ACU Football (Again)
2008 November 29
There are a couple major articles about ACU football players in today’s New York Times:
We won’t be back in time for today’s game at Shotwell stadium. But Run, Bernard, Run!
11 Responses
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I’m glad to see that Malone considers himself a changed man because of a newfound relationship with God, but I am equally disappointed with Scott’s record. How would ACU handle a non-athlete with that many arrests? It’s bad enough that the academic “loopholes” for athletes are discussed in hushed voices among the faculty, but the article on Scott makes ACU sound like just another football factory willing to look the other way as long as the stats are good, instead of an institution dedicated to character, integrity, and Christian service. I may be judging Scott incorrectly, and I apologize if I am, but the article makes him sound unrepentant.
I’m a big believer in second chances. The Scott article reporter is doing what small town news papers reporters do, trying to make a good story, stir things up, get people talking. It’s their job. The Reporter News has always featured stories that make the three Christian Universities in town look hypocritical but noone really pays much attention. If Scott is repentant it would not have come out in the article because that was not the slant they were going for.
I’m so happy for the Wildcats! What an exciting time! Enjoy it Wildcats and don’t let anyone rain on your parade!
I don’t guess I can answer all of JP’s questions. I am thankful to have had a chance to teach Bernard about Jesus and the gospels — in a large class and in private. Grant Boone, an announcer for ACU games, told me he has emerged this year as a leader of the team, largely because of the influence of the coaches.
J.P. looks like you threw the first stone
And I apologized premptively, expecting that someone would have better information than the article, which Mike did. From what I hear from the students I teach, Coach Thomsen is a no-nonsense guy, so he obviosuly knows what he’s doing. Maybe mine was just a reacton to what SG noted, the local media loves to paint ACU in a negative light and I was just hoping for something a little brighter on the national level. When professional athletes are in the news everyday because of their indiscretions, and when a news article goes out of its way to mention that a star college player is viewed by some pro teams as a character risk, one tends to assume the worst. And, again, I apologize for that.
I’ll be honest, I don’t know how much income is brought in by ACU athletics. I do know that there is a definite feeling of haves and have-nots on campus, as far as departmental resources are concerned. Sure, the school can field competetive teams, remodel the library, and give all the freshmen iPhones…but what about graduate departments that have to tell their students not to do a thesis because the school doesn’t have the research resources?
Maybe ACU brings in athletes who might not have a chance elsewhere and in the process brings them into contact with people like Mike who can help them turn their lives around, which is beyond awesome. But let’s face it, a “Christian” school is going to be held more accountable by the general public, whether or not that is fair, and media coverage like this is not helpful. How many columns from last week’s game made accusations of poor sportsmanship and running up the score?
By the way–ACU just comitted their 13th penalty, yet another personal foul.
The ACU Mission is “To educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.” Football is nice, but it’s not life.
All I can say is … “Just get behind ACU and Push!” It’s the best thing that has ever happened to me! Jordan ’97
I do not normally get involved in these discussions – for many reasons. However, J.P. compels me to speak up. “Football is nice, but it’s not life.” is probably the very reason Coach Thomsen goes to such lengths to ensure his players are exposed to more than football. Please follow this length for more details: http://www.promisekeepers.org/news/072808/football-team-joins-pks-manhood-movement
Sorry – I should have said “link”
To read about two outstanding Christian athletes at secular universities, go to the link below:
http://www.christianchronicle.org/article2158590~No_football_feud%3A_Harrells_and_McCoys_on_friendly_terms_
Thanks for the link, Patsy. That’s the side of ACU I wish more people–myself included–saw on a regular basis.
If you want to see more about Christian athletes at secular universities, go to sharingthevictory.org and click on the “Glory on the Gridiron” story if you want to read about the two other Heisman hopefuls, Bradford and Tebow, and about 40 other Christian athletes. Gotta warn you that the article will not tell you whether they are members of “The Church” like the Christian Chronicle does!