Perseverance and Getting Better

Congratulations to The Ohio State Buckeyes and their National Championship win last night.

I have to admit, I did not think they could do it. Sorry to all my Buckeye friends. However, I am thrilled that there was finally a playoff (even though it needs to be expanded to eight) where the number four team had a chance to win it all. A true National Champion decided on the field. Finally!

So how did Ohio State get there? I have a one word answer, "Perseverance."

I got to witness OSU's only loss this season when the Hokies from Va Tech came to the Horseshoe and beat the Buckeyes. I did not expect that to happen I only hoped it would happen. I believe that was the beginning for Ohio State and their journey to the championship.

They had to go through that loss in order to get better. They already were facing the lose of their starting QB Braxton Miller. Then they go up against an athletic, physical and fast defense in Va Tech with their second string QB J.T. Barrett. They had four new guys on the offensive line that had not jelled together yet.

After that loss the Buckeyes had to mature and get better. They did. They made it through the rest of the season without losing a game and into the Big Ten Championship. This trip was not without adversity. In the Michigan game J.T. Barrett went down with a season ending injury. Now they would be starting their third string QB Cardale Jones.

That same week the team had to deal with the loss of a teammate. They spent some time in mourning while preparing for the Big Ten Championship. When they hit the field they pounded Wisconsin, beating them so badly they ended up in the top four. This sent them to the first college football playoff.

Nobody outside the OSU faithful gave them a chance against Alabama. They won. Then they had to face the high powered offense of Oregon. They were underdogs again and again they proved everyone wrong outside the OSU faithful. They are the National Champions in the first ever College Football Playoff.

And they got there through perseverance and a desire to get better.

So congratulations to The Ohio State Buckeyes!

The verse of the week is a verse we used this past Sunday when we talked about "Perseverance" in our "Unbroken" series. It comes from Romans 5:3-5:

"We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

This perseverance and getting better thing doesn't just apply to football, it applies to life.

Have the courage to persevere and get better--it could change your season around and make you a champion.

Let's Go Hokies!