Classical Coaching

0 Comments | Insight on the News, Sept 17, 2001 | by Rex Roberts

All coaches, including Paterno, have had to cope with felons in shoulder pads, and Bowden is under unique pressures to produce in a state that consistently places three teams in the top 10 of national rankings. And Bowden is a practicing Christian who takes his faith as seriously as football. "Bobby is thoroughly grounded in his faith and has set a great Christian example through his coaching," writes Tom Osborne in Faith in the Game (Broadway Books, $9.95 paperback, 172 pp).

Osborne, seventh on the list of winningest coaches with 255 victories at Nebraska (and now a member of Congress), laments that coaches often are perceived to be "hard-driving, profane, callous individuals who care little about spiritual matters." His experience has been the opposite. "A high percentage of coaches who had lengthy careers have been people of faith." In fact, Christianity and college football have been intertwined from the beginning. "The missionary impulse, whether applied to religion or sport, has had a significant role in the history of American higher education" writes Lester, who refers to Stagg's "evangelical athleticism" and "muscular Christianity."

Paterno, Bowden ... no matter who ends up the winningest coach, he undoubtedly would agree with the sentiments expressed by Stagg on the duty of the mentor to his students -- sentiments which have that familiar ring of pigskin classicism:

"You must love your boys to get the most out of them and to do the most for them. I have worked with boys whom I haven't admired, but have loved them just the same. Love has dominated my coaching career, as I am sure it has and always will that of many other coaches and teachers."