God Bless the Crimson Tide Devotionals for the Die Hard Alabama Fan

DAY 1 The Outer Limits Read Genesis 18:1-15. "Is anything too wonderful for the LORD?" (v. 14). A death set in motion the chain of events that made a young man bound for Yalethe father of Alabama football. According to Clyde Bolton inThe Crimson Tide, in the late 1880s W. G.Little was prepping at Phillips-Exeter Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, on hisway to Yale. But when his oldest brother, James, died, Little returned home toLivingston, Alabama, to be with his mother. He then enrolled at the localuniversity, from which James had graduated. While he was at Phillips-Exeter,Little had been introduced to a new game called football. When he came toAlabama, Bolton said, Little "brought his canvas football suit, his cleatedshoes, and his pigskin ball with him." This unusual baggage drew a lot ofinterest from his classmates, who responded with great enthusiasm when Littlesuggested they form a team. A roster was assembled, the University Athletic Association was born, and acoach, Eugene Beaumont, was hired. Not surprisingly, Little was named the firstfootball captain. On November 11, 1892, the University of Alabama played itsfirst-ever football game. Their opponent was a team from Birmingham High School.Fittingly, considering Alabama's great history, the game was a rout. Alabama won56-0. The game W. G. Little had encountered in the Northeast had come south. You've probably never tried a whole bunch of things you've dreamed about doingat one time or another. Like starting your own business. Going back to school.Running for elected office. Running a marathon. What holds you back? Perhaps yousee only your limitations, both those you've imposed on yourself and thoseothers have convinced you exist. But at the University of Alabama one studentstarted the football program. God sees your possibilities, not your limitations. Free yourself from that whichties your hands and blights your dreams by depending not on yourself but on God. First, I prepare. Then I have faith. -- Joe Namath God has a vision for your life beyond your imagining, but you have to depend onhim, not on yourself. God Bless the Crimson Tide (c) 2007 Ed McMinnMcMinn, Edward is the author of 'God Bless the Crimson Tide Devotionals for the Die Hard Alabama Fan', published 2007 under ISBN 9781416541882 and ISBN 1416541888.