Faith and Football

I think we’ll definitely have some people that will be turned off by it and that’s fine.

I think it will be interesting to see how he approaches things on a weekly basis come fall when he is in front of the media, both local and other schools, every week for the Big 12 calls and the weekly presser.

If he chooses to be fairly outspoken on his faith I could see him becoming a bit of a divisive persona for both opposing fanbases and even our own depending on how things shake out.

If he wins, I think it’s a non issue to Kansas people…but other fans could target that area for criticism much like what has happened with Tebow.

Aqib Talib was not a follower of Islam. His folks practiced for a brief time around the time of his birth but they eshewed it shortly after.

from the limited time I have had listening to Coach Gill talk

It’s very limited in time and audience at this point. He’s the coach for Kansas football and it’s the offseason, not too many people pay attention to us right now.

Tebow has been in the eye of the media more regularly and on a broader scope. So yes it’s a huge difference in that sense, but almost every recruit and player interviewed mentions how he does bring up his faith and beliefs in the conversation.

Differences aside, could it become an issue?

that’s why the Tim Tebow thing is such a hot button out here right now. He positioned himself with Focus on the Family and has somewhat taken a stance on a “hot button issue”.

“There is a big difference between being open about your religous views and shoving said views down other people’s throats, which I don’t think is the case here”

We just don’t know yet. What we do know is that he’s a big FCA member. And we do know that past FCA members have gotten into hot water for forcing religion upon their players (I think this was all at the High School level though).

He has to be very careful here. It’s a slippery slope. For example: “Other than saying a prayer in the locker room before a game (which most schools do anyways) I don’t see his religous views being an issue. Bottom line is that it shows that he has good values and morals” – that statement could be interpreted by Atheist to mean that they (Atheists) don’t have good morals or values because they don’t pray. And I’m betting that’s not what you intended. Slippery slope.

is an ordained minister.

really tried to force it on people if I’m not mistaken

I think Tebow is just being himself, but the media has taken the religious angle and now that’s virtually all they talk about.

His opening presser here in Denver the first question was about the superbowl commercial with Focus on the Family and if he wanted to be in Denver so he could continue to collaborate with them in Colorado Springs. Very random question for a football player if you ask me and not really at all pertinent but it was literally the first question from the media.

Back to my point on Gill…it makes me wonder if with time the media will do a bit of the same to him.

Also PJ, welcome to the site…hopefully we’ll be seeing more of you…

I’m a much bigger fan of Tebow the quarterback/person than Tebow the media lightning rod, personally. I respect a man who takes his faith seriously (see “saving himself until marriage,” et. al.). I don’t see him shoving his faith down others’ throats generally, although the story of him getting shot down when offering a prayer at the NFL combine shows how difficult it is to toe the line in certain circumstances.

The Super Bowl ad controversy was really much ado about nothing, and revealed far more about Tebow’s opponents than it did about Tebow or Focus on the Family or whatever. That ad was about as vanilla and non-controversial as you could imagine and people went absolutely nuts about it.

Anyway, as to how this all relates to HCTG, I think it can absolutely be a positive. Young kids’ mothers tend to be more religious than their kids are, and a coach’s reputation as a strong man of faith can have a certain sway over a family. None of it will really matter, though, if the team isn’t producing on the field and what not, so it’s not a means to an end by any stretch. It’s a potentially helpful component, but not a defining characteristic, I’d say.

. . . the nail on the head, Dagger. Personal integrity is the issue, not religion. As others have noted, religion does not necessarily produce integrity; but strong personal convictions can, including convictions based on faith.

I hope you don’t mind input from a Mizzou fan, but a good correlation is our basketball coach Mike Anderson. He is a man of strong personal faith, who has set an example as to how he expects his players to act. He does not demand they go to his church, or any church: but he does require them to conduct themselves in a responsible manner, according to their position as student/athlete leaders.

He does not yell “Praise the Lord” after every basket made; nor blame every foul or wrong call by an official on the Devil. Nevertheless, his players and Mizzou fans understand that he believes his successful coaching career is the result of his faithfulness to God.

This has, indeed, affected his recruiting — making it ever stronger. He is a man who does not change how he deals with a young man according to the player’s level of talent or social standing. Everyone is dealt with in the same thoughtful, caring manner: Anderson truly treats his players, and others, the way he expects to be treated.

Turner Gill is a very similar type of coach. You guys are fortunate to get such a man at KU; he is going to turn your program back around and put some stability under it. I look forward to many more years of exciting Border War games between two teams filled with quality student/athletes: that is what collegiate athletics are all about.