The Road to Joy – Baylor Basketball
In a world where we can get virtually anything at the snap of your fingers, it is hard to understand why God often ask us to endure in order to win the prize. James 1:12 so beautifully describes the joy that awaits us all, if we only choose to endure.
Who is willing to follow that path anymore? Especially when it is so easy for a player to jump into the transfer portal or for a coach to just use one good season to springboard to a more fertile job elsewhere.
Knowing Oral Roberts University was going to be publicly ridiculed in the national media for being a Christian University. Could God have orchestrated a special run by the Golden Eagles this March.
One thing for sure, the uncommon favor of God became a major story in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. With the current climate in politics and culture, God could not have picked a more powerful time to show up and show off.
Check out Coach Scott Drew’s press conference after being hired in 2003.
When hired to take over a sinking or what many saw as a sunk ship, Coach Scott Drew prophesied what would finally come to pass this past season. His decree at the time seemed like a near impossibility, but Drew stood on the words of Jesus, “If you only believe, all things are possible.”
Coming off a horrible scandal, Drew was down to six scholarships his first year. An NCAA investigation from the previous era would eventually lead to sanctions that didn’t even allow the program to play nonconference games in Drew’s third season. The Bears went 4-13. The NCAA’s punishment was one-of-a-kind for men’s basketball.
Two years later, Drew had Baylor in the NCAA Tournament, the first of what is now nine appearances. With the quick turnaround of success came accusations of cheating, which would have caused many people in Drew’s position to look for another job. Drew stayed. Whether or not cheating actually occurred at Baylor under Drew, that can never fully be known. But the NCAA’s investigation turned over nothing close to what was whispered. “I couldn’t control that noise, or what other people might say,” Drew said. “I know the truth.”
He changed his recruiting approach, but he never changed his outlook. Drew became less interested in landing the best players and instead pivoted toward getting the best players for Baylor.
Drew’s optimism never wavered. He never let the noise get to him. Drew never changed, and because of that, his program could. What was once a hope and prayer is now reality.
The Bears’ Jared Butler was named the Final Four most outstanding player. He gave thanks to the Lord after the game.
“I’m not trying to preach a prosperity gospel, but our Lord and Savior, I say it all the time: He gets us through everything,” Butler said, “Jesus Christ, man, He’s the truth. He was with us tonight, He was with us all season, He’s with us wherever we go. He just sustained us. He brought us together. He brought this team together — transfers, people from overseas. It’s just tremendous how it just comes and it comes all full circle.”
“We’re so blessed to have unbelievable upperclassmen and leadership. But we play with a culture of joy,” Coach Drew said after the big win. “JOY” which stands for “Jesus, Others, Yourself.“
Drew leads the team based on his own faith, having accepted Christ at a young age. He grew up in a Christian family and regularly attended church as a child. Working at a Christian college has allowed Drew to be more outspoken about his religious beliefs.
“The Spirit works differently with different people, but I feel comfortable talking about my faith in public and what Jesus Christ has done in my life,” Drew said in a Fall 2020 SPORTS SPECTRUM feature.
“We’ve been a Christ-centered program since we’ve been here,” Drew explained. Drew added that the team’s mission remains the same: to honor God and give Him all the glory in everything they do, regardless of their victories or defeats.
“I think the biggest thing is modeling after Jesus. He was a servant leader. And with us, hopefully, and prayerfully, its humility, it’s serving our players and helping them achieve their goals and dreams, not only on the court but in life and in the classroom,” Drew mentioned a few years ago.
What can we all take from Coach Scott Drew and Baylor long journey back to the top of college basketball? A Road Called Joy. Staying the course and trusting Jesus to show up right where you are at still is a formula for success! Faith, endurance, and hard work and above all keeping your heart and focus on God, is still the path to uncommon success!
Photo by Diego Jimenez on Unsplash