`Afterglow’ makes Lutes special team

Last Saturday, a school from the state of Washington called Pacific Lutheran won the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. Maybe you missed that one. They beat Rowan University 42-13, winning the NCAA Division III Football Championship in their second year of NCAA competition.

Previously, the Lutes, as they are nicknamed, played in Division II of the NAIA. Then, as for the past 28 years, they have been coached by Frosty Westering. He is 72 years young and a grandfather. Lutheran won three NAIA crowns, the last in 1993, all with the Grand Dad walking the sidelines.

As its name implies, Pacific Lutheran is a religiously directed school. There’s a lot of praying and hand-holding that goes on within the football team. One senses most of it is very real and not done for the sake of television cameras. In fact, Lutheran doesn’t get much TV exposure. Saturday was their day on ESPN.

When they do make it to national TV, they don’t change. They are who they are. The day before the game a few of the players politely knocked on the TV truck door and asked if they could see what it looked like inside. They left saying thank you, wearing their ties and jackets as they always do.

Their quarterback, Chad Johnson, who used to be the team’s ball boy, had a fine game. He completed 18 of 28 passes for 276 yards. His coach was proud of him. So was his grandfather, who happens to be the same person.

When they scored, there were no dances, no gang signs, no self-flagellation. They congratulated one another as a team and got ready for the next play.

When the game was over, there was earnest joy and celebration, then prayers at midfield. Then they went to the stands and met their fans to thank them for their long trip and their support. They celebrate with their fans after every game. All of this postgame activity has been given a name by the Lutes: Afterglow.

On the sidelines with coach Westering is a born paraplegic, John Nelson. He is an assistant coach. The man wasn’t supposed to reach age 30. That’s what the doctors said when he was born. When he was 20 and a student at Lutheran, he contemplated suicide.

One of Nelson’s classmates was a member of the football team and brought Nelson to an “afterglow” to try and find him a place in this world. That was 11 years ago and he’s been there ever since.

He is carried on and off the plane and buses by the players, who refer to him as their motivation. While the players play football, he sits in a wheelchair and coaches. The Lutes are very motivated. They are also very life-oriented, and winning football games isn’t at the top of their list.

What the Lutes leave behind is what they’ve created: Afterglow. They make everyone think again about what the games should be about. They make a world realize the reason the Lutes stand out is because they are almost unique in today’s sports world.

They play for the love of the game. They honor their teammates by acting as a team on and off the field. They honor their opponents by recognizing them, win or lose. They thank their supporters in moments when it would be easier to indulge one’s self.

They do what is right. Sometimes people come along who make us take stock; make us rethink our own lives and how we live them. Those people give off a glow that stays lit well beyond the moment.

It’s nice to celebrate such people.

Merry Christmas!

NEWS columnist Gary Thorne, an Old Town native, is an ESPN and CBS broadcaster.