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“Before I talk football, I just always wanna thank Jesus for the opportunity to coach this team,” Danielson began. “I’m so blessed to be part of this organization with this group of young men and staff.”
Then he spoke directly from the heart.
“Some hard things happened last week with the killing of Charlie Kirk. That’s hard. Regardless of where you’re at politically, religiously, that has nothing (to do) with what we’re talking about now. There’s a 31-year-old that was killed that now has a wife and two kids that are left behind.”
Danielson didn’t stop there. He reminded everyone that the week of Kirk’s murder also marked the 24th anniversary of September 11th—a tragedy most of his players were too young to even remember.
“And then you have September 11th. And even talking with our team about September 11th, that was 24 years ago. The majority of our team wasn’t even alive when terrorists attacked our country and thousands were killed,” Danielson explained.
Both events, he said, showed the darkness young Americans are facing today.
“My heart goes out to Charlie Kirk’s wife and his kids. And like I said, regardless of where you’re at religiously, politically, it reminds you that we live in a fallen world,” Danielson said. “And it reminds you that there’s a lot of darkness and wickedness out there.”
For Danielson, tragedies like this aren’t just news stories. They fuel his mission as a coach.
“And for me, as a head coach, that is what I’m called to do is to build young men to be world-changers and champions in a life that definitely needs more leaders. That desperately needs people to stand up for (what’s) right, and that’s what I’m called to do.”
He made it clear: football matters, but shaping the next generation of leaders matters even more.
Danielson then quoted Martin Luther King Jr., reminding everyone of the only way to push back against the evil in this world.
“Even what Martin Luther King said: Darkness cannot drive back darkness; only light can do that. And that’s what we want to be as a football program. We want to be a light on a hill.”
Yes, the coach wants to win games. But he sees a bigger mission at work.
“Yes, we need to win football games and championships and all – Every college football coach, that’s their job. No question, mine included. But I believe God has called me here to develop young men to be champions in life in a world that desperately needs leaders.”
While politicians offer their empty “thoughts and prayers,” Danielson used his platform to lead. He spoke openly about the darkness claiming lives in America and his responsibility to raise up men ready to push back.
The two words that stunned everyone? “Called to.”
He wasn’t just coaching a team. He was shaping a generation.
Spencer Danielson showed America what real leadership looks like—faith-driven, unapologetic, and committed to the fight for our nation’s future.
Just like Charlie Kirk, he refuses to stay silent in a world desperate for light.
