[Phillips:] Well, they can't embrace their dads, but, this holiday season, 12 sons of American soldiers have something else worth hugging. It's a football championship trophy. The boys at Fort Campbell High School in Kentucky won the Class AA championship football game. A dozen players' fathers are in Iraq, where they followed the game on laptops. Now, in the championship game, Fort Campbell defeated Newport Catholic Central, whose coach paid tribute to the families of those boys who beat him.
[Bob Schneider, Newport Central Catholic Coach:] What a great thing for Fort Campbell. After what they go through on a daily basis, and to have that shown over there and their kids winning, it just it gives me a little chill right now, just thinking of those folks seeing their kids win the state championship.
[Phillips:] And just a few weeks back, Fort Campbell quarterback C.J. Croft got to play in front of his dad, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Croft. Colonel Croft was on a brief home leave just after having been in Iraq since July. Truly a season to remember. And joining us to talk about it now, Fort Campbell coach Shawn Berner and quarterback C.J. Croft. They're both in Nashville. Guys, great to see you.
[Shawn Berner, Fort Campbell High Football Coach:] Thank you.
[C.j. Croft, Fort Campbell High Quarterback:] Yes.
[Phillips:] So, C.J., tell us what your dad is doing in Iraq, what his mission is.
[Croft:] Well, he's a transporter, so he kind of just gets people in the place that they need to be.
[Phillips:] Well, that's kind of what you do as a quarterback, I guess.
[Croft:] Yes, pretty much the same thing.
[Phillips:] So, do you worry about him?
[Croft:] You know, he's in a very safe place, but, you know, it's always a war zone. So, yes, you got to worry about him just a little bit.
[Phillips:] And, coach, not only do you have to deal with the guys on the field and talk about tragedy and winning and all that great stuff, but you have got a number of players who do have dads serving in Iraq. How do you keep them focused? And do they come to you and many a times want to talk about that fact?
[Berner:] Oh, absolutely. I mean, it is. It is a tough thing to go through, especially for our kids. But, you know, we have a special kid at Fort Campbell, and they have adapted well. And it's not just one going through it, so they all kind of unify and come together. But, yes, we talk about it quite a bit. And we have a lot of community support, and not just myself, but the assistant coaches. I have got a couple that have coached or played on the Fort Campbell team in the past. So, they can relate to these guys very well.
[Phillips:] So, when you gather the guys, coach, are there moments where maybe some of the boys, even you, say, all right, let's do it for your dads that are serving in Iraq; this is more than just a football game, but it's about you excelling and making them proud?
[Berner:] Well, that's funny you say that, because the last thing that we said before we took the field, we kind of said, let's make your dads proud today. And that's something that they obviously did.
[Phillips:] Well, I had a feeling, coach. That's what I was feeling. C.J., your dad actually listens to the games in Iraq? Tell me how that works?
[Croft:] Well, the local radio station actually set it up so that they can listen to it over the Internet. So, he gets a group of guys and huddles around a computer listening to the game.
[Phillips:] Oh, that is over awesome. And, so, does he call you up or try to get in touch with you, like, on a sat phone and talk to you about the game, like give you a debrief?
[Croft:] Well, yes, pretty much. He actually calls my mom during halftime and tells her what he wants me to hear. And then after the game, I'm able to talk to him for a little bit. And, then, once I get back home again, I talk to him again.
[Phillips:] Oh, wow. Now, coach, you guys haven't won a state championship, I was reading, since 1979. So, do you think this sort of interesting spirit about the dads in Iraq and the boys kind of having a different attitude here, winning for something else besides just themselves or you or the team?
[Berner:] I mean, it was a culmination of things. You know, it's been it's funny you say that again, because a lot of people keep saying, you know, there's going to be a book come out of this or there's going to be a movie. It's just been a special story. But these guys, I tell everybody, I can't explain what type of character they have and how they have unified. And they did so many things for our community. And kind of just like just some great Christmas present that they have given to our community. And it's just been a special place the last two weeks with the amount of support and people that want to be involved.
[Phillips:] And, so, C.J., put my head in the game. Put the other viewers in the game. It came down to the fourth quarter. And tell me what happened.
[Croft:] Well, I mean, we had a lead going in. And we knew we just had to control the ball and keep the clock rolling. And we had some big players step up. Dex had that huge run, put us ahead by 14 to, you know, seal it up. And then our defense came out and made some huge stops. And, you know, we kind of felt that we were going to win at that point. And we were able to take a knee to finish off the state championship game, which is, you know, a dream.
[Phillips:] Do you remember what was going through your head? Did you say anything to the guys? Did the guys say anything to you? Did your dads come up? Did that sort of Iraq spirit enter in at any point?
[Croft:] Well, I mean, it's always going through our head. And we were so glad that we could do it for our dads and for those guys who can't be here to watch it.
[Phillips:] So, coach, there's definitely a deeper meaning to this win, yes?
[Berner:] Oh, you have no idea. And, again, what it has done to our community, I think, is very special. And I have gotten e-mails from people all over the country, all over the world that are Fort Campbell alumni or even in the armed forces and what they have how they have said that they were listening in Afghanistan and Iraq, and, you know, people that have no affiliation to us, but they're in the armed forces. So, it's been a special thing. And it couldn't happen to a better group of kids. And they definitely represent what their dads represent in the military.
[Phillips:] C.J., is that a cross around your neck?
[Croft:] Yes, it is.
[Phillips:] So, where did that come from? Is there a story?
[Croft:] I mean, just very religious. I go to church. And we just kind of keep it on to make sure my dad's safe.
[Phillips:] Right on. C.J. Croft and Shawn Berner, what a great story. Congratulations to you guys.
[Berner:] Thanks a lot.
[Croft:] Thank you.
[Phillips:] All right. Well, what would Jesus really do? How would he respond to all of the issues cropping up in the presidential race? We're going to check in with Roland Martin, who is hosting a CNN special on the matter just hours from now.