Tavita Pritchard

David over Goliath Once Again—the Inside Story  on the "Biggest College Football Upset,"  Stanford's

Tavita Pritchard and How His Faith Makes Him Strong

...because the crowd noise was so loud, before the last play, he could not hear the call from Coach Jim Harbaugh, so he had to go with what he thought would work, and called his own play...

Aimee Herd/a BCN interview (October 11, 2007)
Breaking Christian News www.breakingchristiannews.com

When friend and teammate T.C. Ostrander was unable to start as Quarterback for Stanford's game against number one ranked USC, last Saturday, Tavita Pritchard (2nd string QB) was called on to make the start in his place. What happened after that is what some are calling the "biggest upset in college football history."

You might never have known that Tavita had not started in a college game before, he completed 11 plays out of 30 for 149 yards, including the winning Touch Down.

In an interview with ESPN.com, Tavita explained that because the crowd noise was so loud before the last play, he could not hear the call from Coach Jim Harbaugh, so he had to go with what he thought would work, and called his own play.

It DID work, and became the winning TD pass, leading the Stanford Cardinals to an amazing upset victory against USC—24 to 23, at the L.A. Coliseum. (Photo: goStanford.cstv.com)

Looking back, Tavita told the media that the opportunity was a "moment he'd been waiting for all his life." The 20-year-old Stanford sophomore was building on a good foundation. Athletically; his father, David, was a starting center at Washington State and played in the 1981 Holiday Bowl, and his uncle is none other than Jack "The Throwin' Samoan" Thompson, a legend at Washington State.

More importantly, however, Tavita's inner strength extends from his relationship with the Lord. He was raised in a strong Christian home, with parents, David and Kelli and 7 siblings. Tavita's parents are not only involved with the Young Life ministry, but have always had a heart to reach out and care for young people who've been roughed up by life's circumstances.

That same compassion is evident in Tavita, as he attends Young Life meetings near the university, and tells others about his faith. "He's excited for the opportunity to have this be a platform where he can share more, and how the Lord might use some of that," explained his father, David.

"That's how we've approached it since way back when—life presents you with teachable moments, and God will use those things in your life to grow you, both personally and in your faith," David added. "So, he's kind of grown up with that mantra or philosophy, and he's tried to continue that as he's moved on into the college ranks."

Tavita's father was unable to be at his college game debut, because he was performing a wedding that weekend, but he had some good advice for his son. "I said, 'Tavita, no one's going to be expecting a lot, but this is the chance you've been waiting for, you've trained your whole life for this. You need to go out, just play, and just play free. Give it your best shot, don't try to meet anybody's expectations—just play.'"

Tavita's mother, Kelli, said there were many friends and family praying for him on the day of the game. Some even told her that they were reading the account of David and Goliath, and praying that portion of Scripture over Tavita.

Interestingly enough, Kelli explained, "Tavita" is Samoan for "David."

TV clips: www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhXosJdAaMM   

www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3KCqcsum40&feature=related       www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1zOtDlCpys&feature=related

"The composure and poise that Tavita Pritchard showed when he was thrust into the national spotlight is the type of character quality that takes a lifetime of parenting to produce.

Jim Harbaugh – Stanford University Head Coach and former NFL player