'In the beginning, Ed McMinn knew that at the University of Alabama, football was like religion.

And that prayer factors in quite heavily.

“There may be quite a bit of prayer that goes on, especially when Alabama is facing fourth down in the last minutes of the ball game,” McMinn said.

So he decided to combine the “two things that many people are passionate about — college sports and their faith” — to write the book God Bless the Crimson Tide: Devotions for the Die-hard Alabama Fan.

A collection of 90 stories from sports played at the University of Alabama, the book includes a Bible verse for each of the stories.

The end of the book concludes with a “replay” of the major points of each devotion.



“God is extremely persistent,” McMinn said, recounting how he had the idea for the book for a while before he got around to writing it.

McMinn, who spent most of his life in the newspaper business as a reporter and editor, taught journalism in college before becoming a minister at a non-denominational church in Terry, Ga.

He entered seminary when he was 52 years old.

Now he has gone from Methodist minister to non-denominational minister and book author.

“I guess I can claim that the book was divine inspiration,” McMinn said. “I was raised in the south. I grew up in Georgia, and I’ve always been a sports fan, especially of college football.”

A secret? He’s really a University of Georgia alumnus and fan, but the publishers wanted him to focus on Alabama and Tennessee first. (McMinn also wrote God Bless the Vols.)


McMinn said he would first find stories of faith, success, loving others and other inspirational topics about Alabama sports teams and coaches, then go look for scripture that complimented those stories. [The writer means complemented.]

“Football in this part of the country is a big thing. But other sports are in there,” McMinn pointed out. “You cannot do a book about Alabama sports without doing gymnastics. “

And from gymnastics to volleyball, figures and teams from the pages of Alabama sports history come to life, filled with passion and faith. [Cliches.] Bear Bryant is, of course, included, as well as Gene Stallings and Sarah Patterson, as well as other, lesser-known names.

“It comes at a good time for Alabama,” McMinn said of the book, and the hopes and prayers of Alabama fans for a good season. “The Alabama folks are really excited with the hiring of (head football coach) Nick Saban.”



Gary Cramer, director of the Fellowship of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for UA [How's that again?], said that one of his favorite quotes from the book was from Senator Jeremiah Denton, who at one time said, “We believe that on the eighth day the Lord created the Crimson Tide.”

“That’s not necessarily a theologically correct statement, but true to the heart of the Crimson Tide fan,” Cramer said. “The book is just a real relative way of tying in scripture to some of the great stories of Alabama [UD doesn't get what the speaker means by calling it a real relative way.], and some of the truths that have occurred over the years. It was very entertaining to read as he ties it into scripture and encourages people on their daily walk.”

The book, which was published by Howard Books, the Christian book arm of Simon and Schuster, was not initially about the University of Alabama. [To be verbs and redundancy are making the writer's walk a little labored here. Possible rewrite: Published by Howard Books, Simon and Schuster's Christian imprint, God Bless the Crimson Tide was not at first about Alabama.] He initially [redundant] wrote about — brace yourself if you’re a Tide fan — Auburn, before he pitched the book idea to publishers. [Four uses of the word "book" in two sentences.]

But the Auburn University library was the closest college library to Terry, Ga., where McMinn lives, he noted in his defense. He was able to go there to de [typo] research on his off time.

McMinn said he hopes the book serves as a way to connect with people who might not otherwise read devotionals, as well as those who already practice faith.

“For too long there’s been a disconnect,” McMinn said.

“You go to church on Sunday, you practice your faith on Sunday and forget about it the rest of the week. Of course that’s not the way it should be. This was a way to connect people.”

More SEC schools are on McMinn’s list to write about next, but for now, he hopes Alabama fans enjoy the book.

“It is my prayer that it reaches many audiences,” he said.'

Amen. [Editorial comment doesn't belong in a news story.]

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