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Super Bowl is a super pulpit

By WAVENEY ANN MOORE
Published February 6, 2007

TAMPA - At Christ the King Catholic Church on Sunday morning, Father Ralph Argentino gave an impassioned homily about community, service and the need for volunteers.

As he wrapped up, he said, "One more thing ..."

The church was silent as parishioners waited to hear what else was on his mind.

"Go, Tony Dungy!"

To that, there was thunderous applause.

Anyone who's a fan of football, and many who aren't, know that Dungy is a religious man. Amidst the celebration after winning the Super Bowl on Sunday, he never let anyone forget. Neither did his friend and losing Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith.

It was not by accident.

"I think there were some specific choices about what they were going to say," said Karen Pitcher, an assistant professor of communications at Eckerd College. "My hunch was there was some forethought involved, and if they wanted to get Christ into the conversation, this was one way to do it to a huge audience."

Preliminary figures indicate that 93.2-million people watched the Super Bowl, the second largest audience in game history.

That's a pretty far-reaching pulpit, which is exactly what Dungy and Smith had in mind, said Bill Pugh, executive director for Athletes in Action.

"That was one of the ways that both Tony and Lovie agreed that we would be able to use this unique platform, not only two African-American coaches, but two men of faith," Pugh said, adding that both men have been involved with the Christian organization since they played football.

The men also appeared in a full-page ad in USA Today, paid for by the organization, a branch of Campus Crusade for Christ.

The ad directed readers online to www.beyondtheultimate.org, which had received more than 170,000 page views as of 4 p.m. Sunday, he said.

The Rev. Louis Murphy, pastor of Mount Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church in St. Petersburg, is proud of Dungy and Smith, as African-Americans and as Christians.

"A true Christian should not be ashamed of their faith," he said.

Murphy drew a parallel between the rainy day that Dungy left One Buccaneer Place after being fired and Sunday's big win, another rainy day.

"He's still a man unshaken. I think that's the thing that defines the Christian, no matter what the circumstances, you can be steadfast in your character," he said.

As the father of a University of Florida football player, Murphy wants more coaches like Dungy and Smith, whose styles don't include cursing or shouting at their players.

He hopes the world was listening to Dungy's message Sunday: "You can enjoy fame and fortune and popularity, but in my words, from a spiritual perspective, not lose your soul."

Dungy and his family are still members of the Exciting Central Tampa Baptist Church.

In fact, Pastor Jeffery Singletary prays with Dungy before every game, even if it has to be over the phone.

Dungy's victory, and the way he handled it, sent an important message to the world, Singletary said.

"He's the guy next door, and the good news is the good guy still wins."

Here's an excerpt from Tony Dungy's speech after his history-making Super Bowl win:

"I tell you what, I'm proud to be representing African-American coaches, to be the first African-American coach to win this. It means an awful lot to our country. But again, more than anything, I said it before, Lovie Smith and I, not only the first two African-Americans, but Christian coaches showing you can win doing it the Lord's way. We're more proud of that."

Tony Dungy, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

[Last modified February 6, 2007, 00:24:01]