Its Super Bowl Sunday, "What’s Your Game Plan"?

Its Super Bowl Sunday,

What’s your game Plan?

I don’t think that there’s anyone, who doesn’t like a good comeback story

You know when the underdog, pushes back through insurmountable odds and somehow comes out on top.

*for some it takes motivation to do it,

*for others it comes from within,

*some draw from experiences of life’s journey

*and for most, after exhausting every other opportunity, as a last resort, they rely on Jesus Grace and Mercy

1. Some have to be motivated

Ill. It was halftime of the 1928 Army vs. Notre Dame Game that legendary head coach Knute Rockne gave his "win one for the Gipper" speech to his beleaguered players.

Notre Dame was having one of its worst season’s on record and Rockne was trying to salvage what he could of the season.

He told his players about the tragic death of George Gipp, a great Notre Dame player.

Many historians doubt that Rockne’s version of Gipp’s last words was true. None the less, Notre Dame did win the game against Army that memorable day.

This speech became ingrained in popular culture after its recreation in the 1940 movie,

Knute Rockne- All American, which starred a then known B actor, Ronald Reagan.

The phrase "Win one for the Gipper" became a permanent fixture in American society. Here is the transcript of the dialogue from the movie...

Well, boys ... I haven’t a thing to say.

Played a great game...all of you. Great game, I guess we just can’t expect to win ‘em all.

I’m going to tell you something I’ve kept to myself for years -- None of you ever knew George Gipp.

It was long before your time, but you know what a tradition he is at Notre Dame...

And the last thing he said to me -- "Rock," he said -

"sometime, when the team is up against it -- and the breaks are beating the boys --

tell them to go out there with all they got and win just one for the Gipper...

I don’t know where I’ll be then, Rock", he said - "but I’ll know about it - and I’ll be happy."

(There was a hushed stillness as Rockne and the crowd of boys look at each other. and the midst of this tense silence, one of the boys loudly shouted!)

Well, what are we waiting for?

And with a single roar, the players throw off their blankets and rush through the doorway, went out and won the game!

That phrase the Gipper from the movie, followed a then, little known actor Ronald Reagan all of his life and went on to inspire a nation.

1st Cor. 9:24-25 MSG.

24-25. You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally.

2. For others it comes from within

Ill. In real life, for the sake of Super Bowl Sunday, that person was Joe Montana.

He possessed an almost mystical calmness in the midst of chaos, especially with the game on the line in the fourth quarter.

While others saw turmoil and danger after the snap, Montana saw order and opportunity.

He was Joe Cool, the unflappable king of the comeback.

Montana was neither exceptionally fast nor tall nor did he have a bazooka for an arm.

The man whom his high school quarterbacks coach said "was born to be a quarterback" won by wits and grace, style and reaction.

It was if he saw the game in slow motion. Whether it was with Notre Dame or the 49ers,

whether the game was played in an ice storm in Dallas or in the humidity of Miami,

Montana was The Man in the fourth quarter. In all, he had over 35- 4th quarter comebacks to his credit.

"There have been, and will be, much better arms and legs and much better bodies on quarterbacks in the NFL," said former 49er teammate Randy Cross,

"but if you have to win a game or score a touchdown or win a championship, the only guy to get is Joe Montana."

Sports Illustrated headlined a story on the fragile-looking quarterback as "The Ultimate Winner."

Montana won four Super Bowls in four appearances, a tremendous feat

"Joe was born to be a quarterback," said Jeff Petrucci, his high school quarterback coach.

"You saw it in the midget leagues, in high school -- the electricity in the huddle when he was in there.

How many people are there in the world, three billion? And how many guys are there who can do what he can do?

Him, and maybe (Dan) Marino on a good day. Perhaps God had a hand in this thing."