Hundreds gathered at the Abilene Civic Center for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Victory Banquet on Sunday. The event was held to recognize more than 90 football players, cheerleaders and coaches who will be taking part in the ninth annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes Myrle Greathouse All-Star Classic.

Those at the banquet were treated to barbecue and a speech from keynote speaker Colt McCoy, quarterback of the University of Texas Longhorns.

McCoy encouraged athletes to be leaders and assured them they could make a difference for their faith.

"What an honor and what an example you can be," he said. "I wish you all the best."

McCoy, a three-year letterman at Jim Ned High School in Tuscola, had a 34-2 record as a starter for the Indians. While at UT, Colt McCoy became the first freshman quarterback in Longhorn history to win 10 games in a season. During the 2007-2008 school year he received the Male Student Athlete of the Month award.

"He's just a great kid," said Sam Corn, the FCA game chairman. Corn said they chose McCoy to speak because "he's everything FCA stands for."

Though FCA has been around for 50 years, the position of director has only existed in Abilene for the last nine. That's when former McMurry University football coach Steve Keenum, now area director for the Big Country FCA chapter, started the all-star game to raise money for a local director.

The game was a success and Corn said the program has been growing ever since.

Trace Michaels, the associate pastor at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, emceed the event. Before joining Pioneer Drive's staff, Michaels, the former co-host of "Trace and Kenny in the Morning" on radio station KCDD 103.7 FM, worked for Cumulus Broadcasting for 14 years.

More than 120 student-athletes and 12 coaches received an all-star award at the banquet.

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