ACT I:

Denny Duron was a member of the first graduating class to attend all three years at Captain Shreve High School in 1970. He was a member of the Gator football team. During this time, Denny felt a calling to preach the gospel and had plans to attend seminary. But Louisiana Tech University came calling with a scholarship offer, which he promptly declined. They urged him to go and see Terry Bradshaw play his last college game, and as he sat watching, God spoke to him. Tech is where the Lord needed him to be. Now, this was back in the days before Tim Tebow. Players usually didn’t show their religious beliefs. There were a few exceptions, but for the most part, you kept it hidden. Denny asked himself, “Play football for the glory of God-what does that mean? What is the end game here?” Well, let’s see.

During his junior year, Denny was switched from playing Ist string wide receiver to 4th string quarterback. Denny didn’t particularly care for that – going from a starter to riding the bench. But God spoke to him and said he would quarterback the team to an undefeated season for the first time in Louisiana Tech’s history “for my Glory.” Long story short, Tech was undefeated that year. At the bowl game, an ABC reporter shoved a microphone in his face and commented that the bowl victory made their win 12 in a row. Denny replied, “Well, sir, I asked God for an 11-0 season, and he gave us a 12-0, praise glory.” That shows you what God can do.

ACT III:

The role of athletics at Evangel Christian Academy extends beyond physical prowess, as the school uses sports as a platform for character development and community building. In the “God, Family, Football” docuseries, we see Evangel players being taught to put God first in their pursuit of success on the football field, with coaches emphasizing the importance of faith, dedication, and teamwork. This approach to athletics instills valuable life lessons in student-athletes, preparing them for success in all aspects of their lives. For example, Denny uses a “Performance Spectrum” chart for his coaches to understand better who is “in the game.” The Performance Spectrum evaluates each player’s capabilities, practice performance, and actual game performance on a scale of 1 to 3. The spectrum never lies and allows coaches to call the right plays with the right players on the field at the right time. There are a few exceptions to what appears on the chart. Thoroughbreds, for example. Denny explains, “Some players are scaled high on the skill set chart but are low on almost everything else, but they still help you win ball games.
You have to recognize your thoroughbreds and figure out how to treat them without messing up the culture and chemistry of the team.” Denny is currently working on writing a book on the Performance Spectrum Theory. It applies not only to coaching sports but also to business coaching and leadership.
“God, Family, Football” is a spellbinding viewing event. It not only follows Denny and his coaching staff but also takes you into the lives of some players. Their home life, their school day, the ups and downs of winning and losing, and Evangel’s impact on community involvement.