Ecclesisastes 9:11

I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.

Talent does not always equal victory. The 2007 college football season proved that. Upsetes happen in sports all the time. What this means for you is that you are never so much of an underdog that you can't win. Weather conditions may help. One of the other team's star players could get injured or suspended. You just don't know what's going to happen, so you might as well give it your best shot.

Proverbs 20:4

Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.

If you do nothing, you get nothing. That's how life works. This flies in the face of what many young people believe. I see it in school all the time. Students get upset when they are failing a class and they blame it on a teacher. However, when I see these same students in study hall, they are doing absolutely nothing. They do nothing, so they get nothing.

Proverbs 22:13

The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!”

Lazy people always have an excuse to get out of work. Rather than finding a way to get it done, they constantly look for a way to avoid giving effort. If they put as much energy into working hard as they did finding excuses, they might be a good athlete!

Proverbs 13:19

It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.

Many athletes have dreams like winning the conference, making the playoffs, etc. However what many athletes don't have is the ability to sacrifice for those dreams. In order to achieve goals, athletes and coaches must get rid of those things that hinder them from reaching those goals.

Proverbs 14:14

Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.

I absolutely hate to clean and I imagine that cleaning stables would not be a pleasant chore. If you don't want to clean stables anymore, you can get rid of your oxen. But if you do that, you won't have a large harvest. So it's either clean stables or a big harvest

There are many chores in athletics that aren't particularly pleasant (like conditioning). If you don't like to do it, you could skip it. It would prevent you from being sore or uncomfortable. However, you won't be likely to get a large harvest (playing well, winning).

Would you rather have a clean stable or a large harvest?