Liberty welcomes NFL Hall of Famer Marcus Allen, guest worship leader Mac Powell to Convocation

In a morning that included a discussion about faith and football with NFL and college football legend Marcus Allen and worship led by Third Day front man Mac Powell, Friday’s Convocation gave students a reminder to humbly use their God-given gifts to find success in their careers.

Powell, joined by his daughter Scout, a member of the Liberty Worship Collective, led the limited number of students in attendance at the Center for Music and the Worship Arts Concert Hall in singing familiar hits like “Soul on Fire” and “God of Wonders.” Powell has become a regular guest on Liberty’s campus, having performed several times dating back to 1997 and as recent as 2019. He has two children currently attending Liberty.

“Liberty is a place I’ve been coming to and singing at for many years, even before most of you were born. And now to be a father who has not only one child but two coming here to Liberty (Scout and son, Cash) is an honor,” Powell said between songs. “I love how you get this amazing education, not only about the things of this world but also about the One who has created this world and given us life.”

Allen’s introduction to sports, like many others, came from watching games on television and re-enacting what he’d seen by playing in his backyard with his siblings. He said that as a child he knew he wanted to be on TV, not sitting in front of it.

“At 10 years old I decided what size of a television set I wanted to be on; I said I wanted to play and not watch (football), and one of my dreams at 11 was to win the Heisman Trophy,” Allen recalled. “I always had the desire and will to be great, I wanted to be somebody who just didn’t play the game but was the best that ever played.”

Allen would go on to reach unprecedented heights at both the collegiate and professional level, spanning 16 seasons in the NFL for the Los Angeles Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs. Allen has the distinction of being the only player to win the Heisman Trophy, an NCAA national championship, the Super Bowl, and be named NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2003.

Playing high school football in San Diego, Calif., Allen began mainly as a defensive back, but soon became the quarterback, a position that he initially resented. During this time, Allen’s grandfather recognized that God had blessed Marcus with a promising future.

“He was such a giving person, a loving person, and he was a man of God,” Allen said. “When I go back and reflect on everything that has happened in my life, it’s just been absolutely an anointing and a blessing from God.”

Allen went on to lead his high school team to a conference championship as its starting quarterback, scoring five touchdowns and rushing for 195 yards in the final game. He dedicated the performance to his grandfather, who was sick with cancer at the time and would later pass away when Allen was a freshman at the University of Southern California.

Both of Allen’s parents influenced his life and career tremendously, he explained, providing Christian role models who worked tirelessly and trusted in God to raise their six children.

“I had the greatest parents in the world, and I didn’t have to look any further than the dining room table for (positive influences). I saw hard work, love, support, and they never used the word ‘sacrifice,’” Allen explained. “I have a son who’s 7 years old. I brought him into this world and owe him everything I can do for him, and that was the approach I feel like my parents had.”

“I was able to do great things when I played because it wasn’t about me,” he added. “Even though I really wanted to be great, I wanted to honor my parents more than anything.”

Allen said that his family’s encouragement helped him develop the right mindset to achieve his dreams.

“I never knew that I couldn’t do anything because my family built me up every day,” he said. “They would say, ‘Marcus, if you make a decision to do something, you can accomplish it. If you work at it hard enough, keep your nose clean, stay out of trouble, and really want to accomplish something, you can.’”

Throughout the Convocation discussion, Allen continued to express thankfulness for the gifts God has blessed him with mentally, physically, and relationally through his family.

“I didn’t ask for great parents, great intellect, great instincts, a sound mind, or the talent that I had, but by the grace of God I (have them),” Allen said. “I live with gratitude, I’m thankful for what I have and what has happened to me. I believe you’re rich by what you give and poor by what you keep, and the greatest gift we can give somebody is sharing (your) story about how God has impacted your life.”

In the final minutes, Allen was asked about his predictions for Sunday’s Super Bowl LV between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs. After expressing admiration for both teams, particularly the quarterbacks, Allen predicted the Chiefs (his former team) would prevail.