It’s Super Bowl week and so we’re going to indulge ourselves in some appropriate lessons learned from the gridiron. In fact, you’re going to get a couple of stories this about the same guy. No apology for that, however, because the lessons learned are more than worth the double mention!

    I’m a big Longhorn fan. I didn’t go to the University of Texas, but I’ve lived in Austin 20 years. One of the Longhorns, Brett Robin, grew up at our congregation. Brett is the third down specialist back for the Longhorns and is a fine young man from a great family. So we were especially thrilled with the strong performance he had in the Holiday Bowl, especially in the two huge comebacks in the fourth quarter of the game. But Brett isn’t the main story this time. In fact, the game itself, and the great comeback, isn’t the story that is key to me.

    Major Applewhite had been thrust into a starting role as quarterback for the Longhorns as a red-shirt freshman because of injuries. All he did was win game after game, setting all kinds of passing records. His sophomore year, he was Big 12 offensive player of the year. By the end of his junior year, he had held most passing record for the Longhorns. One huge problem, however, is that he finished his junior season by hurting one of his knees (he had injured the other one at the end of the previous season).

    Chris Simms, the golden boy high school All American with the rifle arm started in the 2001 Holiday Bowl and every game in the 2001 season. While brilliant in several games, Simms had a horrible game against Oklahoma and a disastrous first half in the Big 12 championship game against Colorado — 3 interceptions and a fumble. Applewhite, who had basically been kept on the shelf his whole Senior season, came off the bench to lead an incredible comeback that almost won the game.

    During his last season as a college player, much like the previous season when Applewhite started and Simms sat on the bench, Major was confronted every single day by reporters and fans about the “quarterback controversy” and how he felt about Chris Simms. Many UT fans felt he had been treated unfairly after he had meant so much to the program. “You don’t lose your starting job to injury,” many complained. Others felt like Simms was the clearly superior quarterback. Reporters constantly kept the pot stirred, raising the issue at every opportunity. When confronted about the ongoing controversy, both Applewhite and Simms handled the issue better than family, friends, and fans. That didn’t mean it was easy for either of them!

    During his hard Senior year, Major often responded to questions about the quarterback controversy by saying that he wished he could start, but that God wants us to submit our will to those in authority over us, so God must have a plan that would make it all work out okay. It was hard for reporters to understand this attitude. I’m sure it was unbelievably hard for Major to keep that attitude. It was, however, a perspective that many Christians found refreshing; a high profile example of character that is so uncommon.

    So...

It was, however, a perspective that many Christians found refreshing; a high profile example of character that is so uncommon.

    After sitting out for the whole season, Major Applewhite was given the opportunity to start at quarterback in the Holiday Bowl because of his great performance in the previous game. Everything was on the line: a top 10 finish for the first time in nearly two decades, a potential pro career (as a coach or player), coach Mack Brown’s reputation, and personal vindication for Major Applewhite. The radio talk shows buzzed. The papers carried articles on the quarterback situation nearly every day. TV reporters swarmed around the two quarterbacks trying to pick at them and provoke controversy. Again, both young men handled a tough situation with class.

    When Major’s moment came, he was a little rusty at first, and had two early interceptions (one was not his fault) and numerous dropped passes. UT fell behind by 19. They rallied all the way back to go ahead with a few minutes to go in the game. But a surprisingly quick touchdown drive put them behind again with less than two minutes to go and 80 yards to cover to make a touchdown. So on the last drive, of the last game, of his last season, Major Applewhite led the Longhorns down the field to the winning touchdown, breaking more passing records and showing himself a champion. He finished strong! He finished with character! He finished a champion!

    When asked about his great comeback and the near fairy tale ending to his career as a Longhorn, Major once again confidently quoted Scripture, this one directed to especially to young men:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (1 Peter 5:6)

    It is easy to bask in the glow of victory and have the character of a champion. It is quite another to face unfairness and hardship while maintaining your faith and portraying the character of a champion. Not all of our hardship stories have fairy tale endings, at least not in this life. But the principles that carried Major through can carry us as well. Not because they helped Major find vindication or made him strong for his moment in the spotlight. No, they can carry us because they have carried untold thousands who hardships suffered were much greater and had much more at stake. Major is just one of many, who in the face of difficulty, challenge, hardship, and possibly even unfairness, have stood their ground faithfully, with character, and waited for God’s mighty hand to lift them up. If you find yourself in such a place, my prayer is that you will also find such a faith and receive such a victory! Finish strong, for your glory awaits your Savior’s return.

Title: "Finish Strong"
Author: Phil Ware
Publication Date: January 28, 2002

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