Most folks reading this blog are probably well aware that I am a big University of North Carolina fan and have been since I was just a lad. I can still remember watching the Duke vs. Carolina game on the old, black and white television at my grand-mother's house. My allegiance was formed early on and I've bled "Carolina blue" ever since. I also happen to be a big fan of Coach Roy Williams.
Last week at Florida State University my beloved Tar Heels received a good, old-fashioned "whippin" at the hands of the Seminoles. With only 14 seconds remaining and FSU up be more than thirty points, the two head coaches met at half-court and Coach Roy Williams decided to leave the floor with all of his players and coaches "in tow", other than five reserves who were on the court and a couple of assistant coaches. That move has been the subject of many radio talk shows, news articles and water cooler discussions. I don't know why Coach Williams did what he did. Many of us can question whether or not it was a good move. On Monday of this week he offered a defense of his decision by stating that he thought all the players and staff had left the floor with him. It's not for me to say whether he was right or wrong. I'll leave that up to the "recliner coaches" who've never led anyone to do anything, much less coached a major college basketball team.
I can't say that I haven't given this some serious consideration. As a matter of fact, I've asked myself several times, "Who have I left on the floor?" in my lifetime. His critics say that Coach Williams was too concerned with his own safety and careless with the safety of those reserves. I wonder how many times have I neglected to witness because it wasn't convenient for me? How many times have others suffered because I was pre-occupied with my own problems or circumstances? Sunday school teacher, how many times have you left your students "on the floor" because you just didn't feel like showing up that Sunday? Bus worker, what about those Saturday's when you had more important things to do with your time so you left your bus kids "on the floor?" Church member, how many times in 2011 did you leave your pastor and fellow church members "on the floor?" because you didn't feel like coming back on a dreary Sunday night or you were just too exhausted to make it for the mid-week service on Wednesday?
God has entrusted each of us with people who look to us for protection and guidance. We are "Coach" to someone. Let's be careful that we do not become so pre-occupied with our own needs, our own problems or our own circumstances that we leave others "on the floor." Fortunately, no one was injured when hundreds of FSU fans rushed the court to celebrate a big win over a conference favorite. I wish it could be said that no one has been hurt by our negligence or poor decisions. Think about it.
