CUMMING, Ga. — It was not the typical look for the gymnasium at Pinecrest Academy Thursday night. Special flooring was laid atop the hardwood court, so tables and chairs could be setup.
Each table was decorated with AstroTurf, a football, and a helmet. It was all part of the school’s inaugural Father/Son Event – “Leadership On And Off The Field” – with keynote speaker former Atlanta Falcon and the school’s head football coach, Terance Mathis.
“I don't know where this is going to lead me tonight” Mathis said just before the event started. “I never prepare. I have stuff in mind, but I wait for God to put it in order, and then it comes out the way He wants it to come out.”
Mathis, who played for the Atlanta Falcons from 1994 to 2001, spoke about his relationship with God, and how that’s what matters the most. He encouraged all the fathers to love on their children, rather than pushing them to be macho and tough. And he reminded all of them to be careful of what they and do.
“If you curse in the house, your kids will curse in the house. If you pray in the house, your kids will pray in the house,” Mathis said during his speech.
Other former Falcons players also spoke at the event. Brian Finneran, another wide receiver who played alongside Mathis, discussed the different values he learned through football.
“It teaches you how to get along with other people, how to work as a team, understanding how important it is to have other people relying on you and to be disciplined, make sure you understand what you do affects a lot more people than just yourself,” Finneran said.
All told, roughly 100 people showed up to the event which was originally scheduled for the previous week but had to be postponed due to inclement weather.
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