Evangel’s original football teams sets example of community, brotherhood
Forty years ago, the first Evangel University football team took the field. This group of men, known as The Originals, kicked off a sport that many value as a classic collegiate athletic event.
On and off the field, this team has represented the Evangel mission well.
“Being on this team taught me to never quit and never give up,” said Don Goodson, who was an offensive lineman for the team. “It taught me that I can overcome and be successful in any area I decide to pursue, as long I put Christ first. I am forever thankful to be associated with all my fellow teammates and the wonderful coaches. What a life changing impact my time at Evangel has had on my life.”
Long after their Evangel glory years, the team reconnected on campus Sept. 8–10, 2017. Stories and laughter abounded as old teammates came together, several for the first time since graduation.
As the team met on Coryell Field, they listened with rapt attention to Athletics Director Dennis McDonald and Head Football Coach Chuck Hepola speak about the foundation that was set by this team.
As Hepola began, he looked out across the field, hands clasped behind his back and face set with pride. As emotion took hold, the original team shouted phrases like, “You’ve got this, Coach,” while others began praying, asking the Lord to guide Hepola’s words.
Coach Hepola shared a stirring speech thanking The Originals for leading the way and laying the foundation for all the teams that followed.
Interestingly, starting that weekend, the 2017 team would go on to win seven games and a conference co-championship.
The following morning, The Originals, joined by President Carol Taylor, Coach Denny Duron, President Emeritus Robert H. Spence, and Dr. Berl Best, shared story after story about the impact Evangel had on their lives.
Stories of God’s transforming love, divine providence, and endless grace poured out through the team’s leaders, filling the team with renewed purpose for living the mission.
Following the game, which was Evangel’s first win of the season, The Originals gathered for an impromptu postgame celebration on campus in The Joust.
More stories were shared, and the day concluded with the team singing praises and praying together until well after midnight.
However, the story doesn’t stop with that weekend.
The team continues to connect and grow together through a Facebook page they created. There, they offer up stories and prayer requests, encouraging each other to seek Christ first.
One of The Originals, David Mewbourne, a former defensive back, shared on the Facebook page how the team helped shape him for the future.
“Little did we know that being on this team would fashion us for the future,” he said. “The trials and triumphs we all experienced at Evangel have come to serve us many times since we showed up on campus in January 1977 to start a football team. The spiritual equity we received in those early days has been paying dividends ever since.”
Now, the team continues to live the mission of Evangel. Every Tuesday, a group of men from previous football teams has a conference call, where they take time to pray over team members past and present.
As they continue to support each other and future athletes, members of the original team will live out their calling as they remember the lessons learned during their Evangel years.
“Being on this team helped shape and formulate ‘the call of God’ on my life,” said Rich Wood, a former defensive back. “First, in spiritual impact and leadership. Second, through God-centered relationships with the greatest men of God who were amazing athletes. Third, to pursue a goal in life and learn how to push through the pain and difficulty to accomplish that goal.”
This sense of community and fellowship, even online, has spurred the original team to a renewed purpose of living Evangel’s mission.
“[EU] was transformative in that our lives were collectively changed in so many ways,” said Ed McCabe, a former tight end. “It was generational in that the impact of what we experienced changed the direction of our lives and, while we did not know it at the time, changed the path of our families for future generations.”