Whistle—and work hard—while you wait.
Just after my time at USC, a quarterback named Matt Cassel arrived on campus. He was there in USC’s Pete Carroll era—the height of Trojan dominance.
Cassel played behind two different QB’s that would go on to play in the NFL. Meanwhile, Cassel sat the bench, never starting a single game in his USC career.
But Matt Cassel did not get discouraged or give up. Though he saw almost no action at the college football ranks, Matt was picked up in the 2005 draft by the New England Patriots—famous for spotting the under-the-radar talent. When Tom Brady went down due to injury, Cassel stepped in and lead the team with poise and effectiveness. That offseason, he signed the highest one-year contract in NFL history, $14M. Cassel went on to play 13 years in the NFL and is now a television football analyst.
He isn’t the most famous quarterback. He’s not the most wealthy or acclaimed football pro. But, perhaps Cassel is one of the most patient. Cassel kept a longer-term view, kept the faith, and worked hard when it didn’t seem to be paying off. Well, it did pay off.
Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. Romans 12:12