Josh Benner

Category: NCAA

  • Mike Leach, unique sports personality, dies at 61

    Mike Leach, unique sports personality, dies at 61

    Mike Leach, the head football coach at Mississippi State died today at the age of 61. Leach’s passing has sent ripples throughout the college football world.

    It’s obviously always sad when a person passes away. But I’ve tried to reflect today on what it was that made Leach so beloved among football fans. I think it was Leach’s authenticity. In some ways, Leach reminds me of the comedian Norm MacDonald (who also passed away this year).

    Both MacDonald and Leach were famous for not caring to speak their minds. In a society that can be so performative, I think that there’s something refreshing about people who are comfortable in their own skin and who are authentic and genuine.

    Leach was an innovative football mind. He was successful as head coach of three different schools: Texas Tech, Washington State, and Mississippi State. That in itself is noteworthy because those are three programs who do not have long histories of winning. But Leach was also legendary for his comments to media.

    Leach was a highly-intelligent Renaissance man who could comment thoughtfully (and humorously) on a range of subjects. Before becoming a football coach, Leach had gone to law school and earned his Juris Doctor. He’d later add a second masters degree in sports science. He enjoyed reading up on subjects such as pirate, vikings, grizzly bears, and Daniel Boone.

    For me, the life lesson I’m trying to remember today is to look to his example as far as being a real and authentic person. It’s a rarity today, but something to be appreciated.

    Thanks for reading! If you liked this post, please share and subscribe.

  • Purdue super fan Tyler Trent passes away

    We don’t control the cards we’re dealt. All we can do is play what we have.

    Tyler Trent passed away on Tuesday.

    The Purdue student had battled a rare form of bone cancer. He had become a sensation in college football and Big Ten circles as being someone the Purdue football team rallied around this season. The hashtag #TylerStrong went viral.

    He inspired and encouraged people. He raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for cancer research. He wrote a book that he’d never be able to see completed, but which will also continue to raise money for cancer research.

    Tyler was also outspoken about the importance of his faith.

    In 2017, Tyler’s cancer returned and he began to pray that God would use this journey for His glory.”

    As I think about the impact he had over the last few months, it’s clear that this prayers was answered.

    In an interview with Today, Tyler said: “Waking up day to day is like winning a lottery…I try to rely on my faith in Jesus Christ and figure out how to have a good day.”

    As his battle continued, Tyler took to Twitter numerous time to glorify God.
    (more…)

  • What great coaches can teach us about life

    Urban_Meyer_in_2017.jpg
    Relentless effort (not talent or intelligence) is the key to achieving great things in your life. Struggle is part of the process. It is hard and often painful. But it’s also necessary, because it’s in the struggle that great things are achieved.
    -Urban Meyer, in Above the Line

    Tonight, one of the greatest college football coaches of all time retires.

    Urban Meyer concludes his seventh and final season as the head coach at Ohio State. Meyer has amassed an incredible record at Ohio State and throughout his coaching career. Coming into tonight’s Rose Bowl, Meyer is 82-9 as the Buckeye head coach.  In his seven seasons, Meyer never lost more than two games in a season. He lost four conference games total. He won his first 24 games in Columbus.

    He’s one of the greatest college football coaches of all time. Three national championships. He won .85 percent of his games. Meyer had four winning streaks of 20 or more games (to put that in perspective, no other coach even has three).

    Great coaches can teach us all things. I think of things I’ve read over the years from people like John Wooden, Vince Lomardi, Woody Hayes, Bobby Knight.

    For people who have succeeded in competitive endeavors, they have insights from which we can all benefit in terms of work ethic, leadership, and grit.

    We so often make excuses for our failures and mediocrity. Great coaches don’t settle for mediocrity. They demand excellence from themselves, from their staffs, and from their players. We so often chalk up failure to a lack of resources, things beyond our control, or the fault o others. Great coaches show us all that excellence comes from hard work. Success comes from preparation and learning from mistakes. Success comes from wanting it more than your opponent.

    It’s true on the playing field, on the court, and in life.

    “I’ve come to learn that leadership is not automatically granted to you because of your position or your salary or the size of your office. Leadership is influence based on trust that you have earned. A leader is not someone who declares what he wants and then gets angry when he doesn’t get it. A true leader is someone who is going someplace and taking people with him, a catalyst for elite performance who enables people to achieve things they wouldn’t achieve on their own. A leader is someone who earns trust, sets a clear standard, and then equips and inspires people to meet that standard.”
    -Urban Meyer in Above the Line

    Thanks for reading! I’d love to hear what you think, and don’t forget to subscribe! 

    Josh Benner is the associate pastor at Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and has a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He enjoys writing about faith and culture. He lives with his wife Kari in Minnesota.

    Let’s connect!
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Instagram

  • What the Alabama quarterbacks can teach us about life

    1024px-Jalen_Hurts_Jan_2018_1.jpg
    Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

    If you can get Nick Saban chocked up, you must be a pretty special person.

    I love the life lessons that can come to us from the sporting world.
    This weekend, Alabama was playing Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. The Crimson Tide were trying to continue one of the most dominating seasons in college football history, but they had struggled against Georgia and trailed by 7 when star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (the favorite to win the Heisman trophy as college football’s best player) left the game with an injury. (more…)

  • Bad arguments abound on why Ohio State shouldn’t make playoff 

    I’ve heard more bad arguments in regards to the college football playoff this week then I heard from people during the election cycle earlier this year. 

    Tomorrow, the four playoff teams will be named. It looks quite likely that Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, and Washington will be those four teams.  (more…)