Gridiron grace amazing by James Merritt

By DR. JAMES MERRITT - 08/28/05 - For the Journal-Constitution

My first taste of college football was when I was about 12 years old. My dad's cousin owned some chicken houses, and I used to go over and help his son gather eggs. Then we would go into a little room off to the side and grade the eggs for market. I remember standing there many Saturday afternoons listening to Larry Munson call Georgia football games. It was actually Larry Munson that turned me on to Georgia football.

Since then, I unashamedly say that college football and Georgia football in particular has become a passion for me. I have been able to see many memorable games in person, but the one I guess I'll never forget is the 2002 game against Auburn when it was 4th-and-19 and David Greene threw the miracle pass to Michael Johnson that clinched [a berth in] the SEC championship [game]. I distinctly remember sitting around a bunch of unbelievably obnoxious Auburn fans, suffering the whole game until that play. I remember with great delight watching those Tigers literally slink away with a bitter defeat.

I have season tickets to the Georgia games, and the atmosphere is second to none. Going to Georgia on Saturdays is literally like taking a one-day vacation. For one day, I can forget all of my troubles, concerns and problems and just enjoy the beautiful game of college football.

As a pastor, my first and greatest passion is God Himself. I must admit one of the sweetest sounds in my life is after a great win, hearing Georgia fans looking at each other and going "How 'bout them Dawgs!"

Dr. James Merritt is the Pastor of Cross Pointe The Church at Gwinnett Center in Duluth and host of the television broadcast ministry Touching Lives. Dr. Merritt is the former president of the Southern Baptist Convention.