(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Before college football season officially begins, the Tennessee Vols are spending time in church together.
The Tennessee Volunteers football team hailing from the University of Tennessee began their week attending the Fellowship Church Knoxville. Before the scrimmage on Sunday, the team and coaching staff came together for church followed by brunch.
Head coach Jeremy Pruitt explained why the team began their season in this way even though it didn’t seem to be a part of their routine in previous seasons.
“Well, I grew up going to church. I think a lot of these guys did,” Pruitt said of the day, according to 247Sports. “Just because we’re in fall camp — I mean, that’s kind of the habits that you create, and that’s something that we wanted to do. And I think our players enjoyed it, had a really good time.”
The church seems to be building a community with the football team.
“It was a privilege to have the University of Tennessee football team join us for worship this morning,” the church tweeted. “It matters to us @Vol_Football that you know that we care about you and are for you, and we will be praying for you!”
The place of worship took things one step further by continuing to encourage their local college football team on Instagram. The team plays at the NCAA level with games that are covered by ESPN.
In spite of all of the pressure, the church wanted players on the team to know that they have unwavering support.
“We know performance really matters at the level you are playing football. We want you to know on your best days — when it is working and it is happening, we are going to be cheering for you — singing Rocky Top until we have no voice left,”the church wrote. “And on the days when it does not work exactly right because no one performs perfectly all the time, we are not going to turn on you. Every day we are going to pray for you — about football a little bit but mostly about your hearts.”
Fellowship Knoxville reminded the athletes that aside from playing for a team that could gain a lot of national attention based on their performance, their value was in more than just athleticism.
“What is in your heart is what matters. You are sons and grandsons; you’re friends, roommates, and teammates. One day you are going to be husbands and fathers,” the Instagram message says. “It matters to us that you know that we care about you and are for you, and we will be praying for you.”