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CNN Today

Kurt Warner Discusses His 'Story of Faith, Football and the Miracle Season'

Aired September 12, 2000 - 2:42 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, one year ago, Kurt Warner was largely a struggling unknown. Today, he is the star quarterback of the St. Louis Rams and the most valuable player from last January's Super Bowl.

Kurt Warner details his fast rise in his autobiography, "All Things Possible" -- isn't that the perfect title? -- "My Story of Faith, Football and the Miracle Season." And Kurt joins us from St. Louis.

How are you doing?

KURT WARNER, QUARTERBACK, ST. LOUIS RAMS: I'm doing great. How are you doing?

ALLEN: I'm fine. Thank you. Anyone who's not a football fan, please don't turn the channel because you don't have to be a football fan to love Kurt's story. We all remember you coming off the bench, winning the Super Bowl for the Rams, and then we all learned that it wasn't long before that that you were stocking shelves on the graveyard shift at a grocery store in Iowa.

How are you handling all of this fame, Kurt?

WARNER: I'm trying to take it one day at a time. But the biggest thing is I'm just enjoying it. I'm enjoying all the opportunities that I have, all the success we had on the football field, and the great opportunities in the platform that the Lord has given me through all of this.

ALLEN: What were you feeling back then when you won that game? I'm sure it's still fresh in your mind. I would certainly hope it would be a moment that would stay fresh in your mind a long time.

WARNER: Well, to tell you the truth, you know, after it was over, so many things have happened since then and now we're into a new season that it really was short-lived. You know, we enjoyed it the day of, the day after, maybe for about a week or so, and then we moved on and tried to get focuses on this year and what we want to accomplish this year.

So it was short-lived. You know, there's a lot of pictures, a lot of memories, tapes and all that. You know, we'll keep it fresh as we go into the future and as I end my career and move on to other things.

But it was a great moment, but I'm hoping there's a lot more in store yet.

ALLEN: I'm sure there is. And how far you've come: The other things we learn about your life, let's see, your biological father abandoned the family when you were a toddler, you grew up very poor. A stepfather came along, but he was abusive. And yet, look at you now. What can you tell us about yourself that a lot of kids that grow up like that don't grow up to such a claim and to be such a good person to boot? How did you hang in there?

WARNER: Well, I mean, the biggest thing was is that you have to take your circumstances, whatever they are, and you have to deal with them one day at a time. And obviously, the biggest thing in my life right now is my faith. And to me, that's what's really gotten me through everything that I've dealt with, all the tough circumstances, all the trying times when things weren't, you know, weren't quite as good as they are now.

And you know, I just focused on Him and kept my strength and faith in Him, and knew that no matter where I was going to be, no matter what the situation was that he was going to help me through it and he was going to help me succeed because of it.

ALLEN: At one point, you were quarterback for the Iowa -- what was the nickname of your school?

WARNER: The Iowa Barnstormers.

ALLEN: The Iowa -- go Barnstormers. Back then, did you have such big dreams? Did you dare to dream of quarterbacking a team through the Super Bowl or...

WARNER: There was no question. I mean, I've had that dream since I was in third, fourth grade of, you know, leading a team to the Super Bowl. Obviously, there were times when I was on the bench in college or when I was playing Arena Football or over in Europe where, you know, the dream was fading a little bit. You didn't know if I was ever going to get an opportunity to get that chance, to lead a team to start in the NFL.

But you know, but I always felt that it was right there within my reach. I always felt confident that given the opportunity that I could be successful, that I could lead a team to the Super Bowl -- and I never let that dream die inside of me, although there were times that it was a little farther out there than others. But you know, thanks to the Lord and the plan that He had in store for me, I wouldn't change a thing.

ALLEN: And we know you give a lot of credit to your family. You're so close to your wife and kids. Good for you.

Kurt, good luck this year. We look forward to watching you out there.

WARNER: Thank you very much.

ALLEN: And again, the book is "All Things Possible" by Kurt Warner. Take care.

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