Opinion: Do Our Athletics Reflect Who We Are?

By Dr. Tom Bunch

Dr. Tom Bunch

I am sharing the following comments to stimulate a campus discussion on the place and role of athletics here at SWAU.  We follow God’s plan of holistic growth in all we do, and we must come together as a campus to ensure we have the best athletic/intramural program to benefit all our students.  It cannot be left up to one or two individuals or departments, but must be a campus effort to help our school succeed, and help fulfill our mission as to why we exist.

All universities are driven by their mission statement.  At SWAU, our mission statement is to increase knowledge, faith, and service.  All decisions, services, programs, and activities are to be conducted within our mission statement as a guiding force for the institution. 

An AI overview of SWAU athletics states, “SWAU athletics exist to develop Christ-like character, physical, mental, and social growth through a quality, faith-rooted sports program. 

As members of the NCCAA, the SWAU Knights emphasize excellence, teamwork, integrity, and servant leadership, fostering holistic development and community both on and off the field.”  Yet the recent interviews of our regional champion basketball team posted here reflected few of these reasons for participating in basketball in this case.  I am encouraging a broader look at the athletic program at SWAU and how it can better reflect our mission and values as a Seventh-day Adventist University.

The Core Components of the SWAU Athletics Mission are:

• Character Development: Focus on integrity, humility in victory, and resilience in loss.

• Holistic Growth: Nurturing student-athletics in body, mind, and spirit to thrive in all areas of life.

• Faith Integration:  Rooted in Christian values, providing a supportive environment for spiritual growth.

• Community and Teamwork: Building lasting relationships, fostering community spirit, and promoting team unity.

  
  

A few interesting spirituality comments from major college football program players in the national media this past season include:

• Ohio State University quarterback Will Howard: “First and foremost, I’ve got to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving me this opportunity to be on stage here in the Rose Bowl.”

• Riley Leonard, Notre Dame’s quarterback: “First and foremost I want to thank my Lord and savior Jesus Christ.”

• Quinn Ewers, Texas quarterback: “I think that my relationship with Jesus has helped me in the specific way of knowing that no matter what happens, he’s going to be there for me.  He’s still going to love me.”

• After a quarterfinal loss to Penn State, Boise head coach Spencer Danielson said: “I

  told every single one of my players in the locker room that God has an amazing plan for your life.  Never settle for less than that.”

• Bear Bachmeier, quarterback for BYU, although himself a Catholic, praised the faith-oriented environment at BYU and its impact on his play.  “I think just the faith-oriented environment—I mean, I use the word elevate—but it elevates our spiritual game exponentially.  Before every meeting, we pray a prayer, before every class, we say a prayer, and it helps with my personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  So just being in this environment has helped immensely in growing my spiritual aspect with Jesus Christ, and that played a big factor in coming here.”  His football coach, Kalani Sitake’s three pillars of faith, family, and football at BYU, have helped Bear Bachmeier gain a greater appreciation for his family’s sacrifices to help him get where he is.

• Delaney Gibb, BYU women’s basketball player, explains why her team doesn’t practice on Sundays, even before a championship game. She says: “When you look at it from a perspective of our team and the culture we’ve built and the faith that we have, it’s a day that we get to have a different perspective on life.  Some things are bigger than basketball and Jesus Christ and having faith in Him and something that’s bigger than basketball. That is why I love BYU.  Their women’s basketball players won’t practice on Sunday – it’s set apart for worship of Jesus Christ,” to which one person commented, “Win or lose, they’ve already won.”

Bushnell University – A Christian university of approximately 850 students in Eugene, Oregon embraces a “Tri-Athlete” model of personal and community-focused development and education with Christ at the center of the triangle. This approach helps students-athletes work to positively transform and increasingly improve three focused areas of life: their performance in the arena of competition, their performance in the classroom, and their dedication to be an NAIA “Champion of Character”—all achieved through a maturing identity in Christ.  Faith, like sports, is partly individual effort and partly a sturdy, supportive community to uphold and strengthen its members.  By developing unity through the power of the Holy Spirit among our players, teams, and with the larger University Athletics equips its student-athletes to serve others and positively influence the people and world around them, both today and tomorrow.

So how can SWAU infuse Christian principles in the athletic program?  First, it must be a campus-wide initiative whereby all events on campus, meetings, discussions at all levels, classes, practices, etc. begin with a spiritual emphasis.  That emphasis can be a prayer, or a spiritual thought followed by prayer. It must be intentional and focused.  This must always happen to create a campus environment where worship becomes part of everything we do.  It will catch on and become a powerful tool in helping SWAU meet its mission.

We must grow away from the idea that athletics belong only to the athletic department, and it is their “baby,” and class attendance of athletes is a teacher’s responsibility only.  To make this program successful, it takes a whole campus that instills our mission and values at every opportunity with its students.  These campus opportunities include the student work environment, classrooms, athletic fields, recreation activities, chapel presentations, worship, etc.  It must be an immersive experience. Then our environment will be changed, and interviews as we hear on this video will change from: “Not about winning…need this win…I felt like I played a big part in winning this game.” This needs to change to emphasizing God and Jesus Christ in their lives and how they can do all things through Him.

This is how I—and others—see the role of athletes on a Christian campus here at SWAU.  Talk will also include the opportunities for athletes to contribute to our community through community outreach opportunities offered by the Athletic Department and SWAU; recruiting and alumni outreach activities in Adventist church communities as part of away-game trips.  There are many ways athletes at SWAU can contribute to the mission of SWAU through their participation in sports to witness for Jesus Christ and change our world together. 

When the testimonies of our athletes focus on how their involvement in athletics on a Christian campus changed their lives and specifically what that change is, we will be moving in the right direction for the glory of God.

Dr. Tom Bunch

Professor/Administrator Emeritus

Hagan Hall 116

Discussion always welcomed!