My wife is a sucker for credit card solicitations. Two years ago, she and some friends were at a Rangers game and signed up for an MBNA credit card at a kiosk. The gift attached to the credit card application? A two-year subscription to Sports Illustrated (Mandy used the free SI as justification for the new credit card -- what has sense been cut up!).
Last week's SI had a wonderfully compelling story, told by award-winning columnist Rick Reilly. Entitled "A Stroke of Inspiration," Reilly tells the unbelievable story of University of Tulsa golf coach Bill Brogdon and his Tulsa golf team. In a 36-year career, Brogdon has won 14 conference titles and coached 22 All-American golfers, including PGA Tour regular Bill Glasson.
The story goes like this: Several weeks ago, Brogdon's Tulsa golf team was competing in the Western Athletic Conference golf championship in Choudrant, Louisiana. His Tulsa team was tied with SMU at the end of 54 holes, requiring a sudden-death playoff between five Tulsa players and five SMU players. The only problem was Tulsa had a 4:30 flight (the last flight out of town). It was 3:20 and the drive to the airport was 30 minutes. The next day was final exams. To stay and play meant his golfers would miss their Monday morning final exam (four of the five golfers carried GPA's of 3.2 or better). Would the Tulsa golf team stay and compete or would they walk away?
They walked away. In an unheard of move, Brogdon and his team forfeited their opportunity at a conference title for the sake of academics.
To Brogdon, the choice was simple. "When I recruit these kids, I promise their parents I'm gonna graduate them. Most of them are not gonna be Tour players. We've got to remember why they're here: to get a degree."
Brogdon's decision has illicited praise from his colleagues. Math Professor William Hamill, one of the professors who gave a final exam to one of the golfers on Monday morning said, "That was a very courageous act. I've never seen that before. I've never even heard of that."
Bill Brogdon is a hero because he remembered his primary purpose: not to win championships but to assist young men in their maturation. As a disciple of Jesus, I can learn a lot from Bill Brogdon -- about allowing my highest purpose drive me and determine my choices.
