A Frivolous Thread: Football (v. 2.0)

[Dave Likeness]

Today, December 2, is the 35th birthday of Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers

Today December 2, is the day Green Bay Packers fired Head Coach Mike McCarthy
after 13 seasons at the helm.  .His loss to the Arizona Cardinals today sealed the
deal and left the Packers with a record of 4-7-1

Bottom Line: Word on the street in Green Bay is that Rodgers and McCarthy were
no longer on the same page.  This was seen as a birthday gift for Aaron Rodgers.

[Dave Likeness]

Today, December 4, Coach Urban Meyer of Ohio State announced his retirement after 7 seasons
with the Buckeyes.  He won one National Championship and three Big Ten Championships.  He
beat arch rival Michigan 7 straight times.  In fact in those 7 seasons the Buckeyes won 82 games
and lost only 9.

The 54 year old Meyer has a brain cyst and his doctors have advised him that the stress and strain
of coaching college football is bad for his health.  As an Iowa Hawkeye I wish him good luck in his
retirement and enjoyed his tenure in the Big Ten.

[Dave Likeness]

Tonight, as Buckeye Deaconess lays her head upon her pillow there will be a few moist tears.
Urban Meyer's retirement is a sad occasion for the football fans of Ohio State.  However, as
she slumbers into dream land may this give her some comfort.

The highest winning percentage by college football coaches with at least 10 seasons.

Knute Rockne........105-12-5  (.881 %)
Frank Leahy...........107-13-9 (.864 %)
Urban Meyer..........186-32....(.853 %)

[Buckeye Deaconess]

Tonight, as Buckeye Deaconess lays her head upon her pillow there will be a few moist tears.
Urban Meyer's retirement is a sad occasion for the football fans of Ohio State.  However, as
she slumbers into dream land may this give her some comfort.

The highest winning percentage by college football coaches with at least 10 seasons.

Knute Rockne........105-12-5  (.881 %)
Frank Leahy...........107-13-9 (.864 %)
Urban Meyer..........186-32....(.853 %)

As the person who chaired the LCMS Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Task Force, I've been pretty critical of Meyer's handling of the Zach and Courtney Smith DV situation.  He let his relationship with Earl Bruce take precedence over making ethical leadership decisions, so I haven't been a big fan as of late.  I hope Coach Day can exhibit strong leadership both on and off the field.

[Dave Likeness]

With so many Lutherans living in Illinois, Minnesota. Wisconsin, and Michigan, it is good to pause
on this December 10, and look at the NFC North Division standings after 13 weeks.

Chicago Bears............9-4
Minnesota Vikings...... 6-6-1
Green Bay Packers......5-7-1
Detrolt Lions..............5-8

[Pastor Ken Kimball]

The lesson for the Packers and Vikings is that when you spend so much on a big-time QB, it tends to cut into what you can spend for the other 21 offensive and defensive positions (and back ups).  And worse, when the QB you spend so much on may not be worth what you spent.  Never, never, never spend big bucks on an MSU QB.  Zimmer said last March that if the Vikings brain trust chose wrongly in the QB they got, it would probably end up with him getting fired.   

[Dave Likeness]

As we rejoice that the security issues of the ALPB Forum have been fixed, we also take a break
from the  issue of whether Nadia Bolz-Weber  wants a common law marriage in Tennessee.

Since this past Sunday there has been a steady stream of tears flowing from the streets of
Green Bay, Wisconsin. The reason becomes clear when you look at the North Division standings
where the Chicago Bears have won the division.

Chicago Bears.........10-4
Minnesota Vikings.....7-6-1
Green Bay Packers....5-8-1
Detroit Lions............5=9

[Dave Benke]

Here's some end-of-Advent cheer.  Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf, a Lutheran organization, had a special treat this past week as the Harlem Globetrotters visited, and one of the Globetrotters gave the children and all in attendance an extra gift for Christmas:


https://www.facebook.com/HarlemGlobetrotters/videos/398149994294459/?t=3

Dave Benke

[Dave Benke]

Just returned from Also-Ran Bowl Metro New York #1: 

Packers beat Jets in OT, 44-38 - YES.  So about a third of the fans today were wearing green and gold.  Including the first people we ran into, from Westchester, NY with extended fam and kids in Packer attire, who comped me their last Usinger's brat.   Packer Nation travels well.  The most important play of the game was the OT coin toss, which went to ARod.  Game over.

Also-Ran Bowl Metro NY #2 is played Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.  As of now we're not going.  None of this stuff is cheap.  Love to pray there, not to play there.  The Pinstripe Bowl - Badgers v. Miami Hurricanes.  Badgers are going to romp.  That's what Badgers do.  Maybe we'll head up there.

Dave Benke

[Dave Likeness]

Today, in a semi-final game for the College Football National Championship we saw something spectacular.
As Clemson beat Notre Dame 30-3, they were led by a true freshman quarterback named Trevor Lawrence.
He passed for 3 touchdowns and had 327 total passing yards.  As he completed 27 out of 39 passes he had
a 69% completion rate.  He had an outstanding quarterback rating for the game of 165.0.

Most folks look down on freshmen students in college.  They are considered the lowest class on campus when
compared to the prestigious seniors.  And yet tonight the college football world has seen a lowly freshman
achieve something great. Trevor Lawrence may not win the National Championship but he has already become
a legend at Clemson.

[Steven W Bohler]

Packers got their new coach.  What do you think, Dr. Benke?  Not a Wisconsin boy, but Michigan is pretty close...

[Dave Likeness]

Tonight, Clemson defeated Alabama 44-16 for the NCAA Football Championship.
They were led by a 19 yr old true college freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
He passed for 347 yards and threw 3 TD passes.  He had a quarterback rating of
184.5 and was voted the MVP of the game.

One year ago he was a high school senior and now he is the first true freshman
quarterback since 1985 to be the quarterback of a national college football championship
team.

[Dave Benke]

Tonight, Clemson defeated Alabama 44-16 for the NCAA Football Championship.
They were led by a 19 yr old true college freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
He passed for 347 yards and threw 3 TD passes.  He had a quarterback rating of
184.5 and was voted the MVP of the game.

One year ago he was a high school senior and now he is the first true freshman
quarterback since 1985 to be the quarterback of a national college football championship
team.

After the game Coach Swinney was asked to define what he teaches his players, which is JOY.  He answered, "to me it's simple - JOY means Jesus, Others and Yourself in that order."

Dave Benke

[Dave Likeness]

The first time I heard the JOY formula for living was at an athletic banquet for little leaguers.
I was sitting at the head table next to Bill Madlock of the Chicago Cubs. He had won the NL
Batting title in 1975 (.354) and 1976 (.339)  He was the guest speaker.

He told this audience in 1977 what  the priorities are to have JOY in your life.

1. Jesus
2. Others
3. Yourself

Bill Madlock gave a great Christian witness.  He is a humble man and the audience listened to him.

[pr dtp]

It also goes back to Gale Sayers, who was a VIking?Lion?  Some midwestern team....at any rate, in his book, I AM Third, he learned it during his time under coach halas and with Brian Piccolo.


Btw ... dont forget Brady and Belichick in the playoffs...  :-)