Connor Shaw Shares Powerful Message on Faith, Football, and Life-Saving Preparedness at First Baptist Laurens Super Bowl Breakfast

First Baptist Church in Laurens hosted a well-attended Super Bowl Sunday breakfast that left a lasting impression on those gathered, thanks to a moving and deeply personal message from former University of South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw.

Shaw, who led the Gamecocks during one of the most successful eras in program history, reflected on his years at Carolina, sharing stories from the field, lessons learned through competition, and lighthearted moments that included classic Coach Steve Spurrier humor. For many in attendance, the football memories struck a personal chord, particularly for families who have spent years cheering from the stands and raising young athletes of their own.

The morning took a powerful turn as Shaw recounted a life-altering experience from September 2025, when he suffered a near-fatal cardiac arrest while coaching his 8-year-old son’s youth football team in Fountain Inn. Shaw shared that he survived only because two men nearby immediately began CPR and used an automated external defibrillator (AED) located close to the field.

Among those deeply impacted by the message was Matt Strickland, a deacon at First Baptist Church who helped make the event possible. Strickland, who has connections to Carolina Football through his professional work with the program, said Shaw’s testimony resonated on both a personal and community level.

“When you sit there listening to Connor tell that story, it hits home in a very real way,” Strickland said. “So many families in our church and community spend countless hours on ballfields. Those fields aren’t just for athletes — they’re filled with children, coaches, parents, and spectators. Knowing that quick access to an AED can save lives across all of those groups really drives home how important it is that we have those protections in place here.”

Shaw explained that his experience inspired the creation of HrtHudl, a nonprofit dedicated to educating communities and raising funds to place AEDs at recreational sports facilities across the country. He emphasized that AEDs are designed to be used in emergencies involving anyone on or around the field — from young players to adults on the sidelines.

That message translated into immediate local action. A love offering collected during Sunday’s breakfast totaled $2,400, which will be used to install an AED at a Laurens-area recreational field that currently does not have one a second one will be installed at the Laurens YMCA. Church leaders also noted that additional local fields will be evaluated to identify further needs.

Strickland said he was encouraged by the swift response from those in attendance. “This is what it looks like when a church comes together with purpose,” he said. “If even one life is saved — whether a child, a coach, a parent, or a spectator — because of what was shared that morning, it will be worth it.”

Attendees were encouraged to learn more about cardiac preparedness and Shaw’s mission by visiting www.hrthudl.org (http://www.hrthudl.org/).

Sunday’s Super Bowl breakfast served as more than a tradition — it was a powerful reminder that preparation, awareness, and immediate action can make a life-saving difference.