On Saturday, September 22, Triangle Church sector leader Sean Kirklin met with the winless University of North Carolina football team to preach at their pre-game devotional before the Tar Heels were to take on the undefeated, fifth-ranked Florida State Seminoles-- a team UNC had never beaten.

"I thought about what the boys in blue would need, bringing their 0-3 record into their first home game, and one scene from the Bible kept coming to mind: David overcoming Goliath. Using I Samuel 17:4-11, I started by explaining to the team just how big and mighty Goliath really was, especially compared to David!"

It was against all odds that a little shepherd boy could even think about getting a shot at facing a champion soldier like Goliath, let alone defeating him! So, I talked to the team about facing the "Goliaths" in their lives: such as the pressure of being a college athlete, the temptation from women on campus, the stress caused by the terrorist attacks, etc. Then I talked to them about walking into Kenan Stadium and taking on the #5 team in the country- a team they had never beaten. I stressed that you must face your "Goliaths" to defeat them. Today, the Tar Heels would have that chance.

"David's faith in the Father had been building since he was a young boy. When a lion and a bear came to kill one of his sheep, he seized them and killed them because he had faith that God was going to protect him. It was this same faith that gave him the courage to step up and fight Goliath when nobody else would. David's great faith didn't develop overnight. It was growing stronger every day."

We must develop our faith just like David. We can gain more faith in God everyday if we are willing to step up and live out his will. Faith comes from listening to God speak through our Bibles and by praying to him. It also comes from faithfully overcoming the obstacles in our lives, and from surrounding ourselves with people who are unified in spirit and purpose with God.

I talked to the team about their attitude during the football game: about how they need to trust in their coaches, their game plan, and themselves. I spoke about how they need to focus on the player that lines up in front of them each play, and on doing their job. Finally, I spoke about how they need to be faithfully focused on winning the game.

I read verses 41-51 and talked about how in the name of God David ran out to the battle line and defeated Goliath that day. David put his trust and faith in God. God gave him the victory. I talked to these players about putting all of their faith and trust in God in their lives and in their team and coaches on that field. I talked about going out there on their home field and defending their field and school and slaying Florida State.

I left the players that morning after eating breakfast with them, not knowing quite what to think. So I drove over to Chapel Hill and was given the privilege of standing on the sidelines to watch the game.

UNC scored first and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. The team looked as if they were playing on a whole-new level, but even so, FSU scored nine unanswered points to lead 9-7 at half time. I kept wondering how UNC would respond to in the second half.

"It truly was one of the most amazing halves of football that I have ever seen. As every play went by, the team's confidence began to increase. They took the lead and then scored another touchdown, and then another. I sat on the sideline afraid to pinch myself because I thought: 'I must be dreaming.' I kept looking at the score in disbelief."

In the end, UNC beat the #5 team in the nation 41-9 to give Head Coach John Bunting his first win-probably the biggest win in the history of UNC football!

I have never seen the "wine and cheese" lovers at UNC so fired up. They stormed the field and tore down one of the goal posts. The players that were in the devotional that morning could not contain their excitement. UNC quarterback Ronald Curry, who was present at the devotional that morning, was quoted in the paper as saying "Today, David surely slew Goliath."

It was an awesome feeling and experience trying to get these players to put more of their faith and trust in God, and at the same time trying to get them to be better players as well. After all is said and done, you just have to give the praise to God for granting the team such a wonderful victory.

Editor's Note: Before the season, Rod Broadway, defensive line coach for the Tar Heels, asked Sam Laing and Sean Kirklin to do all of the home game devotionals.