In Adversity and Victory: To God Be The Glory, ALWAYS

The Colts organization and especially Tony Dungy has been professing their faith for a long time (years before this season ever started). Not only were they saying that they had faith in each other and weren't giving up, but they weren't at all afraid to lay it all out there to say that God deserved all the praise and glory for what they were able to accomplish. They even praised Him for the struggles and trials they were going through during and after them. It's a testament to the kind of person that Tony Dungy is that he would instill those kinds of values and beliefs in his players because he is a Christian and knows what is most important. I just had to share because there was more than a football game won on that field Sunday night. I, as a Christian, am grateful that there are people like Tony Dungy out there who are willing to stand in front of the 3rd largest television audience ever and say God is responsible for the victory Sunday night (and I'm not talking about the game). Satan was horrified Sunday night over God's latest celebration. All that to say that I find it as no surprise that this was the scene in the locker room following all the trophy presentations and on field celebrating:

Colts owner Jim Irsay, holding the Lombardi Trophy in the team's locker room shortly after the game ended, asked coach Tony Dungy to gather the team for a post-championship prayer as soon as he walked into jubilant scene. And, in the middle of the celebration that had the locker room buzzing after the Indianapolis Colts' Super Bowl XLI victory, Tony Dungy had an announcement. They were not leaving Dolphin Stadium without one more piece of business.

A prayer.

Dungy, saying the team would end its season the same way it began, called the team together at the center of its Dolphin Stadium dressing area. He asked members of the media to turn off their television cameras and huddled the Colts together. The interviews with maybe a dozen reporters still lingering stopped. The pictures players were snapping of each other holding the Lombardi Trophy needed to wait.

"Wait a minute, Coach. Some guys are in the showers," someone yelled from the back of the pack as players made their way to the center of the room. A few seconds later, Bob Sanders and a couple of others emerged wearing towels.

"You lead us," punter Hunter Smith said as he pointed at Dungy.

"Me?" replied the coach humbly.

"You," Smith said, confidently nodding his head in appreciation of the man who became the first black head coach to win the Super Bowl.

Then it was so quiet the proverbial pin drop could be heard.

Dungy prayed.

Players knelt around Dungy and friends, family members (including Dungy's son) and Colts officials crowded into the jam-packed room. With the team's chaplain by his side, the Colts coach gave thanks for the players' health, expressed joy that the team stayed together through adversity. Holding hands, the team joined him in unison to recite The Lord's Prayer.

After the prayer, Dungy left his team laughing. Dungy referenced the team's long year that began in March, and repeatedly talked about the faith around which so many of the players rallied. He reminded them of his Saturday night speech. "We said there were going to be some storms," he said. "We just didn't know they would come on the first play of the game." But the Colts didn't crumble. "Like we've done all year, we just fought, hung tough and everybody did their job," Dungy told his players. "And when everybody does their job, it's a beautiful thing to watch."

To close the session, one player in the scrum of what seemed like hundreds of people crammed into the room prompted his teammates for a "world champs" chant.

And to the delight of the room, the players obliged. "World champs on three," went the yell.

And the room responded: "One ... two... three.... world champs."

(Combined reports by Beau Dure and Jarrett Bell)

There is no doubt in my mind that had the Lombardi Trophy NOT been sitting in that room with them, that they would still have ended their season in that locker room this way: Thanking God for EVERY blessing He has given them (trials and successes). So even if you begrudged the Colts winning the Super Bowl for whatever reason, I would hope upon hope that Christians in this world would be thankful for what was said after both the AFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl by members of the Colts Organization regarding their faith in and praise for God. They gave the glory to Him, the real MVP.