(Photo Courtesy: Central Florida/Twitter @UCF_Football)
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” — 1 Peter 2: 9-10
Defining Our Identity
If you look in the NCAA record book, there are two national champions listed for the 2017 college football season: Alabama and Central Florida. The Knights were included because they finished first in a computer rankings system called the Colley Matrix. Despite a 12-0 record, UCF was left out of the College Football Playoff, but that didn’t stop the school and its fans from creating national championship apparel following its win over Auburn in the Peach Bowl. The team’s official Twitter account even includes a 2017 national championship as part of its bio.
UCF could have listened to the selection committee and everyone else saying it didn’t deserve a spot in the playoff. Instead, the Knights choose to celebrate their incredible season.
So often in life, we have society telling us one thing and the Bible telling us another. There is a decision to make in those moments, because both can’t always be true. The world says our identity is found in things like our job, how much money we have and physical appearance.
God says we are His children, special possessions He treasures and loves dearly. He promises a future for us that is more marvelous than anything we can begin to imagine. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, God showed He will do anything for His children.
If we really believe those things, then our identity is found in our relationship with Him and only Him. The more we can remind ourselves of that, the more joyful and hopeful we can be.
— Joshua Doering
If you would like to submit a reader devotional, please email all submissions to jason@sportsspectrum.com.
Mike Macdonald in February 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST HOSTED BY JASON ROMANO, FEATURING MIKE MACDONALD
Mike Macdonald was named the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks in 2024 and immediately made a big impact, leading the Seahawks to a Super Bowl championship in 2025-26. Prior to becoming the Seahawks head coach, he was a longtime assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens, Georgia Bulldogs and Michigan Wolverines.
Today on the podcast, Mike Macdonald shares about winning the Super Bowl, developing a culture in Seattle, being outspoken about his faith, and what it means to “run it forward” in 2026.
New York Giants QBs Jaxson Dart (6) and veteran Jameis Winston (19), Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Jerome Miron)
“For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother. Then he taught me, and he said to me, ‘Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live.’” — Proverbs 4:3-4
If an NFL team has a young quarterback who may develop into the face of the franchise, one of the primary qualities that team will look for in a backup QB is the ability to mentor. The energetic newcomer will be eager to make his mark on the league, but he won’t know how.
That’s where the vet steps in, because often, he’s been in the rookie’s shoes.
He knows all the tips and tricks to get the better of NFL defenses. He’s learned how to be disciplined in studying film, eating right and getting proper sleep. He’s been through the unique pressures of carrying the hopes of a franchise on his shoulders. And now, the value he adds to the team is the ability to pass all that knowledge, gained through lived experience, on to the rookie.
This principle of the veteran mentoring the rookie was actually included by God Himself in the Book of Proverbs. For centuries, Proverbs has been used by older men and women to mentor and guide the younger generation into an abundant and lengthy life of devotion to God. It’s full of pithy sayings that communicate a number of incredibly valuable and often profound life lessons. And all of these lessons derive from joyful submission to God. In Chapter 4, the writer reveals where he gained such wisdom:
“For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother. Then he taught me, and he said to me, ‘Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live.’” — Proverbs 4:3-4
The wise sayings in the Book of Proverbs aren’t just a bunch of good ideas or rules we need to follow. They are given to us because they are good for us. They lead to our flourishing, and we can only flourish when we live as God designed us to live — by loving Him, being loved by Him and trusting Him to guide us into all righteousness.
But as is true with most things, that is easier said than done. We don’t know how. It’s for this very reason that God gave us the gift of putting older Christians in our lives who have been in our shoes. They know what it’s like to be your age.
Do not despise their mentorship, but lean on their wisdom as you seek to live the Christian life.
Former Florida and NFL quarterback Danny Wuerffel (second from right) with the "Donaldsonville Ball" at the 2025 Desire Street Ministries fundraiser. (Photo courtesy of Danny Wuerffel)
The ballroom at TPC Sawgrass was filled with the sound of applause, tears and reverence as the Donaldsonville Ball was auctioned for $130,000 at the annual Desire Cup, hosted by the Wuerffel Foundation. The sale pushed its value to $500,000, making it the most expensive autographed football ever recorded.
What makes this football unique is that it isn’t signed by a Heisman winner or a Hall of Famer. Instead, the signatures belong to children in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, from the ministry that Danny Wuerffel volunteered at during his time with the New Orleans Saints.
“Every single human being has value, dignity and worth,” said Wuerffel, the executive director of Desire Street Ministries and 1996 Heisman Trophy winner. “I love football because it’s a team sport, and I think that life is a team sport. But the reality is we live in a world where we create an ‘us and them’ narrative when we look at people, so I hope this story pushes back against that narrative.”
Let’s rewind a few years back to the beginning of how this football came to life in the small town of Donaldsonville.
After winning the Heisman Trophy at Florida, Wuerffel was drafted by the Saints in 1997. It was there that he began volunteering in the impoverished Desire Street neighborhood. Later in 2005, when Hurricane Katrina destroyed Desire Street Ministries’ facility, Wuerffel took charge, helping locate students and rebuild the New Orleans community center.
In 2007, Desire Street partnered with a local church that worked with children from troubled homes at the Donaldsonville recreation center. The group invited Wuerffel to speak at the event. At the end of the night, to express their gratitude, the children signed a football and gave it to Wuerffel.
Wuerffel kept the ball on his desk for years as a reminder of the children he met and their generosity.
So grateful for @espn@ESPNCFB for sharing the story about how this football presented to me by kids from Donaldsonville, LA has helped us all remember we’re each created in God’s image and are valuable. Our @DesireStreet partners are supported by amazing donors. pic.twitter.com/oqylCKulTz
Fast forward to 2011, the Wuerffel Foundation put on the Desire Cup, a fundraiser for Desire Street Ministries that happens in conjunction with the Florida-Georgia football game. The weekend includes a gala and an auction followed by a shotgun golf tournament the next day.
At that year’s gala, a football signed by Wuerffel and Georgia legend Herschel Walker sold for $10,000. The next day, Wuerffel had an idea.
“Danny brought up the idea about auctioning off the Donaldsonville Football,” said James Gadsby, the chief operating officer of Desire Street Ministries and executive director of the Wuerffel Foundation. “He talked about how much the ball meant to him because of what the kids did to show their appreciation for him coming. He wondered whether anyone would even pay $5 for a ball that meant so much to him. His inspiration came from the belief that every person has infinite worth, created in God’s image, so he took a risk and put it up for auction.”
The next year at the Desire Cup, Wuerffel auctioned off the football and held his breath waiting for the crowd’s response.
“I never expected it to be this influential,” Wuerffel said. “I was really confident in the value proposition but at the same time, I was scared to death that nobody else would see it, so it felt a little risky.”
That night, the Donaldsonville Ball sold for $11,000 and the first winning bidder was announced, David Hodges.
Throughout the year, Hodges kept the ball on his desk as a reminder. Then Hodges himself had an idea.
“The next year, David reached out to Danny and offered to donate it back so that it could become an annual tradition,” Gadsby said. “It was an incredibly gracious and generous offer from him.”
Every year since, the Donaldsonville Ball has been the final item auctioned at the Desire Street gala as a constant reminder that every person has worth and value.
The ball not only raises money for Desire Street, but it touches the people who win it.
“David was the first to notice that when people asked about the football and he told them the story, they were moved by it,” Wuerffel said. “That really set the tone. Over the years, people have shared how they display it, what it means to them and their guests, and how the story continues to spread positivity.”
A few years into its journey, the ball reached a significant milestone.
“Some of the leading voices in autograph memorabilia told us that it was valued more than any football ever signed,” Wuerffel said. “And I thought, ‘Are you kidding me?’”
Going into the 2025 Desire Cup in October, the Wuerffel Foundation had a goal: to get the ball to be worth half a million dollars (the amount spent on it during the auction over the years). To make it to this goal, the ball had to be auctioned off for $130,000.
The event started and old players, coaches, friends and fans mingled around the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, until they were all called into the main room for dinner. Following a series of announcements and activities, the evening reached its final portion — the auction.
Several items were sold before the one everyone anticipated: the Donaldsonville Ball. The room fell silent as every head turned to Wuerffel, who stood on stage sharing his hope and dream of reaching a half-million-dollar valuation. He explained the mission behind the football and the message it represents.
Then the bidding began.
Before long, two donors — Hugh and Kalah Hathcock, and Kevin Edmonson — came together and split the amount, officially getting the Donaldsonville Ball to $500,000.
The room erupted in applause, and every seat was emptied as a standing ovation filled the room. It was a moment marked in history that all came from a simple idea from Wuerffel with a dream to get the message across that every person has value.
“To hit a half a million dollars, that’s incredible to be a part of, and it was so special that night. The people who really went out of their way to help get it there meant a lot,” Wuerffel said.
The story doesn’t end there, though. The inaugural winner, David Hodges, was unable to attend the gala last year, but he informed Wuerffel that he would like to support half of the $130,000 needed to reach the milestone. Thus, the other two donors covered the rest. A perfect full-circle moment.
With the football now valued at $500,000, the question becomes: What happens next?
With the Florida-Georgia game moving to Atlanta from Jacksonville, so too will the Desire Cup, Oct. 29-30, followed by the game on Oct. 31 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“We’ve been thinking about retiring the ball, but there’s been so much continued positivity,” Wuerffel said. “We had a person challenge us, saying, ‘Your ball has lived a long life cycle at this particular event, but there’s other events that you’re at that you could share this story.’”
Whether the ball is retired or keeps on raising money for Desire Street Ministries, it will never lose its legacy.
It started as an idea from Wuerffel that was rooted in humility and care for others, and now a football most people wouldn’t pay just $5 for is the most expensive signed football in history.
“As a person, this story is so touching,” Gadsby said. “Even though I’ve seen the video [shown at the event] dozens of times, at the end it says, ‘I’m no one important but if my signature can help in that way, that’s a blessing.’ I still tear up watching that.”
Cody Bellinger of the New York Yankees poses with the MVP trophy after the MLB All-Star Game, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” — Isaiah 49:15-16
Every July, MLB releases the rosters for the All-Star Game between the National and American League. From this, two talking points are always front and center — who got selected and who got snubbed. After the brief and initial fanfare of celebrating those who were selected, whether it be starters or reserves, the conversation shifts focus to those who were snubbed.
Snubbed players will get asked about not being selected and the reactions will vary depending on the player. Some will be more reserved, while others will bluntly express their anger about not making the cut. Even this year, several players came out and voiced their frustrations about being left out.
For followers of Christ, there are times when it can feel like God is doing the same thing — selecting some, snubbing others — even to those who proclaim His name. Some see the success and good fortune of other Christians, but struggle to see similar results and accolades surrounding them. This kind of feeling is something the enemy thrives on and will continue to pick at by any means necessary in order to keep a person from God’s truth.
God promises all of His people that He will always remember them. This theme is found time and time again throughout Scripture. In Deuteronomy 31:8, Moses assures Joshua that God will always be by his side: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
While Scripture never promises that each person will receive the same accolades or notoriety here on earth, followers of Christ can take solace in knowing that God will never forget about them or just leave them to do life on their own. While that may not make things easier, it absolutely provides hope.
