Running Life's Race: Stories of Sports and Faith for All Seasons
College example
39 - UNINVITED
Refuel:
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:5-6
Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl—Any one of them sounds sweet when you’re from Minnesota. The University of Minnesota Gophers recent post-season appearances include the Quick Lane Bowl and Car Care Bowl. Oh, the Gophers did play in the Rose Bowl in the early ‘60’s when I lived in a different state.
The University of San Francisco Dons had just one opportunity to go to a bowl game. The 1951 team won every game and produced three NFL Hall of Famers. The bid to the Orange Bowl could have very well saved the team. The Jesuit school was losing $70,000/year on the football program. To say that the $100,000 purse from the Orange Bowl looked attractive was an understatement. In addition to creating some stability for the college program, the bowl appearance would have boosted the career of several players who turned pro.
So, where is the rub? The invitation to the Orange Bowl included a condition, namely, that the team attend without its two black players, Ollie Matson and Burl Toler. In a team meeting that lasted fewer than five minutes, the players voted unanimously to decline the invitation. The university discontinued the football program the next month.
The Dons paid a big price for passing up the bowl invitation, but its stand on racism was a big cause that required a big statement. The more unified the response, the bigger the statement. Revelation 5:9 describes the scope of Jesus’ sacrifice. His blood “purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.” God’s word puts a premium on unity within the body of Christ (Ro 15:5). The significance of unity is farther reaching than just the benefits of the group that is unified. Our unity is intended to glorify God (Ro 15:6) and demonstrate his love (Jn 17:23). Put another way, the unity among believers is to be so special that outsiders can only attribute it to a holy God.
Reflect:
When have you felt most unified with teammates?
In what ways might you further display unity in athletics?
In what ways do you (or could you) display unity in the body of Christ?
Respond:
God, thank you for the unity modeled in the trinity. Forgive me for times I cause divisiveness, instead of unity in my sphere of influence. Help me contribute to unity in and out of athletics to demonstrate your love to others.
Clark, K. S. (2014). Undefeated, untied, and uninvited: A documentary of the 1951 University of San Francisco Dons football team (2nd ed.). Seattle, WA: CreateSpace.
University of San Francisco. (n.d.). Hall of Fame: 1951 football: Induction Class of 2009: Team recognition: Undefeated, untied and uninvited. Retrieved from http://usfdons.com/hof.aspx?hof=267&path=&kiosk=