VALDOSTA — Former University of Georgia offensive tackle Jon Stinchcomb knows how easy it is to fall off track.

An USA Today High School All-American, a Walter Camp All-American, an All-SEC first-teamer, and a Super Bowl champion, Stinchcomb has experienced more success on a football field than most can dream of, but as the guest speaker at the Southeast Georgia Fellowship of Christian Athlete’s spring banquet at Lowndes High School on Monday night, he reminded everyone in attendance to avoid getting in their own way in pursuit of what is important.

On stage in the LHS cafeteria, Stinchcomb spoke about a time in his life he lost sight of what was important because everything was going right for him personally, academically and athletically.

“For us, sometimes we put hurdles in our own path,” Stinchcomb said. “We get in our own way.”

When it was time for Southeast Georgia FCA area director Bobby Willis to call around for opinions on potential speakers, he received glowing recommendations of Stinchcomb from fellow Georgia alumni John Lastinger and David Greene.

Willis didn’t have to speak with Stinchcomb long before deciding to arrange him to speak at the spring banquet.

“I called him and it took me about 30 seconds to realize he was the man we needed,” Willis said. “He’s not the coach that everyone knows about. He’s not the quarterback, he’s not the running back. Nobody knows who the left tackle is. But they do after tonight.”

Stinchcomb spoke about how the fear of an unknown future can be crippling and lead people to put hurdles in their own path to prevent them from reaching that unknown.

For Stinchcomb, his hurdle was pride. Things were so great on the surface, he tried to avoid thinking about his flaws and how God wanted him to improve.

It wasn’t until he hit some road blocks on and off the field that Stinchcomb realized the importance of honoring the Lord through both the highs and lows.

Another experience that shaped Stinchcomb’s relationship with God

occurred in the week leading up to the 2010 Super Bowl during his time with the New Orleans Saints.

With all the celebrations and distractions surrounding, Stinchcomb mentioned how people can lose sight of what’s important. It was at a function, similar to those provided to athletes by the FCA, where he was told, “Discipline is the ability to put what you want most over what you want now,” and he’s carried that with him ever since.

“We need it as adults, we need it as kids, we need folks to kind of redirect, keep us focused, make sure that we’re putting what we want most over what we want now,” Stinchcomb said. “Making sure we’re valuing things correctly and staying focused.”

Even for a man that was immortalized in the UGA Circle of Honor in 2012, the 2017 SEC Football Legends class, and the Saints’ All-50th team as one of the top 50 players in the franchise’s history, Stinchcomb knows he’ll be judged for what he does in his life off the gridiron.

“This can’t save you,” Stinchcomb said, flashing his Super Bowl ring. “But Jesus can.”

The FCA also took time Monday evening to recognize Clinch County and Valwood’s football teams on state championships this past season.

Baseball coach Greg Guilliams was named the Valdosta State Coach of the Year, and the High School Coach of the Year award went to Lowndes football coach Randy McPherson.

Five Athletes of the Year were also recognized: Clinch County’s Warren Stovall, Lanier County’s Trenton Berryhill, Michael Barrett of Lowndes, Brandon Colbert from Valdosta, and Valwood’s Ashton Moorman.

Each winner was presented with a plaque and the opportunity to hear Stinchcomb’s message first hand.

“It’s a powerful message about what God can do when you let him guide you,” Willis said. “That’s what, with FCA, we try to do. We try to get the coaches and the kids and let God guide what they do, and same way with out donors.

“We appreciate everybody here tonight. It couldn’t have been better. It was an outstanding night with Jon.”

Derrick Davis is the sports editor at the Valdosta Daily Times.