We didn’t “get beat.”
In defeat, the Longhorns exhibited some of the greatest football heroics I’ve ever witnessed. The great Colt McCoy—winningest quarterback ever in college history—was sidelined by severe injury for 58 of 60 minutes. Yet, with 3 minutes left, the Horns trailed by just 3 points and had the ball, a 19-yr-old quarterback at the helm.
Incredible.
Like many of y’all, I’ve been an athlete for most of my life. We play sports for one or more of the following reasons:
1. It’s fun.
2. It’s good for our health.
3. We learn unique life-lessons from the experience.
4. It’s the best way for guys to get the attention of cute cheerleaders (just kidding…sort of…).
Reason #3 predominates in my mind. There’s no pain quite like physical pain; no challenge quite like a physical challenge. Growing up in Canajoharie NY, the life-lessons I learned as a varsity wrestler on a championship team served me well at West Point. After these many years, I remain convinced that Plebe Year would have broken me, but for my high school wrestling experience.
Did you hear Colt after the game last night? The priceless life-lessons learned as a Longhorn leader really shone through. As he spoke (through his own pain), all I could think was:
“This young man will succeed at whatever he does in life. I just know it.”
These life-lessons are God’s gift to the athlete—provided the athlete is humble enough to retain them. In this regard, the Texas football team has impressed me most profoundly.
From my seats in Section 101 of Royal Memorial Stadium, I’ve witnessed with pride my Longhorns start every game by bursting through the south tunnel, double-timing to the north end zone, and taking a knee—in prayer. Every…single…one of them.
Lessons learned, reapplied through the course of life. Values reinforced to enable these lessons to stick. This process is not accidental. It is Mission One of Mack Brown, the finest coach in all collegiate football.
Today I will take a moment to thank the Lord for my champions, the coaches and players of the University of Texas football team. Won’t you join me?
Texas…FIGHT!
I also like Alabama, but McCoy is just a class act. Like Tim Tebow