Throwback Thursday: My 10 Favorite Super Bowls

It's a Throwback Thursday, and today I remember my favorite Super Bowls, one of the great USAmerican sporting events. Each year parties are thrown, beverages are consumed, and MILLIONS of chickens sacrifice their wings as we enjoy the championship game of the NFL. I am old enough to have watched at least part of all 48 previous games, and the Super Bowl has always been special to me. Among other things, I am among the very few (perhaps ONLY!) youth pastors to have ever had the actual Lombardi Trophy visit my office, back in 2003 (see picture) when the Bucs won it all. I will be watching again this Sunday as the Patriots and the Seahawks do battle. Today it seemed it might be fun to look back and share my 10 favorite games. You will notice right away it is MY list- no mention of a Patriots victory to be found anywhere! So here we go...

10) III- The New York Jets upset the Baltimore Colts 16-7 in a game that Broadway Joe Namath guaranteed they would win. (1969)
  9) XXXI-  The Green Bay Packers beat the New England Patriots 35-21 and Brett Favre gets his only Super Bowl win. (1997)
  8) VII- The Miami Dolphins finish the season 17-0 with a 14-7 win over the Washington Redskins. (1973)
  7) XVI- The San Francisco 49ers beat the Cincinnati Bengals 26-21 in the game that turns Joe Montana into a legend. (1982)
  6) XXV- The New York Giants beat the Buffalo Bills 20-19 in Tampa as Scott Norwood missed a game winning field goal on the last play of the game. (1991)
  5) XLII- The Giants bring an end to the Patriots run at unbeaten immortality, 17-14, in a game featuring the unbelievable "helmet catch" by David Tyree. (2008)
  4) XLVI- The Giants take down the Patriots again, 21-17. That's 3 Patriot losses on my list.  That is not an accident!  :)  (2012)
  3)  XIII- The Pittsburgh Steelers hold off the Dallas Cowboys 35-31 in one of the first real Super Bowl thrillers! (1979)
  2) XXXIV- The St. Louis Rams and Kurt Warner defeat the Tennessee Titans 23-16 as the Titans game winning drive falls one yard short as time runs out. (2000)
  1)  XXXVII- The Bucs win, dominating the Oakland Raiders 48-21 and getting Jon Gruden and company their rings.  (2003)

So there's my list- I'd love to hear yours. Bonus pick: 1986, Bears 46- Patriots 10. Good times!

The New England Ducks

People have been asking me what I think of the "Deflategate" scandal, or as Mike & Mike call it the #Shrinkage issue. It is very hard for me to be unbiased, as I detest the New England Patriots on their best days. And it seems to me they have very few "best" days. But here's the deal on this particular scandal. Their footballs were deflated, the Indianapolis Colts balls were not. The Pats were responsible for their own footballs, and so they must be held at fault. Don't get me wrong, it's been fun hearing them try to protest their innocence. Bill Belichick quoting from My Cousin Vinny, claiming science was on their side and being refuted by Bill Nye the Science Guy was pure gold. You could almost hear Dr. Sheldon Cooper shouting BAZINGA as Belichick finished that press conference. Tom Brady has admitted in the past that he prefers underinflated footballs and last week confirmed that fact yet again. These are the paranoid Pats who have "people" watching reporters every minute they are on site (according to Sal Paolantonio), but they don't know what happened to the game balls? C'mon, man! In the big picture, letting some air out of the ball did not win the game for New England. But this is not their first rodeo, nor is it their first time cheating at the rodeo. They have a history.

So here's my final word on the subject. To quote the old proverb, "If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and smells like a duck then it must be a duck." The same is true of cheaters. And in this case, the New England Ducks look, sound and smell guilty. Plus they have left a lengthy trail of duck poop over the past 10 years for us all to see. I hereby declare the Patriots to be Ducks, with the full realization that the NFL will find some way to botch the investigation and declare them to be Swans. So let's move on and play some football. Go Seahawks!!!

Super Memories

We're coming up on Super Bowl Sunday, and I have been flashing back to past years and parties with my various youth groups. Here are VII memories that came to mind from my XXVIII years in student ministry. I am still waiting for Amber Herrick Irby to refresh my memory of the great Super Bowl Sunday fight in Kissimmee. That's another story for another day, but suffice it say Super Bowl Sunday was never dull. The one thing I don't miss about those youth group days was the annoying question the week before the party- "Hey Carl...what are going to do at the Super Bowl party?"  Ugh. WATCH THE GAME, PEOPLE!!!

1)  It's weird, but I have absolutely no memory of any kind of Super Bowl party during my years (1978-83) at New Garden Friends Meeting. I remember Super Bowls from every other stop on my career- even one from 2001 at the Union Church of Hinsdale, IL, when a large crowd filled our little house to watch the game. I was only in Hinsdale for one Super Bowl. But I have nothing from New Garden...at least not Super Bowl related. I do, however, remember watching the 1980 US men's hockey team win the Olympic gold medal in the church basement!

2)  My first Super Bowl party after moving to High Point and Springfield Friends Meeting was cut short by a snow storm that led to an exciting couple of days (see A Super Surprise). The Giants beat the Broncos in Super Bowl XXI on January 25, 1987.

3)  We had several parties at the home of Butch and Barbara Moran while we were at Springfield Friends Meeting. I can't remember if they were really youth parties, or if most of the youth were just there because they were related to the Morans!  In any case, these were fun because doing anything with Butch was fun, and they had a 55" screen...which in the early 90s was HUGE!!!

4)  A group of my friends used to get together for the game and make huge crock pots full of chili, blending a variety of recipes. Somewhere along the way, this changed to me making Mexican Pile-Up for the the multitudes of  youth who would show up for our parties. For the uninitiated, pile-up is basically a taco salad you pile on a plate using chips instead of a shell. I have fed a lot of kids a lot of pile-up on Super Bowl Sunday over the years...but I always made them bring the desserts!

5)  The party got serious on January 26, 2003. We had moved to Wesley Memorial UMC in Tampa in 2001, and now we found our hometown Buccaneers in the big game. I knew I would be irritable and grumpy if I didn't get to pay full attention to the game, so we decided to not have a youth group party- sort of! We invited only a few select youth and adults who we knew would watch the games and hosted it at our house, complete with Wing House wings! My Bucs whipped the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII, and as the game ended we went outside and listened as the entire city of Tampa honked their car horns in celebration.

6)  The following year (Feb. 1, 2004) was a perfect example of why I often got frustrated on Super Sunday. We had the party in the Fellowship Hall at Wesley and drew a big crowd- about half of whom cared anything about the game. I spent most of the evening chasing kids back into the room and cooking. We went through 30 pounds of ground beef in the Mexican Pile-Up that night. I was in the kitchen at halftime, trying to clean up a bit, when Jacquie Thomson came running in a told me that Justin Timberlake had just exposed Janet Jackson's breast in what came to be known as the Wardrobe Malfunction. And I had missed it, along with most of the first half. At least the game got really interesting after that, even though the hated Patriots won.

7)  My final youth Super Bowl party was a great one. We held it in the Fellowship Hall at Trinity UMC in Waycross, GA on Feb. 4, 2007. I ran the cable through a VCR and into a video projector and we watched the game projected on a wall that had to be 90" wide!  WE also ran the audio through our sound system, and we were better than any sports bar around. As a matter of fact, we were illegal. The NFL actually stopped some churches in Indianapolis from doing just what we did, limiting the size of the projection to 60". We charged ahead, eating pile-up, Wong's Chinese, Dick's Wings and all kinds of goodies while the Colts beat the Bears and made Tony Dungy the first African-American ever to coach a Super Bowl winner. Good times, and a great way to go out!

Over the past 7 years our tradition has changed, but the party continues. This Sunday I'll be at Winners Sports Bar here in Tampa to watch the game with Marilyn, Will, Lisa Jewett and a crowd of strangers. The owner of Winners is a huge Seahawks fan and the place will be loud and crazy in support of Seattle. So I get to watch the game, I don't have to cook and we can be as obnoxious as we want while cheering against the Pretty Boy and Hoodie. We always have a blast. But still...I miss all the excitement of those youth parties, and I always will.

Because of Jesus,

"Over Macho Grande?"

The clip below is from the hilarious classic comedy film Airplane 2, one of the few truly great sequels to a comedy movie. I share it here today to introduce some thoughts on the selection process for the first every college football final 4. Seriously, this post is about football. But first, prepare to laugh. The captions are not mine, but I have no issue with them either. Listen closely...

The clip expressed my feelings upon hearing that Alabama, Oregon, Florida State and Ohio State had been chosen for the FBS final 4...and Texas Christian University had not. I have no issue with the teams that got in- they are all deserving. It is the process that has me bummed out. And I'm not sure I will ever get over selection Sunday. Here are my reasons.

During the course of this season I became a TCU fan. There are several reasons for this, some valid and some random. First off, is there any better nickname in the world than Purple Horned Frogs? That just rocks! I watched them play several times early in the year and loved their style, their speed and the way they play the game. Throw into the mix that my dear friend Teresa Tysinger lives minutes from their campus, and I was hooked. Then midway through the season I entered a contest to pick the national champion before November 1. The fewer people picking a given team the better chance you had of winning a big jackpot. Hundreds of thousands had picked 'Bama, FSU, Auburn, Mississippi State and Oregon. Only a couple of thousand had picked TCU. So I went with my heart. And up until Sunday afternoon, it seemed my prediction stood a real chance of becoming reality. And then a 12 person committee stomped on my heart.

You may wonder that if my feelings are that the teams that got in are deserving, then what do I have to complain about? It was the process that ticked me off. For weeks leading up to Sunday, my Frogs had been ranked in the top 4. The week previous to the final selections they had jumped undefeated Florida State (who should have been #1 anyway- the only undefeated team was at #4? This process was a joke!) and been ranked 3rd. They then proceeded to beat Iowa State 55-3 on Saturday. You are #3, you win 55-3 and finish with one 3 point loss to another top 10 team. You have to figure you will not fall out of the final 4. Right? Doesn't that only make sense? With their final selections, the committee is telling us that while winning 55-3 TCU suddenly became a worse team than FSU, Ohio State and Baylor. I understand those are all great teams who deserve their shot as well. But if TCU was better the previous week and won their game 55-3, how did they get worse? It just makes no sense. The college football season turned into a beauty pageant. Who looked the best and how badly you ran up the score became more important than who won the games. Metrics and measurements replaced football and common sense. And then there's the ESPN conspiracy theory. Funny how OSU and it's massive national fan base got the nod over the much smaller alumni pools of Baylor and TCU. I'm just sayin' that money talks. It will all work out for all those involved because they chose 4 excellent teams. But the process truly sucked!

I have one more lament to share. My main concern at the end of every college football season is that someone beat Alabama. I'm a UNC fan, so my  CFB season is mostly tied up in despising Nick Saban. And I really believed TCU could be that team this year. 'Bama hates to play fast, and the Horned Frogs are a blur. The Maroon Elephants struggle with unpredictable, athletic quarterbacks (think Johnny Football), and TCU has one of the best. There is a question as to whether or not they could stop the Alabama offense, but there is no doubt in my mind (think about Auburn's success) that TCU could score a ton of points. But now we will never know...and I have no shot at that jackpot. Ugh.

So here's the deal. Everyone who is not part of the #RollTide cult of evil needs to be pulling hard for THE Ohio State University. Should they fail, then all of us- War Eagles, Tigers, Blue Devils, Tar Heels, Wildcats, Trojans, Gators, Aggies and everyone else- will need to be cheering for the winner of the other semifinal between the 'Noles and the Quack Attack. The point here is this- AnyBody But Alabama. In fact, that is my new hashtag for the bowl season. #ABBA Use it freely in the hopes that the Elephants will meet their demise- find their Waterloo.  See what I did there?

Over selection Sunday? I don't think I'll ever get over selection Sunday. Those wounds run pretty deep. But an Alabama loss sure would be a great start...

Random Ramblings: Football 2014

Baseball is my sport, and the very best time of the year- October! - is upon us! Playoff baseball will soon take over my TV viewing time. I do admit that I have been watching a lot of football over these first few weeks of the season, of both the college and professional varieties. Football has been a part of my life since I was about 6 years old- first as a fan, then playing in the yard with neighborhood kids and my dad, then as a player and later as a coach. I understand the game. And while I prefer Saturdays over Sundays during football season (see 7 Reasons College Football is Better than the NFL) I tend to watch it all. With all of the off the field news these days, it just felt like a good time to write about some on the field trends. So here are some very random ramblings from this season...so far!

• Many of my friends who are Florida State fans were quick to credit their team with "coming together in adversity" in their victory over Clemson the other night. To their credit, the Seminoles did keep fighting and never give up. But let's be real here. Clemson should have won that game by at least 2 touchdowns. They gave the game away. FSU did not "persevere and win." The Tigers LOST. I'm happy for the Seminoles, although losing that game might have been the ONLY way to to teach Jameis Winston a lesson.
• Through the first 3 weeks of the NFL season, Tom Brady has looked like a very, VERY average QB and the Patriots in general, although 2-1, look very beatable. These things make me very, VERY happy!
• I am no Alabama fan (Nick Saban is forever on my bad list) but Amari Cooper, the wide receiver for the Crimson Tide, looks like a man playing amongst toddlers on Saturdays. He should win the Heisman (Quarterbacks Only) Trophy, but he won't. If he is not one of the first 3 players taken in the next NFL draft there should be an investigation.
• The Jacksonville Jaguars are awful- perhaps the worst team in the NFL. Unless that the dubious distinction belongs to my Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Neither team will win many (if any!) games and both of their stadiums will feature thousands of empty seats this year. I don't know if anyone could save the teams, but everyone in Florida knows who could still fill the seats. #TebowTime  
• It is entirely possible that the SEC West is the most dominant collection of college football teams we have ever seen under one banner. Any of 4 teams- Ole Miss, Auburn, Texas A&M or Alabama- could win the national championship. Mississippi State just beat then 8th ranked LSU in Baton Rouge. Any of those 6 teams could go unbeaten in the Big 10 11 12 Whatever Conference. If one of them goes undefeated in that division they should get to skip the new playoff and play the winner in one final game for the championship. 
• My early Super Bowl picks- Philadelphia Eagles vs. Denver Broncos. Peyton gets his second ring.
• Will Muschamp has kept his job at Florida because he is supposed to be a defensive genius. This past Saturday proved he is not. He also keeps hiring offensive coordinators who are the wrong kind of offensive. Once again this year, another new coordinator, same boring offense. From a school that gave us the creativity of Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer, boring is unacceptable. And btw...I LOVE me some Steve Spurrier!!
• And finally...the Dallas Cowboys need to slow down. They're 2-1. If they win many more games early on they are going to have work hard the second half of the season to finish 8-8. And we know they will!

That's what I'm rambling about today. See you tomorrow!

Bruno Mars Cut In Line

NOT Bruno Mars

In the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl I made it clear on Twitter and to anyone else who would listen that I was NOT excited about the choice of Bruno Mars as the halftime performer at the big event. At the conclusion of his performance, I still felt the same way, and tweeted the following: 

That was the best halftime show in #SuperBowl history. 

Even counting the Black-Eyed Peas. #INTENSESarcasm

I received a bit of scolding from some online friends for my attitude, and was referred to as a "hater" at one point. So let me try and explain why in my opinion Bruno Mars never had a chance.

I should explain right from the start that almost none of my misgivings about Bruno stemmed from his music. Nor was it simply an "old fart" reaction to a younger act. The ideas expressed in this post come from myself AND my 18 year old son Will, who purchased the most recent Bruno Mars album, Unorthodox Jukebox, in its entirety on I-Tunes when it first came out. He loves it, and I think several of the songs are tremendous. Most of our frustrations do not come from the music, or even from his performance- although there were a few things that stood out to us. In the weeks preceding the Super Bowl the big questions about halftime were "Why Bruno Mars?" and even "Who is Bruno Mars?" They came out onto a stage that shouted PREPARE! One of my Twitter followers suggested that perhaps Scar from The Lion King was about to open the show- but no such luck. They added singing children (brilliant touch) and the tribute to the solders (Heartstrings!) to help grab the audience, but obviously felt like they still needed more. So to help build the hype the Red Hot Chili Peppers were invited to be part of the show (because, as you know, they have a huge following- in 1993). It seemed like a very odd match. And it was. First of all, was there anyone in the world who knows anything about the Chili Peppers who couldn't "give away" what song they would play? And the mash-up of the Peppers on stage, with Bruno's guys in gold tuxedos, doing the pogo thing and yelling "JUMP!" for a full 30 seconds was incredibly awkward. It was at that point that I found myself wishing that Flea would strip down to his trademark sock and we would have the ultimate in wardrobe malfunctions! But alas, they kept singing. Bruno performed well. The fireworks were wonderful. He sang a couple of my favorite Bruno songs, although part of the issue here is that at this point in his career there just are not that many hits to choose from. But nothing could change my attitude, even as much of the rest of Twitter and Facebook celebrated his greatness in the midst of an awful game.

So what is my problem, you ask?  Bruno cut in line. Ever since the lunch room in elementary school, through festival seating concerts as a teen and right on up to all my days at Disney World, I hate when people break in line to gain an advantage they don't deserve. We have reached a point where playing the Super Bowl halftime show should be earned! Not with a few hits or one great album, but by paying dues and sustaining success over a number of years. I joked a lot on Twitter about the game being in NY/NJ and yet somehow we didn't get Bon Jovi, Springsteen or Billy Joel- because they are among my favorites. I also tweeted after the U2 commercial during the game that U2 could play every year and that would be just fine with me. But I'm not just talking about Paul McCartney, Aerosmith, The Who, Prince, the late Michael Jackson, Tom Petty and other classic artists who have owned that stage over the years. This is not about my personal tastes. It's about earning the right to perform with 100 million people watching. Beyonce performed last year, and she had earned the right, even if she wouldn't have been my choice. The Peas (2 years ago) and Bruno had not. So who's on my list?  JT would be an obvious choice, but I assume the Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction has him banned for life. Artists like Coldplay, Maroon 5, The Killers, Train, P!nk and Foo Fighters (who were in NY on Saturday night at a Super Bowl event, as was Fall Out Boy) have earned it. I am not a fan of Jay-Z, but he's earned it. And as most of you know country music is not my thing, but there are a number of country artists (Kenny Chesney, Kelly Clarkson & Zac Brown leap to mind) who have been around for many years, still do great new music, and deserve a shot at that huge stage. If Jimmy Buffett were asked to perform the Parrotheads would outbid the football fans for tickets. To be honest...and this hurts to admit...I cannot think of anyone who would absolutely kill a Super Bowl halftime show better than Garth Brooks. These are artists who have toiled for years to build their craft and make names for themselves as performers. It's not just about Bruno. I love bands like Imagine Dragons, One Republic, Mumford & Sons and Fun. Will is a huge fan of Paramore and Taking Back Sunday. But none of them have earned it either. Playing halftime at the Super Bowl should be like a lifetime achievement award. It's bigger than being asked to play the Grammys, the AMAs and the VMAs all in the same year. They are saying 111.5 million people watched this past Sunday. That is more people than will likely see Bruno in an entire lifetime of doing tours. It's one of the biggest honors in music. And it's not his fault...but Bruno cut in line.

How should we fix this next year? I would love to hear your thoughts on who should be next in line for this prestigious honor. In the meantime, Will and I have an easy solution. Invite Weird Al. Not only has he earned it through 30 amazing years in the business, but then you can hear any artist your heart desires. Just a thought...

One more thing...if they ever ask Nickleback then me and the NFL are done. For good. A man has to have standards...

Weekend Update

Hello...I'm Carl Jones and you're not! I thought I would take this lovely Monday morning and update you on a few of the things that were on my mind this past weekend - which mostly consisted of watching TV and having interesting conversations. So here we go...

• As the years pass I become less and less interested in the NFL (but I still watch) and more of a college football fan. Most of pro football passion goes into (I won't say hating because it is such an ugly word) despising the New England Patriots. Why? Partly because they are always good and mostly because Tom Brady (The Pretty Boy) and Bill Belichick (The Hoodie) just irritate the crap out out me with their obnoxious smugness. My son and I had a conversation this weekend and decided if they ever make a movie about the Brady/Peyton Manning rivalry, we should cast it. Peyton would be played by Tom Hanks, because almost everyone loves him. He is the Everyman. And Brady would be played by Tom Cruise- because he is a pretty boy and a bit of a jerk. My friend Robert asked on Twitter who I thought should play The Hoodie, and after some thought I chose Christopher Walken. Who better to play a paranoid cheater? It's coming soon to a theater near you! By the way- the more they win the more bitter I get. So let's go Broncos!
• One other football note. I started yesterday not really caring who won the Panthers/49ers game, but by halftime I was cheering hard for Carolina. Could the 49ers players have been bigger punks? So let's go Seattle!
• After a bit of begging I got the family to go to Cracker Barrel on Saturday morning. Can I just say the Sunrise Sampler is quite simply the best breakfast in the world? Mmmmm...gravy...
• Our pastor is doing a sermon series based on dangerous prayers found in scripture. Not only do they tie in well with my #DangerDays theme for 2014, they are a great inspiration to pray more fervently and frequently- and to expect great things. Yesterday he preached from 2 Kings 19 (which may be the first time in 50 years of going to church I have ever heard that passage preached) and the faith of King Hezekiah in the face of great danger. Matthew also reminded us to "right size" God in our prayers, which in turn will help us downsize our problems and understand that God can handle whatever we bring to Him. My main takeaway was this- when our prayers and our lives seek to glorify God more than to rescue to ourselves, big things will happen. That's good stuff...
• Will and I watched a fair amount of the Golden Globes last night. I love talking about movies with him because he is so knowledgeable. There were 4 things that stood out to us about the show. Amy Poehler and Tina Fey are really funny. Matt Damon is a really good sport. We are big Andy Samberg fans, but we think the GG voters are the only people in the world actually watching Brooklyn 99. And those same voters have absolutely NO IDEA what a Best Movie Comedy or Musical looks like. Wolf of Wall Street? Her? Where was the nomination for Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D? 
• Saturday I watched part of animated version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame on TV. Watching "Hunchback" always reminds me how underrated it is among Disney classics. And also how much I miss the live show they used to have at the Hollywood/MGM Studios. In fact, it has inspired an upcoming post for this blog- Things I Miss At Walt Disney World. Nominations will be accepted if you have an idea for me!
• Commercials have me very psyched for the Winter Olympics and the new Muppet movie. I can't wait for either!
• And finally, many of you know me as a devoted fan of David Letterman, and I still am. But I have to admit, my allegiance will be seriously challenged for the first time when Jimmy Fallon takes over The Tonight Show. His "Best of" special reminded me just how funny he is, and I can't wait to see what he does with his new platform.
• And a parting shot... Farewell, Jay Leno. You killed NBC with your 10 PM show, turned Conan into a national hero, couldn't even got nominated for a People's Choice Award (much less an Emmy) and have been the least original and least funny comedian on TV for many years now - according to dozens of actual comedians! So adios, Jay. At least until you try to pull the rug out from under Fallon...

So those are my random ramblings from the weekend. As always, feedback is welcome. And possibly ignored. :) Have a great week!

Because of Jesus,

7 Things: Why College Football is Better Than the NFL

I have not always been a huge fan of college football. I grew up n NC, where in those days college football was just something you watched to pass the time before basketball season arrived. I would watch the games and I knew the players, but for me the REAL football came on Sundays when the Washington Redskins would play, and on Monday nights because those were the really big games. I am no longer a Redskins fan (I cheer for my local Bucs!) and Monday nights are now reserved for How I Met Your Mother, because those games barely matter anymore. But Saturdays are a different story. Saturdays during football season are now the best, most amazing sporting days of the year. And they are that way every stinkin' week!  I know that the NFL is revered in our country, so today I am going to blaspheme. Here are 7 ways college football is better than the NFL!

1. The Stadiums- Almost every college football stadium has a unique history and personality. I once posted a list of 10 college stadiums I would love to visit someday. I have no such list of pro stadiums. Many are ancient, and most are filled to capacity every week with rabid, screaming fans. Students and alumni who show up to support their teams in good times and in bad, dressed in school colors and acting like total idiots. NFL stadiums get loud on occasion.  College football venues are loud an hour before kick-off.  You just FEEL the excitement through your TV.
2. Mascots and Fight Songs- The NFL is a business, and it is so very often the "No Fun League."  College football is still very much a game, and the mascots are part of the fun! Whether it's Uga in his dog house at Georgia, Chief Osceola riding on to the field and slamming his spear in the ground at Florida State or the live buffalo leading the home team onto the filed at Colorado, there is a pageantry to CFB that the NFL cannot compete with.  And then there are the fight songs and the bands, which stir the emotions of the already rabid crowd. Today two of the most famous will be blaring as Michigan takes on Notre Dame in the Big House.  I am no fan of Southern Cal, but WOW what a great fight song!  And I convinced that Tennessee occasionally wins games just because the other team can't take hearing Rocky Top on more time...
3. Walk Ons-  The NFL has undrafted free agents, guys who teams take a chance on in the pre-season and who become surprising good players. But most of them were stars in college and all of them who make it in pro football will be paid very well for what they do.  In college, the walk on is given very little chance to ever play. He may toil in anonymity for 4 years, never getting a scholarship, before being given a chance. But almost every game you hear the story of a successful walk on. It's part of the college game. Let me put it this way- Rudy never played in the NFL, did he?
4. Traditions-  If you watched the amazing battle between Clemson and Georgia last weekend you may have seen the elaborate tradition that is the Clemson Tigers entering their home field. Circling the stadium in buses, unloading at the top of the hill, rubbing Howard's Rock and storming down the hill to fireworks and a frenzied crowd. I have no connection to Clemson, but that always gives my goosebumps.  And similar scenes are repeated at college stadiums all over the country every week, like the 12th man at Texas A&M and so many others.  Even bad teams have great traditions that make attending the game exciting.  
5. Every Game Matters- The Baltimore Ravens got blown out by the Denver Broncos Thursday night, but in the long run it really doesn't matter. In the NFL you just need to win enough to make the playoffs and then hope to get hot at the end. The team that is the best over the full season very rarely wins the Super Bowl. Georgia lost to Clemson by 3 points last week, and after 1 week their national championship hopes will hang in the balance every single game! And because conference rivalries are so intense in CFB, you can't take a week off. A 10-6 record often gets you to the NFL playoffs. A 10-2 record will NOT get you to the national championship game very often. Yes, I know we need a playoff system. But it is so great that is many ways every game is a playoff game!
6. Overtime- I know that many football purists hate the college overtime because it eliminates special teams and is played under different rules. But I LOVE it!  It's truly some of the most exciting football you will ever see, with each team getting a fair chance to score and to stop the other team.  And when it reaches the point of triple overtime where each team has to go for 2 after a touchdown...awesome!  
7. The Tim Tebow Factor- The NFL is a cookie cutter league. They have particular standards for every position and how is should be played. Anything that is really knew is immediately scoffed at. Even the NFL referees are saying that Chip Kelly can't run his offense as quickly with the Philadelphia Eagles as he did at Oregon. In college, coaches do what WORKS! Players that are considered far too small for NFL become stars.  Coaches run far more trick plays and weird, off-the-wall defensive sets. They use the gifts and skills of the players they have. It's like this- Tim Tebow was one of the greatest college football players to ever play. He showed with the Broncos a couple of years ago that if you design an offense for him (not an NFL offense) he can be a big winner at the next level. But he is currently unemployed. Why? Because the NFL is a business. And college football- while also a big money venture- is still very much a game. Risks are taken, and creativity is rewarded.  A league with no room for the Tim Tebows of the world needs to take a close look at itself.

So there's my list. I guess it goes without saying that you know where you can find me today! I didn't mention one other plus for CFB- QUANTITY! I can see parts of a dozen or more games every Saturday without even trying! I look froward to hearing from the NFL fans who will be certain I have lost my mind. But CFB will always win, because as much as I despise Alabama and Nick Saban they are still easier to stomach than the Dallas Cowboys or The Hoodie, the Pretty Boy and the New England Patriots! See you tomorrow! 

My Top 10 Super Bowls

It's Super Bowl Sunday, one of the great USAmerican holidays! Parties are thrown, beverages are consumed, and MILLIONS of chickens sacrifice their wings as we enjoy the championship game of the NFL. I am old enough to have watched at least part of all 46 previous games, and the Super Bowl has always been special to me. Among other things, I am among the very few youth pastors to have ever had the actual Lombardi Trophy visit my office, back in 2003 (see picture) and I will be headed to Winners Sports Bar again tonight with my family and our friend Lisa Jewett to watch the Ravens and the 49ers do battle. This being the 10th anniversary of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers only Super Bowl victory, I thought it might be fun to look back and share my 10 favorite games. You will notice right away it is MY list- no mention of a Patriots victory to be found anywhere! So here we go...

10) III- The New York Jets upset the Baltimore Colts 16-7 in a game that Broadway Joe Namath guaranteed they would win. (1969)
  9) XXXI-  The Green Bay Packers beat the New England Patriots 35-21 and Brett Favre get his only Super Bowl win. (1997)
  8) VII- The Miami Dolphins finish the season 17-0 with a 14-7 win over the Washington Redskins. (1973)
  7) XVI- The San Francisco 49ers beat the Cincinnati Bengals 26-21 in the game that turns Joe Montana into a legend. (1982)
  6) XXV- The New York Giants beat the Buffalo Bills 20-19 in Tampa as Scott Norwood missed a game winning field goal on the last play of the game. (1991)
  5) XLII- The Giants bring an end to the Patriots run at unbeaten immortality, 17-14, in a game featuring the unbelievable "helmet catch" by David Tyree. (2008)
  4) XLVI- The Giants take down the Patriots again, 21-17. That's 3 Patriot losses on my list.  That is not an accident!  :)  (2012)
  3)  XIII- The Pittsburgh Steelers hold off the Dallas Cowboys 35-31 in one of the first real Super Bowl thrillers! (1979)
  2) XXXIV- The St. Louis Rams and Kurt Warner defeat the Tennessee Titans 23-16 as the Titans game winning drive falls one yard short as time runs out. (2000)
  1)  XXXVII- The Bucs win, dominating the Oakland Raiders 48-21 and getting Jon Gruden and company their rings.  (2003)

So there's my list- I'd love to hear yours. Enjoy tonight's game.

A Team of Outcasts

My Dad began coaching little league football in the early 1970's with the Guilford College Steelers in Greensboro, NC.  The Steelers were a "county" team who played in the powerful Greensboro city league, and in the early years they were doormats.  Dad transformed them into consistent winners at the 8-10 year old level, and I always enjoyed helping him.  As their success increased so did the number of kids coming out to play.  There was a limit (35, I think) of how many players a team could carry.  And to make sure all of those players got to play the city instituted a great program.  Regular games were on weeknights, and all of your players were eligible for those.  Then on Saturday mornings there was another game- but your top 15 players could not participate!  So Saturday morning was the game for the back-ups.  On a powerhouse team like the Steelers, that Saturday morning team was very good.

One particular season (the year escapes me) we had over 50 kids come out to play for the Steelers.  Dad would not cut anyone, and he wanted everyone to play, so he came to me with an idea.  Would I be willing to coach a third team- one that didn't even dress on weeknights, but that played as a second Steeler team on Saturday mornings?  This would be a team full of kids who had not played organized football before; full of the smallest kids and the slowest kids and even some who didn't know their left from their right.  In short, it was going to be a bad team- a team of outcasts.  But it seemed like a challenge to me (not being a very bright young man!) so I said yes.  Not wanting to call it the "C Team" or the third string, we settled on The White Team, because they would wear the white jerseys abandoned by the "real" Steelers a few years earlier. They are pictured at the top, and yes- that is a very young me standing with them!

The White Team practiced separately from the other players, and slowly a team began to come together.  Our guys practiced very hard each and every day- but we also had lots of fun.  We would run trick plays every day just to break things up.  When the starting defense needed to hit some people, I would play quarterback for a make-shift offense, and they could hit me all they wanted to.  It was all about helping them believe in each other. No one had to tell them they were outcasts. The hand-me-down jerseys said it all too well.  The team progressed, and played well in our first game- but lost 7-6.  No could believe we had been that close, but still, everyone feared for us- game two would be against Lewis Center.

Lewis Center was the power program in Greensboro city football.  They annually played for the city championship at a least one age level, and they had been doing this for years.  The general assumption was that their Saturday morning team could make the playoffs in the regular league!  And The White Team was about to take them on.  My Dad was worried that we would be beaten so badly that it would humiliate the kids.  I secretly worried the same thing.  But we showed up anyway- and the game was amazing.  They drove the ball down the field, and we stopped them inside the 10.  This pattern repeated itself all game long.  We never came close to scoring, but we kept fighting.  The game ended in a scoreless tie, which, of course, was a major victory for us.  My Dad often said over the years, as he was winning city championships with the Steelers, that The White Team performance that Saturday morning was the greatest game he ever saw a Steeler team play.  And I wouldn't argue...

My experiences with that team were full of great lessons that I carried with me into my years in student ministry.  I learned the value of mixing working hard with playing hard.  I learned that building bonds between myself and the students I worked with could lead to results that seemed miraculous.  But the big lesson was this- a team (or a group) can be so much greater than the sum of its' parts if you simply believe in each other.  Over the years my groups didn't always have the most "popular" students, or the most jocks, or the most "beautiful" people. We had out share of outcasts.  But we usually had amazing youth groups full of people who loved each other and who were seeking Jesus.  We understood that Jesus has a thing for outcasts, and that gave us power greater than any popularity or skill set.  And just like with The White Team, some of the individuals drew on their experiences to become stars later on.  Many of those students are still out there playing, raising families, seeking God and "shining their lights" for others.  I thank God for them everyday.

I am  seriously considering trying to get the team back together and challenge my Tampa Bay Bucs...I think we could take 'em!

Because of Jesus,

My College Football Bucket List

I love watching college football on Saturday afternoons and I always have.  When I lived in North Carolina, I got see games at Duke, Wake Forest, UNC, NC State and Appalachian State.  For 2 seasons I was the official scoreboard operator for the might Guilford College Quakers.  But like any fan, there are certain games and certain stadiums I have always wanted to see in person.  Watching the Florida/Tennessee game last night reminded me of some of those places.  So today I share my ever-changing College Football Bucket List (in no particular order) with you.  Let me know when you get us tickets!  

1. Neyland Stadium at the University of Tennessee- I am not a Volunteers fan, but I do love this venue.  It's on the river, and people can arrive by boat. There are over 100,000 people in the stadium, which is an ocean of orange.  Rocky Top is played ever few minutes.  We almost moved to Tennessee when I was in high school, and going to a game in Knoxville was the only part I was sorry to miss out on. 
2. Texas/Oklahoma in Dallas-  I grew up loving the Oklahoma Sooners and their wide open wishbone offense. I was actually in Dallas for the NYWC in 1982 the weekend after the Red River Rivalry and hated the bad timing.  Played in a stadium split down the middle by fans of both teams, with the Texas State Fair going on just outside the Cotton Bowl for all those years, this was a game I always wanted to see. And to see the Sooner Schooner make an appearance would be just totally awesome!!!
3. Death Valley at LSU- We almost moved to a church in Baton Rouge in 2001, and Bengal Tiger games would have been one of the real draws. But only at night. The atmosphere there seems just amazing at night.
4. Auburn/Alabama in The Iron Bowl-  It always seemed like these 2 played amazing games on a neutral field every year, and I love watching. As long as Alabama lost...
5. Florida/Georgia- I have been to a SEC game at The Swamp in Gainesville, and I have seen a SEC game Between the Hedges in Athens.  Both were awesome experiences.  But I have never been to Jacksonville to see these 2 play each other in The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.  And that needs to change!
6. Notre Dame Stadium- Another place so full of tradition and stories, and I just want to see it all once.  Plus, I need to see Touchdown Jesus before I die!
7. Ohio State/Michigan-  The Big Game.  I would need to see this once twice, once at each team's home.  Strange part is, I can't stand either team.  But I love the rivalry and history of this game.
8. USC- I would love to see Southern Cal play UCLA or Oregon at the incredibly historic Los Angeles Coliseum. But I would go just for their fight song.  I do love that fight song. 
9. Clemson-  Another version of Death Valley. To see the Clemson players enter the stadium, touch the rock and take the field would be quite the sight.  Plus I love orange. I just can't help myself.  This one gets bonus point if I can see them beat Miami or Maryland.
10. THE USC- That would be the University of South Carolina.  On Saturdays the over 100,000 people in Williams-Brice Stadium makes it one of the largest cities in SC.  The place rocks.  And Steve Spurrier is the coach, so anything can happen.  I actually like Spurrier.  No accounting for taste, huh?

So there is my current list.  Let me know what I missed, or if you have been and found any of my choices to be overrated...

Friday Flashback: Super Bowls Past

It's almost Super Bowl Sunday, and I have been flashing back to past years and parties with my various youth groups.  Here are VII memories that came to mind from my XXVIII years in student ministry.  I am still waiting for Amber Herrick or Chrissy Weaver to refresh my memory of the great Super Bowl Sunday fight in Kissimmee.  Another story for another day!

1)  It's weird, but I have absolutely no memory of any kind of Super Bowl party during my years (1978-83) at New Garden Friends Meeting.  I remember Super Bowls from every other stop on my career- even one from 2001 at the Union Church of Hinsdale, IL, when a large crowd filled our little house to watch the game.  I was only in Hinsdale for one Super Bowl.  But I have nothing from New Garden...

2)  My first Super Bowl party after moving to High Point and Springfield Friends Meeting was cut short by a snow storm that led to an exciting couple of days (see A Super Surprise).  The Giants beat the Broncos in Super Bowl XXI on January 25, 1987.

3)  We had several parties at the home of Butch and Barbara Moran while we were at Springfield Friends Meeting.  I can't remember if they were really youth parties, or if most of the youth were just there because they were related to the Moran's!  In any case, these were fun because doing anything with Butch was fun, and they had a 55" screen...

4)  We used to get together with friends for the game and make huge crock pots full of chili.  Somewhere along the way, this changed to me making Mexican Pile-Up for the the multitudes.  For the uninitiated, pile-up is basically a taco salad you pile on a plate, using chips instead of a shell.  I have fed a lot of kids a lot of pile-up on Super Bowl Sunday over the years...but I always made them bring the desserts!

5)  The party got serious on January 26, 2003.  We had moved to Wesley Memorial UMC in Tampa in 2001, and now we found our hometown Buccaneers in the big game.  I knew I would be irritable and grumpy if I didn't get to pay full attention to the game, so we decided to not have a youth group party- sort of!  We invited only a few select youth and adults who we knew would watch the games and hosted it at our house, complete with Wing House wings!  My Bucs whipped the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII, and as the game ended we went outside and listened as the entire city of Tampa honked their car horns in celebration.

6)  The following year (Feb. 1, 2004) was a perfect example of why I often got frustrated on Super Sunday.  We had the party in the Fellowship Hall at Wesley and drew a big crowd- about half of whom cared anything about the game.  I spent most of the evening chasing kids back into the room and cooking.  We went through 30 pounds of ground beef in the Mexican Pile-Up that night.  I was in the kitchen at halftime, trying to clean up a bit, when Jacquie Thomson came running in a told me that Justin Timberlake had just exposed Janet Jackson's breast, in what came to be known as the Wardrobe Malfunction.  And I had missed it, along with most of the first half.  At least the game got really interesting after that, even though the hated Patriots won.

7)  My final youth Super Bowl party was a great one.  We held it in the Fellowship Hall at Trinity UMC in Waycross, GA on Feb. 4, 2007.  I ran the cable through a VCR and into a video projector and we watched the game projected on a wall that had to be 90" wide!  I ran the sound through our system, and we were better than any sports bar around.  As a matter of fact, we were illegal.  The NFL actually stopped some churches in Indianapolis from doing just what we did, limiting the size of the projection to 60".  We charged ahead, eating pile-up, Dick's Wings and all kinds of goodies while the Colts beat the Bears and made Tony Dungy the first African-American ever to coach a Super Bowl winner.  Good times!

So this Sunday I'm off to Winners Sports Bar here in Tampa to watch the game with Marilyn, Will, Lisa Jewett and a crowd of strangers.  I get to watch the game AND I don't have to cook.  But still...I miss all the excitement of those youth parties, and I always will.


Because of Jesus,

Monday Morning Reflections

I really wanted to write about Tim Tebow today.  I have so much to say, and this seemed like a good time to do it.  But everyone has been writing about Timmy T. for the past few weeks, and I am always one to stay out of step with what is popular.  So I guess I shouldn't do it.


It is tempting, though.  He quarterbacked the Denver Broncos to a big win yesterday, making his record as a starter over his 2 NFL seasons an even 3-3.  During that same period of time, the Broncos are 4-14 when he doesn't start.  Even when he wins, the "experts" are quick to point out his flaws.  He is not an accurate passer.  His delivery is too slow.  And the ever popular "he doesn't give his team the best chance to win."  It's very true that he did not play very well the previous 2 weeks (even though in one of those game he led his team on a historical comeback win), but there are a few things that need to be taken in to account.  First of all, Denver is not a very good team (as witnessed by their record without him).  Secondly, he has no one to throw to.  I follow college football closely, but I have never heard of any of the guys currently playing wide receiver for the Broncos.  I am willing to bet his numbers would be much better if he had proven receivers. Or they could just bring in his receiving corps from the University of Florida- Percy Harvin, Louis Murphy, Riley Cooper, Aaron Hernandez- and let him throw to them.  That would be a huge improvement.  And finally, his team is just beginning to learn that not only does he have their backs as an amazing teammate, but they can also climb on his back and he will carry them.  But I'm just going to keep quiet and let his critics keep slamming him.


I mean it's not like Tim has asked for all of this attention.  A certain amount of press is to be expected when you are one of the 10 best players in college football history and a first round draft pick.  But this has been ridiculous!  He draws much criticism because he doesn't seem to play quarterback the way other people have or the way the "experts"  think he should.  They slam him for being a man of faith; they make fun of him for praying on the field; they wonder if he is not too good to be true.  The "Tebowing" craze is quite odd- making fun of a man for praying.  But as usual, Tim is unfazed by it all- he's glad to see so many people on their knees.  Even those who appreciate him seem to doubt him most of the time.   His detractors simply do not understand that his faith in himself comes directly from his faith in Jesus Christ, and that there is nothing that can separate him from that.  But he certainly doesn't need me to defend him, so I'll just let others do the writing.


So what if has already had a 300 yard passing game (last year- and many QBs never have one) and 100 yard rushing game (yesterday - and VERY few QBs ever have one)?  So what if he has responded with quiet dignity to those who curse him and with Christian love (turning the other cheek) to those who hate on him?  He would never want anyone to point that stuff out, because he is one of the most humble people on the planet- while at the same time being one of the most competitive.  He knows full well that his strength comes from God, and he is never afraid to say so.  His courage - both on and off the field- is unparalleled.  But there's really no need for me to write any of that.  It should be so obvious to everyone.


I don't know what I should write about today.  But if I was going to write about Tim Tebow, I would want to make sure that everyone who read it understands that men like him don't come along all that often, and that even if you don't care for his skills on a football field, you really need to respect his skills as a leader of men and a Christ-follower.  He's not perfect, and I don't agree with everything he says or does- but there is much we can learn from Timmy T.  I really need to write a post about that someday soon.  But right now I need to do a little Tebowing and thank God for His grace and all of the amazing people in my life...


Because of Jesus,

Waycross Friday Night Football

Perhaps my favorite days during my time at Trinity UMC of Waycross, GA were Friday nights during football season.  In south Georgia, football is a religion, and every home game Friday night the entire town of Waycross would gather to worship together. The "temple" was this amazing stadium (see picture), much nicer than many of the stadiums at some of the smaller colleges I have visited.  It even had a "Diamond Vision" style replay screen.  You could actually buy reserved seats.  It astonished me.  As a youth pastor, it was always a great night- I could see every kid in town all at the same place.  We would sit near the band, next to the section where all of the middle school students would hang out.  Students would parade in front of us all night, often stopping by for a quick visit or to ask me if I would take my shirt off so they could paint something on my chest.  The answer, in case you are wondering, was always NO!  I would also get to chat with parents, other church members and most every other youth pastor in town.  In fact, if you were a youth pastor in Waycross and were not at home football games, you weren't doing your job very well.  It was your chance to connect with the entire town at once.

In the years before my arrival at Trinity UMC it had been a tradition to have a youth gathering at the The Vine (the TUMC youth house) following home games.  It was supposed to be an outreach event, but had been mostly Trinity kids coming just to hang out.  And there had been some problems with drugs and alcohol.  Among my priorities as I began to plan for the 2006-07 school year was to crank that idea up a notch while making it a safer environment.  I went to a local eatery called Dick's Wings & Grill, a favorite among my youth.  I asked them about hosting The 5th Quarter, an after-game gathering on home game Friday nights.  It would mean keeping their doors open a little later than usual, and total chaos as hungry teenagers descended on their restaurant- but they agreed to do it, and to offer half price appetizers so the students could actually eat!  The location secured, I then purchased an ad in the most widely read magazine in Waycross- the Ware County High School Football Program.  I also sent e-mails to all of the other churches in town letting them know they were all invited.  The program was a hit from the very beginning, as the food and fellowship were a perfect combination to draw students.  As the weeks went by, we added door prizes, a karaoke machine and some other goodies to keep new people coming in- and they did.  I met a ton of students this way, and cemented our growing reputation as one of the hot student ministries in town.  And my own students loved it and took great pride in hosting the event.   They even did two stories on the program in the local paper.  We were a hit.


Among my many regrets about having only served one year in Waycross was that I never got a chance to build on that first year of success with The 5th Quarter.  The whole story reminds me of the many advantages of small town youth ministry, and the opportunities that exist in those situations to change a community in the name of Jesus.  And wherever WCHS is playing tonight, I can only say "GO GATORS!"  And eat some of that deadly hot Dick's Secret Sauce for me...


Because of Jesus,

One Super Sunday

Quite possibly the biggest day in the history of Tampa Bay (other than the day Gaspar the Pirate first invaded) was January 26, 2003.  On that day our beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII by a score of 48-21.  All of Tampa was in party mode for weeks following the event, and Jon Gruden was hailed as the unofficial King of the World. It was a wild time to to live by the Bay.  


In April of that same year Marilyn and I attended the wedding of a former youth in High Point, NC.  We would miss Graceland on that Sunday evening, and as was my habit I asked a member of our Youth Ministry Team to step up and teach the lesson in my absence.  On this particular occasion that responsibility fell to George Woods.  George had been chairperson of the committee that hired me at Wesley Memorial UMC, and we had become good friends.  He was also the marketing director for the Bucs.  He and his wife Jennifer had been in San Diego for the Super Bowl, and their son had stayed with us.  George was very comfortable in front of the youth and they loved him, so I knew he would do a great job.  I just had no idea how great...


I spoke with George that Sunday morning (this time our son Will was staying with them) and he assured me he had something special planned.  I discovered later that he went around church that morning telling everyone not to miss Graceland that afternoon or they would be sorry.  I often tried that strategy; the difference was this time it was REALLY true!  When the students arrived for youth group, George talked about the Super Bowl, and how some of the players had thought that winning that trophy would make them feel complete.  He made the point that if you feel incomplete without the awards and "stuff" of this world that you would never feel complete with them, either.  The only thing that fills those holes in our hearts is Jesus.  And then...George Woods broke out the Vince Lombardi Trophy.  The REAL one, straight from 1 Buc Place.  It was such a big deal that he couldn't tell anyone ahead of time it would be there; it was all very hush-hush.  He and Jennifer took individual pictures of everyone with the trophy, and a week later gave them to the kids in a frame with a scripture verse.  It was just simply awesome!


When I began getting calls telling me what had taken place at Graceland that night I simply couldn't believe it.  One of the greatest events in the history of  student ministry had just happened at MY church- and I missed it!  After harassing George a few days, he brought the trophy back by the church one afternoon so I could get my picture taken with it.  It was an evening and a lesson those kids will never forget.  And I learned a lesson too- not only could Graceland survive with me away, it could THRIVE!  This story always reminds me of how blessed I was through the years to have so many adults who loved Jesus and loved students serve side-by-side with me in youth ministry.  God gifted me and used me in student ministry, but He didn't need me to do it all.  He blessed me with lots of help.  Thanks, George!


I have to admit, posing with the trophy was just plain cool.  Here's a pic of me with Vince.  Now tell me the truth- are any of you coveting right now?  :)  Be blessed, my friends! 

Because of Jesus, 

The 12th Man

Five years ago today my Dad passed away after a brief battle with a rare blood cancer.  Not a day goes by that I don't miss him, and I know that my son Will misses him just as much.  As I have said before (check out See You Tuesday), he was wonderful father, but he was a GREAT grandfather!  But today is Tuesday, and on Tuesdays in 2011 we talk about the Jesus Revolution.  What does my Dad have to do with that?  Let me tell you.

Dad was a huge part of my childhood, and not just in the usual ways.  He played ball with me in the yard most every day.  He instilled in me my love of music and taught me my first ukulele chords.  He coached me in football, basketball (which he knew nothing about) and baseball.  The picture at the top is of the 1972 Guilford College Little League All-Stars.  Dad is at the far left; I'm the gawky 12-year-old in the green hat, middle of the back row- the only Yankee in a sea of Red Sox!  In high school, my parents were always the ones our youth group wanted to chaperon trips.  Dad was always there for me, and I loved him.

Later on, after I aged had out of youth sports, he became a legendary youth football coach in Greensboro, NC, for 8-10 year olds.  His teams were always among the best, and they were always the best prepared.  I helped him with a number of those teams, and there was something unusual about his coaching style that I want to focus on today.

My parents left their church over a nasty pastoral move (my history with the UMC and pastoral moves will be documented in detail soon) in the early 1970's and never really came back.  They would come to the churches I served from time to time, and always came to hear me preach.  But on the whole, they were not a part of a worshipping body.  I wish they had been, and still wish my Mom would find her way back to church.  But not being in church in no way diminished my Dad's faith.  And it was on the football field where this was most obvious.  At the end of every practice, and before and after every game, Dad would gather the team around him and pray. He would pray for the safety of the players and for the joy of the game. And he would always introduce the prayer time by telling the team to take a knee, because "the 12th Man is joining the huddle."  Praying in such a manner, and so often, raised more than a few eyebrows even in those days.  Technically it was forbidden by league policy.  Dad didn't care.  It was that important to him.  And to make matters worse (or better!), these weren't generic prayers.  He always closed with, "In Jesus name...Amen."  More than once parents questioned him about the praying, and more than once he simply refused to give in to any pressure.  He was going to pray, and the only way to stop him was to ask him not to coach anymore.  And that never happened.

So what's my point?  Simply this- the Jesus Revolution will not be led by people sitting in church pews or standing in pulpits.  It will be led by people who are willing to take on the culture and confront it with Jesus.  It will be led by people willing to live out their faith outside the walls of the church.  The world can be changed by people standing firm in their faith and acting out of love.  I know for a fact (some of his players were eventually in my youth group at New Garden Friends Meeting) that my Dad's prayers had a huge impact on the lives of some of those young men.  They began to see prayer as an important part of life.  They saw God (the 12th Man) as a friend and a comforter, not as some sort of cosmic killjoy.  And they learned the name of Jesus.  Every revolution begins with a spark...

So Dad, today more than most, I miss you terribly.  Thank you for all of the things you taught me, both by word and by example.  I didn't always understand it at the time, but I was living with an agent of the Jesus Revolution.  I pray now that the "12th Man" will give me the courage to carry on with your legacy...

Because of Jesus,