KREAGER'S CORNER

Blaze, Patriots include Christianity in big TV game

Tom Kreager
tkreager@dnj.com
Daily News Journal sports reporter Tom Kreager.

There was bound to be a telephone call or e-mail.

When you live in the Bible Belt and are playing a high school football game on Sunday, it's going to ruffle some feathers.

In case you haven't heard by now, Blackman is hosting cross-town rival Oakland at 11 a.m. on Sunday in a game televised nationally on ESPN2.

The question was raised in an email from a reader should Murfreesboro be holding a high school football game on Sunday.

My answer? Yes.

You see, Blackman coach Philip Shadowens and Oakland coach Thomas McDaniel are religious men. But they also see the opportunity for their players to play on national television -- something no high school team has ever done in Rutherford County.

But that doesn't mean they ignored Christ.

Both coaches planned team activities at churches on Saturday evening. Oakland's team attended a church service at World Outreach Church. Blackman traveled to New Vision where the Blaze held their devotion time.

Oh, and there will also be a service and devotion set up for 9:30 a.m. Sunday in the Blackman High parking lot. All are invited.

Seems to me that both coaches and Blackman High has kept their priorities straight even in getting to experience something special.

Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.