Introduction

  As I watch my children grow, I can’t help but remember what it was like to be a child myself.  Being 38 years old, I would do just about anything to have a tenth of the energy they burn up throughout the day.  To think of the challenges and unlimited opportunities they will encounter as they grow into young teens made me realize the importance of writing this book.  Who will they view as role models as they get older?  It could be one of you reading this book right now.  There needs to be an awakening among student athletes that they are role models for our younger generation.  Whether you like it or not, the life of a student athlete is scrutinized more closely than that of a non-athletic student. 

My Pastor says, “There comes a time in a person’s life where he or she wants to give something back to society instead of continuing to take for themselves.”  As we move farther into the 21^st century, high schools and colleges struggle with having real student athletes who achieve their potential and serve as good role models for the younger generation.  It seems that somewhere between the 1990’s and 2000’s, there was a disconnect between the student/athlete and teacher/coach relationship.  That ill-fated day at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, that claimed fifteen lives shows the significant importance of good role models in our society.  It seems that student athletes often forget that their teachers and coaches are there to help them achieve and succeed.

I find it ironic that the negative shift in this country’s role models coincides with our society continuing to find ways to take God out of the public schools, not to mention high school football.  They say it is being done so no one gets offended, but it is offensive to me that the minority of this country are making decisions for the majority.  The reason our country stands apart from any other place on this planet is because our founding fathers knew the importance of the central role that God should play in the United States of America.  I emphasize the words “central role” because as we move farther and farther into the 21^st century, we have seen the Ten Commandments taken out of the public schools and Christmas in our country has suddenly turned into Happy Holidays. 

Did you know that on June 19, 2000, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a vote of 6-3 to ban team prayers led by coaches before high school football games?  Some of my most memorable moments during high school football were during the Lord’s Prayer before our Friday night games.  It is a shame that high school football players across the country will never have the opportunity to be led in prayer by their respective coaches.  I highly encourage student athletes to initiate prayer in the locker room, which is not against the law.  The experience of witnessing the power and awe of God filling a locker room with His spirit, while His prayer is spoken with knees bent, heads bowed, and eyes shut is what made playing the game of football so special to me.   

When is enough going to be enough to where a voice is finally heard in our society for the majority who want God back in public schools and back in the government?  The student athletes of tomorrow need to rise above the decline of this country’s athletic role models and stand for what is right and just.  If we can work together to put God back into high school and college football, we will be a step closer to helping reform our country’s core values.   

    This is a book not only for student athletes at the collegiate level but also for high school students who are involved in athletics and are  preparing to go to college.  Parents, teachers and coaches are also encouraged to read this book to better help understand the mind of an athletic teenager.  Life is too short for students to experience everything, so I’m hoping that through this book, you’ll be able to avoid the pitfalls of college and reap all the rewards that experience has to offer.  The student athlete life is very demanding, and there are strong pressures to take shortcuts to achieve optimal results.  I’ve seen too many athletes at the collegiate level take the road more traveled, which has resulted in their sitting in far too much traffic.  We’ll discuss how to overcome these pressures while achieving your maximum academic and athletic potential, while even more importantly, developing your spiritual life.  So sit back, kick off your shoes, and get ready for the ride of your life.  For some of you, I can guarantee that reading this book will be a life-changing experience.