This will be the first of several blogs on my experiences on the grid iron.  I learned so much about life through the great game of football.  I want to talk about teamwork today.

I'll never forget arriving to Clemson University the summer of my freshman year.  I was leaving High School ball being Mr. Everything and entering into a brand new world.  Freshman workouts we're tough but  what I had expected.  As the upper class man showed up things began changing.  I'm not sure how Coach Bowden handles the pre-season practices now but during Coach Ford's days we went through three a days and then two a days.  Once school started it was full pads once a day. 

My first experience with full pads was not a pleasant one.  Lee Nanny buried me during a one on one drill in front of the team which was humiliating.  As he pushed off me to get up he then said, and I quote, "welcome to college football freshman."  I learned very quickly I was no longer going to be the top dog.  In fact, I was just another one of the dogs.

As my freshman year progressed I began to understand something that I hadn't grasped during High School ball.  This sport wasn't about just me.  It was a team sport.  It took all of us to win and win we did.  My freshman year was the 1981 National Championship year.  It was Clemson's only perfect season. I learned a great deal about becoming a better football player but I also learned the concept of teamwork.

I'm part of another team now.  I have a different head coach, his name is Jesus Christ.  And my play book (Bible) is very specific about being part of the team and not being a one man show.  Look at how the apostle Paul puts it:

1 Corinthians 12:12
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body.  So it is with Christ. 

We are made up of many parts, but it takes every part for us to win.  Christianity seems to be taking a butt whooping right now and I believe it's because many parts of the body aren't in the battle.  Can you imagine trying to win a football game with only eight players on the field while the opponent has all eleven? 

Teamwork is vital in football as well as our walk with Christ.  No matter our role in life, the team needs us.  Let me finish with this; when we came off the field on a 100 degree day who was the most important person in the world to us?  The water boy!  People want to make fun of water boys, but hear me.  They are important to the success of any team.

Whatever your role, give God your best.  The team needs you.  We're playing for something a lot more important than a National Championship, were playing for the King and his team.