Dear Alyssa,

I say, “All is fair in faith and sports, even when taking first by 78 points.”

A “competitior” and an “enemy” are two very different titles, and to show Concordia College “mercy” would classify them as the latter.

Concordia’s football team accepted a match invitation and therefore ran the risk of accepting “punishment.”

To suggest dumbing down athletic abilities in an activity always resulting in one winner and one loser also asks to remove what is at the root of sports: competition.

But, you present a valuable point.

As Christians, I agree athletes are called to play with a different conduct and degree of self-control.

Perhaps this means pocketing those finger gestures, withholding post-play obscenities and/or sidelining end-zone taunts.

Christian athletes must work harder against what has become accepted as the sportsmanship norm.

However, as Christians, winning does not translate as disrespecting an opponent.

I also agree with you the match was won by the first half.

Which is why during the game’s second half, ACU removed its starters, did not throw the ball after the first drive and ran the ball into the line on the fourth down to give Concordia the ball back.

Saturday night’s game was not a realistic reflection on the upcoming football season in a new and far more challenging division.

I assure you, “Fight, fight, fight” will most certainly need to be exercised.

Unfortunately, McMurry University is up next on our agenda, a past record showing a Wildcat 50-points-plus victory last season.

Keeping score is a means of keeping fairness and accurately measuring the performance of two competitors.

I do believe Christian athletes can still be victors who “act justly, love mercy, walk humbly” (Micah 6:8), whether it be by 1 point or 78.

Blessed are the merciful, for their’s is the fairness to deliver a double-digit beating.