I figured this convo belonged in THFSG, not the main board. What is the appropriate role of religion in college sports? If you haven't realized it yet, we have a VERY evangelically religious head FB coach and many assistant coaches who share the same beliefs. It wouldn't surprise me if UF ended up being a lower-key version of Clemson or Air Force. I think this can be positive in a way. I often say that I don't think Napier gets overwhelmed or runs scared. This is because I know people in other walks of life who are extremely religious and seem to handle pressure well (because philosophically whatever their facing is usually the second or third most important thing in their lives). For example, I grew up with two guys who are very heavily evangelical. To their credit, neither is a hypocrite about it unlike so many we see these days. One guy handles a huge number of extremely high-stakes criminal cases, mostly for the indigent, has like 9 kids (including 2 he adopted), and is the mayor of his little hamlet. I asked him once how he handles it all and he said "I put my faith in Jesus" (he knows I am Jewish and not religious). The other guy is a big real estate broker, deals with incredible pressure of that plus some unfortunate family issues with a positive attitude, also donates a ton of time to charity. Same sentiment. On the other hand, as a Jewish person in an era of anti-semitism seemingly becoming more mainstream and accepted, I am not happy about state institutions becoming incubators for extreme christianity via the athletic department. This isn't anything new, (I recall Bob Stoops signing onto an anti-evolution ad when he was our DC) but it certainly seems to be more pronounced in the age of social media. So even if it helps the football team, I'm uncomfortable with it. If participation in sports suddenly also becomes a religious conversion mechanism (as it seemingly has some places) then I think it's wrong. So what say you, THFSG-ers? Is my discomfort warranted, even though it seems to help our coach?
Not a fan overall, but also don’t really care as long as he produces results and doesn’t do anything outwardly embarrassing. He’s free to speak to his faith, but I’d get uncomfortable if there is any talk of him trying to “convert” players or influence them in that way, this is why I even view group prayer or other displays in team sports as a slippery slope *if* it’s coming from or directed by the coach. If you were a player how could you NOT be pressured!? Hadn’t heard that Stoops anecdote, yeah, please don’t do anything like that lol.
Spurrier and Bowden were both men of faith, but I seem to recall them handling that differently. Pat Dooley said that Napier has a rule prohibiting the players from cussing at practice. I wondered whether it applies to all the coaches, lol, but I don't recall hearing Napier cussing - someone can correct me if he does. I'm not religious, but there's a part of me that actually finds it refreshing when someone who publicly expresses faith appears to be making sincere efforts to live by it.
The reason putting your faith in “God” works is because it is psychologically no different than letting go of an illusion of control you don’t often have to begin with and accepting what is. As for the question, I’d prefer nothing overt. Also, it seems only fair that players should be able to blame God for their failures on the field..
Well how very narrow-minded of you my fellow gator. Many players and families are quite Christian. Seems you aren’t thinking of how they feel.
I’m not religious, and not a fan of mixing religion and education / public institutions. In terms of college athletics, in theory I don’t like it but in practice I’m kind of ok with it, as long as it isn’t particularly threatening to anybody who isn’t of faith or of another faith.
Oh I'm uncomfortable and feel discomfort WATCHING Florida football and I'm pretty sure religion has no bearing on that.
Less Jesus, more burpees if you want to win, IMO. Christianity is the religion of the passive and meek. We dont want to inherit the earth, we want to beat Georgia. I think perhaps we should look into Satan (or Saban) to get ahead.
Depends. That “Jesus for the meek” is the wine sipping, cheese charcuterie eating, private school yuppie kind of Christian. What we need is the smashing beer cans on your forehead, wife swapping, jacked up pickup truck, f your feelings kinda Christian. Those guys know how to win football games.
Ha. Part of me questions whether a university or coach can constitutionally prohibit players from using "cuss words" assuming they're not used against another person or in a way that violates another rule, etc. But I also get that sports are somewhat unique. We accept coaches screaming and cussing at refs and players in ways that would probably not be condoned in an office - much less in connection with a university activity. I suppose coaches who don't like that sort of language or behavior should have some latitude in setting standards for the team culture. But I'm also weary of coaches at public schools pushing their religious views on players as well. I haven't heard anything about Napier doing that, and he seems like a solid guy.
I mean, you don't hear stories about blues guitarists turning to Jesus to get really good at guitar, they sign up with the devil. When Bob Dylan went briefly Christian, he got worse at music.
