As nice of a ring as the name Ndamukong Suh winning the Heisman Trophy would have had to it, I found Mark Ingram’s winning the Heisman trophy on Saturday worthwhile for the speech alone.

After back to back years of high-profile Christian quarterbacks bringing their God talk to the nationally televised broadcast, the parts of Ingram’s acceptance speech when he wasn’t thanking God were for me far more influential and Christ-filled than any name dropping of the savior of the world could ever achieve.

First of all, he teared up almost as much as I did on my wedding day. Sure, it was kind of awkward watching the oddly-timed pauses in between tears, but it was also beautiful to see such raw emotion expressed from someone who plays a sport where toughness and acting like a muscle-headed, heartless jerk is so often the norm. His reaction was heartfelt and so vulnerably human.

Secondly, he thanked an intern. Did you even know there were interns in college football? I didn’t, but I do now, because Ingram showed enough humility to give credit to all of the people who have helped him this season. Ditto to his name dropping of the Alabama SIDs. Anyone who has ever worked in a sports information department or knows someone who has knows how hellish the hours and thankless the job can be.

Thirdly, his talk of relationships. I don’t know much about Ingram off the field, but when he talked about the relationships he had formed with the other Heisman trophy candidates and stressed their importance, I had a passing thought about some of the things Paul writes about the early church in the New Testament and a few more thoughts about how Jesus talks about how we should treat our enemies, or in this case, our competitors for the Heisman trophy.

The Heisman trophy is kind of silly. It’s basically a trophy given to the most popular offensive player on one of the teams computers and popularity polls have decided should get to play for a so-called national championship. Sorry, I had to fit that in somewhere.

But still, kudos to Ingram for bringing raw emotion and humility to an otherwise anti-climactic and drawn out television program (anyone count how many times Herbstreit said “in the trenches” when talking about Suh?). You can argue up and down why Toby Gerhart should have won it, but by all indications college football and Crimson Tide Nation are being represented well by the likes of Mr. Ingram.

Check out playoffproblem.com, the BCS’s pathetic Beltway PR firm-fueled entry into the “conversation” about how a national champion should be decided in Division 1 college football.

The gist: using computers and student body president-style popularity contests to pick who gets to play for a title is a great system.

Because anything else (see how it’s done in every other other level of every other sport) would be too “controversial” to even attempt.

Pop Quiz hotshot:

What’s the first thing you think of when you see this t-shirt?

Do you see the trademark blue on white stripe that adorns PSU’s helmets?

or do you see a cross, like the one Jesus was crucified on a couple thousand years ago?

According to the folks at FOX News, a minor controversy has been stirred up over the shirts.

What do you think? Something to be bothered by or much ado about nothing?

Personally, I’d like to hear Joe Paterno’s take on the tshirts.

He was, after all, alive during the crucifixion.

The Good folks at Tebow’s Eye Black are asking you to put on some eye black and do something positive for the people around you. And then when you’re done, tell them your story.

While we don’t condone being a Florida Gator fan here at Prayers For Blowouts, we always condone helping those around you.

PS…sorry for the lack of posts here lately. My writing focus these days is over at my personal blog where I’m doing a lot more humor than sports. Check it out if you’ve never visited.

Prayers For Blowouts will be featuring posts from PFB Members throughout the summer. This submission is from Member #028, MC Bias.

By now most of you have already heard or read Tim Tebow’s confession that he is saving himself for marriage. Reaction was understandably mixed, with many wondering how Tebow could hold to his values while being so famous. Some of us Christians found ourselves in the midst of awkward conversations with non-Christians on how our faith calls us to sexual purity. Personally, I thought Dan Shanoff put it best: “In fact, his answer shouldn’t have surprised anyone. It is entirely consistent with his core values”.

However, I thought that there was an unfortunate moment in the analysis for a lot of people. If you listened carefully, Tebow said he was “saving himself for marriage.” People quickly took that to mean Tim Tebow was a virgin, and I do believe he is one. However, there’s a difference between saying “I am a virgin” and “I am saving myself for marriage” that is worth exploring. Suppose I show you two Christian young men. Guy 1 is a virgin. Guy 2 had sex once. Is Guy 1 holier than Guy 2? Counting and using statistics, yes. Zero is better than one, right? Guy 1, holy! Guy 2, sinner!

But that misses the point of the mindset of saving yourself for marriage. We are called to be holy in thought and approach, too, not only deeds; the Sermon on the Mount pounds this point home time and time again. Our culture has an unhealthy fascination with virginity and statistics instead of purity. Guy 1 could have wanted to lose his virginity many times, but got turned down. On the other hand, Guy 2 could be a handsome fellow with many opportunities to lose his virginity, yet he remained faithful to his values at all times except for one error years ago. Can we then say that Guy 1 is better? It’s wise to be cautious on judging too quickly in these matters. As Christians, we commit ourselves to holiness, but we also commit ourselves to repentance.

As a Christian, I am proud of Tim Tebow, not just because he is a virgin, but because he is striving towards the goal of being holy in all areas of his life. He may yet have sex before marriage; the temptations are likely to be many. (Although, I would note that Kaka, the Christian soccer player, did manage to make it to marriage, as did AC Green). But even if he does fall, I believe he will get back up and show a strong commitment to pursuing God’s will.

And that is definitely an example worth following.

(MC Bias also writes for his own blog, which you can check out here.)

Chances are you’ve seen this already, but Clay Travis (Deadspin, budding author) asked Tebow the other day if he was still a virgin. Tebow confirmed and stated that he was saving himself for marriage.

Depending on who you are, this news probably settles on you in drastically different ways.

If you grew up in church and profess to be a Christian, the news is probably unsurprising and encouraging. You’ve been taught that sex is a dish best served in the marriage covenant, and perhaps you even waited for marriage yourself. In fact, you’d like to give Tim Tebow a high five right now.

If you grew up outside the Christian church, and don’t care much for abstinence, then you may be baffled. I mean, everyone on earth knows this guy is the Heisman Trophy winner of morals, but no sex EVER? As a stud College QB? Some folks probably see this  Shakespearian-esque tragedy.

Dan Shanoff, who recently launched TimTeblog.com, commented on the story with his own perspective. Though he’s not a Christian, he believes that Tebow-Virginity story DOES matter. An interesting read, if nothing else.

Prayers For Blowouts will be featuring posts from PFB Members this summer. This submission is from Member #024, Matt Ralph.

Mr. Celery,  Artie the Fighting Artichoke, and The Fighting Okra may be getting some company in their small but oh so popular coterie of mascots named after vegetables.

The College of William and Mary in Virginia is reportedly considering among a pool of 400 nominations a suggestion for making a stalk of asparagus their new mascot.

William and Mary is changing its mascot because its feathered logo was considered demeaning to Native Americans but still keeping the name the Tribe.

It wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense, but the merchandise sales and publicity boon the college would undoubtedly experience could be worthwhile. It’s not like the Asparagus lobby will balk over the Tribe of Asparagus.

Feel free to join me in voicing support for the asparagus mascot by going to http://web.wm.edu/contact/contact.php.

Here’s what I just wrote to them:

I just read a story on Sports Illustrated about the brilliant suggestion of William and Mary changing its mascot to a stalk of asparagus.

I think this is an incredible idea, one that would certainly lead me to fork over money for a T-shirt and encourage the future college bound kids I hope to one day have to attend your institution.

Please, please, please take this suggestion seriously and for the life of every Native American who has been demeaned by your feathered Tribe logo, consider the asparagus.

a few things to check out while Matt Stafford finishes counting up his money…

+ If you’re the person who shrugs your shoulders at the mention of steroids thinking the only people it hurt were the dopes who doped, you should read this fantastic Jeff Pearlman article on catcher Sal Fasano. (Though the article doesn’t mention Sal’s faith, he became a Christian through former teammate Keith Lockhart) I’ve got an indirect connection to Sal, as one of my good friends from college was an undergrad with him at Evansville. Sal actually got us free tickets to Fenway one time back in the late 90s when he came through with the Royals. And who doesn’t love a good fu-manchu? (Reader’s Digest)

+ Jon Copper is a linebacker from the University of Virginia who didn’t get picked in last week’s draft. In the blog he has been contributing to at the Washington Post, Copper talks about the expected and unexpected ways that pride can work itself into your heart and affect how you handle situations. Copper is headed to Green Bay to try out for the team as a free agent, he has this to say:

So as I’m getting mentally ready for the opportunity this weekend, I have one thing to remind myself of — a deep breath. You do it, take a second, and inhale. . . . Now let it out. From where did that come? I believe it is a gift, and all of life is a gift. After a deep breath, I’m thankful, self-forgetful, and I’m looking forward to the strength the Giver supplies over each of the next five days for a needy receiver like myself. (LongShots)

+ Guideposts has an interesting Ron Berler piece up about Lance Niekro’s departure and return to baseball, and how it all hinged on whether or not he felt his late father would have been proud of him. (Guideposts.com)

Much to the dismay of Emperor Al Davis, star Running Back Bryce Brown is going to play college football for Lane Kiffin and the University of Tennessee.

When asked why he chose UT, Bryce said:

“I asked God to reveal it to me,” Brown said. “He gave me the sign. When I first went there (on official visit) I wasn’t feeling it. I had a lot of concerns about Tennessee and the offense. When I went back, I got the sign. God told me that I was a Volunteer. I just felt it.”

To be honest, anything that makes Al Davis perturbed is okay with me.

(and while I’m thinking about it, where was that picture taken? Was he working out for scouts in his parent’s backyard?)

It’s not quite as good as this:

John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

But it’s something: