| On Friday, August 31st my neighbor Jeff and I went | | | | the youngest driver in Sprint Cup history to win a |
| to Charlotte to a breakfast at the Weston hotel to | | | | race at just 19 years old. |
| hear my friend, Coach Joe Gibbs speak about his | | | | So it is certainly an honor and a privilege to know Joe |
| new book hot off the press: Game Plan For Life, | | | | and his wife Pat personally. I first met Joe when the |
| co-authored by Jerry Jenkins. | | | | Lake Norman Young Life area was birthed, splitting |
| I'd say there was a pretty good turn-out. Over 1200 | | | | off of the Charlotte area eleven years ago. My wife |
| people, to be exact! We sat at the table next to | | | | and I were honored to chair the adult leadership |
| Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory. There were several | | | | committee of this non-profit high school youth |
| former NFL players there and some NASCAR folks | | | | organzation - younglife.org. We often held our |
| too. Joe was introduced by his son J.D. who is now | | | | monthly meeting at the Gibbs home where Joe |
| the President of Joe Gibbs Racing. | | | | would be walking around with one of the grand |
| Joe always has a great sense of humor and some | | | | babies on his shoulder with a burp cloth. Joes' son J.D. |
| wonderful stories from his football days on the | | | | and wife Melissa joined the committee and also |
| gridiron. | | | | continue to actively support Young Life. |
| So here's a guy who was a physical education major | | | | So Joe has been on this grueling whirlwind tour |
| from San Diego State University. He goes on to be | | | | promoting his new book, Game Plan for Life for |
| offensive line coach at four major colleges before | | | | about a month now. His fierce determination and |
| moving up to the National Football League. For | | | | focus that are reminiscent of his coaching days is |
| seventeen years, he served as assistant coach to | | | | apparent as he travels the country getting the word |
| the St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and | | | | out. |
| the San Diego Chargers before getting the call to | | | | How did this book get started? Thanks for asking. He |
| become the new head coach for the Washington | | | | commissioned a study that essentially asked the |
| Redskins. | | | | question, What are the key topics that will lead |
| In spite of losing his first five games with the | | | | people to a "successful" life? |
| Redskins, Joe went on to lead the team for 12 | | | | He put together an amazing list of Christian men |
| seasons and led them to eight playoff appearances, | | | | (Josh McDowell, Chuck Colson, Ron Blue and many |
| four NFC titles, and three Super Bowl titles. | | | | others) to write on a variety of topics, which is |
| In 1996, Gibbs was inducted into the Pro Football Hall | | | | woven together by Joe's personal testimony. He will |
| of Fame in Canton, Ohio. He was one of the | | | | also be interviewing for video all of these authors |
| winningest coaches in NFL history, at that time having | | | | (each committed to do four hours of interviews with |
| a record of 124 wins and 60 losses, and a | | | | Coach Gibbs over the next year). Gibbs considers this |
| post-season record of 16 wins and five losses. | | | | his legacy work. |
| If that were not enough, upon retiring (the first time) | | | | The foreword is aptly written by former Indianapolis |
| from the Redskins, in 1992 Joe focused his full | | | | Colts head coach Tony Dungy who has also won a |
| attention to his NASCAR race teams and now boasts | | | | Super Bowl. |
| three Nascar titles. Driver Bobby Labonte holds one | | | | The book is interwoven with many fascinating stories |
| title and Tony Stewart won two championships. And | | | | from Joe's colorful career and abruptly begins with |
| this season is looking strong with his newest drivers, | | | | the shooting death of Redskins player Sean Taylor. |
| Denny Hamlin, Kyle Bush and Joey Logano. Joey is | | | | |