Winning is part of sports and often God is praised by athletes when that happens. Rarer though, is the athlete who praises God even in the midst of crushing disappointment.
But Colt McCoy, quarterback for the University of Texas Longhorns, took the opportunity to speak about his faith last night when ABC's Lisa Salters asked him how it felt to watch the BCS Championship game against Alabama from the sidelines.
“I always give God the glory. I never question why things happen the way they do. God is in control of my life. And I know that if nothing else, I'm standing on the Rock,” McCoy stated.
McCoy had every reason to express frustration and disappointment last night. The senior took a hit that damaged his shoulder during his team's opening drive, ended his college career and, if it didn't doom
This isn't the first time McCoy publicly expressed his faith in God. He participated last year in the I Am Second movement, a ministry that is based on the principle of keeping Jesus the primary focus in people's lives, and reminding people that God still loves them even when they make mistakes.
“I want people to know that having a personal relationship with Christ is probably the biggest decision that any of us will make. It goes deeper than going to church, than just acting like a Christian,” McCoy wrote for the group's Web site [1]. “It goes with really deeply knowing and coming to know Jesus and having a personal relationship with Him.”
McCoy holds the NCAA records for highest career completion percentage and most wins for a starting quarterback.
McCoy isn't the only big-time NCAA quarterback to speak and act publicly on his faith. Florida's Tim Tebow [2] is well-known for having Bible verses written in his game-day eye-black. And nobody is suggesting that Colt McCoy should be held up as perfect role model; Americans have witnessed far too many superb athletes not live up to that title to suggest such. But it sure is refreshing to see an athlete appeal to God even when his big game didn't play out in the fashion he hoped it would.
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