At the end of last night's game between Alabama and Texas, the on-field commentator interviewed Colt McCoy, quarterback for Texas. McCoy had been injured early in the game and was unable to play. The injury could also affect his chances with the NFL.
But McCoy said (and I'm paraphrasing), "It's in God's hands. He has a plan for me and I have to follow." In fact, he continued to stress that his future is in God's hands for the next several seconds. (He also praised Alabama for being a great football team.) The commentator seemed uncomfortable by McCoy's witness of his faith (to his faith?).
I thought his reaction was quite mature. Southern Universities have a reputation as "football factories"--indeed, the commentators last night kept referring to the fact that the quarterback for Alabama last lost a game he started back in 8th Grade. For a young man like McCoy to realize that football might not be his destiny is a good thing.
McCoy's remarks will generate much less controversy than Brit Hume's. For one thing, McCoy was referring to his personal faith, not urging someone else to embrace Christianity. For another, the media elites do not expect football players in general, and Southern football players in particular, to be particularly bright. So if they want to cling to an outdated, unhip religion like Christianity, well, who cares? Especially if they continue to play spectacular ball.
(The game was more exciting than the final score indicated. Texas was within three of Alabama and had shut them out during the second half of the game until about the last three minutes. Congratulations to both teams who played their hearts out!)
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