As most of you already know, I am a sports fan. Not all sports and not all teams, I am particular. Soccer? No thanks. Hockey? Used to be. WNBA? You've got to be joking. Aggies? See WNBA. Baylor? Less than the Aggies. NFL? Absolutely. Any University of Texas athletics? Defininitely. UT Football? Borderline obsessive. In 2006, the Longhorns were led by Vince Young and won the National Title over USC in an epic game at the Rose Bowl. After the game, I realized that as far as watching sports goes, I had just watched the game of my dreams. It could not get any better. I responded by buying a few burnt orange shirts (I think that I could go an entire month without a repeat) and every single magazine that put out a commemorative edition for the championship (the stack is 2 feet tall). Now that you have some perspective, I bring you to the evening of 01-07-2010. The Longhorns were once again in the National Championship game. It was in the Rose Bowl, again. I had been anticipating this game for 5 weeks. The entire family came over to the house to watch the game. The game started well. A good defensive stand, a crazy fake field goal attempt by Bama, and we had the ball in good field position. Then it happened. Five plays into the biggest game of his life, Colt gets hit in the back just like he has hundreds of times before. However, this time the hit caused a pinched nerve in Colt's throwing arm. Colt could not feel his arm. After the game he said that it felt, "dead". Colt had been a redshirt freshman on the 2005 National Championship team. He had worked his entire life for this moment, and just like that, after only 5 plays, it was over. Imagine working towards a goal for 15 years of your life. You train, you study, you compete every day. Then you actually get there. You have the opportunity to achieve your goal. It will not be easy. You will have to fight and claw and scratch to finish it. Then a freak thing happens. Your injured. And just like that, its over. You try to fight through it, but you just can't play. Then you watch your teammates battle back only to eventually lose. As you walk off the field, a reporter and cameraman stop you and ask how you feel? How do you think I feel? My dreams have just been snatched away from me. And this is where Colt showed his true character. He responded with, "I've given college football the best I've had for the last four years. Every player's dream is to play on a stage like that and have an opportunity like that. I could have never imagined this would happen. 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, if nothing else, I'm standing on the Rock..."
Wow. If I was Colt's father, I would have been prouder of him at that moment than if he had played great and won the game. It is very easy to say the right things and act the correct way when things go our way. When faced with adversity, we find out what we are made of. Colt is made of faith. Jen summed it up perfectly when she updated her Facebook status, Jen "wants my son to have the same character as Colt McCoy when he gets older. What an amazing, humble, Christian young man! Now there's a role model that I can support. Props to Garrett Gilbert for a valiant effort. Hook 'em...still proud of my Horns!"
We allowed A to stay up and watch the game. He was devastated by the outcome. As he was laying in bed trying to fall asleep, he began sobbing. Not just a few tears, but gut wrenching wails. Luckily, I was still in the room. I was able to help him calm down. I asked him what was wrong. He said, "Why did Colt get hurt? Why couldn't he play? Why did we lose?" I had a teachable moment. What could I say that an 8 year old would understand? What could I say that would convey true meaning to him? So, I said, "Son, losing sucks. Getting hurt sucks as well. But it happens. However, we show our true character when we lose. Colt stood up as a man of God and congratulated his opponent and thanked God for his opportunity. That is something that we can all learn from." Not too bad for an off the cuff in the heat of the moment response. He looked up at me and I waited to hear his response. I could see the gears turning in his head. He opened his mouth and said, "Can I play my iPod Touch tomorrow. I am really close to getting a new weapon in the game you bought me." He shook off the loss quicker than I will. I can learn a lot from Colt's and A's response. Have faith that God is in control, in the good times and the bad. And its just a game, get over it.
Wow. If I was Colt's father, I would have been prouder of him at that moment than if he had played great and won the game. It is very easy to say the right things and act the correct way when things go our way. When faced with adversity, we find out what we are made of. Colt is made of faith. Jen summed it up perfectly when she updated her Facebook status, Jen "wants my son to have the same character as Colt McCoy when he gets older. What an amazing, humble, Christian young man! Now there's a role model that I can support. Props to Garrett Gilbert for a valiant effort. Hook 'em...still proud of my Horns!"
We allowed A to stay up and watch the game. He was devastated by the outcome. As he was laying in bed trying to fall asleep, he began sobbing. Not just a few tears, but gut wrenching wails. Luckily, I was still in the room. I was able to help him calm down. I asked him what was wrong. He said, "Why did Colt get hurt? Why couldn't he play? Why did we lose?" I had a teachable moment. What could I say that an 8 year old would understand? What could I say that would convey true meaning to him? So, I said, "Son, losing sucks. Getting hurt sucks as well. But it happens. However, we show our true character when we lose. Colt stood up as a man of God and congratulated his opponent and thanked God for his opportunity. That is something that we can all learn from." Not too bad for an off the cuff in the heat of the moment response. He looked up at me and I waited to hear his response. I could see the gears turning in his head. He opened his mouth and said, "Can I play my iPod Touch tomorrow. I am really close to getting a new weapon in the game you bought me." He shook off the loss quicker than I will. I can learn a lot from Colt's and A's response. Have faith that God is in control, in the good times and the bad. And its just a game, get over it.
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