Ingredients of a Champion

Introduction

What are some things that come to mind when you think of a winner or a champion?

Coach Terry Bowden coached over 300 college football games over a span of 4 decades. In 1993, he led Auburn to a perfect 11-0 season and said that his team’s success boiled down to one word… attitude. To remind him of the importance of attitude, Coach Bowden carried this article around with him throughout the season.

“Attitude: The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our attitudes.”

– Charles Swindoll

Attitude determines how we respond to challenges and opportunities in life. Today, we’re going to talk about three key ingredients of a winning attitude. Each of these ingredients begins with a D, and each of them makes a major contribution to individual and team success both on and off the field.

Determination is the ability to stick with it and persevere in the face of challenges and setbacks.

The Three D’s

Who can tell me who Florence Griffith-Joyner is?

“Flo-Jo” is often considered the fastest woman who ever lived. She set the world record for both the 100 meters and 200 meters way back in 1988, records that still stand to this day. (To give you some perspective, the men’s 100M record has been broken 14 times since 1988!)

Shortly after winning the gold medal at the 1988 Olympics, Flo-Jo was asked to what she attributed her success. She replied, “Desire, Dedication, and Determination.” Those three D’s are what I’m going to talk to you about today.

1. Desire

How would you define “desire?”

Desire can be difficult to define, but you know if you have ever experienced it. It is an urge, an impulse, a longing to experience or accomplish something. It motivates you to strive and sacrifice for the result you are hoping for. There is an expression in Spanish to do something “con ganas,” which literally means “with desire,” but expresses so much more. It might be better translated to “put your guts into it,” or “give it all your strength.”

To be successful as a player, as a team, or in life you need desire. How strong is your desire to compete in your sport?

Check out this story about a 13-year-old boy who went on to become the greatest scorer in NCAA basketball history:

“I began to eat and sleep with my basketball by my side. I was so dedicated to perfecting my skills that when Mom came in to kiss me good night, without fail I was lying in bed shooting the ball to the ceiling. and catching it. I’m sure she heard me repeating, ‘fingertip control, backspin, follow-through … fingertip control, backspin, follow-through.’ As Mom said good night, she would tuck the ball under my arm, as some mothers would a child’s teddy bear, then turn out the light. Sleep didn’t come easily because my mind constantly churned new ideas regarding the ball-handling and dribbling drills my dad had taught me that day.”

This 13-year-old boy was none other than “Pistol” Pete Maravich, who in 3 years between 1968-1970 averaged 44 points per game and scored a total of 3667 points … A record that stands to this day.

Ted Williams – one of the greatest hitters in baseball history – said this: “All I want out of life is that when I walk down the street folks will say, there goes the greatest hitter that ever lived.”

· What do you want people to say about you?

· How strong is your desire to achieve success?

The first ingredient is desire – you’ve gotta want it!

2. Dedication

The second ingredient is dedication.

Desire will only take you so far. To be successful, you must have the dedication to actually follow through on that desire. You have to actually do it! Dedication is often what separates average players and teams from champions.

Bobby Knight put it this way: “The will to win is the most over-estimated phenomenon in sport. It’s not the will to win – everyone wants to win. It’s the will to prepare to win that makes winners.”

A lot of people want to win, but aren’t willing to pay the price. There has never been a great sports champion who wasn’t dedicated – Steph Curry, Michael Phelps, Peyton Manning – all of these guys had or have intense regiments of training that helped them reach their desired goals.

What about you? Are you willing to work hard to win? If coach was to ask you to do some extra drills after practice, what would your attitude be?

Ok, let’s review:

· The first ingredient: Desire

· The second ingredient: Dedication

3. Determination

Our final ingredient is determination. This is the ability to stick with it and persevere in the face of challenges and setbacks. Every great champion has had to overcome challenges and failures along the way. The examples are endless: Many of you have probably heard the story about Michael Jordan. As a sophomore he was unable to make the varsity basketball team. Apparently, there were 15 kids better than him at his high school. Jordan turned that into motivation. He worked out relentlessly, became the best player on the JV team, and a year later was the undisputed leader of the varsity squad.

Many of you may know that Tom Brady was drafted in the 6^th round of the NFL draft, the 199^th pick overall. Every NFL franchise had the opportunity to select Brady and passed, multiple times. Tom used that snub as motivation throughout his NFL career, winning 7 Super Bowls (more than any NFL franchise) and becoming arguably the greatest NFL player of all-time.

· What is your attitude?

· Are you easily side-tracked or are you determined to press on?

To be a champion in life requires desire, dedication, and determination in every area of your life- the physical, the mental, and the spiritual.

Conclusion

Let’s review the 3 D’s:

· Desire

· Dedication

· Determination

Ask yourself where you can apply these ingredients to help you achieve your goals. Also, what about applying it to other areas of your life so you can excel off the field as well.

To be a champion in life requires desire, dedication, and determination in every area of your life- the physical, the mental, and the spiritual. A lot of professional athletes have acknowledged the key role spiritual motivation has played in their success – players like Clayton Kershaw, Steph Curry, and Cooper Kupp. These guys have learned how to strike a balance in these three areas of their life.

Cru is an organization that supports students who want to develop the spiritual area of their lives. Addi (Cru student leader) has been involved for the past 4 years and she and our Cru staff team want to invite anyone who is interested to hear a bit more about Cru and how we seek to serve students in our community. If anyone is interested, we will have pizza and popsicles tomorrow after practice and share a little bit more about Cru and how we can grow as spiritual champions as well.

Comment Cards

Thanks again for having us, coach. I do have just one favor to ask. We’re going to pass out some brief comment cards. We would love it if you could take about 2 minutes to give us some honest feedback about the talk today. It is always helpful for us to know what students find most helpful, as well as what topics you might be interested in hearing about. There is also a place on the card where you can provide your contact information if you would like a reminder text about our pizza and popsicle event taking place outside the locker room tomorrow after practice. Thanks, guys. Best of luck with the remainder of your season.

Next Step

Decide on a team for a team talk, and offer this talk or Successful Teams to the coach.

team talk successful teams

RECENT POSTS

Daniel’s Story

Daniel’s life was a map—Texas to Florida, then back to Texas again. The moves were just moves, until the last one. That’s when things got rocky. That’s when Daniel found himself caught up in a scene he never planned for. Parties. Bad decisions. Nights that blurred into mornings.

One night, driving home from another party, Daniel’s thoughts wandered to a Bible verse – Matthew 16:24-25: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

The words hit him like a weight. Take up your cross. He couldn’t shake it. What was he doing? Where was he going? Right there, on the side of the road, Daniel pulled out his phone and texted his friends, Matthew and Carson: “Hey guys, we need to stop. What are we doing?”

"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."

The next day, they quit. No more parties. No more empty nights.

But Daniel didn’t stop there. He started talking to others—first his friends, then younger guys heading down the same road he’d just left behind. He wanted to help them before they went too far. And the incredible part? They listened. One conversation turned into another, and then another.

Soon, Daniel found himself leading a group of those same guys—meeting at youth groups, starting Bible studies, sharing verses and stories instead of excuses.

Cru gave him the tools. They showed him how to lead, how to share his testimony, how to handle the logistics so he could focus on the people in front of him. It wasn’t always easy. Not every conversation went smoothly, and not everyone listened. But Daniel stayed at it, because seeing one life change made every hard moment worth it.

It’s not always easy, but seeing lives change makes every challenge worth it.

Last year, there were three of them. Now, there are 17.

Daniel still thinks about that verse from Matthew. Take up your cross. It reminds him that purpose isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up, reaching out, and choosing something better—day after day.

And so Daniel keeps going. Because once you realize what matters, you don’t go back.

You just keep walking forward.

Next Step

Pray and ask God to show you 2-3 areas in your life where you must begin to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him.

Matthew’s Story

Matthew grew up in a small town in South Texas, carrying a lot of frustration about himself. By the time he reached high school, he was really struggling with his self-image, which led to a lot of anger—anger at himself and those around him. He tried to fill the emptiness he felt with family and friends, but nothing seemed to work for long. Eventually, he turned to alcohol and drugs. By the time he was 14, he was drinking heavily, and for the next couple of years, his life felt like one endless cycle of bad habits and broken relationships.

Then, something changed. Matthew had a friend named Daniel who stepped in and encouraged him to take a different path. Daniel told him, ‘Hey man, we need to be better for ourselves, for the people around us, and most importantly, for God.’ Those words struck Matthew deeply. He decided to quit drinking and began working to turn his life around. It wasn’t easy. Not long after, Matthew suffered a knee injury that took away his outlet in sports, and he found himself struggling again. But God had other plans. Matthew ended up attending a Cru getaway—a Christian retreat—that gave him a fresh perspective and renewed sense of purpose. Through that experience, Matthew found clarity, direction, and most importantly, a community of believers who supported him every step of the way.

We need to be better for ourselves, for the people around us, and most importantly, for God.

Now, Matthew is thriving. He’s surrounded by friends who push each other to grow in their faith, and he’s committed to helping others find what he’s found in Christ. When he looks back, Matthew says he barely recognizes the person he used to be. His story shows just how powerful God’s grace can be and how much of a difference a caring friend and the right opportunities can make. If you’re feeling lost, remember Matthew’s story: God can use even the toughest times to draw you closer, ignite your spirit, and lead you into a purpose greater than you ever imagined.

Next Step

Using this testimony worksheet, write out your own story and ask God how you can encourage friends to grow in their faith.

TESTIMONY WORKSHEET

Jaclyn’s Story

Jaclyn struggled with intense anxiety from an early age. As she moved into middle school and high school, she put enormous pressure on herself to succeed in everything she did, feeling like she needed to be the best or she would disappoint herself and those around her. There were many nights when the anxiety was overwhelming—she couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, and felt constantly knotted up inside. Despite knowing about God and attending church occasionally, she felt like a crucial piece was missing from her faith journey. Though she grew up in a Christian household, attending church wasn’t a consistent part of her family’s routine due to busy weekends filled with sports and activities. Without a regular church community, Jaclyn found herself lacking the kind of support system she needed, though she always had the love of her family around her.

In her sophomore year, Jaclyn came across Cru during a lunch period at school. Drawn by the warmth and genuine kindness of the people she met at their table, she decided to get involved. She joined a girls’ Bible study led by a volunteer named Hunter, meeting every week to learn and share. For Jaclyn, this Bible study quickly became the highlight of her week. It offered her a sense of community she had always been looking for, and she grew close to Hunter and the other girls. In March 2022, Hunter asked the group a question that stuck with Jaclyn: “If you were to die today, are you sure you would go to heaven?” This question made Jaclyn realize that she hadn’t fully surrendered her life to God. A few days later, a conversation with her dad, who shared his own testimony of coming to faith, seemed like the final nudge. It was as though God was speaking directly to her through repeated messages, urging her to make her faith her own. She decided to fully surrender, and immediately found a new sense of peace and joy, replacing the anxiety that had weighed her down for so long.

“If you were to die today, are you sure you would go to heaven?”

Since then, Cru has continued to be a powerful influence in Jaclyn’s life. It has provided her with mentors, resources, and the confidence to step out in her faith. She learned how to share her testimony, something that once felt uncomfortable, but now she sees as a way to plant seeds in others’ hearts. Jaclyn has grown in boldness, leading Bible studies and sharing her story with others, trusting that God will use her words, whether or not there is immediate visible change. Through Cru, she found the community she longed for, and it has helped her find the courage to live out her faith openly and impactfully.

Next Step

Using this testimony worksheet, write out your own story and ask God for an opportunity to share it.

TESTIMONY WORKSHEET

Share This Post

More to Explore

How to Do a Team Talk

This article will give you a broad overview of how to do a team talk, and why team talks can be extremely effective at reaching

Team Talk: 4 Characteristics of Successful Teams

This team talk will help you gain credibility with any sports team before an outreach.

Using the THRIVE Start Series to Follow up a Student

We love it when teenagers come to Christ, but what we do next can make or break a spiritual movement.