Maryland's Locker Room Divide

As we continue to draw nearer to the start of the 2025 college football regular season, one of the ways that we get to whet our appetite for pigskin action is to follow the plethora of conference media days that have taken place across the country.

And while there is a fair share of canned answers from players and coaches alike on media days, we sometimes gain valuable insight into the state of a particular program when individuals decide to be candid and open with reporters.

Perhaps the greatest example of such transparency this summer came to us courtesy of Maryland head coach Mike Locksley.

After starting the 2024 campaign 3-1, the Terrapins proceeded to drop seven of their last eight games, finishing the year with a paltry 4-8 record. Such results were certainly disappointing considering that Maryland had six players who would eventually be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft on its roster last year.

Speaking about last year’s disappointment and referring to NIL, Locksley was open and honest about how he felt he had “lost” the locker room throughout the season.

Locksley made these remarks when speaking with ESPN: "I own the fact that I lost my locker room. And this is Coach Locks, the locker room king, telling you this landscape, I had to choose between paying young players who were coming in or reward the older players that have been through the fire, three bowl wins, and I tried to do both with limited resources. And that's what you get: a locker room with the haves and have-nots."

It is very unique to hear a head coach admit that his team’s disappointing season was, at least in some part, due to his showing partiality to certain players over others. The distinction created, then impacted their performance and had a detrimental effect on team unity, particularly when their treatment was unfair.

As followers of Jesus, this situation serves as a timely reminder about the dangers of showing partiality and favoritism as we serve the Lord. We want to avoid treating people as “haves and have-nots.”

Throughout Scripture, we are consistently encouraged to refrain from demonstrating partiality in the way we act towards our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

Here is just a small sample of such verses:

“You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor” (Leviticus 19:15; ESV).

“My brothers and sisters, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism” (James 2:1; NASB).

“To show partiality is not good— yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread” (Proverbs 28:21; NIV).

“I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality” (1 Timothy 5:21; NKJV).

Of course, it is not reasonable to expect that all of our interactions with other believers will be exactly equal in every way. There will undoubtedly always be people with whom we will spend more time or share more common interests.

However, the Bible’s prohibition against demonstrating partiality means that we understand all believers share a common equality of standing as sons and daughters of God. As such, we should be willing to associate with all believers and treat them according to the same set of standards in our dealings with them.

If we aren’t careful, showing favoritism or partiality to certain people can become a temptation. We may think they are in a greater position to personally benefit us, whether it be due to their financial situation, a position of power, or a sphere of influence that they possess.

In the news, it is not uncommon to read about how particular individuals have demonstrated sinful partiality towards a church leader by not confronting that person for a sin that they would have pointed out to someone in a less influential position.

Each of us may fulfill various roles and positions within the body of Christ, but we are all sons and daughters of the King. All of us are rebellious sinners who have been saved by God’s magnificent grace and adopted into His forever family.

When we start to demonstrate partiality, give preference, or show favoritism towards certain people, it fosters disunity within the body as a whole, making the church less effective in achieving its collective goals on earth.

Today, let’s examine our hearts and our lives to see if we have allowed any partiality to sneak in and affect the way we act towards our fellow believers. As we abide in Christ and look to Him for strength, may we all be united together in such a way as to bring glory to Him.

I’m Matt Osborne, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please help me to see if there are any ways that I am acting out of partiality or favoritism in my relationships with others. Thank you for the grace that You have shown to me and my fellow brothers and sisters. Help us to remain united in You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.