Boise State Coach Spencer Danielson Credits Jesus for Championship Win
Boise State coach Spencer Danielson delivered a nationally televised gospel presentation that would have made Billy Graham proud after his team's playoff-clinching victory over UNLV Friday. The ninth-ranked Broncos edged the Runnin' Rebels 21-7 in the Mountain West Conference championship to secure a spot in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, where they will be seeded third and play in the VRBO Fiesta Bowl Dec. 31. Boise State, which is receiving a bye, will face the winner of Penn State-SMU.
"Jesus deserves all the glory," Danielson told a nationally televised audience in his first post-game TV interview.
"I mean, we serve a Champion," he added. "He died on the cross, but He rose again three days later. That's the God I serve. Man, everything's possible. And our players, they don't run from hard work. They just keep swinging, keep swinging, keep swinging. That's uncommon.
"They deserve the credit. Jesus deserves the credit. We've got the best staff in the nation, and we've got the best fan base in the nation, too."
“He died on the cross, but He rose three days later. That’s the God I serve. Anything is possible.”
— Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) December 7, 2024
- Boise State’s @Coach_SD Spencer Danielson on Fox after winning the Mountain West championship Friday night
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Faith has been at the core of Danielson's success at Boise. In August, he helped baptize Boise State star running back Ashton Jeanty, who is a candidate for the Heisman Trophy. Jeanty previously said he signed with Boise because of its strong faith-focused culture.
Jeanty, too, referenced faith during his post-game interview Friday.
"All glory to God," Jeanty told a nationally televised audience after the Boise win. "We wouldn't be here without Him. I'm so thankful and so grateful for this opportunity. I love this team. It's a family."
Earlier this year, Danielson said his Christian faith gives him peace amid uncertainty.
"Whatever you're in — as a teacher, as a coach, as a professional — things happen," he said on a podcast, according to Sports Spectrum. "There's so many things that you can't control; so many things can let you down. The one thing for me that won't let me down is my relationship with Jesus Christ. It's the only constant."
Jeanty, too, has been vocal about his faith.
"I like to say that I'm a Christian cleverly disguised as an All-American running back," Jeanty said in a video posted on his social media account. The video included an interview he did with FCA.
"I've learned that God has blessed me with amazing talents," he said. "I've just been able to do a lot of great things with it, but at the same time not losing yourself and understanding that my identity is in Christ."
Photo Credit: ©X/Sports Spectrum
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published December 09, 2024.
