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TechnoratiMarch Madness, one of the yearly highlights for sports fans, is now in full swing, but according to some of the coaches, the greatest satisfaction won’t be from coming out of the college basketball tournament with the championship.
(Photo: AP / Mary Ann Chastain)North Carolina State coach Kay Yow reacts after North Carolina State defeated Baylor 78-72 in overtime in an NCAA women's second-round basketball game in Raleigh, N.C., in this March 20, 2007 file photo. She is one of the several coaches sharing their faith on BeyondtheUlitimate.org.
Coaches on BeyondtheUltimate.org are sharing their personal stories about “faith that offers a satisfaction greater than any championship win can provide.”
"Points. That's all I cared about growing up," said Lorenzo Romar, coach of the Huskies at the University of Washington, in a statement. "Now, I'm thankful to know that whether I experience failure or success, God always has my back.”
With the growing examples of sports figures sharing their faith in recent months - such as Super Bowl coaches Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts and Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears - BeyondtheUltimate.org is attempting to add onto this constructive trend.
The site idea was the invention of Athletes in Action, the sports wing of the campus ministry group Campus Crusade for Christ, as a result of the past Super Bowl. The creators wanted a place where Dungy and Smith could share how Jesus Christ had impacted their lives as well as other involved athletes.
Since its launch, it has now moved onto the March Madness event and includes several key coaches and players including Romar, former UCLA coach John Wooden, and North Carolina State women’s coach Kay Yow. Each of them testifies what God has done in their days.
“My win/loss record has zero bearing on my status with Him,” added Romar. “God loves me for who I am, not what I do."
The NCAA basketball tournament, which moved into the “Sweet 16” on Thursday, will continue throughout March, ending with the championship game on Apr. 2 in Atlanta.
The “Final Four,” which pits the top four college teams against one another, is one of the most watched yearly sports events, ranking alongside other championships such as the Super Bowl, the World Series, and the NBA Finals.
