Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles throws during the first half of Super Bowl 52 (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” — Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT)
Move Forward
As an athlete, you’re sometimes told to have a short memory. The idea of having a short memory is most prominent when a big mistake is made (strikeout, turnover, error, missed free throw, etc.). We learn from the mistake, make an adjustment and move forward. Otherwise, carrying the weight of your mistake into your next opportunity almost always sets us up for failure.
How about carrying your past successes? What if Eagles quarterback Nick Foles stopped practicing because he led the team to a Super Bowl victory last season? He can’t just hang it up, he still has a job to do! Constantly basking in the “good ole days” keeps you tied to the past as well. You’re actually making the agreement that God has nothing better for your future when you’re unable to let go of a past success.
Dr. Tony Evans, a chaplain of the Dallas Mavericks, says, “God is calling you forward. He’s calling you to take hold of your inheritance, authority and domain. But you’ll never get there if the past is weighing you down. It’s time for you to have a funeral for yesterday.”
Whether you’re following Jesus for the first time or have known Him for a while, leave your past failures behind. You’re forgiven! Jesus gives you the ability to repent and be a new creation. Let your past blessings only serve as a beautiful memory that pushes you toward His future faithfulness.
— Ryan Noelte
If you would like to submit a reader devotional, please email all submissions to jason@sportsspectrum.com.
I grew up in a family that loves horses. Both my parents spent time in their childhood around these beautiful animals and I’ve had opportunities to ride and be around them as well. When watching a horse competition on TV a while ago, I was reminded of what wonderful examples they can be, especially since there are so many similarities between them and personality traits of people. Whether you’re a parent, coach, leader, spouse or friend, I hope you find these lessons helpful as I have.
1) Don’t miss the power of encouragement. If you watch good show riders, they will often give the horse encouragement mid-run. They understand the power of positive enforcement — the more you let the horse know you are pleased with them and their performance, the more they will want to continue trying and doing well.
Unfortunately, many lead from a place of negative energy — they’re always telling people everything that’s wrong instead of focusing on the little wins and lifting them up to the level they are wanting. We don’t need to stroke anybody’s ego, but some positive praise and encouragement go a long way.
2) Heart, courage and confidence are what matters, not appearance. Sometimes you’ll get a horse that isn’t all that attractive or necessarily the biggest in the show, but they make up for what they lack in physical qualities with the inner qualities of their spirit. They believe in their training. They trust their rider. They go out there with bravery and sell the performance by the heart they show.
The Bible actually talks a lot about the importance of the inner spirit. David’s brothers were passed up as choices for becoming king because God was looking more at the condition of their heart than how they looked (1 Samuel 16:7). God is always more concerned with what’s going on inside your soul than your outward size or appearance. That should be what matters most to us, too.
3) Transformation takes time. You can’t instantly turn a horse into an eventer. There is a process of teaching them how to carry themselves, respond to the rider’s moves, tune out distractions, and so much more. The most successful competitors in the sport have put in hours upon hours of instruction and time and energy that got them where they are.
The same goes for any growth in our own lives. Part of the beauty of the journey is the process, not just the destination. We must give grace and be patient with how God is changing us and those we love into who we’re all meant to be. This won’t come overnight.
4) Learn to identify and manage givers and takers. Like people, there are horses that are givers and some that are takers. Some horses will continuously go above and beyond to please, while others are harder to get a giving performance out of. The key for the trainer and the rider is to mold even the takers into something as close to a giver as possible (James 3:3).
I can’t help but think that this is part of what God is doing also (Isaiah 64:8, above). Some of us are more easily moldable, while others are more of a stubborn nature so God has to work more with them. But the goal for each is that we turn into more selfless, giving people who look like the Savior we know and follow.
Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. (3) stiff arms a Penn State defender, Nov. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Win or lose, Indiana’s dream season will culminate Monday night as the undefeated Hoosiers (15-0) face Miami (13-2) in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. This Indiana unit already owns the most wins school history, but it could become the first major college team in the modern era to reach 16 victories (only Yale in 1894 has gone 16-0).
No single play defines a season, but if there’s one that was perhaps a catalyst for IU’s incredible run, it was Omar Cooper Jr.’s toe-tapping, game-winning catch on the road at Penn State on Nov. 8.
Cooper snagged the pass from eventual Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza in the back of the end zone, tapping his foot just inside the boundary as a defender tried to push him out of bounds. With just 36 seconds remaining, the catch kept Indiana’s perfect season alive and its hopes of playing for a Big Ten championship. The Hoosiers won out in the regular season, then defeated defending national champion Ohio State in the conference championship to earn the No. 1 seed for the College Football Playoff.
“That drive will go down in the annals of Indiana history as one of the most special moments that ever took place,” head coach Curt Cignetti told Hoosiers radio voice Don Fischer after the game. “Penn State was bringing everybody and we went into max protection. Cooper made an unbelievable catch. It’s a game of inches.”
On a team heavily comprised of transfers, especially those who came over from James Madison with Cignetti prior to last season, Cooper is one of the few who has spent his entire college career in Bloomington. The junior from Indianapolis has played in all 15 games this season and leads the Hoosiers in receptions (64) and receiving yards (866), and is second in touchdowns with 13.
In his first two years at IU, Cooper primarily lined up out wide, but he’s found success this season as a slot receiver. He told IUHoosiers.com that he likes the position because it gives him more route-running options.
“It allows my game to be more open and involved,” he said. “At first, I didn’t want to play slot, so I’m actually glad they made that decision.”
His team-high yards mark was aided by a career performance in Indiana’s 73-0 win over Indiana State on Sept. 12: 10 catches for 207 yards and four touchdowns. His next stat-heavy game came in a 38-13 win over Michigan State on Oct. 18, when he caught eight passes for 115 yards and a touchdown.
He’s come a long way since his freshman year, when he caught 18 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns. Speaking at an event on campus in November, he talked about how his faith played a pivotal role in his career, especially early on.
“Early in my college career, football wasn’t going well for me,” he said. “I just was expecting more and hoping for more. I just was spiraling bad after that.”
Randomly, Proverbs 3:5-6 popped into his head. The verse says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
“In that moment, I was scared, but I felt peace,” he said at the on-campus event. “The fact that that just randomly happened — knowing that I wasn’t really living the life that I was supposed to be living, that God had planned for me, and I turned to the worldly things — it just sent a peace over my head and what I was going through. Ever since then, Jesus just truly changed the way that I see life.”
Cooper wears eye black in the shape of a cross as a statement of his faith in God and often uses his social media to proclaim his faith, with his Instagram bio stating that he’s a “Follower of Christ.” Many of his posts include Scripture.
After his big game against Indiana State, he deflected any praise toward him and instead gave thanks to God.
“First, I just want to give all the glory and praise to God. I wouldn’t have been able to have that without Him,” Cooper said.
Cooper has another year of eligibility after this one, but he’ll have a decision to make following the championship game on whether to return to IU or enter the NFL Draft. With a sprint speed of nearly 22 miles per hour, he’s one of the fastest receivers in the Big Ten. Mendoza said Cooper’s combination of speed and catching skills will earn him a spot on an NFL roster.
Whichever level he chooses to play at, Cooper’s faith will remain at the forefront. Before he takes the field for a game, he recites Colossians 3:23-24: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
“I tell myself that every time I go on the field,” he told IUHoosiers.com. “It helps me push to the next level.”
The Bible is full of life lessons and principles for us to abide by, with one book in particular known to give great wisdom: Proverbs. Recently, I was reading Proverbs 29 and found five lessons we would do well to lead by:
1) Gossip isn’t just harmful to spread, it’s harmful to hear. Sure, as leaders or teammates, we know we shouldn’t gossip. But it goes further — we shouldn’t even listen to gossip. It might seem harmless, but when a leader listens, it spreads negativity through the entire team. Proverbs 29:12 says, “If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.”
2) Value every member of your team. Never overlook, dismiss, misplace anger on, or devalue the young coach, the player who rarely plays, the entry-level employee, or anyone else who might feel voiceless. Treat everyone with love, respect, justice and appreciation for their contribution. When you do, you gain healthy authority and respect. Proverbs 29:14 (MSG) says, “Leadership gains authority and respect when the voiceless poor are treated fairly.”
3) Lead with humility, not pride. Lead with pride, and you’ll fall and suffer public humiliation. But live and lead with humility, and you’ll lead honorably. Proverbs 29:23 tells us, “Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.”
4) Don’t let criticism shake you. Even with the best intentions, perfectly executed plans can still attract criticism. This is summed up perfectly in the quote, “You can be the sweetest and ripest peach, and still there will be someone who hates peaches.” If you let yourself be bothered by the opinions of those who don’t matter, you’ll compromise your standards. Proverbs 29:25 (NLT) warns, “Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.”
5) Expect resistance when you lead righteously. I used to think that striving to be more righteous would bring more support and promotion. The truth is, there will always be those with wicked, evil and ungodly motives who despise you for leading righteously. The sooner you understand and accept that such people will always hate on you as long as you lead the right way, the better off you’ll be. Proverbs 29:27 says, “The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.”
Applying Biblical wisdom will always honor God, regardless of the circumstances or how great the opposition. You will never regret living and leading God’s way.
Miami quarterback Carson Beck scores the game-winning touchdown against Ole Miss, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
If Carson Beck could offer just one lesson from the past 12 months of his life, it’s to trust in God and His plan. Easier said than done, sure, but as he prepares to help Miami vie for a national championship on Monday, he offers his football career as an example.
Before transferring to Miami a year ago, he was a two-year starter at Georgia, where he went 24-3 and was a part of two national championship teams in 2021 and 2022. He entered the 2024 season as one of the top overall prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft, and he played like it — throwing for 3,485 yards and 28 touchdowns with 12 interceptions as Georgia went on to win the SEC title.
But his season was cut short after injuring his elbow on the final play of the first half in Georgia’s SEC championship game win over Texas. He had surgery a few weeks later to repair his ulnar collateral ligament, and just five days later on Dec. 28, he declared for the NFL Draft.
But the surgery meant he’d need to recover and not throw a football for about three months. Then he’d need to rebuild strength in his arm before throwing. Any hopes of working out at the NFL Combine were gone, as were any other pre-draft workouts. ESPN reported that Beck was told to expect to be drafted anywhere from the first to third round, and that some teams may be hesitant to take him with an early-round pick if they couldn’t see him throw ahead of time.
He told ESPN in a recent interview that he was “in a very dark place” and it was hard to see any future in football. So he went to God in prayer and sought advice from others close to him.
“I was just trying to accept what had happened,” he said in April 2025 on the “Built 4 More” podcast with pastor Joby Martin and Denny Thompson, a quarterback coach who has also served as a Godly mentor for Beck. “Just working through my mental and trying to make decisions on what my future was going to look like, we ultimately came to the conclusion that coming back to college was going to be the best idea for me.”
He immediately became one of the top prospects in the transfer portal and signed with Miami shortly after. He played high school football at Mandarin High School in Jacksonville, so returning to Florida provided some level of familiarity. But effectively, it was a fresh start for Beck, who has said on several occasions that since he arrived at Miami, he’s found joy in playing football again.
“Going to a new place with new people and new coaches and kind of revitalizing everything — obviously leaving that behind and moving on to something new created new energy and good energy for me and my mental space,” he said on the podcast. “Ultimately, I do think it was the best decision for me.”
With Beck at the helm, the Hurricanes opened the season as the No. 10 team and quickly knocked off then-No. 6 Notre Dame, 27-24, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami in their first game. Miami finished the regular season 10-2 and snuck into the College Football Playoff as the No. 10 seed, which led to some debates on whether or not they belonged.
But the Hurricanes have handled the criticism on the field, defeating No. 7-seed Texas A&M, 10-3, at Kyle Field, and then beating defending-national-champion and No. 2-seed Ohio State, 24-14, in the Cotton Bowl. Miami then out-dueled No. 6 Ole Miss, 31-27, in the Fiesta Bowl, with Beck’s touchdown run late in the fourth quarter proving to be the game-winner.
“I feel like God has a plan in everything He does and everything ultimately comes into fruition for A, B or C reason,” he said on the podcast. “You end up figuring that out in time. Even after the injury, it wasn’t even in my thought to go back to college.”
Now, he’ll not only get to play for a national championship for the first time as a starter, but he’ll get to do it at home, with Monday’s game being played at Hard Rock Stadium. The Hurricanes have a tall task again in facing unbeaten and No. 1 Indiana, led by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza — who grew up in Miami and will be enjoying a homecoming of his own.
“Throughout this year, the biggest thing that God has taught me is to trust in Him and His plan. Although I might not understand what the end of all of this might look like, His plan will come into fruition no matter what I might be in in the moment,” Beck said ahead of the Fiesta Bowl. “Obviously that can be hard when, you know, back in March I’m sitting there and I’m in a brace and going through rehab, and I can’t throw a football yet, and I can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t know what the season’s going to look like. There’s so many question marks and unknowns. It’s in those moments that you have to lean into that the most.
“Even with that, things aren’t going to be perfect. Things are never going to be perfect. Continuing to lean into that and focusing on my identity in Christ and my faith is something that has really pushed me through. It’s gotten me through everything that I’ve been through.”
Beck — who plays with a cross symbol on his right thigh pad and draws crosses with eye black on his face for games — will lead the Canes against Indiana in the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
