Moral Character and a Strong Football Program

[Coulwoodwarlord]

High moral character is born in us. Without support and nurturing, the challenges in life tend to diminish it. Leaders derive strength from any number of motivations, and the one constant must always be " positive output ". Leaders like Dylan, Marcus, Connor and others, share one common denominator.
You'll find it in Colossians 2: 6-7 which states

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

And I'l take those kind of guys all day......................

[TStone]

Originally Posted by Coulwoodwarlord

High moral character is born in us. Without support and nurturing, the challenges in life tend to diminish it. Leaders derive strength from any number of motivations, and the one constant must always be " positive output ". Leaders like Dylan, Marcus, Connor and others, share one common denominator.
You'll find it in Colossians 2: 6-7 which states

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

And I'l take those kind of guys all day......................

[me4USC]

Some of our team leaders, particularly Thompson, get their confidence from trusting in God's love, praying throughout the week, and knowing that God, families, and friends will still love them regardless of how they play. It makes them stronger on the field, which does make them better players. There has been a huge change in Thompson's play since last January when he attended his first Passion conference. He's doing EVERYTHING he does for God's glory now. Because the other players haven't been as outspoken as Thompson, I don't know as much about them. I'm sure they have each had a similar point in their lives when their perspectives changed.

[b381l]

Originally Posted by Spurticus

I'm going to say something that a lot of people won't agree with but
needs to be said. ..... Look at the state of this program 3-4 years
ago, and where it is / has been the last couple of years ( our best
season ever and best ever back to back years).... 3-4 even further back
we were on needles and pins most of the time, and waiting for the next
local article to come out in the news about one of players doing something
they weren't supposed to do off the field, and it more likely than not
involved alcohol, drugs, and / or happened at five points.

There have been no major off the field issues with this team the last
couple of seasons (our best season ever and best back to back seasons)
People can brush off stuff as "just kids being kids" or "I used to do the
same thing when I was in college" etc... BUT when you have leaders who
have their prioities in order and are firmly grounded in those things that
are more important that a game (Like their Religion, Their Families and
those around them who count on them) Then to me, it is no surprise
that the incidents of Stupid off the field decisions go down, and success
of the program gets better.

When your major leaders of the program over the last couple of years
were guys like DJ, Connor, Marcus and Dylan, guys who are strong
family oriented and strong in their faith.... THIS is why the program has
been taken to the next level from where it was a few years ago.

"Attitude Reflects Leadership" ~ Julius Campbell (from the movie Remember The Titans)

You are exactly right....but you started the post saying many people won't agree with what you were about to say. I don't see how any fair minded person could disagree with anything you said.

[MBGCock]

Originally Posted by Mootsman

This is interesting.

Very!

[gamecockphilip]

it's inevitable that all these threads turn this way lol

[Clemson4life81]

Dylan Thompson is successful because he puts our King and Savior first, and he knows football doesn't really mean jack crap in the whole scheme of things. He is fully submitted to God. The Lord has blessed him.

[Clemson4life81]

Originally Posted by klempsux

I think that people can. Do I think Ray Lewis did? No. He rolled on his friends to keep his ass out of jail and then started preaching about Jesus to keep the endorsement money.

I'll pray for you man. Jesus was a friend of sinners, who cares what Ray did/didn't do. Ether way our Father's love never fails. He loves us unconditionally. You have no right to judge a person faith. As Jesus said in the book of John, "let he who is without sin cast the first stone." None of us are able to do that. We all sin.

[GarnetBlack&Blue]

Originally Posted by Clemson4life81

I'll pray for you man. Jesus was a friend of sinners, who cares what Ray did/didn't do. Ether way our Father's love never fails. He loves us unconditionally. You have no right to judge a person faith. As Jesus said in the book of John, "let he who is without sin cast the first stone." None of us are able to do that. We all sin.

Jesus also wants contrition... Ray Lewis stonewalled a murder investigation and denies everything.

[Spurticus]

Originally Posted by b381l

You are exactly right....but you started the post saying many people won't agree with what you were about to say. I don't see how any fair minded person could disagree with anything you said.

There are a lot of people who "Flounder" on opinions. When a player is
doing well for the team and everyone is "all on their bandwagon", they'll
look the other way when said player(s) make (what they call) Little
mistakes, or mis-judgements. They will also make a steady stream of
excuses for those players and the one that seems to be at the top of
everybodies list is "Kids will be Kids...I did the same thing when I was
their age (In College)". When the next guy comes along and proves they
are as good (or better) than him, they will jump on that bandwagon and
forget in a few months about the other player and their "little mistakes".
When a bunch of "errors in judgement" take place and the majority of them
involve Alcohol, drugs, misdemenor crimes, missing classes, or even just
disregarding team rules/plans/meetings etc... and you have more than one
of these (average college kids being kids), then you have a major issue
on your team. Espeically when some of these are upperclassmen who are
in charge of training and mentoring the freshmen. Tolerance for rule
breaking and law breakers to me is unacceptable plain and simple. When
the entire team takes on the attitude of the leaders of the program, then
success (that is hard enough in the conference we play in), gets even
tougher and is self imposed. Once that attitude of the team is swept
clean from the players who are the teachers and leaders of the program,
THEN the overall talent can begin to change seasons and set new records
and hopefully in time, bring about an enviornment of success.
Success built soley on talent alone will not last and will eventually expose
some really serious issues (ie: U. Miami). Success through that kind of
leadership will eventually destroy a program.

Steve Spurrier basically built Florida's football program and made it a
success in the late 80s/ through the decade of the 90s. To this day it
is still a successful program and he has his foundation of success etched
into it no matter how long it continues to thrive and no matter who
coaches that program now. He did it the right way ! ... I really do believe
now that some of the player/leaders with "issues" are in the minority with
this team now, and we are witnessing the success brought about from
those players who "do it the right way", that we are all seeing the birth
of another Florida program. Maybe it will not be "as successful" as UF was
in the 90s, but it is a major step forward in the history of this program,
and that continues to look bright for the future.

There are those fans who are on the bandwagon now, and would probably
deny that they tolerated poor judgement and leadership from some players
a few yeas ago, like they will deny they ever said in season #3 that
Steve Spurrier was over the hill and the game had passed him by, and
wanted change. Those are the same "fans" who will deny they wanted
Ray Tanner to step down at the end of the 2008 and 2009 season because
they thought he had taken the team as far as he could, and the Gamecocks
needed a younger coach with different approaches to the game. They
are TRUE fans now, and always supported the team and it's coaches if
you ask those same fans now. That group of fans who I said would not
agree with me are still there, they just changed their line of thinking
with the success of the program(s).

[Nureye]

Originally Posted by Clemson4life81

Dylan Thompson is successful because he puts our King and Savior first, and he knows football doesn't really mean jack crap in the whole scheme of things. He is fully submitted to God. The Lord has blessed him.

If that's all it takes, then Tommy Beecher should be playing in the NFL.

[gripitandripit2007]

Originally Posted by Nureye

If that's all it takes, then Tommy Beecher should be playing in the NFL.

the big man upstairs has different plans for different people...Beecher obviously had a different plan. Like i have explained before...if u or anyone else dont think the biggest reason for our success is the big man upstairs...just ask the person that this thread is about

[COCKDIESEL]

Originally Posted by gripitandripit2007

the big man upstairs has different plans for different people...Beecher obviously had a different plan. Like i have explained before...if u or anyone else dont think the biggest reason for our success is the big man upstairs...just ask the person that this thread is about

Shouldn't he/she have other things to worry about than whether we are having success on the football field?

[Roosterboy]

All I know is that if we want a moral leader for this team to surround, Dylan Thompson appears to be the guy...read the latest feature on him and the Bible Outland program he started with the FCA at USC.

[Nureye]

Originally Posted by gripitandripit2007

the big man upstairs has different plans for different people...Beecher obviously had a different plan. Like i have explained before...if u or anyone else dont think the biggest reason for our success is the big man upstairs...just ask the person that this thread is about

It's statements like above, that as a Christian, make me cringe.

Has God bestowed success on our football team b/c we have more Christians on our team than we have in the past, or have more than other teams?

If this is true,then we must conclude that Alabama, has the most Christians of any team in college football, and Nick Saban is the most Christian coach in College football.

Can Jewish or Hindu players win the Heisman? Or is that the sole domain of Christians as well?

Did God love Clemson more than USC for 100 years, and then suddenly change his mind? Or were Clemson players just better Christians and therefore, beat us more often?

Do I think that we have kids with a stronger work ethic on our team now? Yes.
Do I think a lot of that has to do with their relationship with God? Yes.
Do I think those two things are mutually exclusive? No.

[klempsux]

Originally Posted by Clemson4life81

I'll pray for you man. Jesus was a friend of sinners, who cares what Ray did/didn't do. Ether way our Father's love never fails. He loves us unconditionally. You have no right to judge a person faith. As Jesus said in the book of John, "let he who is without sin cast the first stone." None of us are able to do that. We all sin.

Then don't pray for me. You're judging my beliefs.

[Clemson4life81]

Originally Posted by klempsux

Then don't pray for me. You're judging my beliefs.

I'm not judging you at all, I just put 100% of my faith that the Bible is true, and God doesn't see your sins any different than Ray Lewis. If he asked for forgiveness and trust that Jesus Christ is his savior then he will be in Paradise.

[Clemson4life81]

Originally Posted by GarnetBlack&Blue

Jesus also wants contrition... Ray Lewis stonewalled a murder investigation and denies everything.

How do you know that the Holy Spirit didn't convict him and lead him to the Cross? You don't know buddy. Jesus doesn't see your sins any different than Ray's.

[JDRAY^#]

^Dabo

[Clemson4life81]

Originally Posted by Nureye

If that's all it takes, then Tommy Beecher should be playing in the NFL.

I truly believe that God gave Dylan Thompson his athletic ability as apart of his plan for Dylan. He uses Dylan Thompson as a tool for His kingdom. Dylan is leader of a top college football program where he has the opportunity to lead thousands of people to Christ. He put that leadership in Thompson's hands for that purpose. Dylan is following God's will for his life and in turn getting blessed with great athletic ability. Even if he doesn't go pro, he still carried out God's will for his life, which is to lead people towards the Truth.

By the way, Jesus isn't something you believe in. He is REAL, and HE IS ALIVE.