The Heartbreak Bowl
When your heart is set on winning and you lose…what do you do?
As I stood in my bleacher row, shoulder to shoulder with the other lucky UT fans crammed into the Rose Bowl, some thoughts emerged as the afternoon rolled into evening. They include the power of will, close quarters, and getting down on one knee. Let’s jump in.
1. The power of a shared goal turns strangers into fellow warriors.
I had never met the two students to my left. We probably would never run in the same circles outside the stadium but for four hours on a sunny afternoon in Pasadena we were bonded. When the game began, we celebrated the good – an interception, a quarterback sack, and a recovered punt. And… within minutes, our hearts sank while the air left our lungs with a collective gasp as Colt McCoy stumbled to the sidelines holding his arm. The worst possible scenario short of the stadium crumbling in because of another earthquake (there were three that week in CA), had unfolded right before our eyes. Everyone around us (except the few Bama fans down the way) held on in disbelief. Some of the more optimistic fans hoped against hope that it was a stinger. ”He’ll be back!”, they cried. But as Gilbert’s BCS debut began to unravel, we all became “one” in the pain for the warriors on the field. The two guys in front of us grumbled the loudest and tried to place blame quickly. But just like the cranky uncle around the holiday table, we all got over the shock and kept positive, trying to override the cranky guys (every family has them, right?) with hope.
2. The power of the “will to win” unites.
You’re 18 years old and thrown to the lions in a moments notice. He didn’t throw up. (I would have.) He got to work learning about a fast defense hungry to take him out too. Then one woman with an exceptionally “shrill” voice began to chant…”Gilbert, Gilbert, Gilbert!” All the burnt orange fans chimed in as this lonely 18 year old college football baby began to come to life. You could feel the “will” in the air as all of us began to believe in the unthinkable…a true freshman could bring this team back up the hill. By this time there were no strangers around us. We were holding on to each other as each play, each touchdown increased the “will.”
In this moment, “will” was the glue that bonded all of us. Maybe we need more of this stuff in our corporate lives, our family lives. It’s powerful stuff.
3. You can’t climb a mountain on your own.
It’s one thing to ask for heavenly help when you feel overwhelmed. When Gilbert took a knee in the end zone at the beginning of the second half, who could blame him. We wouldn’t of been surprised if while praying on his knee he was looking for the nearest exit. But then another warrior team mate saw him while warming up and ran over to him and knelt over him and laid his hand on him to pray over him. It was for me the highlight of the game. Gilbert was not going to climb alone. His teammates made sure of it.
4. When dreams die, what do you have left?
Colt McCoy is a warrior. He knows from where his strength comes and who ultimately gets the credit when things go right. When his father was with him at half time trying to “will” his shoulder back to normal, he and coach Mack Brown had to prepare Colt for the death of his dream. But “will” is a tough thing. It is hard to kill. He would take on the role of a cheerleader and refuse his street clothes. The football pads would stay on. And from the sidelines he was stationed to cheer while watching the dream fade away. On every change of possession you could see him with Gilbert. In the huddles, Colt was there to make sure the “will” to win was alive.
For some people, when they are knocked out of their dreams, the meaning of life is diminished. The disappointment turns to bitterness and cynicism. Could anyone blame Colt if he displayed either of these unsavory characteristics? The guys only human, right?
But he shows us two things about life – faith matters and friends are worth fighting for. It wasn’t about Colt anymore – it was about others. If there is one thing to get focused on this year, how about this…
Make the time to build your relationships, spiritually and physically. Time with God matters. How you give to others is how your God relationship is manifested. He is in the stands chanting for you…pulling for you…”willing” for you to love others and get into other people’s huddles and cheer for them. Because when you do that for others, you do it for Him.
Next up..reflections from my retreat coming soon…to a blog near you.
What a game – so many blessings in the loss. I wouldn’t trade it for anything..ok..maybe for a healthy Colt. But hey, hat’s off to ‘Bama. Till next time we play, see you in the stands. Colt was the last Longhorn to leave the field. His coaches huddled around his locker to hug him and leave him with these words…”Your best football days are ahead!” Perfect words for a warrior whose “WILL” would not quit.
El
