Why Postgame Interview of Notre Dame's Riley Leonard matters
Shortly after Notre Dame’s convincing quarterfinal victory over Georgia in the College Football Playoffs, ESPN reporter Laura Rutledge asked Irish quarterback Riley Leonard, “What can you say about what this win means to you?”
Before he gave the football answer, Leonard shared his heart answer.
“First and foremost, I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” Leonard said. “Without Him, I wouldn't be here, and we wouldn't be here as a whole group.”
Leonard then added, “But just to see these fans. It’s incredible … that’s why I came to Notre Dame.”
In those two statements, two important things came to light. First and foremost, Riley pointed millions of viewers to his hope of Jesus. Athletes often do this, sharing their faith when armed with the platform of a wide audience.
From a Christian viewpoint, taking advantage of these opportunities can be urgent. How many more chances will Leonard have to share the Gospel message with that many people? Even if Notre Dame wins another game in the playoffs, Leonard may not be granted another national postgame interview. And although he is considered a potential NFL draft pick, the scope of the platform he received Thursday may never come his way again.
The Bible encourages us to share our faith in Matthew 5:14-16.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Even in the moment of personal triumph, where his toughness played a pivotal role — Leonard carried 14 times for 80 hard-fought yards — Leonard took his opportunity and put his faith on a stand, letting it shine before others. This act of evangelism showed his love for people, underpinned his faith, stored up treasure in heaven, and pleased the Lord.
The second thing Leonard did revolved around his selflessness. Football is a great game of teamwork. If the center snapped the ball and nobody blocked, Leonard would have no chance against the charging defense. He would surely lose yards on every carry, no matter how great his effort.
Anybody with a working knowledge of football could see Leonard provided the key performance for the win. He finished as the team’s leading rusher with the next-best total of 37 yards on 10 carries by Jadarian Price.
But shortly after pointing to Jesus, Leonard looked outward instead of inward. He shouted out to his defense, gave Georgia credit for having a good team, and gave thanks for the simple opportunity.
And then, an interesting thing happened late in the interview. Rutledge took Leonard back to a low moment earlier in the year, when the Irish lost to Northern Illinois. Leonard’s countenance seemed to change as he absorbed the question. Temptation put him in a challenging position. So what did Leonard do?
His countenance changed again as he said, “When you trust in the Lord, anything can happen.”
What a wonderful answer. When temptation attacks, lift the shield of faith and turn things back to the Lord.
Before this game, I knew next to nothing about Riley Leonard. I typically don’t pay much attention to Notre Dame football. But now I see a young man who has a chance to excel beyond the football field. Beyond the game.
When Notre Dame plays Penn State on Jan. 9, I’ll be rooting for Leonard. Not so much in terms of winning, but for him to take another step forward in his walk of faith.