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Bloomindale's Curran Uses Faith To Fuel Determination

Tribune photo by BILL WARD

Bloomingdale linebacker Chris "C.J." Curran at practice preparing for the Bulls' district game last week against Brandon.

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By NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 5, 2008

VALRICO - Bloomingdale head football coach Jason Stokes thinks of his senior linebacker as a bit of a contradiction.

Chris Curran is only 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, but he plays like a 6-3, 260-pound Division I recruit. This season, he has been one of the leading tacklers in Hillsborough County, an area loaded with some of the top defenders in the nation with teams like Armwood, Plant and Chamberlain. Last year, he was an all-conference selection.

Despite his aggressiveness and tough character on the football field, Curran is a devout Christian. Last summer, he spent two weeks in Israel working at an orphanage.

"I felt God wanted me to go there," Curran said. "Through the ministry at my church, we went there just to love over them, loving over orphans and Jewish children."

Curran said he befriended dozens of youths, none of whom could speak English. Although they used translators, he said the general form of communication came through affection.

"As a 16-year-old, I was the only adult figure in these kid's lives."

After college, Curran plans to return to Israel to do missionary work.

Stokes said Curran's faith and spiritually is infectious.

"He's our prayer warrior. Whenever we do community service, he leads," Stokes said. "He said his play is how he worships God."

Quite a statement, given Curran's abilities on the field.

"He plays so much bigger than he is," Stokes said. "He's a machine. He has a nose for the ball."

"Its heart and wanting it more than anything," Curran said about his abilities on the field. "Knowing I can go through anything because He strengthens me. The Bible says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

He's also an intricate part of Bloomingdale's turnaround season. Having only finished above .500 once in school history, the Bulls are 6-2 and clinched a playoff berth.

"He's a leader in the locker room and on the field," Stokes said. "He plays with so much passion."

Even though the program had a losing reputation, Curran said he wanted to attend Bloomingdale.

"I knew since Little League I was coming here," he said. "I wanted to be a part of a team to change stuff."

After high school, Curran plans to attend college, possibly Central Florida, and major in business.

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 865-4848

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