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Playing for an audience of one

Contributed by: John Eisel/YourHub.com on 1/11/2008

Editor's note: Visit our Faces of Lakewood and Edgewater page, where YourHub.com staff and readers can introduce you to more people -- and a dog -- who make this part of the metro area what it is.

Brian Stamer's day is consumed by God, school and basketball - in that order.

When the Highlands Ranch native signed to play basketball at Lakewood's Colorado Christian University he was planning on a lot of the last two, not so much the first.

"I just figured Christian was associated in the name and I came here and got a wake up call," said Stamer, a senior forward for the Cougars, who play in the Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

His freshman year, the athletes went on a religious retreat. About 100 athletes were praying together, talking about passages of the Bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

"Everyone's singing and I'm freaking out in the back," said Stamer.

Stamer made it through the first year at CCU, despite having to sit out the basketball season with a foot injury.

He decided to go on a mission to Germany that summer, where he decided to dedicate himself to Christianity.

"I think that God used that (the trip) to get my attention," Stamer said.

As Stamer grew in his faith, he also grew as a basketball player under third-year Cougars coach David Daniels.

Whether it be in practice or a game, the Cougars hoop it up almost every day, and Daniels coaches his team believing God is always in the stands. Prayer is frequent. Profanity is not, and is always followed by varying degrees of punishment.

The 6-foot 6-inch Stamer thrived in Daniels' offense, which focuses on getting the ball in the paint.

Before this season started, he was named unanimously to the RMAC All-Conference First Team and the RMAC Preseason Player of the Year and a Division-II honorable mention All-American.

"It's been really neat to see him mature over the last three years," said Daniels. "Honestly, it's one of my greatest joys in coaching."

This season, Stamer is averaging 18.2 points and 8.7 rebounds a game. He's made 57.7 percent of his shots and is second on the team with 29 assists.

"When he's physical, they can't guard him," Daniels said of Stamer's defenders. "I don't think he knows how good he is, even if he is the best player in the conference," Daniels said.

When the team isn't making relentless trips to Las Vegas, N.M., Kearney, Neb., and everywhere in between to play in basketball games, Stamer's working on his degree in accounting, with a minor in finance. There's the chapel services every Tuesday and Thursday, and a girlfriend, all to fit in.

This while striving for the top of the RMAC. Through Jan. 11, the Cougars are 7-6, but 6-1 in RMAC play. CCU's next home game is at 8 p.m. Jan. 25 against Regis University.

However, for the Cougars, the score of the game isn't as important as their attitude, effort and conduct during the game.

"We play for God - not for our coaches, not for fans - but ultimately we play for God," Stamer said. "Everything is a form of worship to God."


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Showing 1-2 of 2 comments
Submitted By: Gail Kirkegaard
posted on 1/16/2008 @ 8:53:01 AM
Rated Story
Great story John!
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Submitted By: Erin Feese
posted on 1/15/2008 @ 3:21:17 PM
Rated Story
Nice story -- Brian sounds like a great guy, both on and off the court.
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Showing 1-2 of 2 comments
CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

John Eisel

Denver , COLORADO

John Eisel has posted 2865 stories and 12 comments since joining on 9/14/2005. John Eisel's average story rating is 4.39.
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