Recently a young Notre Dame fan suffering from brain cancer was brought to the attention of the Irish’s head football coach. The sick ten-year-old was a major Notre Dame fan and was nearing the end of his life, so the coach decided to pay him a visit. After a several-hour visit with the young fan, his mother noted that it was the first time in months she had seen her son smile.

Prior to leaving, the coach asked if there was anything he could do for him. The young man asked if he could call the first offensive play of the team’s next game. The coach promised he would honor that request and asked what the play would be. The young man replied, “Pass right.”

People can be in many loving relationships throughout their lifetime and never realize that true love is an action outside of emotion. Love takes skill, and like any skill it takes practice and attention to develop. In junior high I was enrolled in Tae Kwon Do for about three years. I loved it. I loved the discipline and skill involved. We learned all kinds of moves, refined them, then later put them to use in sparring.

The University of Colorado has stiffened its recruiting guidelines for the school's football program amidst allegations of rape and other inappropriate activities during recruiting visits. When asked if the tougher guidelines would hurt recruiting, school chancellor Richard Byyny said, "It really doesn't matter. We want to have a model program. We want to make sure students understand they are here first for an education."

Putting stricter recruiting guidelines on the football team could cost the program and the school many rewards, as well as the financial incentives that come with them. Despite the potential cost, the university should be commended for implementing restrictions to try to restore some integrity to the program and the school.

“Because God has made us for Himself, our hearts are restless until they rest in Him.” –  St. Augustine

We usually don’t like talking about our devotions, because we view it as personal and what works for us might not work for others. Even if we do share, others can take it as bragging or preachy! However, it is essential that we discuss not only what we are learning, but also how we are doing it. As teammates, we should encourage one another in our spiritual walks.

For an athlete, there is nothing like competing in front of a home crowd. Nothing is more inspiring than hearing the cheers, feeling the energy and responding to the wave of encouragement. In the summer of 2012, US decathlete Ashton Eaton road the cheers of a home crowd to a remarkable accomplishment at the US Olympic Trials. During the 2-day 10-event competition, Eaton set two world decathlon records in the 100 meters and the long jump, but still needed one more personal best in the final event, the grueling 1500 meters, to break the world record for the overall competition.

The highly anticipated day had come! The big event would take poise, quickness, speed, agility and craftiness. All the skills necessary for success would be needed on this day. The participants were eagerly awaiting the important word. The starter stepped to the front and with one simple word ("Go!"), and it was ON! Participants flew out of the start like cannon shots. Darting back and forth, back and forth, up and down they went! Jumping, running, diving and catching, they hurried to not be the last one to finish. The annual Easter Egg Hunt had begun!

Of all the silly games I learned as a child, the one I remember best was a game some of the older kids in the neighborhood played, one we didn’t exactly discuss with our parents. “Knick Knocking” involved approaching a neighbor’s front door, knocking loudly several times and running away. Serious Knick Knockers would retreat to a nearby hideaway so they could watch the unsuspecting neighbor open the door and look all around for a visitor. Knick Knocking served as a great form of entertainment for the mischievous kids on our block.