- Washington Free Beacon - https://freebeacon.com -

Atheists to Clemson Coach: Get God Off the Gridiron

Call it the tyranny of the minority: The growing trend of atheist groups intent on evangelizing their non-belief to the majority of believers in America in an effort to wipe any mention of God from our society.

The latest example came during this Holy Week for Christians and Jews alike. Clemson Tigers football coach Dabo Swinney has been targeted by a group called The Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) out of Wisconsin. The organization has accused coach Swinney's program of being saturated with "Christian worship."

One of Swinney's offenses is the use of his favorite motivational saying: "Run your race to win, don't just run the race." Nevermind that it could have come from a Dale Carnegie book or a Steven Covey seminar: the phrase is from 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, so clearly Swinney is engaged in the establishment of a state religion here. Can't you see it?

According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, a journal that clearly sides with FFRF in the anti-theist hysteria, "At Clemson, God is everywhere. The team's chaplain leads a Bible study for coaches every Monday and Thursday. Another three times a week, the staff gathers for devotionals. Nearly every player shows up at a voluntary chapel service the night before each game."

Please relish the irony of that last statement: "Nearly every player shows up at a voluntary chapel service the night before each game." Nearly suggests that not every player attends. And doesn't voluntary chapel service mean it is not mandatory, by definition?

The university is standing by its coach, for now. "No one is required to participate in any religious activities related to the football program. It's purely voluntary," their spokeswoman told the Greenville News. "Religion and faith is a big part of Coach Swinney's personal beliefs, but it is in no way required. There is no mandatory participation."