Clemson WR DeAndre Hopkins baptized at practice, sets school receiving record two days later

DeAndre Hopkins gets baptized.

/ Twitter/@coachjeffscott

(CBS News) Like all ACC football teams, the Clemson Tigers went through several weeks of sweaty, bone-crunching practices leading up to the regular season. Said offensive coordinator Chad Morris: "There were some times in fall camp, it was pretty intense."

How intense? Amid the full-contact drills and triple-digit South Carolina heat, one player underwent a religious transformation - and his teammates were all witnesses.

Clemson wide receivers coach Jeff Scott tweeted this photo of junior wideout DeAndre Hopkins getting baptized on Thursday - apparently in a Rubbermaid ice tub.

In his tweet, Scott called the baptism the "highlight of my week."

Two days after the Christian rite, Hopkins made his own highlight of the week -- catching a school-record 13 passes, including a 4-yard touchdown, as the Tigers beat Auburn 26-19.

Hopkins is the second Clemson player to be baptized in a month. All-American wideout Sammy Watkins, who was suspended for the first two games of the season after an offseason drug arrest, was baptized last month.

[Teddifish]

The irony is that Jesus asked his followers to worship behind closed doors.

[rtgsc]

another moron posting by brunthood. One of the morons that thinks that separation of church and state is in the constitution. Actually it is from a letter from Jefferson saying that government should stay out of religion and not influence it. All of the founding fathers agreed that this is a nation built on Christianity.

[SamDunham]

"All" of the founding fathers weren't even Christian. And Jefferson's letter was specifically defining what the religion clause in the First Amendment meant. It wasn't some random comment out of context.

[Jesus_Wins]

I have been a Christian since I was 12, been playing sports since I was 5, been in church since being in my mothers womb, been a sports writer since I was 16, and been in the work force since I was 18.

My one issue with CBS on this article is the timing of it. The picture was posted on Thursday, the game was played on Saturday. If Mr. Hopkins does not set a record does CBS run this story? Absolutely not.

Being baptized or even accepting Christ does not give Christians magical powers. If it does then I did something wrong, since my athletic career ended in high school.

Separation of church and state might be one of the more misunderstood amendments. Firstly, it comes from a quote from Thomas Jefferson in which he is saying the GOVERNMENT needs to stay out of the CHURCH. Some how it has been switched.

I have worked in public relations at the state government level and the overwhelming majority of our majors, governors, congressmen, cabinet members, and EVERY SINGLE President and VP has claimed religion as a KEY factor in how they govern.

While I think CBS slurred this article and did a half ass job, trying to keep religion out of it, I will take whatever platform I can to discuss my Lord and Savior.

[mel0520]

It was his pastor, not a state-paid coach, who baptized him. Just FYI!

[boomerwoman]

Just another exhibitionist.

[LowcountryHero]

Should we all only be so fortunate to be on a large enough stage to go public and be an exhibitionist for Christ!

[HM8432]

If the players willingly want to be baptized, and understand it's symbolism, good for them! At least this isn't a story about college players caught with drugs, hookers, cheating, etc. This is a positive story for once, it shows there's still hope for our nation's youth, despite what anti-Christian bigots have to say about it.

[rwsmith29456]

Who said Christianity was better than anything?? And use of the word pretext is correct because most atrocities in history were actually about land, money and power, among other things.

[john92021]

Reminds me of an Islamic soccer game where they hacked of some women's head at halftime. This is a sport, keep your religion in your church.

[rwsmith29456]

That is a completely inane comparison.

[john92021]

why, because Christianity is so much better, hasn't been so long ago since crosses were burning on peoples lawns, native children were taken away from their parents, people were sterilized, people tortured and burned all in the name of your God. Most of the atrocities in our history have been perpetrated under the pretext of religion. Keep Him in your church.

[superdem1]

I don't like this, Clemson is listed as a Public Institution, it is NOT a Christian college, there is entirely too much instrusion of religion in the public domain. There are churches on every corner, he could have invited his football "family" to attend a service. Team mates of different or no religions could elect to go, not be forced to witness or participate. A public college should see to a student's secular education, not promote superstitions and rituals. This is not good.

[rtgsc]

Only a fool says there is no God. You are a complete DOPE. Without Christianity there would be no higher education.

[rznfcc]

Very cool. Congrats to Hopkins or making a decision to be baptized in front of his football family. The fact that Clemson coaching staff allowed this makes me want to follow the Clemson Tigers more closely in the future.

[brunthood]

Ummm...not cool at all. This is a State employee (a football coach)baptising players at football practice. Where, exactly, is the separation of church and state here? This is precisely the type of government sanction of religion our founders sought to prevent, and public institution should not tolerate it.

[nomorelibs]

Get a life Brunthood. Who gives a crap if somone wants to be baptized at school. They're not trying to indoctrinate you.