More than gridiron glory

Most of the fans painting Glendale, Ariz., orange and crimson knew the adage that football is a religion in the South—especially in Alabama and South Carolina. The College Football Playoff National Championship is one of its newest rites, in its second year.

Yet this year men from both Clemson and Alabama have words for the rest of us: God is first.

“All the glory to God. That’s all I can say,” said newly minted Associated Press coach of the year Dabo Swinney, fresh off Clemson’s 37-17 Orange Bowl win over Oklahoma.

Many would say Christianity permeates the seventh-year coach’s program. Swinney is direct to recruits about his faith. And on campus, players can get a Bible from a coach, have Bible studies, or attend sponsored church outings—all of which the university had to defend as voluntary. “I am who I am,” Swinney said in September. “I don’t apologize for that.”

Being a sort of Tim Tebow of coaches hasn’t endeared him to everyone. In 2014, Swinney became the poster child for the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which accused Clemson of a kind of civil religion where players may have to feign faith to fit in or win playing time.

Not many coaches are asked whether non-Christians are welcome, but Swinney was asked. “My job is to win football games,” Swinney told The New York Times before the Orange Bowl. “We’re going to always recruit and play the best football players. We don’t play the best Christians. If we played the best Christians, I wouldn’t be sitting here.”

Winning football games is the job at Alabama too. Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry scored two touchdowns in Alabama’s 38-0 drubbing of Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl. But of his blessings, the running back says, “God is good, and I get down on my hands and knees every night and thank Him for everything.”

Near the end of his Heisman speech, Henry turned to “the kids who are watching.” Per a mother’s post on Facebook (which Henry reposted), a 7-year-old named Fitz perked up. “Always keep God first, always pray, don’t be afraid to pray, He’ll always hear your cry,” Henry said. “And if you have dreams, go chase them.”

Fitz whispered: “He’s talking to me.”

The other presidential race

ESPN has invited the five candidates for soccer’s FIFA presidency to a live debate, and at least one candidate has reportedly agreed. The debate would take place Jan. 29 in London, about a month before the Feb. 26 election. Longtime head Sepp Blatter quashed previous debate plans. But Blatter now faces an eight-year ban—along with right-hand man Michel Platini—due to ongoing corruption investigations. No clear front-runner exists. French candidate Jerome Champagne told Sporting Intelligence he fears a winner will come from “a succession of deals done behind closed doors of five-star hotels.” The five candidates are Gianni Infantino of Switzerland, Prince Ali bin Hussein of Jordan, Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, Champagne, and Tokyo Sexwale of South Africa. —A.B.