2005 NFL MVP shares jokes, stories, faith at FCA banquet

Seattle Seahawks football running back Shaun Alexander smiles as he talks to reporters Thursday, Jan. 5, 2006, in Kirkland, Wash., about being named The Associated Press Most Valuable Player.
Seattle Seahawks football running back Shaun Alexander smiles as he talks to reporters Thursday, Jan. 5, 2006, in Kirkland, Wash., about being named The Associated Press Most Valuable Player.

Shaun Alexander, the former Alabama running back, took a few jabs at all of the Tennessee fans in the audience Tuesday evening.

Jay Fowler, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes area director for southeastern Tennessee, tossed a few jokes back to Alexander during his remarks, and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling coach Heath Eslinger ended up in the middle of all the fun at the Chattanooga Convention Center during the Road to Victory Banquet.

"FCA helps you make a decision to go all in," Alexander told the crowd of 90 tables and several hundred high school students. "Because if you don't go all in, then you have nothing."

With football jokes and a few laughs at himself during his 20-minute speech, Alexander outlined the importance of Jesus Christ in his life, and the importance of FCA for him -- beginning in high school and continuing at Alabama and when he became NFL MVP in 2005 -- and still today.

"My wife (Valerie) and I didn't even kiss until we were at the altar," said Alexander, who has seven children and an eighth on the way. "We've gotten things rolling since then."

Alexander, the 19th overall pick in the 2000 NFL draft, grew up with church in his life, a stable family structure and a belief system as well as the FCA. He admits in the open paragraphs of his 2006 book, "Touchdown Alexander," that unlike others who have turned to Christianity after tragedy, he found it early in life in Florence, Ky.

"My story is not in any way a tragic one," he wrote. "I don't have a traumatic incident in my past that caused me to turn to God. To tell you the truth, my life has been blessed with a great deal of happiness and success."

Tuesday night he expressed his pleasure in maintaining an Alabama tradition with its football program -- participation in the FCA.

"It started there in '63 or '64, and Alabama won a national championship," Alexander said. "So Bear Bryant said it has to stick around. It's still there."

After some coaxing from FCA officials at Alabama, in Atlanta and back in Lexington before his high school quarterback convinced him to become a huddle leader at an FCA camp in North Carolina, Alexander rushed for 1,178 yards and 14 touchdowns the following season. He helped lead the Crimson Tide to the SEC championship the following season and was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks.

While enveloping himself within the FCA program at Alabama, Alexander learned more. Somebody suggested he read as much as he could in the Bible involving the number 37 -- his jersey number. He fell in love with Psalms 37:4. "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee desires of the heart."

All of his signatures -- even those he gave Tuesday -- include a sloppy signature, his number above and PS 37:4.

UTC football players and wrestlers saw it up close Tuesday afternoon. Alexander spent about 90 minutes speaking with them.

"I got to touch them about success, hard work and how none of us are important without Jesus," Alexander told the Times Free Press before a meet-and-greet photo session with FCA sponsors. "I know it touched them, but I also know every youth has to choose for themselves."

Football and faith are intertwined in the South. Alexander has suffered some heartbreak with his former teams over the last 15 months. The Crimson Tide lost on the last play of the 2014 Iron Bowl. It lost to Ohio State in a national semifinal this year. And his Seahawks lost the Super Bowl.

"You know what? That 'Kick-Six' game, Ohio State breaking that long run and Seattle passing on the goal line," Alexander said, "I'm like well, Lord, 'You're still in control.'"

Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP.

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