Friday Night Lights at Central: Year One

Jay Thompson, Jordan Howard, and Greg Sukert providing commentary at Central Gameday Year One

With only two months to breathe life into a brand-new concept—and as the only person on the planning team actually employed by Central Church—I rushed straight to work. We decided early on that football would anchor our first Gameday event, since the season launches in August and resonates deeply with our community. But the goal was never just an evening of free food, bounce houses, and football décor. Our vision was to introduce Central Church, and the warmth of her people, to the community through a shared cultural love. Grilled hot dogs and games alone wouldn’t accomplish that.

To understand the heartbeat behind this vision, let me share a bit of my childhood. Saturdays in the autumn were magical for me. Some children grow up with memories of Disney World; my happiest memories were watching college football with my dad. My greatest childhood thrills were trips to see Tennessee play in Neyland Stadium or watching a game at the Liberty Bowl.

I was in elementary school when ESPN’s College GameDay first aired from a college campus in 1993. And this year, when Lee Corso placed the mascot head for the final time at the Texas vs. Ohio State game in Columbus, OH, I realized I had watched most of those broadcasts. Saturday mornings always began with College GameDay—it was how I prepared myself for a full day of football.

So when planning the first Central Gameday, I knew College GameDay would be a rich source of inspiration. We needed our own Gameday crew, and we needed someone to serve as our Lee Corso. You may wonder why a church event would try to echo College GameDay. The answer goes back to the origin of Central Gameday: we wanted a main attraction, something akin to the centerpiece moments from Southern Seminary’s Fall Festival that encouraged people to linger, talk, and connect. For us, that main attraction became a flag football showdown between the staff and the youth.

We gave each team humorous names and asked attendees to choose which side to cheer for when registering. The staff became the Trash Pandas, and the youth proudly carried the name Disco Turkeys. Each guest received either a maroon wristband (Trash Pandas) or a yellow one (Disco Turkeys). We created a three-person College GameDay-style panel to preview the matchup and even commissioned panda and disco turkey headgear for our very own Lee Corso moment. Our panelists provided live commentary throughout the game, and the teams competed for bragging rights and a custom trophy crafted from an old leather football helmet.

To elevate the experience further, we wanted local football celebrities. I first tried to recruit players through the high school coach—which failed. Then I realized my mistake: if you want football players to show up, invite the cheerleaders. A friend of my mother, Kristi Norment, whose daughter cheered at Collierville High School, offered to bring the squad to do face painting. As a bonus, the cheerleaders brought several football players with them, including standout receiver Austin Smith. Kids lined up for autographs, and the atmosphere quickly felt like a true community event.

From concept to reality, the excitement grew. We purchased a massive black inflatable arch for guests to run through upon registration, complete with fog and marching band music. The back lawn of Central Church transformed into a mini sports festival—pop-up tents, food stations, tables, inflatable attractions, games, and a full flag football field.

The event opened at 5:30 p.m. on August 10, 2022, under a hot and humid Tennessee sky. But the turnout was incredible.

My colleague Greg Sukert, also a Southern Seminary graduate, reminded me that one unfortunate omission from the seminary’s Fall Festival was the lack of a gospel presentation. We agreed our event needed that moment. We scheduled Greg to present the gospel right before the main attraction. To help people focus, we temporarily closed the booths and deflated the bounce houses. Miraculously, the crowd cooperated—and the gospel was preached clearly.

Then came our College GameDay segment featuring panelists Greg Sukert (who openly admits he knows nothing about sports), Jay Thompson (a former football coach), and Jordan Childers, our designated Lee Corso. After spirited banter, Jordan hilariously picked the Disco Turkeys—the youth—to win.

The youth team was coached by former Women’s Youth Director Abby Stephenson, while the staff team was led by Gus and Kathy Schroeder. Each team made a dramatic entrance through the inflatable arch. Former youth ministry staff member and Rossville Christian quarterback Tinsley Heston graciously refereed the game.

Once play began, the staff wasted no time asserting control, ultimately winning 28–7. A standout performance came from Family Pastor Justin Halverson, who recorded three interceptions and earned the title of MVP of the game. The panelists’ comedic play-by-play kept the crowd entertained throughout. At halftime, Anna Whitmire and Ellen Olford, leaders in women’s ministry, encouraged attendees to explore upcoming ministry opportunities.

The night wrapped up at 8 p.m. sharp. Our Friday Night Lights idea had blossomed into a joy-filled community evening. And in the weeks following, several families shared that Central Gameday played a meaningful role in connecting them to the church.

Year one closed with a sense of gratitude—and a hope that we had just launched a new tradition at Central Church.