There are several reasons to savor the Notre Dame victory over USC, but one that stands out is that it featured one of my favorite "things" in sports. Yes, I am using the ambiguous word "thing," because I'm not sure how else to categorize it. Football fans know, that a Pick-6 is when a defensive player catches the ball from the quarterback and scores a touchdown for their team (six points). Recalling the two late in the fourth quarter invited me to revisit how we think about, categorize, appreciate, and celebrate what happens in athletics. Given that both sport and spirituality are dynamic—ever-changing, unfolding, evolving, and inspiring, this work is never done. To me, this is a good problem to have!
When I started teaching Sports and Spirituality, an elective course for seniors I created a “personal inventory.” The purpose of the poll is to take stock of the experiences in athletics and in the spiritual life that stand out among the others. Some do. You can see my list here!
As written on CBS Sports, "Notre Dame defensive back Christian Gray returned an interception 99 yards the other way for a touchdown with 3:39 remaining. On USC's following drive, Irish safety Xavier Watts returned an interception 101 yards the other way for Notre Dame's second defensive touchdown to seal the win." Not only did that put the Irish up by two possessions, it changed the momentum of the game. The Irish D made a statement, and then they did it less than 3 minutes later once again.
A pick-six is a remarkable feat. It's a bold act. I think it is one of the best "things" in sports. But how else might we categorize it: Momentum changer? Surprise move? Furthermore, I realize this claim is riding an emotional high given where and when it was completed. Give me some time and distance from the game and I might say the same thing. Maybe not. This is what makes sports...and spirituality fun.
In teaching and writing about this topic, I have come to understand that "Sports and Spirituality" is more meaningful and memorable when one can draw from their experience as an athlete or a sports fan to think more concretely about the spiritual life. In the same way that not all athletic disciplines need to be tedious, challenging, or painful, those in the spiritual life need not be either.
I enjoyed creating categories for each domain. Some students struggle with prompts like "I have read a great book about sports. It is..." or "I have seen a great movie about spirituality. It is..." Others have an answer for each item on the list.
This semester I asked my students to partner up and add to this list. Look at the cool categories they added! I made this request shortly after a friend sent this creative video of the two pick-sixes in the fourth quarter of the Notre Dame vs. USC game. One of the personal highlights of that game is that my friends and I sat in the end zone where we had an unobstructed view of each interception.
As written on CBS Sports, "Notre Dame defensive back Christian Gray returned an interception 99 yards the other way for a touchdown with 3:39 remaining. On USC's following drive, Irish safety Xavier Watts returned an interception 101 yards the other way for Notre Dame's second defensive touchdown to seal the win." Not only did that put the Irish up by two possessions, it changed the momentum of the game. The Irish D made a statement, and then they did it less than 3 minutes later once again.
Here is the new list authored by my students
Personal Inventory: Sports
- My favorite uniform in sports
- My favorite mid-range shooter
- My favorite sports brand
- My favorite Hall of Fame in Sports
- Favorite rivalry in sports
- Best MVP in sport
- My favorite victory / emote dance
- My favorite team mascot
Personal Inventory: Spirituality
- My favorite Bible verse
- My favorite spiritual symbol
- My favorite way to pray
- My favorite person in the Bible
- My favorite Church/cathedral
- My favorite Religious Holiday
I love their ingenuity and creativity!
I moderate the Bowling Club at St. Ignatius, where I teach. Earlier this week, we had our holiday/ugly sweater/Christmas Cookie bowling night. One of my students turned to me and said "Ms. Stricherz, the guy next to us has a perfect game." I looked up at the scoreboard and sure enough, seven frames in, all I could see were Xs on the scoreboard. Other people in the alley realized what was happening and you could hear a semi-silent buzz as we looked on. Strike, strike, strike and strike. 300! We saw perfection. Our group gave this amateur a round of applause. His wife took his photo and gave him a hug. I wanted to do the same. I quickly looked up the odds of bowling a 300. For professionals, it's 450 to 1 but for the mortals like us, it is 11,500 to 1. Amazing!
Again, I began to wonder how I might categorize what I just saw on my personal inventory. Favorite perfect feat? Best in show? Excellent thing? I only want to put experiences like what happened at the LA Coliseum and on bowling night into some sort of context because it helps me to recall and remember an event in a particular space in time. Sports fans are blessed with said moments regularly. When people tell me the downside of sports, how they are tainted and corrupt, and the ways they clog the conversation—I don't totally disagree. But I also know how I feel when I have been a witness when I have seen something special or hit something so purely—that too can be spiritual. That's a good "thing."
Again, I began to wonder how I might categorize what I just saw on my personal inventory. Favorite perfect feat? Best in show? Excellent thing? I only want to put experiences like what happened at the LA Coliseum and on bowling night into some sort of context because it helps me to recall and remember an event in a particular space in time. Sports fans are blessed with said moments regularly. When people tell me the downside of sports, how they are tainted and corrupt, and the ways they clog the conversation—I don't totally disagree. But I also know how I feel when I have been a witness when I have seen something special or hit something so purely—that too can be spiritual. That's a good "thing."
Photo Credits
Christian Gray
Xavier Watts
Christian Gray
Xavier Watts
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