Amazing Grace and Football

11 years ago this weekend, Luke played his first game in an NFL uniform. I thought it’d be fun to rewind to his rookie year and share a memory that still makes me laugh …

After being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2004, Luke started the exciting, yet dreaded rookie year.

He had a lot on his mind during his first training camp. He studied hard to learn the offense. He paid close attention to the details of his release and ball placement. He did not, however, plan for one very important decision.

As Luke ate lunch in the cafeteria at the facility, a group of players approached him. They wanted Luke to sing a song. It’s important to note here, Luke feels pretty good about his vocals. No one else in the room may agree with him, but he’s happy to shout out a song anytime.

So, my 6 foot 4, 210-pound husband pushed his chair back from the table and stood up in it.

Only one song came to his mind: the words of Hank Williams, Jr.’s hit song, “A Country Boy Can Survive.”

It’s not hard to peg Luke as a country boy. When he goes to the grocery store he says he’s going “to town.” He drives what the kids call a “monster truck.” He’s recently taken up cowboy boots as his shoe of choice. And he knows the words to every country song ever written.

I’m not exaggerating. It’s actually quite impressive.

But, in case anyone on the Browns roster didn’t know, Luke left no room for error. He’s a country boy.

“I live back in the woods, you see, a woman and the kids, and the dogs and me … And a country boy can survive,” he bellowed.

He gave the vets a good laugh, but it wasn’t enough. The laughs turned into boos, and Luke learned a lesson. To get the veterans off his back he needed to sing a song that would shut them up.

The next time this opportunity rolled around he sat prepared. The second time he stood in his chair would be his last.

“Amazing Grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind but now I see,” he sang. No one dared to boo. And thus, Luke unlocked the coveted secret. If the veterans couldn’t boo you, they wouldn’t ask you to sing.

Luke’s rookie class thanked him for this discovery. They quickly caught on and followed suit with similar songs, like “Jesus Loves Me.”

A decade later not much has changed. Luke still sings country music and drives a monster truck. We still need amazing grace; and we still see amazing grace – every day.