Colt McCoy

Earlier tonight, I made a quick post about Texas quarterback Colt McCoy but I wanted to further express my admiration for this young

Colt McCoy

man. Think of this for a moment—this was his last night in a Texas uniform; he was undefeated and ready to take his team into battle one last time. Sadly it did not have the storybook ending so many of us are accustomed to, especially considering the fact this game was in the cradle of Hollywood where all movies end with the hero hoisted onto the shoulders of his teammates and carried off the field. This, however, was not the ending God had scripted from eternity past, but one that is best for this young man. Let us take a moment to put this into perspective to better enable us to understand the complete sense of loss this young man felt.

He returned for his senior year with but one goal—not to win the Heisman, which he finished in the top three voting the past two years—to win a National Championship. He led his Texas Longhorns to 45 victories and leaves as the winningest quarterback in not only the state of Texas, not only in the Big 12 Conference but also in all of NCAA history. Even better than our beloved Tim Tebow. Along the way, he broke nearly every record in school history. He was set for a showdown with destiny; to enter the Rose Bowl corral and shoot it out with the opposition to then ride off on horseback into the sunset of his college career. Instead, on the fifth play of the game, just two minutes into the game he is injured in a hit that even he admitted he has taken hundreds of times. 

At the end of the game, he faced the cameras and asked to comment on the situation. Yes, he was emotional—and no I do not hold this against him—but he took a moment to collect himself. He spoke of the great effort his team displayed, complimented backup quarterback Garret Gilbert on a job well done, and congratulated Alabama. To this point, this is what is scripted and expected, take the focus off you, and put it on others. It was his last statement that prompted this note. He gave praise to God and acknowledged Him in this circumstance. While I cannot remember his exact words, he stated he would never question God that he was a man of faith, and that no matter what he was firmly planted on “the Rock.” Many are quick to thank God when they win, but very few even mention him when something bad happens. Are we not to praise Him in all things? “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18. He had every right to stand there and complain, to express sour grapes but he did not. He put the game into perspective and praised his heavenly father.

I must admit that in my daily struggles that some of you are privy to; I do not give God all the praise and glory as I should. It is difficult when we look at the circumstance and try to praise Him; it is then we should shift our gaze heavenward and look past the circumstance. It took a young man from Texas to put this in perspective for me. I will finish with a wonderful Psalm “Because your love is better than life, my lips will praise you.”