Has Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers found an unfair advantage?
Are they using a secret, other-worldy weapon to overpower opponents and remain America’s Number 1 college football team?
The Sports Illustrated brainiacs think so.
 They say Christianity influenced the Clemson team’s success.  They say:
• Head coach Dabo Swinney extols his faith publicly. 
• Clemson has a team chaplain, Bible studies, character development mentors, and Sundays when the team goes to church together. 
• Held a baptism of a player in full uniform by a local pastor right after practice.  The team cheered.
All this has been opposed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, according to Jeff Iorg of Gateway Seminary in David Tanner’s MidlandsDaily.com
It has filed protests saying that as a state institution, Clemson cannot promote religion and their employees can’t advocate their beliefs.  
What’s the law?
They say the 1st Amendment guarantees separation of church and state.
Actually, it does not.
What the 1st Amendment says is, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Those words’ purpose is clear. 
The government must stay out of religion. 
It does not say religious people are prohibited from expressing their beliefs, even when working for the government, Iorg says. 
Separation of church and state means keeping the state out of the church’s business, not excluding religion from public life.
Sports Illustrated does say that no athletes are required to attend Clemson or participate in the religious aspects of the team.  Yet hundreds of elite football players want to be part of their culture and play for their team. 
They prefer going to Bible study, not bars, being mentored in manhood, not debauchery, and cheer teammates who are baptized, not display egregious behavior toward women.
The government must refrain from infringing on religious practices but there is no prohibition on Christians or any other religious adherents from expressing their beliefs at work. 
Adults are free and responsible to choose what they believe, where they go to school or work and the culture that fits their values.
No complaints
Sports Ilustrated also found no Clemson football player or employee has ever complained about their treatment, the team’s culture or any infringement on their religious beliefs. 
Clemson’s success in recruiting and fielding great payers indicates they prefer a Christian culture over the sex and alcohol common at other college campuses.
If this is an unfair advantage, the Lamecocks should give it a try.
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