David Gossett, partner at David Wright Tremaine, considers himself to be “very athletic,” but not a team sports type of athlete. But after he talked to former NFL punter Frank Lambert, the world of team sports and coaching drew him into what may be the biggest religion case of the U.S. Supreme Court term.

Lambert, now emeritus professor of history at Purdue University, has devoted a chunk of his scholarship to separation of church and state. He wanted to contribute that perspective and his experiences as a former Pittsburgh Steeler and collegiate athlete to the high court case, Kennedy v. Bremerton School District.