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Richard Collier showed up at the Jaguars game Thursday night, serving as honorary captain and called the coin toss.  The fan reaction to him was moving.  On September 2, 2008, he was shot 14  times, which left him paralyzed from the waste down and ultimately cost him over half of his left leg. 

I was at the game with 2 of my friends.  The atmosphere was electric- he later said that it was the first time any crowd had ever chanted his name.   

Collier said he’d be a Jaguar for life.  In 10 years, pretty much 95-100% of the Jaguars team and coaches will have turned over and moved on. 

This town may not get the chance to chant his name en masse ever again, but we have a chance to do so much more than that.   I was praying one night at one of our services….and big Rich’s plight entered my mind.  Here’s a guy who survived 14 gunshots in Florida’s murder capital.  He has a really difficult road ahead of him.  It’s my prayer that he finds a church family here and feels embraced by our city, one citizen at a time.  

I sit with Nick Kelco every week and pray.  He survived 10 gunshots, and I tell him all the time that God kept him alive for a reason.  I’m sure the same is true for Rich.  Maybe as a former pro athlete, he can be an advocate for victims of violence in our city and beyond.  Until then, he’s got some advocates on his side…many of us here in the Jag nation who will have a chance to support you over the months and years to come….Merry Christmas Rich.  May God bless you and be your Prince of Peace this season and way beyond.