Cousins is class act off the field too

I was fortunate to be able to interview Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins prior to the November 3 “I Agree with Kirk” event co-sponsored by Campus Crusade and Athletes in Action on the MSU campus.

Full disclosure: I am not a big Michigan State fan. I prefer my Michigan college football to have a maize and blue hue to it, but I walked away a huge Kirk Cousins fan.

Kirk came off as rather soft-spoken and reserved, not in a mushy, undefined way, but in a respectful easy-going way. When he spoke about his faith in Christ and how he sees it as his calling to use his platform as a high-profile athlete to tell others about Christ, his confidence and passion grow noticeably.

“Having opportunities like this to share my faith is what playing football on this level is all about,” he said. “Using this platform to share my faith truly is my greatest desire.”

He spoke about the temptation all athletes face to make their sport the foundation for their life and their god, and how “putting all your eggs in that one basket sets you up to fail.”

He related that after throwing an interception late in a big game against Notre Dame, sealing the win for the Fighting Irish, one of his first thoughts was, “If all I have is football, I’m in pretty big trouble.”

I noted a great deal of sincerity and genuineness when Kirk shared his approach to handling success as well.

“I am going to praise Him in the good times as well as the storms,” he said. “Just because I am successful doesn’t change who God is or His promises. God is still God and I am not.”

That evening Kirk again impressed me with his ability to be straightforward and real with the crowd of 2,500 people that amassed to determine whether or not they agreed with him.

He was polished in his speaking, yet not preachy. He adeptly used scripture from the Book of Romans to relate everyone’s position as a sinful being and their need for forgiveness, which can only be found in Christ. Kirk was honest and open about his own struggles with doubt and insecurity when he answered questions texted from the crowd during a Q&A time.

Kirk has all the attributes to be a good quarterback: poise, accuracy, power, determination, perseverance, leadership and the ability to clearly communicate. These are the same qualities it takes to be a dedicated disciple of Christ. Kirk Cousins is both.

By Tommy Young, AIA Communications

Photo by Jon Friedman, AIA Communications

Editorial