, can walk in the footsteps of Jesus. It's written in THE Book!

archtoplee

January 02, 2009

98.230.200.48

Votes: +1

• 
• 
• 

Christian Athletes

Those members who come in contact with this Christian athlete should hand him The New American or other appropriate literature.The same goes for the other two that Ms. Lyman mentions in her positive column.

Write comment

This content has been locked. You can no longer post any comment.