by Russell Vannozzi | Jan 25, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
The Florida Gulf Coast men’s basketball team has undergone significant personnel changes since dropping a 108-96 contest to Lipscomb in the ASUN title game last March. But the result was the same Thursday night. Lipscomb (15-4, 6-0 ASUN) used 13 three-pointers to pull away from the Eagles for an 89-81 victory at Allen Arena. “It was nice to find a way [to win],” Lipscomb coach Casey Alexander said. “I give FGCU a lot of credit – they played tough. But we had some experienced guys make some experienced plays, and that turned out to be the difference.” Senior guard Garrison Mathews went for 31 points, and he hit six of Lipscomb’s 13 threes. Matt Rose added a trio of three-pointers, while Nathan Moran and Michael Buckland each had two apiece. Mathews’ outing was his best since scoring 29 points at Middle Tennessee on Dec. 1. “[Garrison] wanted the ball and he delivered,” Alexander said. “He got to the line, he made tough twos, he made big threes. It was a complete game for him.” Mathews and Moran hit back-to-back threes with just 1:23 remaining to take an 81-73 lead and prevent any hope of an FGCU comeback. “All of us were knocking down shots tonight,” Mathews said. “Nate hit that big-time three at the end that really kind of sealed the deal. I was just fortunate to knock some down.” The offseason was not kind to the Eagles (7-14, 2-4 ASUN). Coach Joe Dooley left for East Carolina, reigning ASUN Player of the Year Brandon Goodwin graduated and went to the NBA and Zach Johnson transferred to Miami, leaving...
by Russell Vannozzi | Jan 22, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
March is still a long ways off, but the Lipscomb men’s basketball team has consistently appeared in various predictions for the Big Dance. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi listed the Bisons as a No. 12 seed playing Villanova in Salt Lake City. CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm also tabbed Lipscomb as a No. 12 seed, but he had the Bisons playing North Carolina in San Jose. SB Nation will release its new projections on Tuesday, but the Bisons were listed as a No. 2 seed in the NIT in last week’s edition. Bisons land at No. 46 in NET rankings; still rank high in mid-major polls The latest NET rankings have Lipscomb at No. 46 in the country – slightly down from its previous ranking of No. 39 on Jan. 17. But that is still good for second-best in the state behind No. 4 Tennessee. The Bisons are also No. 10 in SB Nation’s Mid-Major Madness poll and No. 8 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll. Greg Jones likely to miss rest of season Coach Casey Alexander confirmed that guard Greg Jones is expected to miss the remainder of the year with a knee injury that will require surgery. The sophomore last played on Dec. 12 at Louisville and only appeared in nine games this season. The news is especially crushing because Alexander believed Jones was heading for a “breakout” campaign. “He had a great preseason in the summer and fall, and he played with great confidence,” Alexander said. “He made great contributions as a sub off the bench early in the year. But he’s got some great days ahead.” Alexander...
by Russell Vannozzi | Jan 19, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
When Trent Dilfer toured Lipscomb’s campus, he knew he had found a special place. What the former NFL quarterback didn’t realize was that Lipscomb University had an affiliated high school on its campus that just happened to have a need for a new head football coach. It turned out to be the perfect marriage. “I didn’t even know much about the Academy,” Trent Dilfer said. “But to be here for the last few days and really dive deep and see what’s going on has been an amazing journey for me.” The official announcement of Dilfer’s hiring came during a jam-packed press conference at the McCadams Athletic Center Friday afternoon. But the news was leaked earlier in the day and caused the school to buzz with excitement, according to the players. “Rumors started going around [Friday] at school,” rising senior tight end Houston High said. “When we were walking through the hallways, that’s all everyone was talking about.” Lipscomb finished the 2018 season with a dismal 2-9 record. Coach Scott Tillman resigned in November, and the administration began a nationwide search for his replacement. The opening generated interest from more than 80 candidates, according to Lipscomb Academy headmaster Greg Glenn. “The resources here are great,” Dilfer said of Lipscomb. “There’s no reason we can’t be really, really, really good. I know the competition around here is insane. But I’m more concerned about what we’re going to do.” Following a 14-season NFL career that included a Super Bowl victory with the Baltimore Ravens in 2001, Dilfer spent a decade in the broadcast booth with the NFL Network and ESPN. However, he...
by Russell Vannozzi | Jan 18, 2019 | BREAKING NEWS, News Slider, Sports
Former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer will soon be on Lipscomb Academy’s payroll. Dilfer was named the Mustangs’ next head football coach at a press conference Friday afternoon. “This is a calling,” Dilfer said. “When God does something this weird in your life, you never doubt it. This isn’t a career move.” Dilfer said he was attracted to the “sense of community” at Lipscomb, and the timing just happened to be right. Former Lipscomb coach Scott Tillman resigned in November after finishing with a 2-9 record in 2018. “There’s a lot that we loved about [coming to Lipscomb],” Dilfer said. A former first-round pick out of Fresno State in 1994, Dilfer spent time as a starter and backup for five NFL teams — the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers. The highlight of Dilfer’s NFL career came when he helped the Baltimore Ravens defeat the New York Giants 34-7 in Super Bowl XXXV in 2001. The 6-foot-4 California native appeared in 130 career games and threw for 20,518 yards and 113 touchdowns over his 14-season career. “The people that have had a football journey like mine understand that the game part of it is awesome,” Dilfer said. “But it’s what it does to your soul, your core, and the people you play with that is so much bigger than what happens between the lines.” After his retirement in 2007, Dilfer joined the NFL Network as an analyst. He eventually signed a contract with ESPN in 2010 and served as a backup announcer for Monday Night Football. However, Dilfer was a victim of ESPN’s mass layoff...
by Russell Vannozzi | Jan 15, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Following the success of its championship 2018 season, Lipscomb women’s soccer coach Kevin O’Brien had more good news to share Monday. The team announced the arrival of two SEC transfers – forward Cami Rogers from Auburn and midfielder Danielle Van Liere from Florida. Both players are eligible for the 2019 season. “They’re going to create more depth, and if they work hard, they could be starters for us,” O’Brien said. “Because you play so many games in rapid succession, it’s important to have a deep team and be able to rotate your squad.” Rogers scored two goals in 15 games as a freshman at Auburn in 2018. She tallied 86 career goals at Prattville High School near Montgomery, Alabama. “She has electric pace and is good at running at defenders,” O’Brien said. “She’ll fit into how we play with our transition and counter-attacking style.” Van Liere appeared in 15 matches over three seasons at Florida. O’Brien said her passing ability from the center midfielder position will provide a boost for the Lady Bisons. “She’s technical, intelligent and is a really good passer,” he said. “We have talented forwards, but their runs [toward the goal] don’t mean anything if we don’t have someone to pass them the ball.” Rogers and Van Liere join forward Allie Dunn as Lipscomb’s 2nd and 3rd transfers from the SEC. Dunn played at Arkansas in 2017 and figured to be a promising addition for the Lady Bisons before an injury derailed her 2018 campaign. Lipscomb is coming off its most successful season in program history after finishing with a 15-5-2 record and winning its first-ever...
