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Updated Wednesday, December 17, 2008 8:34 PM
Holy steamrollers: Celina’s football program uses faith as cornerstone
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Click to enlarge
Fred Helms / Special to the Herald Democrat
Celina football players
kneel in prayer during an injury time-out during a game against Trinity
Christian-Addison. Bobcat players and coaches are open about their
faith, although it has caused controversy before. |
BY BILL SPINKS
HERALD DEMOCRAT
CELINA -- One who says Celina football is like religion isn't all that far off the mark.
At the end of last Saturday's state semifinal playoff game against Liberty Hill, football players from both schools formed a circle at midfield, held hands, and recited the Lord's Prayer. And nobody blinked an eye about it.
Acts of faith such as this in a public-school setting is considered taboo in a lot of places. But not so in Celina, where players, coaches and fans talk openly about their Christianity and churches still outnumber gas stations by about a 4-to-1 ratio.
"In our community we stress God and Jesus very, very much, and I'm very thankful to live in a community like that," said senior running back Troy McCartney. "I've never lived anywhere else in my life, but people who move in say there's no other place like Celina. I'm very thankful to live where I live, have what I have and do what I do, and I just want to give all the glory and thanks to the Lord."
Religion and winning championships have gone hand-in-hand in Celina since the days of avuncular taskmaster G.A. Moore, who had considered entering the ministry before becoming the school's football skipper in 1972.
Moore, who retired in 2004 as the winningest coach in Texas history, always emphasized Christian values and sought to instill them in his charges. Occasionally, though, his staunch beliefs would lead to controversy.
In 1999, a U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling banned the practice of public prayer before games, and the American Civil Liberties Union began monitoring Celina's use of it.
In defiance of the court ruling and the watchful eyes of the ACLU, Moore -- with the permission of the Celina school board and with encouragement from clergy within and from outside of town -- personally led a pre-game prayer before a home game against Denton Liberty Christian. A number of fans and students wore orange T-shirts that read "Celina Bobcats Pray Before They Play."
"I decided that somebody needed to take a stand, and that somebody needed to be me. I prayed about it, and I told the principal that I felt like somebody needed to lead the prayer, and since I didn't want anybody getting in trouble, it should be me," Moore later told the Houston Chronicle in a 2001 interview. "I told my coaches what I felt ... I needed to do, and if they arrest me, y'all are in charge.
"(It was) the only time in my life I thought I might go to jail, but, shoot, it was exciting. It was awkward, too, for a lot of people. But I made the decision, and I did what I felt I should do."
Of course, Moore never went to jail. In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the lower court ruling, and Celina agreed to observe it.
A lot has changed in the eight years since, but Moore's long-time protege and successor, Butch Ford, continues his philosophy today.
"We preach it," Ford said. "When you get God to consider in your life, you're in pretty good shape. Good things happen. All I know is, He's allowed us to experience a lot of things this year. Not all of them were good. But without those experiences, I don't think we'd be where we are."
It's hard to argue with the results. After a rocky 4-3 start due to injuries and a tough schedule, the Bobcats have won eight games in a row, averaging exactly 50 points per game in the postseason to reach the state game for the fourth consecutive December -- and the eighth time in an 11-year span.
"Our goal (against Liberty Hill) was to play with the joy of the Lord in our heart so we'd play excited all of the time, and we wouldn't be down no matter what happened," Ford said. "We want our kids to play the game with joy. That was what we wanted to do, and I think we did a good job of that. We played up all of the time."
Balancing act
School officials everywhere walk a fine line when allowing students to express their faith without running afoul of the U.S. Constitution, as interpreted by the courts. This is no less true even in Celina.
Opposition to school-sponsored prayer is a bedrock principle for the ACLU, which argues that the First Amendment of the Constitution prohibits religious activities sponsored by public school systems.
"The ACLU believes that any program of religious indoctrination -- direct or indirect -- in the public schools or by use of public resources is a violation of the constitutional principle of separation of church and state and must be opposed," says its national board policy.
The policy states further that the ACLU "opposes the infusion of other types of religious practices and standards into the public schools. These include such practices as baccalaureate exercises in the form of religious services, prayer meetings at athletic events, the taking of a religious census of pupils ... and the profession of religious observance or belief as a consideration in the evaluation and promotion of teachers."
But since the 1999 dust-up over prayer at Celina, nobody else has ever voiced an objection over the school's activities, and the prayers continue.
"We do what we do, and one of these days something may happen where we can't do that," said Celina school board member Choc Christopher, who wasn't on the board during the 1999 incident.
"But until that happens, we've been rewarded for the things that we do. That's what the town wants, and that's what the town stands for."
Faith also unites the team and builds a high level of camaraderie in the Bobcat dressing room.
"We're all Christians on this team," said junior inside linebacker Caleb Lavey. "It helps us come together. We really get to know each other. I love everybody on my team. I play my heart out for each individual, and I expect the same for everyone else."
The Bobcats pray before and after every practice, and hold a team meeting and a devotional every Thursday night, followed by a team dinner.
Usually, Ford picks an assistant coach to lead the prayer before and after each practice, and normally a member of the team will lead an invocation before the Thursday get-togethers.
"I think it's one of the greatest things we do," Christopher said. "Our coaches are men of faith. Not only do they teach them about football, but also they teach them about life.
"I know the Lord doesn't bless us because we win, but I think He honors the things that we do. It's such a blessing to live in the town of Celina and have the kids be able to experience something like this."
One more game remains for McCartney and the other 17 seniors on the team. Perhaps it's appropos that they play that game under the hole in the roof at Texas Stadium -- to make watching easier for a certain entity, as the saying goes.
"Everything in life is not about winning," McCartney said. "It's about bringing glory and honor to the Lord, and that's what we plan to do. We want to win, and it's awesome to win, and we've been blessed very much. No matter what, win or lose, we're gonna say that prayer."
 Comments ... 17 found!
: 1/1/2009
Darwin, it would seem that it is you who is the idiot if you believe that Christians practicing their belief and faith in God is un-American! This country was FOUNDED on the belief and faith in God. Have you actually read what is written on ALL U.S. coins and currency?? It says “In God We Trust”. This football team and this town are doing what every Christian in every town and city in this country should do, stand up for their beliefs and the right to practice their faith in God. I wish that our school system had half of the spiritual leadership that Celina has. This school and these young people are very blessed
LJ
: 12/30/2008
Small town bible belt Texas is not the place to be different. The so-called loving christians will kill you and I almost mean literally if they sniff you out. While they claim no one minds they actually mean they dont care. It is ok for them to offend but it is not okay for anyone to offend them.
Winter
: 12/22/2008
This is in response to "Praying for a groups(??) of kids..." Money may be wasted, not waisted. Did you go to a school with a large athletic budget?!?!?!
Celina resident
: 12/21/2008
Am I reading these posts right? Wow! I am so glad to see a story about faith in sports. This is a great story. There are so many athletic teams in Grayson County and beyond that pray before and after games and even practice. Those people that are on here bashing what they do, guess what they dont care what you think. You have your opinion and so do they! Its great to go to a game and see kids show their faith. Herald Democrat you ought to do a poll on pray at athletic competitions and you will see there will be an overwhelming support for it. If you dont like to see at competitions, dont go! Hey Darwin guy, what these kids and coaches do is totally AMERICAN. This is what this country is founded on.
Proud Texan
: 12/21/2008
To the ignorant person who believes that the presence of bible-thumping decreases pregnancy or divorce, you need to look at statistics. Your beloved bible belt leads the world in teen pregnancy and divorce. Not to mention that your religious pandering is wholly unamerican. Leave your god in church. Would you support muslim prayer at the fifty yard line? Would you support an atheist student reading enlightenment philosopy to the team before practice? Of course not because you are bigots. What a bunch of simps.
C. Darwin
: 12/20/2008
They should cancel the entire athletic department, and stick the money waisted on it, in education.
Praying for a groups of kids that can read when they graduate.
: 12/20/2008
Holy rollers in the Bible Belt. Well I'll be! Who would have thought. If you want religion, go to church, not a football game.
A concerned Christian
: 12/19/2008
After reading this story I wish I lived in Celina. I applaud them for standing up for Christianity and living for God. If every Christian would stand up like this school and town are doing this world would be so much better. There wouldn't be the drug and pregnancy problems that are in so many schools. We, as Christians, need to stand up for what we believe. The separation of God and state is where the problem lies, God should never be separated from any part of our lives. To the Celina coaches and students, I admire you so much for taking your stand for Christ. You will never go wrong when you do that. Congratulations!!!
lj
: 12/19/2008
You guys finally found the source of Celina's success. Coaches and town leaders raise students with Christian morals, & Godly principles, including integrity, honesty, and love. It is all taught on the grid-iron with a lesson of Football! I pray a cheerleader picks up a mega-phone and leads us in prayer tonight, so Our Father above can smile on us. Celina has already won the good fight, and now we get to see some football.
Celina class of '89
: 12/19/2008
As a teacher who is getting ready to go on "winter" break, it is great to hear of a district that upholds Christian values. I bet Celina is getting ready for Christmas Break.
Teacher
: 12/18/2008
Fantastic story. The previous poster said it very plainly. Our country has suffered at the hands of those would tear down out most cherished freedoms. Folks, it isn't over. We had better fight back as the good folks at Celina have done. Go Celina, win state.
Poppy
: 12/18/2008
No, God help the team having to play Celina.
Yo Momma
: 12/18/2008
This is an awesome story!!! I just can't wait to hear from the people who think they don't have a right to their faith because they are with a public school system.
Christina
: 12/18/2008
Mr. Spinks did just fine. "certain entity" is obviously an attempt at levity as was the Tex Schramm saying that the hole was so God could watch His team, meaning the Dallas Cowboys. We do agree that the ACLU and the compliant court systems have done more damage to the public school system of this country than any other "entity." Excessive sensitivity is not beneficial to our cause.
Another Christian
: 12/18/2008
God help the student who doesn't believe in Celina.
MA
: 12/18/2008
A Christian coach is a great blessing to any player, and a great asset to any community. Their positive influence lasts a lifetime.
observer
: 12/18/2008
What's with the "a certain entity"?? Is Mr. Spinks afraid to say "God"?? PLEASE!! Give us a break here! You are entitled to YOUR beliefs and opinions Mr. Spinks! We are a society of programmed robots. No one has the backbone to stand for anything anymore! We are so worried that we might offend someone and that we must be politically correct in everything we say. As we have listened to the liberal, idiot groups in America such as the ACLU, our society and country has steadily declined! Back in the days when people were not afraid to stand up for what was right you virtually never heard of school or office shootings, or other similar violent crimes. Yes - let's make sure we do not offend any outsiders or criminals over here - that would be terrible! It's nice to see that the Celina folks have more backbone than 99% of Americans who are afraid to stand up for what they believe in! How long will it be before these liberal morons try to force their hatred of God and religion on Celina??
A Christian
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