Now seems like a good time to have a serious conversation about football and religion, but first a confession: I go to church once a year β on the Sunday they sing Christmas songs. I also have a brother, a close, loving brother who is one of the most important people in my life.
We heard plenty of that this past season, a college football season of revival for coaches and players who seemed to take every public opportunity to remind the masses of their religious beliefs. Faith-based comments were everywhere, from weekly press conferences to post-game sermons, from Boise to Provo, from South Bend to Columbus.
Danielson and many of his players openly talked about Jesus and their faith. Deion Sanders constantly preached Christianity within his Colorado program.
BYU had a Jewish quarterback, one of the best stories of the season. Ohio State won a national championship and claimed that a calculated faith-based foundation was the strength of its program.
The most? There is no right. There is no wrong. Only beliefs and conflict, two forever constants in the world of religion. Dan Fink is a hardcore Boise State fan β he knows all about religious conflict and has plenty of opinions. Last month, Fink wrote a letter to Danielson, a letter that started on social media and ended up in The Idaho Statesman. He made a radio appearance on KBOI. The rabbi and I met that day and had a brief, wonderful conversation.
