Sometime around Thanksgiving Chaplain Marsonek discussed with Head Coach Weiner the event became a team bonding activity which also would give back to the community. The activity grew from just giving toys and turkeys to those in need to a full blown football clinic taught by the high school players (under their coach's watchful eyes) plus the toy and 200 turkey give away. The idea grew as they partnered with a local church and incredibily the event was a huge success. About 40 players, coaches and volunteers ran the clinic, knocked on doors to invite families to the park, passed out turkeys and toys until they could not play Santa any more. Pastor Jeff Singletary gave a message to those waiting to pick up their free turkey and all the fixin's. At decision time about 50 individuals make a commitment for Christ and completed a card so Central Tampa Baptist could follow up on their growth and attendance. Without Lynn Townsend's assisrtance raising funds and organizing; plus Jake English bring so many toy this event would not have been the success it was.
December 24 known as Christmas Eve to nearly all of us was very special day to a group of youngsters living in a lower income area of Tampa. This story is one of those that speakers "create" to prove or emphasis an important point in their message. Instead, we know the team that was planing to share their "championship" long before they played the championship game. Plant High School coached by Coach Weiner planned, raised funds, collected toys and made a hugh commitment for a day after their season would be finished so they could give to others.
Let's take a moment to put some timeline together. During the height of the football playoff system, during the most curcial time of the season, the time when forever memories and state champioships are made. This well coached team was concerned enough for others that they set aside time to plan and gather for others.
The timeline is not yet complete. On Saturday, December 20, over in Orlando, in the late afternoon, the Plant Panthers won the state title. That evening they celebrated way into the night at Dad's stadium. Let's hope that on Sunday they rested. Wednesday morning, three and a half days after the championship victory, while proudly wearing their freshly printed state championship t-shirts they humbled themselves to others and helped spread some love, some food and some hope. These Panthers are real Champions.
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You do not become a champion by defeating an opponent.
You do not become a champion by winning a championship game.
You become a champion when you are revealed showing marked superiority.
Webster's defines a champion as: one who shows marked superiority.
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