Fall 2014 DigiMag #3

INSIDE: PITTSBURGH STEELERS FULLBACK WILL JOHNSON EXCELS UNDER THE RADAR

OBEDIENT SERVANT

INSIDE: FORMER INDIANAPOLIS COLTS TIGHT END BEN UTECHT'S PASSION FOR THE HEALTH OF THE BRAIN AND THE MIND

THE UNCHANGING VALUES BEHIND AUBURN HEAD COACH GUS MALZAHN

CLOSEUP: MLB'S CLAYTON KERSHAW, RACING LEGEND EMERSON FITTIPALDI, NFL'S RYAN CLARK, MLB LEGEND ALVIN DARK AND ICE HOCKEY'S ANNE SCHLEPER

SPORTS SPECTRUM ~ DIGIMAG 2014

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FEATURES

CONTENTS

CLOSEUP:

In the News: Clayton Kershaw (p6); Around the World: Emerson Fittipaldi(p8); Around the Net: Ryan Clark (p10); Tribute: Alvin Dark (p12); Women's Ice Hockey Profile: Anne Schleper (p14)

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UNDER THE RADAR

Pittsburgh Steelers fullback Will Johnson may not be a household name, but his impact on others hasn’t gone unnoticed

BY BRETT HONEYCUTT

Paul Gilham / Getty Images

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Justin K. Aller / Getty Images

OPINION

SURPRISINGLY GOOD

Managing editor Brett Honeycutt talks about two recent selfless sports stories in today's self-absorbed culture

BY BRETT HONEYCUTT

CBS Morning News / Youtube

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4

OBEDIENT SERVANT

Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn has had a rapid rise as a college football coach, but the commitments he made 20 years ago have remained his foundation and drive

BY STEPHEN COPELAND

UNPACKIN’ IT: CHARLIE WARD

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Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images

Bill Baptist / 2004 NBAE / Getty Images

Faith and sports radio host Bryce Johnson talks to Charlie Ward, Heisman Trophy winner and former NBA player

BY BRYCE JOHNSON

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WHY THE MIND MATTERS

Former Indianapolis Colts tight end Ben Utecht has a passion for both the physical health of the brain and spiritual health of the mind

BY STEPHEN COPELAND

'GOD OF THE PROCESS'

Brian Bahr / Getty Images

Win Mcnamee / Getty Images

Staff writer Stephen Copeland talks to Ben Utecht about the process of music and art

BY STEPHEN COPELAND

SPORTS SPECTRUM ~ DIGIMAG 2014 (Cover photo) Stacy Revere / Getty Images

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AIRING IT OUT

OPINION

BY BRETT HONEYCUTT

b h o n e y c u t t @ s p o r t s s p e c t r u m . c o m | F o l l o w @ b re t t _ h o n e y c u t t

Surprisingly good

“M

ake sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.” I Thessalonians 5:15

Two stories that remind me that good still exists in today’s all-about-me and win-at-all-costs athletic culture come from a little-known college and one of the most unlikely NFL teams.

We’ll start with the little-known school, tiny Hiram College, located in Hiram, Ohio, and founded in 1850.

The college, which has about 1,300 students, plays sports in NCAA Division III, the NCAA’s lowest level and a division that doesn’t offer athletic scholarships.

The Terriers’ women’s basketball team was the Nov. 2 opponent of Mount St. Joseph.

If that school sounds familiar, it’s because you may have heard the story about 19-year-old Mount St. Joseph freshman Lauren Hill, who has an inoperable and incurable form of brain cancer and who just wanted to play one college game before she died. I wrote about her in my last column.

Mount St. Joseph’s, also an NCAA Division III school, was supposed to play its first game in mid-November against Hiram College, but because school officials thought Lauren may not live that long or may not be in a condition that would allow her to play, they petitioned the NCAA to have the game moved to a date before the season was supposed to begin.

Hiram not only agreed to move the date of the game but also willingly gave up playing a home game so that Lauren could play in front of her home crowd—a crowd that swelled to 10,250 and saw the teams play at Xavier University because of the demand for tickets.

But there’s more to the story.

Though the focus was rightly on Lauren, her struggle with a rare form of brain cancer and her last wishes, another beautiful story was taking shape.

The night before the game, Mount St. Joseph’s women’s team took Hiram’s women’s team out to dinner and girls from each team loved on each other, understanding that this was about more than a basketball game—it was about the bigger picture of life, death and what really matters when people have the opportunity to show they care for others.

The following day, another amazing thing happened—the Hiram players were cheering for Lauren and crying after Lauren scored, and both teams even encouraged each other during the game; something unheard of in today’s college sports culture.

“At one point in the game, one of the girls, I shot a (3-pointer), and she’s like, ‘That’s a great shot. I’m glad you took it,’” Hiram senior Kelsey Koskinen, one of the team’s best players, told CBS Sunday Morning TV show correspondent Steve Hartman. “It’s like unreal.”

Hartman replied: “Should we be borrowing this, taking some of this, into the rest of the basketball season?”

Said Koskinen: “That’s how I feel. I just want to play games like that every time.”

Which caught my ear because, well, Hiram lost, 66-55, but all Koskinen could think about was how nice it was to play a game where both teams tried hard, and both teams encouraged each other to do their best. Winning wasn’t the main focus, although it was each team’s goal.

The other story involves two teams, as well. This one, though, comes from the most popular sport in America and involves two of the best teams in the NFL—the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots, the latter considered one of the bad-boy teams of the league.

The story involves a 4-year-old child, Leah Still, the daughter of Cincinnati defensive tackle Devon Still. Leah was diagnosed in June with Stage 4 neuroblastoma, a rare form of pediatric cancer, and was given a 50 percent chance to live.

The story reveals the love and concern that Devon, the Bengals and the Patriots have toward Leah.

First, the Bengals cut Still in the summer so he could spend time with his daughter and then immediately re-resigned him to the practice squad so that he could keep his insurance.

On Oct. 5, during Cincinnati’s game at New England, the Patriots showed a video tribute to Leah to let people know about the situation. The video was also broadcasted locally on television and all over the U.S. (because the game was being broadcast nationally,) and also each of the New England cheerleaders wore Devon Still’s No. 75 Cincinnati Bengals jersey.

Yes, the same New England franchise that arguably is one of the most disliked NFL teams because of charges of unethical practices by coaches and off-field situations by players.

They honored an opposing player…and his daughter’s plight… at home.

A selfless act.

Later in October, the Cincinnati Bengals announced that their month-long fund-raising effort to donate proceeds from the sale of Devon Still’s No. 75 jersey to pediatric research had reached $1.25 million after selling nearly 15,000 of Still’s jerseys.

Another selfless act.

Fittingly, during all of this, Devon Still and Lauren Hill became friends, with Still giving Lauren one of his jerseys in October and wearing eye black during a game that read, “Lauren Strong”, and Hill giving Still her game-worn jersey from her first collegiate game, writing, “Forever Lauren & Leah Strong” then “Never Give Up!” and then signing her name and #22 on the right side of the gray jersey.

Two stories, separate, but intertwined because of cancer, love and selfless acts by individuBrett Honeycutt is the managing als and opposing teams that editor of Sports Spectrum understand there’s more to magazine. Follow him on Twitter: winning than what the score@Brett_Honeycutt. board reveals at the end of the game.

SPORTS SPECTRUM ~ DIGIMAG 2014

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OPINION

UNPACKIN’ it

B Y B RY C E J O H N S O N

b r y c e j o h n s o n r a d i o @ g m a i l . c o m | F o l l o w @ B RY C E R A D I O

Each week, host Bryce Johnson interviews intriguing guests on his syndicated faith and sports radio show UNPACKIN’ it. We highlight a portion of that interview for your enjoyment and encouragement. This issue, Bryce is joined by Heisman Trophy winner and former NBA player, Charlie Ward. Charlie Ward played in the NBA from 1994 to 2005, after playing basketball and football at Florida State. He won the Heisman trophy in 1993. Listen to the full interview here: www.unpackinit.com

BRYCE JOHNSON: When did you know that you wanted to coach and how did you end up at the high school level instead of pro or college?

CHARLIE WARD: I had an opportunity to coach in the NBA after I finished my career in the 2004 to 2005 season, and Coach Van Gundy gave me an opportunity to see if coaching was something I wanted to do.

At first I went in on an interim basis, and then the next year I had an opportunity to be on the bench. But there came a time when I wanted to spend more time with my family and have a schedule more flexible than the NBA lifestyle. I had given 13 years of my life to the NBA lifestyle and wanted to spend more time with my kids and go to more of their activities. That’s why I made the jump from pros to high school, and that’s where I’ve been the past eight years.

BRYCE JOHNSON: Knowing that faith is important to you, what has God been teaching you recently?

CHARLIE WARD: Being more devoted to Him while in the process of growing as a coach, a father, and a husband. When you’ve been a Christian for so long, sometimes it can become mundane and you just go through the motions. You understand and know...you say all the right things...you work to do all the right things...you understand right from wrong and the heart matter behind it. However, your relationship with Him starts to dwindle. Being at a public school is definitely an encouragement to grow because there’s a lot of darkness there. Guys and girls need direction and God has placed me in that setting to help them understand that some of the decisions they make today will have a big effect on them long-term. They need to be reminded of what God desires for our lives.

BRYCE JOHNSON: Do you find it harder to live up to that role model and example for Christ as a coach? Or when you were playing in the NBA and having to live up to being a role model living in the spotlight?

CHARLIE WARD: There’s really no difference.

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SPORTS SPECTRUM ~ DIGIMAG 2014

It depends on your relationship to the Lord and where you’re trying to grow and the accountability factor. When you’re leading the team spiritually, like in a Bible study, you still have to be accountable to yourself because people are looking at you. As a coach it’s no different. The kids are looking at you and what you’re teaching and preaching, so they’re looking to see how you are living your life. You have to have coaches and teachers that will hold you accountable, and certainly be accountable to our Heavenly Father. So that’s the challenge that we face as leaders and men of God or women of God. BRYCE JOHNSON: Obviously you’re very plugged into the kids in high school and wanting to have influence and impact on them. What about the young players that may be playing in college or even in the NBA? Do you try to reach out to players or do you let them reach out to you in order for some sort of mentoring to take place?

CHARLIE WARD: I normally get connected to some of the quarterbacks at Florida State. I try to help them through and encourage them during their time there, and challenge them the way that someone challenged me. It’s more of a friendship, partnership, and mentor deal. For the most part, I try to impart wisdom about things I wish I would have done differently. I’m grateful that someone corrected me when I was going astray—to help me make good decisions...along with the Scriptures. It’s important for me to give back in that way, as well.

BRYCE JOHNSON: I love it! That’s something I’m very passionate about—being mentored and mentoring others. If we could all be in that mode of who we can reach out to and mentor, and who can we look to be mentored by. That’s awesome to hear! Thank you for taking the time to share great insight. I appreciate your heart and what you’re doing as a coach and as a Father.

Bill Baptist / 2004 NBAE / Getty Images

BRYCE’S BEST The best sports story I have heard recently involves a former St. Louis Rams offensive lineman, Jason Brown, and his decision to leave football and millions of dollars in order to be a farmer. Brown donates the first of his crops to food pantries and has said, “...when I think about a life of greatness, I think about a life of service.” That part of the story is excellent, but recently it got even better because Brown delivered his own son at the farm! Outside help couldn’t get there in time, so Brown helped his wife with the delivery of their 8 pound, 9 ounce baby.

What I’m thankful fo (Sports edition)...

•

Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are still playing in the NFL at a high level.

•

The Dallas Cowboys are in playoff contention. The media and fan attention to this team is always intriguing.

• For Fantasy Football because it allows me to stay connected to friends from high school and college. It also gives me an opportunity to beat them and let them know it!

•

The highest level of college football finally has a playoff system and I’m thankful it still creates as much debate and discussion regarding who deserves to get in.

• The Cleveland Cavaliers had to deal with early season struggles because when things finally click for them they will appreciate it much more.

Comparing all 11 MVP and Cy Young Winners in History YR

Name

Team

Lg

Rec.

ERA

Ks

Winning Percentage

2014

Clayton Kershaw

L.A. Dodgers

NL

21-3

1.77

239

.875

2011

Justin Verlander

Detroit

AL

24-5

2.40

250

.828

1992

Dennis Eckersley

Oakland

AL

(51)** 1.91

93

.875

1986

Roger Clemens

Boston

AL

24-4

2.48

238

.857

1984

Willie Hernandez

Detroit

AL

(32)** 1.92

112

.750

1981

Rollie Fingers

Oakland

AL

(28)** 1.04

61

.677

1971

Vida Blue

Oakland

AL

24-8

1.82

301

.750

1968

Denny McLain

Detroit

AL

31-6

1.96

280

.838

1968

Bob Gibson

St. Louis

NL

22-9

1.12

268

.710

1963

Sandy Koufax

L.A. Dodgers

NL

25-5

1.88

306

.833

1956

Don Newcombe

Brooklyn

NL

27-7

3.06

139

.794

*The player led the league in that category. **Rollie Fingers, Willie Hernandez and Dennis Eckersley were relievers. Their saves are listed (in parenthesis) instead of their win-loss records.

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SPORTS SPECTRUM ~ DIGIMAG 2014

David E. Klutho / Getty Images

IN THE NEWS: CLAYTON KERSHAW

Clayton Kershaw CLAYTON KERSHAW ACCOMPLISHED WHAT NO ONE HAD DONE IN 46 YEARS, BUT HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS OFF THE FIELD WERE NOTEWORTHY, AS WELL

L

os Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw won nearly everything except a World Series ring this past baseball season.

The 25-year-old, who, along with wife Ellen, travels on mission trips to the Dominican Republic and Zambia, as well as to U.S. cities Dallas and Los Angeles each offseason, became the first National League player in 46 years to take home both the Cy Young Award (league’s top pitcher) and the MVP (best overall player).

“Wow,” Kershaw told media after hearing the announcement and becoming only the 11th player to ever win both.

“I’m blown away right now.”

During the season, opposing batters were the ones blown away by Kershaw, who has been featured in Sports Spectrum in several exclusive interviews the past few years.

He threw a no-hitter this season, had a stretch of 41 scoreless innings, and he led the league in victories (he was 21-3), winning percentage (.875) and ERA (1.77), leading that category for the fourth straight year and becoming the first pitcher to ever do that. He also struck out 239 and walked only 31.

The Cy Young Award, which Kershaw won unanimously, was his second straight and third in four years, making him the youngest to win that many so early in his career.

All of that while missing five weeks near the beginning of the season because of a strained muscle in his upper back.

While his dominance on the baseball diamond was evident, his passion to help others was even more so.

His foundation, Kershaw’s Challenge (www.kershawschallenge.com), which was very active this year, points people to Christ, as evidenced in the opening sentence of its mission statement: “Kershaw’s Challenge is a Christ-centered, others-focused organization. We exist to encourage people to use whatever Godgiven passion or talent they have to make a difference and give back to people in need. We want to empower people to use their spheres of influence to positively impact communities and to expand God’s Kingdom. We believe that God can transform at-risk children and neighborhoods through the benevolence and impact of others."

This past year, Kershaw’s Challenge partnered with four organizations to help reach people all over the world and 100 percent of donations were distributed to these organizations, with each receiving 25 percent (CURE International for their help in providing surgeries for children in Zambia; Arise Africa to build another children’s home; Dream Center, which ministers to people in Los Angeles and Mercy Street, which is building a “Field of Dreams” Little League field in the innercity of the Kershaw’s hometown of Dallas, Texas.

“For me it’s about the legacy you leave off the field,” Kershaw said in an I Am Second video about his faith and how it inspires him and his wife to give back.

“We’re just doing the part that God gave us. You can’t think that we can change the whole country by ourselves, but God can.”

- BRETT HONEYCUTT

SPORTS SPECTRUM ~ DIGIMAG 2014

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CLICK HERE

to watch Emerson Fittipaldi talk about faith and racing...

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SPORTS SPECTRUM ~ DIGIMAG 2014

Charles Briscoe-Knight / Getty Images

AROUND THE WORLD: EMERSON FITTIPALDI

Emerson Fittipaldi EVEN THOUGH FORMULA ONE AND INDY 500 RACING LEGEND EMERSON FITTIPALDI IS COMING OUT OF RETIREMENT, HIS FOCUS IS STILL WHAT HAPPENS TO PEOPLE OFF THE TRACK

“Y

es, I’m back!”

Those three words, in large print, were in a photo collage and placed just above a photo of a candy apple red Ferrari GT 458 and just under another photo of Emerson Fittipaldi’s eyes, which were peering through the opening of his racing helmet.

The exuberant announcement was made on his Facebook page on Nov. 18 and is how the legendary Fittipaldi, one of Formula One’s most accomplished drivers, let his fans and media know of his return to racing—at the age of 67.

Below the collage he wrote a short note in Brazilian Portuguese asking for the support of his fans to come to the Nov. 30 event, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile World Endurance Championship’s season-ending Six Hours of São Paulo, Fittipaldi’s hometown in Brazil.

His status and impact in the racing world was immediately evident.

In less than 20 hours after he posted his announcement on Facebook, he had more than 5,650 likes, more than 850 shares and nearly 350 comments, mostly encouragement and well-wishes.

The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America inductee’s accomplishments are well known to the racing community: one Formula Three title (1969), one Formula Vee title (1968), two F1 world titles (1972, 1974), two Indy 500 victories (1989, 1993), one CART title (1989), and more than 50 event victories at various levels including 14 F1 and 22 CART wins.

Fittipaldi has come out of retirement several times (2005 and 2008) and had been, fittingly, writing a blog since 2013 (he was named after American writer and poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson).

More than his victories and enthusiasm for racing, though, Fittipaldi understands what is most important. He became a Christian in 1996 after a crash at Michigan International Speedway nearly took his life.

Afterwards, the father of seven realized how faith played a role in his racing.

“It was a very frustrating sport and you have to be strong to know how to lose,” said Fittipaldi in a Beyond The Ultimate video about his faith. “It’s very difficult to learn how to lose. And if you have faith, you know how to recover. You know any Christian’s life, the history of Christianity is always fighting, always upstart, always coming back and being strong again, stronger more than before, even if you are defeated before. And that’s my life. I had many situations that I was very frustrated. I wanted to retire. I wanted to stop the sport, but I come back again and come back again, and fight. I think it’s very important to have this faith to help you.”

“My advice to you is first open your heart to God and Jesus. You are going to receive so much love. You are going to receive so much life.”

- BRETT HONEYCUTT

SPORTS SPECTRUM ~ DIGIMAG 2014

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Wesley Hitt

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SPORTS SPECTRUM ~ DIGIMAG 2014

Tom /Dahlin Tom Pennington Getty Images

AROUND THE NET: RYAN CLARK

Ryan Clark WASHINGTON REDSKINS FREE SAFETY RYAN CLARK, INSPIRED

BY HIS FAITH AND THE LOSS OF A DEAR FRIEND, CONTINUES TO MAKE A STAND FOR MATTERS THAT STRETCH FAR BEYOND FOOTBALL

D

uring a 2007 game against the Denver Broncos, NFL free safety Ryan Clark had to be rushed to the hospital.

Clark, who had suffered from sickle cell trait since his childhood, had endured a splenic infraction, which is common in high altitudes for those with sickle cell. He had to have both his spleen and gallbladder removed, which resulted in losing 30 pounds.

Doctors didn’t think he’d ever play football again.

Then the season got even worse.

Clark, who was playing with the Pittsburgh Steelers at the time, also suffered the loss of his former Washington Redskins teammate, Sean Taylor, who was shot by intruders in his Miami home on Nov. 27, 2007.

The following season, Clark defeated all odds and returned to the football field; in honor of Taylor, he vowed to wear No. 21, Taylor’s number, during practices.

On top of that, the Steelers went on to win the Super Bowl that season and Clark was presented with the Ed Block Courage Award, an annual award given to NFL players who are role models of inspiration, sportsmanship and courage. In all reality, Taylor was the one who inspired him.

When Clark returned to the Redskins for a second stint the following season, he got permission from Taylor’s long-time girlfriend, Jackie, and Redskins team owner, Dan Snyder, to wear his actual jersey during practice.

“It starts conversations,” Clark told CSNwashington.com in May 2014.

“People ask me why do you wear it? And how you feel about wearing it?

So I get to talk about Sean and then it starts more conversations about him. It’s my way of keeping his name in the consciousness. It’s my way of making people have reason to talk about him.”

Another inspiration of Clark’s is his faith.

“I grew up with a mom that went to work eight days a week,” Clark says in a recent video produced by Game Plan For Life. “For me, I had that foundation, but I had to lose it for a while to gain it. I went to college for a while, and I had this freedom I never had...when I truly got my salvation was when I made it to the NFL... People think that once you find God and salvation you won’t struggle, you won’t struggle with temptation, that you won’t struggle with the things of this world, but you do. That’s why your faith has to continue to grow. And you gotta exercise it like you exercise your body. I can’t expect to play football well and not be in the gym. And you can’t expect your faith to be strong if you don’t work it.”

“The first verse I learned was 2 Corinthians 5:17: ‘Any man who is in Christ is a new creation; the old things are gone, all things are made new.’ That was just so real to me because it was just saying, ‘Listen, all this you’ve done up to this point, you weren’t in Christ. But now that you’re in Christ, those things have to stop.’ If you have God, your life with be fruitful. If you don’t, you may feel like you’ve done things and accomplished things worldly, but it is nothing in substance.”

- STEPHEN COPELAND SPORTS SPECTRUM ~ DIGIMAG 2014

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S P O R T S S P E C T R Focus U M ~ Don I G ISport M A G 2/ 0Getty 14

Images

TRIBUTE CLOSEUP: ALVIN DARK

Alvin Dark GIANTS GREAT ALVIN DARK GOT HIS LIFE BACK ON TRACK IN 1971 AND SPENT THE NEXT 45 YEARS TRYING TO GIVE PEOPLE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

O

n Nov. 13, two weeks after the San Francisco Giants won their third World Series title in five years, one of the all-time Giants greats, Alvin Dark, passed away at the age of 92.

In 1951, Dark helped lead the then-New York Giants to their first pennant since 1937; and in 1954, he led them to their first World Series title since 1933. His time with the Giants (1950-1956) were some of the best seasons of his 14-year career, as he was named to the All-Star team three times (1951, 1952, 1954). He was one of the top three shortstops in the decade that followed World War II and was part of what is often referred to as the “Golden Age” of New York baseball. He also helped the Giants win another National League pennant in his second year as a manager in 1962, the Giants’ fifth season in San Francisco, but lost in seven games to the New York Yankees.

Overall, Dark played on six teams in 14 years and managed teams on five other occasions during a 13-year span (while also managing the National League All-Star team in 1963 and the American League All-Star team in 1975).

He was named Rookie of the Year in 1948 when he helped the Boston Braves capture their first pennant in 34 years, and he had a career-batting average of .289 with 2,089 hits. In 1974, he won his second World Series title when he took over the managerial role of the Oakland A’s and guided them to their third straight championship.

Following Dark’s death, many tributes mentioned the racial controversy that stemmed from comments he gave Newsday columnist Stan Isaacs in 1964. Dark said he was misquoted, and Jackie Robinson, the first African American in Major League Baseball, rushed to his defense saying, “I have found Dark to be a gentleman and, above all, unbiased. Our relationship has not only been on the ballfield but off it.” Dark experienced more controversy later that season when it was revealed that Dark, who was married with four children, was having an affair with Jackie Rockwood, whom he would later marry.

Dark, who was vocal about his faith throughout his entire career, was said to rededicate his life to Christ seven years after his affair, attempting to get his life back on track after he was fired mid-season as the coach of the Cleveland Indians. Three seasons passed, and he was eventually hired by Oakland in 1974, where Dark won a World Series in his first season at the helm.

“We promised the Lord we would serve him whether we went back into baseball or not,” Dark was quoted saying on thechristianviewmagazine.com. “God put us back into baseball, and, because of our commitment to Him, we started studying the Bible more. This is when my life changed, when I realized that the only thing that matters is what we do for the Lord. We promised the Lord that, if we went back into baseball, we would do the best job we could do in baseball, because, when you become a Christian, and you accept Christ as your personal Savior, you represent Him in everything you do. Because you’re a Christian doesn’t mean that you don’t care about winning. You want to win more, because you represent Christ. I took back into baseball all of the things I learned in God’s Word. There are a lot of things we don’t understand, but we appreciate everything that God has in His Book to help us live the Christian life.”

The Dark’s Alvin Dark Foundation and their annual Alvin Dark Foundation Golf Tournament helps raise money for Christian ministries. Both were sought after to speak at churches and ministries across the country.

- STEPHEN COPLEAND SPORTS SPECTRUM ~ DIGIMAG 2014

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SPORTS SPECTRUM ~ DIGIMAG 2014

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WOMEN'S ICE HOCKEY: ANNE SCHLEPER

Anne Schleper ANNE SCHLEPER’S RESUME IS FULL OF ATHLETIC SUCCESS, BUT HER VIEW OF SUCCESS IS MUCH DIFFERENT

I

f someone read Anne Schleper’s bio from the past five years they would wonder what she hasn’t accomplished.

In 2011, she won a gold medal at the World Championships for women’s ice hockey.

The following year, in 2012, she did even better by winning an NCAA title with the University of Minnesota and a silver medal at the World Championships.

She topped the next year in 2013 by winning another World Championship gold and a Canadian Women’s Hockey League title with the Boston Blades.

And 2014? She helped Team USA to a silver medal at the Sochi Olympics in February, and became the third Sochi Olympic women’s ice hockey players to train with an NHL team when she practiced with the Tamp Bay Lightning.

U.S. teammate Hilary Knight (Anaheim Ducks, October) and Canadian goalie Shannon Szabados (Edmonton Oilers, March) were the other two to do so.

Add to those her gold at the Under-18 World Championships (2008), her Western Collegiate Hockey Association defensive player of the year honor (2010), two golds (2008, 2012) a silver (2010) and a bronze (2013) at the Four Nations Cup, and everything Schleper touches seemingly turns to gold (or silver or bronze).

But if you want to know what’s most important to the 24-year-old, go to her Twitter profile, “@_aschlep” where the first two words on her bio say, with seeming exuberance, “Christ Follower!”

Sure, her bio also mentions the 2014 U.S. Olympic team, that she is a two-time world champion, and a University of Minnesota graduate. But it starts with her identity as a Christian and ends with this: “Ao1” which stands for Audience of One, used

by Christian athletes to indicate that they play for God and not for themselves.

It’s something she purposely focuses on because she understands today’s athletic culture and the culture in general.

It’s also why she leads Bible studies with other Team USA members.

“Any time you get in the athletic environment, it’s challenging as a Christian. It’s easy to have an ‘it’s about me’ attitude,” she told Athletics in Action. “That’s why it’s important to be around other Christians who can lift you up and pray for you. It’s good to stay connected, and that’s where I’ve seen those Bible studies at camps be so huge.

God is opening the eyes of teammates who I would never have thought would come.

He’s building it into something bigger and better.”

“I just constantly try to be a light to them,” she shared with Baptist Press. “I want them to be drawn to me so that they are ultimately drawn to Him.” Which is something bigger than her athletic success.

- BRETT HONEYCUTT

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Under the Radar Pittsburgh Steelers fullback Will Johnson may not be a household name, but his impact on others hasn’t gone unnoticed

BY BRETT HONEYCUTT

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SPORTS SPECTRUM ~ DIGIMAG 2014

Justin K. Aller / Getty Images

SPORTS SPECTRUM ~ DIGIMAG 2014

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ittsburgh Steelers fans didn’t find Will Johnson’s rushing stats impressive through his first 11 games this season.

Two attempts, 0 yards.

Or his receiving stats for that matter.

Five catches, 30 yards.

If they knew, they likely wouldn’t think much of his snaps played on offense as a fullback or a tight end.

123 snaps on offense (compared to 769 for starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger).

It’s such a small amount that some wouldn’t notice he’s even on the field.

What fans would find impressive, and likely would make them take notice, are the glowing remarks Johnson receives from those whose opinion matters – his teammates and coaches.

“He might be overlooked by some, but not in this locker room,” Pittsburgh offensive lineman Ramon Foster told the Associated Press. “He’s a key contributor to our offense, and he can do a lot of different things.”

His ability to adapt to different positions is a mirror of Johnson’s attitude—willing to do anything to help his team and also to get the opportunity to play.

Overcoming Hurdles

When he first went to West Virginia University, he was recruited as a receiver by then-head coach Rich Rodriguez.

After Johnson’s freshman year, though, Rodriguez bolted for the head coaching job at the University of Michigan and new West Virginia head coach Bill Stewart had different plans for Johnson.

Tight end.

It didn’t phase the 6-foot-2, 238-pound Johnson.

He adjusted, helping the Mountaineers to three straight 9-4 seasons after the switch, a Big East title, two runner-up finishes in the conference and three bowl game appearances, winning one.

He was tested again after his senior season when he wasn’t invited to the 2011 NFL Combine.

And once again, he adapted.

He trained, stayed focused, kept in shape and worked three jobs with the hope of getting another chance.

That opportunity came the following season when he was invited to West Virginia’s Pro Day where NFL scouts were in attendance.

His workout that day was so impressive that the Steelers signed him.

“It’s unheard of for guys to come back and do their Pro Days,” he told Sports Spectrum. “It was tough… A lot of hard work that went into it.”

But his self-driven nature, along with his family history of hard work and never giving up, helped motivate him to stay focused on making it to the NFL. When asked what was the key to staying motivated, Johnson told Sports Spectrum, “A strong work ethic that’s been instilled since I was young…and not being selfish.”

He also credited his mom, Wilma Gilmore, a single parent, for teaching him his work ethic, and he singled out his wife, Jessica (who he just celebrated his one-year wedding anniversary with), for supporting him while he was trying to get in the NFL. Those family memories, and the memories of having to overcome obstacles, have helped drive him to succeed.

“I like to say there’s always someone who’s bigger, faster, stronger, and wants to come in and take my spot,” Johnson told Sports Spectrum when asked what drives him. “You never know if that person is outworking you somewhere. You never know when your last play on the field is going to be, so you have to play like every play is the last one. So that’s something I take to heart, because I know this opportunity I have of playing this NFL game is not for long, and I want to make the most of it.”

Hurdles still remained after signing with Pittsburgh, though.

The Steelers switched Johnson to another position after he made the team, this time to fullback where he adapted yet again and earned mid-season NFL All-Rookie honors.

This season, two years later, he is being been used at tight end as well as fullback, the dual role earning him praise because of his ability to adapt and his willingness to be used wherever the team needs him.

Others Notice

“I’m definitely not an I guy, I’ve always been a team-first person,” Johnson told Sports Spectrum. “I come to work every day excited, knowing that I can do my part to help this team win.”

“He can run the ball,” Pittsburgh star running back Le’Veon Bell told the Associated Press when asked about Johnson. “Obviously, he can block, and he can catch passes. So, he’s very versatile, and all his hard work in practice obviously carries over into the game.”

“One of his best traits is his versatility,” Pittsburgh Steelers’ Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley told ESPN. com’s Scott Brown. “He’s got vision and the ability to run the football, especially between the tackles.”

For someone who is barely on the field in comparison to others who are routinely in the limelight, that says a lot about the impact Johnson makes despite his productivity not being visible in a box score.

Johnson’s work ethic also didn’t go unnoticed by star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who didn’t miss the opportunity to let others know.

George Gojkovich / Getty Images

“People can talk about the running game being about the front five, but it’s just as much about (tight ends Matt) Spaeth, (Michael) Palmer, Heath (Miller) and Will opening up holes on the outside, getting to the second level and getting the linebackers,” Roethlisberger told the Associated Press. “They’re just as much to be praised as the line.”

His teammates’ and coach’s comments humbled Johnson.

“It’s good to hear other players saying we’re heading in the direction we’re headed because of the run game,” Johnson told

“I have a lot on my plate, with all the temptations that come with my profession, keeping a steady relationship with the Lord is key.”

Sports Spectrum. “That’s what keeps me going (what guys say)…I play for my teammates, too.”

When asked what he would share with other players who have hit roadblocks to their dreams, he told Sports Spectrum, “Prepare every day….because you never know what your role’s going to be.”

The ups and downs and overcoming obstacles have been a part of Johnson’s road to the NFL, just like other players.

For Johnson, though, the hurdles haven’t just made him stronger as a player and a person, but they have also helped make him stronger in his faith in Christ.

“My faith and my personal relationship with God has definitely gone to a different level,” reflects Johnson. “I have a lot on my plate, with all the temptations that come with my profession, keeping a steady relationship with the Lord is key.”

Brett Honeycutt is the managing editor of Sports Spectrum magazine.

Justin K. Aller / Getty Images

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Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn has had a rapid rise as a college football coach, but the commitments he made 20 years ago have remained his foundation and drive

BY STEPHEN COPELAND 20

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us Malzahn walks around the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn., at the 2014 K-LOVE Awards this past May. Amidst the musicians set to perform and the thousands of music-lovers in the audience, the 2013 College Football Coach of the Year is merely a face among faces. Some know who he is. Most do not—not in this environment.

Malzahn, coming off one of the greatest turnarounds in the history of college

football—leading Auburn University to the national championship game in 2013 a year after the institution’s worst season in 60 years—blends in. Here, far from the rowdy Tiger fan base, the media flood and the crazed environment of the SEC, Malzahn doesn’t seem to be anything special.

The scene, interestingly, seems to perfectly illustrate Malzahn’s own view of himself.

He does not view himself as “important” or “deserving.” He cringes when he sees his name attached to the word “genius.”

In Malzahn’s mind, all he has done is follow the path, wherever it has gone, and has trusted its direction.

“Yeah, I have to pinch myself every now and then,” says Malzahn in a back hallway at the Grand Ole Opry. “My career is a God story—it’s no doubt. He’s put me in the right situations time and time again.”

Kevin Liles/Getty Images

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1994

Gus Malzahn’s coaching journey is as much spiritual as it is technical.

The latter is well documented—from the days of his youth when he’d sketch plays while watching his beloved Dallas Cowboys on television, to the decade and a half he spent coaching at the high school ranks, to now being in his second year coaching the Tigers of Auburn University.

There is much more to Malzahn, however, than the brains behind his hurry-up, nohuddle offense, which has been widely adopted across the football sphere, collegiate and professional. Football might be a big part of Malzahn’s life, but it’s also only a part.

“I think it was 1994, I started looking at coaching as my ministry,” Malzahn reflects, “and modeling myself after Christian coaches that were professional and very successful. I feel like that changed everything. And that’s who I am today.”

One of the coaches Malzahn modeled himself after was legendary Arkansas high school head coach Barry Lunney Sr., who won his seventh state championship in 2013. Malzahn reached out to Lunney upon becoming the head coach at tiny Hughes High School as a 27-year-old kid, hoping to pick his brain about the coaching profession.

“I certainly recognized he was serious about becoming the best coach he could and learning things,” Lunney says. “I’m sure I’m not the only person he’s ever gone to, but it’s always flattering to have a young coach come to you and ask you how to do things.”

The conversation that day might have revolved around football—offenses, defenses, practice structure, etc.—but over the years Lunney became a role model to Malzahn in ways that go beyond football.

Lunney, who taught a Sunday school class that Malzahn’s mother-in-law and father-in-law attended, seemed to blend football and ministry in a way that was attractive to Malzahn.

“One of the biggest lies we’ve bought into in this country is the separation between the sacred and the secular,” Lunney continues. “What I mean is this: There is no secular if you are a Christ follower—it’s who you are. You don’t put it on a shelf until Sunday, and if it’s not really who you are, then maybe it’s not real.”

In 1994, Malzahn decided to make it real.

By this point, Malzahn was six years into his marriage with his wife, Kristi, his hometown sweetheart, and three years into his tenure at Hughes. It was also a year that, through a series of improbable post-sea-

Michael Chang/Getty Images

son circumstances, allowed Malzahn to put Hughes on the map, leading the school to its first state championship in its otherwise fruitless history. “It was a miracle the way it all unfolded,” Kristi reflects.

However, while the budding head coach might have been praised for his brilliant mind, his heart was in turmoil.

“That was a big year,” Kristi says. “Wow, I’m kind of surprised he mentioned 1994.

There was a lot in our personal life that went chaotic, truthfully. I can remember a night where he was literally at a point where he was deciding to make a choice to live his life God’s way, professionally and personally. It was a life change. We had personally gone through a tough year. And there came a day when he was like, ‘This is it; I will be obedient whether I like it or not, whether it’s comfortable or not.’”

It was their marriage that led to this decision.

Kristi says their differences had finally risen to the forefront of their relationship in 1994. Like any marriage or relationship, they had reached their “crisis point”—they would find out what they were really made of, who they were committed to and what they were committed to.

“We learned what our commitment level looked like,” Kristi says. “Are you going to be who you say you are and do what you said you would do? At that point, a decision had to take place, and we decided we would do this, and there was no looking back—no if’s, and’s or but’s about it. You look at the Lord

and say, ‘I’m doing it your way.’ It was a gutcheck time on a lot of things—just making sure your gut is lining up with your heart.

Marriage takes a lot of gut-checking. Just staying in those repentant places.”

The decision affected everything.

Open Doors

Commitment to God is revealed by our commitment to the things He has instituted.

For Gus and Kristi Malzahn, their commitment to one another reflected something much deeper—it was a collective “Amen” to doing things His way, whatever that may be, professional or personal, public or private, and a submission to His will. Even if it was hard. Even if it was contradictory to their feelings, as truth often is.

“We learned that our weaknesses could also be our strengths,” Kristi says. “It’s not like we hadn’t noticed it before. We had noticed for the first several years we weren’t exactly the same. But it was the beginning of noticing the differences in each other and seeing how they strengthened each other.

We have learned to appreciate the things that are kind of irritating at times, and have learned that these are actually the things we need desperately for one another.”

Their obedience was a reminder to themselves that God’s way was better than theirs.

But perhaps it also demonstrated to God that He could lead them anywhere—because they would be willing to follow.

Follow, they did.

Lunney continues: “One day I got a call

from the athletic director at Shiloh Christian High School, and I had the opportunity to recommend him (Gus) for a job. I knew about his background and character and upbringing, and then, of course, watching what he did at Hughes—all those things together, I thought he’d be perfect.”

Malzahn accepted the head coaching position at Shiloh and developed one of the most successful high school offenses in the country. The Saints won two state titles between 1996 and 2000 and, at one point, won 44 games in a row. One season, they set a national record with 66 passing touchdowns.

In 2001, Malzahn became the head coach at Springdale High School in Arkansas’ largest division, leading them to the state championship game in only his second season. He published a book and instructional video in 2003 titled Hurry Up No Huddle—An Offensive Philosophy, which was used widely throughout Arkansas and even in the NFL. In 2005, Malzahn’s final season at Springdale, he led the Bulldogs to a 14-0 record and Class 5A championship.

“Right before his 40th birthday in 2005, I realized he had met every one of his goals he had made when he entered coaching 15 years prior,” Kristi says. “At that point, I think I knew in my heart that something was about to change.”

Things did change.

Malzahn, like his good friend, Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze, successfully made the jump from coaching high school to college.

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Michael Chang/Getty Images

Malzahn became the offensive coordinator at the University of Arkansas (2006), the University of Tulsa (2007-08), and Auburn University (2009-2011) before being named the head coach at Arkansas State (2012), where he led the Red Wolves to a 9-3 record, the Sun Belt Conference title and to a bowl game.

In 2013, he took the reins of the football program at Auburn University. Malzahn took the Tigers to the BCS national championship game in his first season, despite taking over a program that didn’t win a single conference game the year before. This year, the Tigers were ranked No. 3 in the country eight games into their season (when this issue went to print), again in position to make a run at the national championship.

“Me and my wife Kristi always talk about how we were happy coaching high school— we felt very blessed there,” Malzahn reflects.

“I’ve been at the right place at the right time. Numerous times. I’ve always had really good players, I’ve always had really good coaches around me, and I’ve always had really good administration. So, 15 years of high school, and then I got a chance to go to college—it’s been a true blessing.”

OBEDIENCE

Malzahn has not forgotten the two commitments he made back in 1994—the first to God, the second to his wife and family.

“God is the one who elevates kings and tears them down, as His Word says,” Lunney continues. “He is the one who sets governments and destroys them. Gus Malzahn is a talented football coach. He has a wonderful mind. But look where he is at—who would have ever thought? God places us in those positions. We all have that story.

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God opens doors that no man can open and shuts what no man can shut. The doors have been opened and he’s been placed in a position, and I think he realizes that. You can get caught up in your own abilities—and he’s got them—but at the end of the day, I think he knows that God has opened doors for him, and that’s very humbling.”

Last year during Auburn’s historical season, Krisi Malzahn was reminded, while do-

ing a Bible study with the coaches’ wives, of how her husband’s love took her to a deeper level of spiritiuality.

“When we’ve gone through yucky moments, Gus has shown up in such a way that there is a deep security,” Kristi says. “He loves me regardless. We may have an argument, but he still loves me through it. I still have that security in our relationship—he wants what is good for me, and I want what is good for him. It reminds me of God’s love.

It’s unconditional—He knows everything about me, and He is still okay with me and still loves me.”

These two things—Malzahn’s commitment to God and his family—remain at the crux of his humility. He is quick to point out that everything he has, including his platform as the head coach at Auburn, comes from something much bigger than himself.

“That really sums it up: I’m just one blessed guy,” Malzahn says. “There are a lot of guys who could be doing exactly what I’m doing if they’re given the opportunity. I feel very blessed to be given the opportunity that I am in.”

Says Kristi: “God says, ‘Obey me,’ and if you are obedient, you will be blessed. The blessing, however, is just being at His feet.”

And sometimes, bowing before His feet allows Him to move through our own—and take us places we never expected.

Stephen Copeland is a staff writer at Sports Spectrum magazine.

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Win Mcnamee / Getty Images

WHY THE Mind MATTERS

Former Indianapolis Colts tight end Ben Utecht has a passion for both the physical health of the brain and the spiritual health of the mind

BY STEPHEN COPELAND Oliver Burston / Wellcome Images / Getty Images

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re you ever afraid, Ben?” the reporter asks.

He doesn’t answer right away.

How could he not be afraid? What would it be like to have symptoms of brain loss?

Holes in your memory that you cannot resolve? A future that seems as foggy as your past? All in your early 30s.

This is the life of former Indianapolis Colts tight end and Super Bowl XLI champion Ben Utecht.

Utecht, 33, suffered five concussions during his six-year NFL playing career and started to experience memory loss at the mere age of 30. His career-ending concussion in 2009 was so traumatic he spent eight months in rehab battling dizziness and amnesia.

The effects from his concussions have been long lasting and deeply personal. For example, he does not remember being a groomsman in his good friend’s wedding. Nor does he remember singing a solo during the ceremony.

In case there ever comes a day where he does not remember those who mean the most to him—namely his wife and his three little daughters—he wrote a song titled, “You Will Always Be My Girls,” that will be included on his recently completed album, Man Up. The song went viral, and the music video has accumulated more than 800,000 views on YouTube.

“Fears come in all shapes and sizes,” Utecht answers the reporter. “In many ways, fear reveals my lack of trust and presents

“I don’t live in bitterness about the fact that there could be a possibility in the future I could be effected by CTE... because that is a part of this football world. I care about how I’m going to choose to handle it... It’s about how I’m going to choose to use it to reflect my beliefs and my faith.” a lot of challenges to me. Perfect love drives away fear. What’s interesting about 2 Timothy 1:7 (‘For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind’) is that fear is referred to as a spirit. Not the human emotion of fear, the spirit of fear. It’s always at work.”

“Jesus says, ‘Who do you fear? A man that can beat the physical body and torture the physical body but do nothing to your soul?

Or do you fear He who can place His judgment upon the soul?’…

The idea of physical death and torture scares me if I’m to be perfectly honest. But that’s why we need Jesus.”

Physical Health of the Brain

These sad realities—his faded memories and others that have turned entirely to black—have inspired Utecht to take action.

In July 2014, he testified before Congress, asking Senators in the room to help him do something about brain disease and continue to invest in brain research. “It took losing my mind to care about my mind,” he told them.

"In current medical practice, we don’t do enough about brain health,” says Andrew Newberg, director of research at the Myrna 28

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Brind Center for Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa., and author of How God Changes Your Brain. “That, to me, is a little odd. If you tear a muscle, you usually get help. You will heat it. You will massage it. You will stretch it. You will do all these things…But if something happens with the brain, we don’t do anything.”

Newberg says he sometimes meets with patients in the concussion center at the hospital, usually to find out they are entirely unaware about the health of their own brains.

The world of football, Utecht says, mirrors this same ignorance.

So he wants to attack the problem where it starts—the very beginning of a child’s football career. He believes there is a concussion epidemic in football today mainly because people lack knowledge (ironically) about the health of their own brains. Utecht wants to

Tight end Ben Utecht of the Indianapolis Colts nurses his head after being hit by free safety C.C. Brown of the Houston Texans as tight end Dallas Clark checks on him.

educate parents of youth football players about concussions and stress to them the importance of finding a neurologist for their child at an early age—especially if they go on to play football in high school, college, or the NFL. In a September 2014 study by PBS Frontline, 76 out of 79 deceased NFL players suffered from some form of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease, and 101 of 128 former football players—professional, college, and high school—suffered from CTE. Overall, 78.9 percent of football players and 96.2 percent of NFL players suffered from the disease.

“I don’t live in bitterness about the fact that there could be a

possibility in the future I could be effected by CTE,” Utecht says, “because that is a part of this football world. I care about how I’m going to choose to handle it if in fact it ever becomes a problem.

It’s about how I’m going to choose to use it to reflect my beliefs and my faith.”

His mission in bringing awareness to neurologic disease is one he never expected yet has accepted because of his desire to impact lives.

In April 2014, Utecht received the 2014 Public Leadership in Neurology Award from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the American Brain Foundation (ABF). In June, the AAN and Brian Bahr / Getty Images

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Ben Utecht #81 of the Cincinnati Bengals is brought down by Daryl Smith #52 and Drayton Florence #21 of Jacksonville Jaguars after making a reception at Paul Brown Stadium November 2, 2008 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

ABF named him their national spokesperson.

“It’s not always fun to talk about your career ending, and this and that,” Utecht says, “but, you know, there are a lot of people who don’t have a voice and who need help. One in six in this world are affected by brain disease…I think, if anything, I’m trying to get people to be more emotionally connected to the importance of their brains. It’s the one organ in our bodies that the Lord created and reflects who He is.”

Spiritual Health of the Brain

Utecht’s attention toward matters of the brain has allowed him to step into an entirely new world, not only in a physical and sci30

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Matthew Stockman / Getty Images

entific sense, but also in a spiritual sense. The spiritual health of one’s brain is important to him as well.

“The most intricately designed aspect of who we are is our brains,” Utecht says. “And it’s the avenue in which God ministers.”

Philosopher and theologian J.P. Moreland, author of Love Your God With All Your Mind, has also made this his rallying cry—calling the church to “dedicate herself to the vibrant life of the mind.”

“It’s on the basis of knowledge that we give people authority in society,” he says. “A doctor can operate on me because he has authority, not because he has faith that he can do so. A lawyer can write a contract because he knows what it takes to write a contract, not because he has a wonderful set of beliefs about

studies about neuropathways, for example, indicate that we become what we do—the pathways in our brain, or grooves, are carved deeper and deeper based upon our decisions and habits.

For example, the pathways in a pessimist’s brain are deeply ingrained because he or she has habitually chosen to think negatively. The pathways in an optimist’s brain are deeply ingrained because he or she has habitually chosen to think positively.

“In the context of sports, ‘focus’ is when you keep doing the same thing over and over so that when the game comes, it happens more naturally,” Newberg says. “The really great athletes have gotten in, what they call, ‘The Zone’ because they aren’t concentrating anymore—it’s flowing through them. Some people call them ‘flow states.’ I think those kind of experiences and those kind of feelings are actually similar to the spiritual experiences that people sometimes have.”

As Newberg says, our brains can also be rewired based on our repetitions within a specific behavior. A pessimist does not forever have to remain a pessimist. “(The Apostle) Paul has said to present our bodies as a sacrifice to God,” continues Moreland. “We present the organs of our body to God as instruments of righteousness. But what does that mean?”

“By presenting a part of your body to God, that means you take

“The most intricately designed aspect of who we are is our brains...and it’s the avenue in which God ministers.”

it. And so we give people authority, not because they have real strong beliefs in an area, but because they know something about that area.”

Logically, as Moreland says, it would make sense to be able to back up one’s beliefs with knowledge about those beliefs. But how does this apply in day-to-day living?

“Scripture says that, when you come into a relationship with Christ, the old is gone, the new has come, and you are a new creation,” Utecht continues. “It says that we are being transformed into the likeness of Christ. Clearly that is not saying we will be transformed into a Hebrew-type body with long, brown hair,” he laughs. “Rather, we are being transformed into the likeness of Christ’s mind.”

Being transformed into this “likeness” also has a lot with our willingness to take part in God’s sanctification process. Newberg’s

that body part and you begin to engage in practices that train and re-groove that part of your body…They have done brain scans on people and told them to think positive thoughts and to express gratitude regularly; after an eight-week period of time, it is harder for that person to have anxiety and depression. So, by presenting our bodies as instruments of righteousness we are to engage in habits and practices of thoughts and feeling, which will re-groove the brain.”

Moreland believes there to be a distinct difference between the brain and the mind. He says that just as a driver cannot drive a car if the automobile is broken, the mind cannot operate to its full capacity if the brain is broken. The difference between the brain and the mind, he says, is one of the things that points to a higher being and a call to spiritual living.

A recent Gallup Poll, for example, revealed that nine to 12 million Americans have had near-death experiences within the last three years. Moreland mentions that a person who has entered in to a near-death experience—though he does not have his brain, eyes, or any of his organs—often enters into a totally conscious life outside of his body. For example, though a person’s entire body is unconscious, he or she might still see doctors operating on that body.

“You can’t get the mind from matter,” Moreland adds. “If you start with matter, you can’t get the mind into existence. But if you start with a Being who is Himself a mind, God, then there is no problem explaining where mind can come from—because you start with a Being that has a mind.”

Newberg also mentions that he has performed brain scans on nuns and other deeply religious people who have adapted a lifestyle of meditation. “Those people literally have thicker brains that seem to work better,” he says.

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healthier, then perhaps, in our most natural state, we are spiritual beings.

“There is a book that just came out (What Your Body Knows About God) from InterVarsity Press, and the discoveries they are making show that the brain functions best when you obey New Testament principles,” Moreland continues. “Your brain works best when you are thankful, when you forgive—those things are healthy for the brain. The author makes the point that the brain appears to be structured so that when there is a connection with God and depends on Him, the brain works better.”

Moreland would agree that if the Bible is true in saying that we are made in God’s image, then it would make sense that our brains, the most intricate organ in our body, would thrive when it reflects God’s original intent.

“What made Jesus so impactful could arguably be his brain,” Utecht says. “What would be interesting is if you could do an MRI or a TET scan on the brains of the disciples and Jesus and just watch in awe.”

“Your brain works best when you are thankful, when you forgive—those things are healthy for the brain.”

“This is fully speculative,” Newberg laughs, “but (if that were to happen) I would expect a pattern I had never seen before.”

Surrender

When Utecht shares his testimony, he often poses the question: “What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘surrender’?”

“As an athlete, that is hard,” Utecht says. “It’s weakness. It’s loss. It’s the white flag. It’s failure. But it’s the complete and total opposite through Kingdom eyes. It’s the first and essential step that has to take place before you can actually live, before you can be strong, before you can actually be victorious.”

Surrender is something that has encapsulated every facet and phase of Utecht’s spiritual life. When his career ended early, he had to surrender his future. When doors within the neurological field began to open, he had to surrender his career. As he’s battled with the frustrations and bitter realities of memory loss, he has had to surrender his very own health.

“I don’t doubt that on my deathbed, I will still experience new lessons in what it means to surrender,” Utecht says. “That, to me, is why I agree with one of my mentors who said, ‘We don’t serve a God of the event; we serve a God of the process.’ It doesn’t mean He can’t do it in the event, because He can and He does sometimes, but He lives in the process. When we live in the process and when we step back and recognize that none of our life is about the things we accomplish, we realize that it is about answering these questions: Have we heard the calling of Jesus? Have we said ‘yes’ to Him? And have we surrendered to whatever it is he has asked us to do?”

They are questions at the very crux of our existence.

And the answers to these questions must be processed in our minds.

Stephen Copeland is a staff writer at Sports Spectrum magazine.

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Ben Utecht (second from left) testifies before the Senate Special Committee on June 25, 2014 in Washington, DC.

CLICK HERE

to watch Ben Utecht’s music video dedicated to his wife and daughters Win Mcnamee / Getty Images

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ANOTHER ANGLE

BY STEPHEN COPELAND

OPINION

stephen.copeland@sportsspectrum.com | Follow @steve_copeland

W

‘God of the process’

hen I sat down to write this column, I had wandered into a bookstore in my hometown—on a cold, rainy Monday in central Indiana—both anxious and discouraged over the happenings of the day, and, quite frankly, the week.

The weekend before, for example, I had downloaded the new Apple operating system, and it had crashed my WiFi, which, in today’s Internetdependent society is quite a helpless feeling, sadly.

All of this severely stunted my writing productivity for the weekend, which felt as if someone had taken my legs.

I spent three hours on the phone with Apple on Saturday afternoon, another seven hours re-downloading the operating system that evening (only to discover the Internet still did not work), and another three hours at the Apple Store on Sunday where a genius, at the Genius Bar, finally fixed it.

The only thing I “accomplished” that weekend was a 6-5 record on Madden (I suppose “accomplished” is a bit ambiguous). As far as my writing, all I had to offer was a blank page. Not a single word. And I was once again confronted with a lie that I too often believe: I am what I accomplish.

As the week ensued, it unfortunately seemed to mirror the weekend. I would write and write, but amidst traveling, meetings, and other commitments, I just could not seem to get anything done.

Finally, I experienced what felt like a very “accomplishing” day on Saturday, when a respected author was very encouraging about a project we were about to launch, but then I experienced a déjà vu-type frustration on Monday when my phone died and its charger would not work—writers do not need their phones much, but this was the one day I needed it.

I could not help but wonder: Was God trying to teach me something?

Frustrated, I drove to the Verizon store and was reminded of a quote I had just read in Henri Nouwen’s The Return of the Prodigal Son (ironically, I had started reading the book the weekend my computer crashed): “It takes very little to raise me up or thrust me down. Often I am like a small boat on the ocean, completely at the mercy of its waves…an anxious struggle resulting from the mistaken idea that it is the world that defines me.”

This is often how I feel. Whether I am struggling to write, struggling to find the time to write, or struggling to complete what I am writing, it is a double-edged sword where I feel God’s presence but also wrestle with Satan’s lies, where I’m chewing a juicy steak one second then grinding my teeth the next. I experience fulfillment and worthlessness, security and insecurity. It is much like love: The closer you get, the better it feels, and the more it hurts.

The Verizon store fired up my phone, sold me an Apple-manufactured charger (which was expectedly way too expensive), and this

Win Mcnamee / Getty Images

was when I wandered into the bookstore to write.

After writing for an hour or two, I looked behind me and noticed a number of books on display by Malcolm Gladwell. I picked up his Outliers book and flipped to Chapter 2, “The 10,000-Hour Rule.”

Its simple premise is that it takes approximately 10,000 hours to become an expert in anything. What I realized was that this was a lot of hours—416 days, to be exact—and that so much of this life is about the process of growth, not the event where completion or status or an accomplishment is attained. And yet, I am often so focused on completion that I rob myself of joy in the process.

I was reminded of my recent interview with former Indianapolis Colts tight end Ben Utecht, featured in this issue. Utecht is a talented singer and musician, yet success has not come as quickly as he might have expected.

“That, to me, is why I agree with one of my mentors who said, ‘We don’t serve a God of the event; we serve a God of the process,’” Utecht says. “It doesn’t mean He can’t do it in the event, because He can and He does sometimes, but He lives in the process.”

At the age of 29, Utecht suffered a careerending concussion, and, like most athletes (who aren’t seemingly eternal like Cal Ripken Jr. or Adam Vinatieri), he was forced to enter into a world in which he felt incredibly behind. The last four years have been a period of self-discovery where he has grappled with his worth and identity while also doing what he loves: making music.

“You really have to realize that in music there is no equation for success—you do the best you can, you write with sincerity and authenticity, and maybe, just maybe, if the timing is right and the song is right, you’ll have a chance,” he says. “That’s why, in art, you only do it if you can’t do anything else, and what I mean by that is…it drives you, it moves you. You do it because it is a part of who you are and because you love it, because you know that is what your calling is.”

Utecht writes and sings because he enjoys it. He never entered the music industry to conquer it. Now, Utecht is about to complete his fourth album titled Man Up, yet it was the process that made completion worthwhile.

“When I try to begin to manage it or control it, is when I really begin to really feel the pressure and the stress of the world on my shoulders,” he says. “When I am able to step back and surrender it and trust in Him—Proverbs 3:5-6—when I am able to live my faith out, then peace is there and joy is there, and excited anticipation of what is around the corner and what the Lord can do.

That is kind of where I am at.”

And it’s where I want to be.

“We don’t serve a God of the event; we serve a God of the process.”

Stephen Copeland is a writer at Sports Spectrum. Follow him on Twitter @steve_copeland.

SPORTS SPECTRUM ~ DIGIMAG 2014

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