by Russell Vannozzi | Sep 15, 2017 | News Slider, Sports
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – There was never any doubt in John Pierce’s mind regarding his future after his basketball career ended. Following a record-setting collegiate career at Lipscomb and five seasons of playing professionally overseas, Pierce returned to Nashville to do what he had always dreamed of: coaching basketball. “All along, I knew I wanted to be a teacher and a coach,” said Pierce, a standout from 1990-94 under legendary Bison coach Don Meyer. Pierce amassed 4,230 career points with the Purple and Gold, which still stands as the all-time record in college basketball. The Nashville native has spent the last 14 years as head coach at nearby Franklin Road Academy, and he was also elected to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. “I didn’t really keep up with all the records; I just loved Lipscomb and its basketball community,” Pierce said. “I learned what it meant to be a good teammate — Coach Meyer had a lot to do with that.” Almost 25 years later, Pierce’s impact on the Lipscomb basketball program is still felt in many ways. In addition to the memorabilia that fills trophy cases in the lobby of Allen Arena, two of Pierce’s former FRA players — Kenny Cooper and Rob Marberry — are now budding stars for the Bisons, despite taking different paths to Green Hills. Marberry earned Division II-AA Mr. Basketball honors as a senior at FRA in 2014 and finished his high-school career with over 1,500 points and 850 rebounds. “(FRA) is a small school, just like Lipscomb,” Marberry said. “The teachers and the coaching staff were both awesome. It was really the...
by Russell Vannozzi | Aug 30, 2017 | News Slider, Sports
When professional baseball scouts visit Nashville, they generally are bound for West End to see the powerhouse built by Tim Corbin at Vanderbilt. Who can blame them? The Commodores routinely churn out first-round draft picks and currently have 38 former players scattered throughout professional baseball. Despite the success of its of their neighbor, the Lipscomb Bisons have also contributed, though quietly, to the baseball pipeline running out of the Music City. Lipscomb currently has nine alumni in the professional ranks, including three who have appeared for major league teams in 2017. Below is a complete rundown of all of nine former Bisons in the pros, analysis for each player and thoughts from Lipscomb head coach Jeff Forehand: MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL (ONE PLAYER) Caleb Joseph, Baltimore Orioles 2017 stats: .274 batting average, 61 hits, 26 RBI, 12 doubles and eight home runs After a forgettable showing in 2016 that included zero RBI and a horrific groin injury, Joseph has bounced back in a big way. His .274 batting average forced Baltimore manager Buck Showalter to insert the former Bison into the lineup more often. For his efforts, Joseph will likely get a raise from his current salary of $700,000, as he is eligible to negotiate a new contract this offseason. Should Joseph and the Orioles fail to agree to a deal, the two sides will then go to arbitration, where a third party will decide how much Joseph will get. Joseph also paid homage to Forehand last weekend with a “Thank You” patch on his jersey as part of the MLB Players Weekend. “That was a very cool thing for Caleb to do,” Forehand said of the patch....
by Russell Vannozzi | Aug 10, 2017 | News Slider, Sports
Coach Casey Alexander understands that getting the Lipscomb basketball program on the map requires the Bisons to play brand-name programs. Thursday’s unveiling of Lipscomb’s 2017-18 season schedule showed that the Bisons will have plenty of chances to make a splash when the season rolls around in November. Included in Lipscomb’s impressive non-conference schedule are trips to Alabama (Nov. 15), Texas (Nov. 18) and Tennessee (Dec. 9). The Vols survived a scare from Lipscomb in Knoxville last December, although the Bisons gained some redemption by beating the SEC’s Missouri Tigers with an 81-76 road victory two weeks later. The Bisons will also pay a visit to the U.S. Naval Academy on Dec. 21 before closing out the calendar year with a trip to Purdue (Dec. 30), fresh off its Sweet Sixteen run in last year’s NCAA tournament. The non-conference slate also offers plenty of local flavor. The Bisons will make the short drive to Belmont for the storied “Battle of the Boulevard” rivalry on Nov. 27, before hosting the Bruins one week later on Dec. 4. Belmont has dominated the series in recent years, claiming victories in each of the last 11 meetings. The Bisons will also take on Tennessee State on Dec. 2 in North Nashville before hosting the local NAIA Fisk Bulldogs to open the new year on Jan. 3. Lipscomb set numerous program records in a 126-43 thrashing of the Bulldogs last season. Another interesting wrinkle to the schedule includes a home-and-home series with one of Lipscomb’s sister schools, Abilene Christian. The two institutions are connected through their affiliation with the Churches of Christ, but the series...
by Russell Vannozzi | Sep 7, 2016 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Lipscomb’s Leading Edge will host Robert Hackenson Jr. for “Sober Thoughts,” a program designed to entertain students and also educate about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. The show, which involves magic and hypnosis, will be held on Wednesday, September 7th in Shamblin Theatre. The festivities are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. “The world is constantly delivering a message about alcohol and drug use which conflict with the expectations we have for our students at Lipscomb,” Sam Smith said, the Dean of Student Life and the sponsor of the Leading Edge. “I am thrilled to support the Leading Edge in their effort to address the topic of making smart choices with their peers.” Hackenson and his team have been traveling across the country since 2004 to spread positive messages to schools, colleges and other organizations through the use of entertainment. Hackenson’s website describes his shows as “a highly interactive and engaging way to deliver important messages to audiences in a brilliant and memorable fashion.” “I’m really excited to see how Hackenson links magic and hypnosis to making wise decisions,” Rachel Heronimus, a sophomore member of the Leading Edge, said. “We see this as fun event that can positively impact our peers.” Sophomore Leading Edge member Collin Vasseur echoed Heronimus’ sentiments. “I think it’s important that students reflect on making wise decisions, especially at the beginning of the school year,” Vasseur noted. “It’s also going to be an entertaining evening.” The Leading Edge was established in the fall of 2014 as a student-led group that seeks opportunities to change Lipscomb’s campus. Smith said he saw the need for such...
