Fortunately, one of Roy’s teammates, Benny Lom, took off in hot pursuit of Riegels and tackled him just before he crossed over the wrong goal line! Half-time came and you can imagine the shame and embarrassment that “Wrong Way” Roy was feeling. He left the field, with his head hanging low. He probably thought he was finished in that game and in football in general. Everybody in the stadium was wondering what Nibs Price, his coach, would say to him. As the team sat in the locker room, Coach Price remained quiet. The only sound was that of Roy, sitting in the corner and crying like a baby. Finally, the coach stood and announced to the team, “Men, the same team that started the first half will start the second half.” Roy Riegels lifted his head, his eyes red and his cheeks wet with tears, “Coach, I can’t do it. I’ve embarrassed our school. I’ve ruined myself. I couldn’t face that crowd in the stadium to save my life.” Coach Price said, “Roy, get up and go on back; the game is only half over.”

Roy “Wrong Way” Riegels got up and went out to play one of the most inspiring individual efforts in Rose Bowl history. Perhaps you feel like Wrong Way Roy right now. Perhaps you knew what it was to walk with the Lord at one time, but at some point, in ways big or small, you began walking in the other direction. Or God called you to do something but you have not yet responded obediently. Watching from the sidelines If that’s you I want you to pay close attention to the first chapter of Jonah, because in it the Lord might be saying to you, like Roy’s coach, “Get up and go on back! There’s still more time on the clock.”