(10-25-2010 06:10 PM)Karl Wrote:  I hope I can say this the right way....

I love that some of our kids are very dedicated to their faith, as evidenced by the group that prays together before and after the games. I really do. Not my thing, but I'm good with it if that's what they want. What I want to suggest is that maybe the prayer before the game ought to come BEFORE the pregame talk in the locker room. I don't know that it has any effect at all, but when I saw the Rockets TROT on the field through the band (no fire in them at all), then go to the student end for a prayer, I thought "we are in big trouble again". I was told by someone in the locker room before the game that there was fire in the talk and the players seemed psyched up...then came out like they were just awakened from their naps. I just don't get it.

As Karl said...hope this comes out the right way. I've noticed this when watching other games on TV. I don't know if our guys are doing it as sort of a "copycat" type thing or what. To each his own, but I've seen Barkley at USC and Pryor at tOSU do this and immediately thought that it wasn't genuine. Perhaps it is, but it just comes off as a "look at me" moment. There is plenty of time and space in the locker room to pray, do a rain dance or whatever it is that you need to get yourself going.

All I will say on this matter is this.......

I really think it's genuine. There are several players on the team that are very religious.

I suppose there's something to be said for a public display if you want to demonstrate your faith. Not my thing either and I hope that having a game to play wouldn't interfere or vice versa. when I made my snarky comment about holding hands, etc I wasn't even aware anybody did this. If anyone thought I was singling out that group I apologize- I really never saw this happen.

I normally save my prayers for second quarter and .... hey,

you don't think.....

Maybe I ought to switch to a pregame routine.

(10-25-2010 06:27 PM)BrianNowicki Wrote:  All I will say on this matter is this.......

I really think it's genuine. There are several players on the team that are very religious.

Which is fine...I just don't see why this has gone from pre-game in the locker room to the end zone prior to a game starting.

I don't doubt their sincerity a bit. All I'm trying to say is that the prayer thing strikes me as a mellowing event. And do they really want to bring their level of aggression DOWN right before kickoff??????

(10-26-2010 12:35 AM)Karl Wrote:  I don't doubt their sincerity a bit. All I'm trying to say is that the prayer thing strikes me as a mellowing event. And do they really want to bring their level of aggression DOWN right before kickoff??????

There's a time and a place to be mellow...

And it sure as hell is not in a football stadium...

Not sure why it is, but football coaches are really big on trying to get their players involved in religion. Pinkel really got it started at UT.

(10-26-2010 10:22 AM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  Not sure why it is, but football coaches are really big on trying to get their players involved in religion. Pinkel really got it started at UT.

I personally think it is great that coaches encourage religion and prayer within the team environment. I honestly think that is what is causing the decay in our society is that we are trying to remove GOD from the public arena. Just my opinion, If you choose to disagree that is yours.

Considered against a backdrop of things the players could be involved in and representing, the prayer thing seems like a non-issue. I do see, though, that getting fired up to start a game and having a religious moment seems a bit paradoxical. But, if it tempers the excitement a bit so as to help keep the personal fouls down I could see a benefit.

(10-26-2010 10:50 AM)dvargo27 Wrote:  

(10-26-2010 10:22 AM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  Not sure why it is, but football coaches are really big on trying to get their players involved in religion. Pinkel really got it started at UT.

I personally think it is great that coaches encourage religion and prayer within the team environment. I honestly think that is what is causing the decay in our society is that we are trying to remove GOD from the public arena. Just my opinion, If you choose to disagree that is yours.

I don't disagree, but tff said it well in the next post:

Quote:getting fired up to start a game and having a religious moment seems a bit paradoxical.

That's all I was getting at.

(10-27-2010 01:50 PM)Karl Wrote:  I don't disagree, but tff said it well in the next post:

Quote:getting fired up to start a game and having a religious moment seems a bit paradoxical.

That's all I was getting at.

"Dear Lord,

Please forgive me for the damage I'm about to do."

Where's the paradox?

Seriously though, consider what a prayer might be for at that moment; the health of all about to play a violent game. Nothing mellowing there. The whole stadium might be better for a pre-game prayer. My opinion only, no slight meant to any heathens out there.

No offense taken