OK....so Coach Edder calls me.  He's the head football coach at Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin, just north of Milwaukee.  I got to know coach over the past year through a friend, Andy Locke who works there.  He asked me to come and lead team devotions prior to the football game last night.  The team is undefeated in the conference and is poised to make a run in the post season playoffs.  Coach took over the team about a year ago and is really turning the program around and revamping it to what I believe will be a perennial powerhouse in D III football.  The schedule for me was every "boys" fantasy and I was the boy who was going to live it. 

1. Team Devotions - where I got to tell about my walk with Christ and share what Christ means to mean and how Christ can transform each player's life;
2. Team Dinner
3. Team meeting
4. Bus ride to game - I got to ride on the charter bus with the coaches, players and trainers;
5. Game - I was given a coaches jacket and got to walk the sidelines with the players and the coaches.  I was able to call the first defensive play too.  I called a Cover 3 with one man blitzing.  Just so you know...my play was awesome and the coaches thought so too (I'm giddy, I know).
6. Post game prayer - The game was covered in rain.  43 degrees, but we won 13-0. 
7. Mixer with the coaches - went to a local "social club" and had some drinks and discussed the victory with the coaches and grad assistants.

My day started at 2:00 and I was home by 1:00 am.  It was a blast.  Here's a photo of me in the 4th quarter from the sidelines.  Look for Concordia to become a perennial powerhouse.  Coach Edder has built a program with class, classy players and a program that cares about it's players.  What was so cool is that all of their players know that the coaches care for their players.  That's so unique in football. 

I want to do it again and am working out to get in shape and see if I can get an NCAA exemption so that I can line up as a defensive tackle for 1 play (or 4 plays) so that I can remember what it feels like to knock someone around (probably have them knock me around).  Now where's the paperwork and how do I get back in school for 1 play?

Thanks Coach....you're poised for greatness.