Video posted by the University of Southern Mississippi football program’s X account shows head coach Blake Anderson wearing a shirt reading “Christ is King” during the team’s pregame Eagle Walk. Days later, Anderson told reporters the reaction was largely positive and that the goal was to point to Jesus Christ, according to The Christian Post.
What happened at Eagle Walk
The Christian Post reported that the team’s account on X (formerly Twitter) shared footage Saturday of Anderson in the “Christ is King” shirt at Eagle Walk, a pregame tradition tied to the season’s kickoff weekend.
Coach’s response: “Worth it”
Asked at a Monday press conference about going viral for the shirt, Anderson said he was glad people noticed it and that “the whole point of wearing it was for Christ to be glorified and to be noticed,” per The Christian Post. He added, “It’s been 99% positive” with “a few” negative responses, and said, “If one person makes one person think, then it was worth it.”
Anderson thanked Southern Mississippi’s athletic director and president, saying they allow him to “really just use my platform to share my faith,” the outlet reported.
Public faith and past testimony
The Christian Post noted that Anderson’s X bio identifies him as a “Believer in Christ.” His latest post linked to video of his comments and read, “His story … His glory,” with the hashtag #ChristisKing.
In a 2023 appearance on the Sports Spectrum Podcast, Anderson recalled player Josh Davis collapsing from cardiac arrest during a pre-practice warm-up earlier that year. He called it “the scariest thing” he had experienced and described Davis’ recovery as a “miracle,” adding, “God gave that kid a second chance at life.” He also referenced losing his first wife, a son, and his father, saying he leans on Christ and feels a responsibility to use his platform to help others.
On the field
Southern Mississippi plays in the Sun Belt Conference and opened the season with a 49–3 win over Alcorn State on Saturday, The Christian Post reported.
Reporting and quotations in this article are based on The Christian Post’s account and the team video it referenced.
