ANDERSON - In an effort to establish greater interest in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes locally, the organization’s Northern Indiana section brought former NFL quarterback Frank Reich to town Saturday morning.

Reich, the newly-appointed quarterbacks coach of the Indianapolis Colts, spoke at a Coaches Appreciation Breakfast in the Olt Student Center at Anderson University.

The coaches were invited in an attempt to get more area schools to establish regular meetings, called “huddles,” for students. Lapel Athletic Director Jimmie Howell attended the meeting with Kyle Bloom, who runs that school’s huddle.

“Kyle has about 40 kids who attend meetings every Wednesday morning,” Howell said.

“Our goal is to have huddles in all high schools and middle schools in this four-county area,” said Jeff Mosier, director of the section covering Madison, Delaware, Jay and Blackford counties.

Reich was introduced by Eric Simpson, who has been of the Colts chaplains since 1995.

Before Reich spoke, Mosier offered an 8-minute video presentation that covered the greatest comeback in NFL history, orchestrated by Reich in 1992 while playing for the Buffalo Bills.

“When you go to speak on occasions like this, they always bring up things that you’ve done,” Reich said. “Certainly that was one of the positives. But I also hold the record for the most fumbles in a Super Bowl game. That one’s not so positive.”

But his message about FCA — and what it means to him — was completely positive.

“Sports provides a chance to experience emotional highs and lows,” he said. “It provides a venue to learn life lessons.”

His message to coaches was to use their influence with the student-athletes to make a difference in their lives.

He encouraged them to use the letters in the word “pro” as guideposts.

“They should play with Passion,” said Reich. “It is bigger, stronger and deeper than emotion. Passion doesn’t change by circumstances. The best way to play well is to have the right heart motives.”

He then offered that the “R” was for the respect that should be shown to and by each athlete. And the “O” was for the opportunity presented to make a difference in small increments.

For more information about the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, visit www.northernindianafca.org.