Patrick Nix prayed almost every night for the chance to step onto the football field and play quarterback for the Auburn Tigers.
His eagerness to throw the football became apparent when starting quarterback Stan White went down with an ankle injury in the team's biggest game of the 1993 season, a matchup with rival Alabama. Nix immediately grabbed his helmet, strapped it on and took off onto the field -- only to realize it was now fourth down.
"I looked like an idiot,"
Nix said.
So Nix's next task became to convince first-year head coach Terry Bowden not to kick the field goal with Auburn trailing 14-5 in the third quarter.
"Let's go for it. Let's go for it,"
Nix urged him.
After some pleading, Bowden agreed. And the decision paid off -- Nix threw a touchdown pass on the next play to receiver Frank Sanders, and eventually helped lead the Tigers past their rival, 22-14, to round out an 11-0 undefeated season. Nix said he sprinted to the 50-yard line upon throwing the touchdown to dance at midfield.
"I promised myself I'd do it if I ever threw a touchdown in an Auburn-Alabama game,"
Nix said, laughing.
The story highlighted Nix's testimony Wednesday night at the Crowne Plaza at Shipyard Plantation, where he spoke at the annual sports banquet for the Week of Champions -- a week-long event featuring youth sports clinics that teach Christian values.
"There's no doubt in my mind that God said, 'I have a harvest just for him,'"
Nix said afterward. "Soon enough, I reaped the harvest. And it continued for the next two years."
Nix, now the offensive coordinator at the University of Miami, was the keynote speaker on a night that celebrated the 30th year of the Week of Champions.
Nix also brought along with him two of his offensive players. Senior wide receiver Khalil Jones gave his testimony first and spoke about a rough childhood, then redshirt freshman quarterback Robert Marve discussed how God healed his injuries.
Former Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl linebacker Greg Brezina introduced the night's speakers, while many of the other 60 athletes in attendance this week signed autographs before the banquet began.
The night also included a silent auction, which was filled with more than 100 sports memorabilia items donated by various people and organizations.
