Before Richt's inspirational talk, the FCA honored four area people for their roles in FCA and on their campuses. Chad Wood, Flint River FCA area representative, made the first three presentations. Those honored were:

Huddle Leader Award – Vickie Jones, Northside High School tennis coach. She has been a huddle leader for 26 years, having been introduced to FCA while in college. A Huddle Leader is the "chapter" sponsor at their school.

Camp Award – Brian Way, head football coach and athletics director at Warner Robins High School. Way took 100 of his football team members to the summer FCA camp; 13 of them made professions of faith in Jesus Christ at the camp.

Student Leadership Award – Danielle Burdette of Crawford County earned this award. She is home schooled, but participates in athletics at Crawford County High School. She inspires the FCA members and athletes to be the best they can in all they do.

FCA Coach Award – Coach Mike Martin of Bonaire Middle School was presented this award by Houston County Superintendent of Schools David Carpenter. Carpenter told of being out of town on Sept. 11, 2008, and getting a call that lightening had struck the football field at Bonaire MS and people were down. Most had minor injuries, but Coach Martin had to go to the hospital in serious condition. He not only came through the ordeal, but he witnessed to those who cared for him in the hospital and during rehab and continues to be an inspiration to the students and teachers alike at his school.

In his introduction of Richt, Rev. Jeremy Morton, pastor of Crosspoint Baptist Church of Perry, said that the motto Richt brought with him from Florida State University when he became head coach at UGA eight years ago was – and still is – "Finish The Drill." Don't start something you cannot finish and finish what you start."

He called Richt "a gifted educator who is like a father to his players and teaches and exhibits high ethical and moral standards. Morton said, "He aims for the stars with his players and teaches them the game of life, not just football. He has had 102 of his players earn their degrees since he arrived at UGA."

And lastly, Morton said that Richt is known for setting a Godly example for his players, "not just between the hedges, but off the field and off the campus." He noted that the Richt family is active in Prince Avenue Baptist Church in Athens.

RICHT'S REMARKS

Opening his remarks, Mark Richt said that he had come because he believes in the FCA and always wants to help the organization raise money for its outreach to athletes, coaches and school administrators. He said that the full house was really a blessing because that told him that Chad Wood "is surrounded by coaches, players and administrators who love the Lord and want the same thing FCA wants."

"Coach is a short word, but there is an awesome responsibility that goes with it," Richt continued. "If a coach's heart is right, he knows he is to bless the young people God has put in his path and put him over."

He recommended several books by Patrick Morley: The Father In The Mirror, The Dad In the Mirror and The Man In The Mirror. "These books," he noted, "have the reader look inward and they show a man that to be the best father, dad, man one can be, the person has to capture the heart of his son or daughter or spouse. If we want those young people to follow us, we've got to go deeper than the ‘rules.'We have to set the example, and ultimately, it should be our goal that they do the right thing out of love for God," Richt said.

He noted the three levels of coaching – teaching of fundamentals and the fear of discipline if they do not do the right thing; motivation to please the coach; and finally, they begin to do the right thing for you because you have captured their heart. "A coach driven team is only at the second level and the team members are only performing for the coach out of fear. But, at the third level, the team is player driven and the players have developed self-discipline and want to do the right thing.

"A coach has to show the players his own heart," the coach said.

Richt said that many players and coaches get their hearts changed at FCA camps. When this happens to a coach, everything flows out of the coach's heart and the players can sense it.

"In my staff meetings, our coaches discuss how we can get our players to love us, get them to buy into what we are teaching and how the coaches can love the players and want the best from and for them. I always ask, ‘Do they know that you care? "

MAJOR ON MAJOR THINGS

The affable coach then told the audience that coaches and leaders in any endeavor have to major on what is going to last forever. "Our bodies will wear our, but our spirit and soul will live forever. We must take care of and develop the spirit and soul. We have to show those for whom we are responsible the beauty of what Jesus Christ did for us. God knew that we could not pay the price for our sins so He sent his only Son Jesus to give us the payment," Richt said. "He sweat blood on the cross – that was because He was bearing our sins. We must impart to those for whom we are responsible that accepting Jesus' sacrifice for us is the greatest gift.

"When we get our hearts right, we will realize that eternal life with God is the most important thing we can give our team. That's why I have a passion for FCA and what it does on our public school campuses," Richt concluded. "FCA's investment is for eternity, and FCA is right there in our public schools talking about Jesus."

ABOUT FCA

The Flint River FCA covers Crawford, Houston, Macon, Peach and Taylor counties and works with the middle and high schools and the colleges and universities in those five counties. Chad Wood is the area representative. He can be reached at 478-550-6156 or via e-mail at flintriverfca@yahoo. com. The regional mailing address is Flint River FCA, P. O. Box 6308, Warner Robins, GA 31005.