EDITORS’ NOTE: Each day leading up to Super Bowl, sportwriter Art Stricklin will spotlight a related event in Houston featuring a spiritual dimension.
HOUSTON (BP)-At about 9 p.m. Central Sunday evening, one team will be crowned world champions, one coach will be doused in ice water and one player likely will say he’s headed to Orlando.
But viewers watching Sunday’s game also can count on another tradition: a group of Christian players from both teams will gather near the 50-yard-line for a time of prayer and Christian solidarity after the game has ended.
“It’s kept growing and going and it’s become like the National Anthem. You know they’re going to sing that at the beginning of the game and they’re going to pray at the end,” said recently retired superstar wide receiver Cris Carter.
It was Carter’s friend Reggie White who started the tradition in 1986 and it has grown to almost every team in the league.
“It’s planned spontaneity out there,” said Carolina Panthers team chaplain Mike Bunkley. “We’ve been doing it for a long time and it’s something the players want to do.”
Carter said the Super Bowl presents special challenges because of the large number of media and security on the field.
“They still do it. They did it when Reggie’s team won the Super Bowl and they’ll do it on Sunday.”
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