2319: Love, Hurts

Happy Sunday,

I’d be remiss if I didn’t start by acknowledging the Philadelphia Eagles’ dominant and well-deserved victory in Super Bowl LIX. It was incredibly inspiring to see Black men excel on the biggest stage, and knowing that Jalen Hurts secured his Super Bowl win fills me with joy—especially knowing that even greater things are on the horizon.

In honor of this monumental achievement, I want to reflect on the first time I ever saw Jalen Hurts—and, interestingly, his current teammate on the Eagles, AJ Brown—play. I’ve followed Jalen since his early days at Alabama. As a Black freshman quarterback in the Saban era, he was a rarity—a beacon of hope at a time when such representation was nearly unheard of. Before him, the only Black quarterback was Blake Sims, an upperclassman, making Hurts’ arrival a groundbreaking moment in the sports world.

Now, if you know me, you know I’m a die-hard Ole Miss fan. Yet, I respect greatness on any team and appreciate a good game regardless of the jersey. I remember it like it was yesterday: Ole Miss vs. Alabama, 2016, in Oxford, Mississippi. My dad and I finally made it to a big SEC game, and I still recall the brutal heat of the Mississippi sun, sweat dripping down my face as we sat on the Ole Miss side—near the tunnel by the south end zone.

At the time, Ole Miss had the chance to beat Alabama for three straight years, and I genuinely believed we were in the hunt. The game began with Ole Miss establishing a 24–3 lead, with just 2:10 left in the second quarter. Then Jalen Hurts did what he does best: orchestrated a textbook drive combining precise passes, smart QB-designed runs, and dynamic play-action that trimmed the lead to 10–24.

But the momentum shifted rapidly. On the next drive, Ole Miss was forced to punt—and to my astonishment, Alabama returned the punt for a touchdown, making it 17–24. Then came the final blow: a fumble by Ole Miss on the 1-yard line, scooped up and scored by an Alabama defensive lineman. In that moment, my jaw dropped; the stadium fell into a stunned silence as the shift in momentum became palpable.

By the end of the second quarter, the damage was done. Alabama eventually won 48–43, and for the first time as an Ole Miss fan, I found myself admiring the opposing quarterback. I was in awe of how, after taking a brutal blindside hit, Jalen Hurts refused to stay down. He rose, held his head high, and returned to the sideline as if to say, “That was a bad play, but it’s not over—I have another chance.”

That moment has stuck with me for nearly nine years. At 16, I couldn’t understand how an 18-year-old could remain so composed. Now, at 24, I see that his emotional intelligence has only grown stronger. He could have given up, but instead, he persevered. His resilience continually teaches me the invaluable lesson of never giving up—and always standing back up, no matter what.

I hope everyone had a Valentine's Day brimming with love, and that this love continues to ripple out, inspiring kindness and unity throughout the world.

Peace & Love,

Zechariah Davis

Song of the week:

• "Before I Let Go"
  • Frankie Beverly

Quote of the week:

• GROWING every day, ATTACKING every day, and TRYING to get better every day
  • Jalen Hurts

Scripture of the Week:

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