re: Are people honestly upset with the religion and football thing?

I don't understand the fuss. Nobody is forcing the players to commit Auburn. Sorry that Saban is a Catholic and doesn't have that religious connection with black athletes.

Every school has something to sell - AU sells Jesus & Family.

They recruited a Bishop's son as QB last year, it worked out pretty well for 'em.

If I were AU - I wouldn't change one thing about my recruiting approach.

Keep doin what you do AU!

every football team uses religion, if you dont believe that then you are an idiot

coaches get the players to go to church(if they want), preach the "family atmosphere", talk about how they want to influence the kids to be better men, and how they would act as father figures

there is no problem with that, I think a lot of people forget that values that people are taught to grow up with are those same values the church teaches

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I don't understand the fuss. Nobody is forcing the players to commit Auburn. Sorry that Saban is a Catholic and doesn't have that religious connection with black athletes.

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Well, lucky for AU there are people like Walt Williams and Sean Nelson that are around to help players make the connection to AU.

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every football team uses religion, if you dont believe that then you are an idiot

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Boise State doesn't...

I don't really have any reason to be pissed because I am not associated with Auburn. I do think it is kind of sleazy the way they use religion as a recruiting advantage, especially when you can't read a damn quote from an Auburn coach without some reference to God in it. Some parents will see through it, others won't. Its just the way these things work.

Now Cam claiming to be a vessel of God who works through Cam on national television after the national title, that one disturbs me. If you are going to claim to be a vessel for God, then you had better live like Tim Tebow.

Probably.

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The word Jesus offends people more than almost any word you hear. People don't understand when people give glory to God or discuss God in the same sentence as football. You always hear "God doesn't care about football" and that is a complicated thing to explain. I don't hold it against them, they just simply don't understand.

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Right and wrong.

the word Jesus isn't what offends people. that's just a bottled up way of looking at it. it's the fact that it's presented as the only way of viewing truth.

i'd say the majority of the american populace buy some part of the Jesus story because of the emotional foundation that's set at an early age. but that same majority also doesn't buy it all 100% at face value... in other words, most people are absolutely NOT bible literalists.

MOST people haven't held their hands up in worship or found themselves comfortable around a friend speaking in tongues or a congregation that does the same thing.

Religion is extremely emotion based. If you play that card, people will follow you and expect you to lead them in that emotional way.

because it's such an emotional thing, a lot of people that don't buy the story will feel super outcasted by the team. but most in the south are at least acquainted with the whole concept enough for it to be a very powerful recruiting tool.

credit AND negative attention are deserved for Chizik for playing the one card that Saban probably would never play.

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to be fair if the recruit doesnt like it he doesnt have to commit.

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If I were a high school student and Auburn University invited me for an academic recruiting trip and then asked me and everyone else to gather in a circle to pray, I could sue AU for millions.

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Now Cam claiming to be a vessel of God who works through Cam on national television after the national title


Wait. He really said this?

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I mean it was kind of obvious watching him play was it not?