Well, the Georgia Dawgs squeaked by Ohio State. I am a Georgia fan through and through, but honestly Ohio State should have won the game and my heart goes out to them. They led almost the entire game right up to the final minute when UGA marched down the field and scored and took the lead 42 to 41.
Former Heisman winner C. J. Stroud is a phenomenal quarterback and in less than 50 seconds got them in field goal range but alas came up one point short due to the missed field goal in the final seconds by a kicker that very rarely misses. Don’t get me wrong the Bulldogs played their hearts out, but in fairness we must admit we were clearly outmatched. One of the signs of a great coach and team is the ability to come back and win those close games and Georgia did that, but we were just outplayed almost the entire game. I have watched the game twice and feel lucky to advance to the National Championship Game next Monday night.
Being the rabid fan that I am I watched all the post-game interviews, but Ohio Quarterback, C.J. Stroud’s was inspiring and motivational. He said: “If you want excuses, we don’t have those. If you want tears — keep looking. Priceless are the moments where you are given the opportunity to learn from your defeats. But those are the moments where one can grow the most. Romans 5:3-5 says, ‘More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.’ I make sure I invite Him in my day first and foremost. And then just continue prayer throughout the day. If that means reading a Bible scripture on my phone or if that means talking to some of my fellow brothers in Christ on the team, just keep a little Bible study, whatever the case may be. Just a fellowship in any which way, that kinda helps.”
C.J.’s father, Coleridge Bernard Stroud III, is serving a 38-year prison sentence in upstate California. He pleaded guilty in 2015 to charges of carjacking, kidnapping, robbery and misdemeanor sexual battery.
As a backdrop CJ’s father was once a minister and the breadwinner of a family of six, his incarceration (the second of his life) sent the Strouds into financial ruin and destroyed his relationship with his then 13-year-old quarterback of a son. He forced his way into the vehicle of a woman stopped at a traffic light. He told her to drive to a house so he could buy drugs, assaulted her and then, after she escaped, fled San Diego Harbor Police in a chase that ended with his crashing the vehicle into a pole and leaping into the San Diego Bay. This was his father’s fourth arrest.
During a 2018 appeal, the father argued in mitigation that his marriage fell apart, “his life spun out of control, and he began using illegal drugs again after more than 20 years of sobriety.” The appeal was denied, and his sentence—38 years to life—was upheld. C.J.’s life was rocked by the development. The youngest of four children, his high school years were spent living in a small apartment above a storage facility. At one point, the Strouds nearly went homeless.
C.J. turned to God and stayed there. Just look where he is now. God has blessed this young man in so many ways not the least of which is financially. “It’s just amazing that I do all these cool things now,” he said. Cool things: like the $200,000 Bentley he now drives from name, image and likeness (NIL) deals; like the four-bedroom California home he bought his mother and sister; like the $500 Express gift cards he distributed to each of his teammates; like the 13 school passing records that may forever be his in the Ohio State record books.
He gives God all the glory even thanking him for the trials he endures. My hat is off to him. Most kids who experienced what he went through would end right in prison with his dad. In fact, I once was doing prison ministry out on the yard of a big California prison and met a grandfather, his, son, and his grandson all of whom were incarcerated in the same prison.
I hope they found God that day so God could bless them and give them His peace . . .
John 14:27
Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.