by Cavin Jacobson | Jul 9, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Lipscomb’s women’s soccer players got a big boost by watching the U.S. nation squad win the World Cup. Lipscomb’s women’s soccer players are thrilled by Sunday’s 2-0 championship victory over the Netherlands, the second World Cup championship in a row, since the U.S. women also won in 2015, the preceding tournament. It is the fourth World Cup championship for the U.S. women since the legendary ’99ers captivated the world 20 years ago. “During the World Cup, it was exciting to see people who don’t play soccer be so engaged and supportive of this women’s team,” said Logan McFadden, a sophomore defender. And it wasn’t just the excitement of the fans, “hearing sports broadcasters and newspeople talk about the change and popularity they have brought” adds to the thrill, she said. Of course, when a team is expected to win, things could backfire quickly if the women had lost, according to McFadden. “All that hype and stardom they had received would have turned against them.” The pressure didn’t slow down the U.S. women, she added. “Each game I watched, I saw the amount of fight they had and it was as if they knew the trophy wasn’t going to be handed to them, and the closer they got to the final, the harder they fought. They have proven they are the best and they deserve to be treated like it. “And now that a ton of more people saw that, there is no denying it.” Hannah Torbett, redshirt junior midfielder, said she’s simply inspired, “because I know how far the women’s game has come.” And, to her, it’s almost like...
by Erika Plunkett | Jul 9, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Lipscomb’s men’s soccer team has signed on with international sports apparel giant PUMA. The men’s soccer team’s three-year agreement with PUMA puts them in an unparalleled position in NCAA soccer. The deal, struck earlier this summer, puts the men’s soccer team in a unique position at Lipscomb, as the rest of the athletics teams are going to be outfitted by a PUMA competitor (see related story on this site.) “In today’s age, landing a fully-supported deal with an industry-leading brand like PUMA is unique, and it will keep our men’s soccer program on the forefront of the NCAA landscape as the game continues to grow in America,” Lipscomb Associate AD for External Affairs Brent McMillian said in a statement released by Lipscomb Athletics. All Lipscomb men’s soccer apparel will be provided by PUMA, whose internationally recognized name will continue to grow Lipscomb’s reputation, which reached new heights after the team reached the Sweet Sixteen last fall. “We are very excited to enter into an agreement with PUMA, a company that has long been at the forefront in the game of soccer,” 2018 ASUN Men’s Soccer Head Coach of the Year Charles Morrow said in the statement. “Not only will this help with building the brand of our program, but it will also have a big impact in recruiting by being known as the leader of our game.” PUMA, which signed the back-to-back Premier League Champions Manchester City earlier this year, will also benefit from this deal as they continue to grow their markets in North America and in the international soccer community. Men’s soccer fan apparel also, of course,...
by Mckenzi Harris | Jul 6, 2019 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” written by Ernie Nolan, is this season’s Nashville Children’s Theatre “Snuggery” show and is being performed at Lipscomb University in the black box theater. This is not the first year Lipscomb has hosted the NCT, but it is the first time the university have hosted the Snuggery, as well as the first time NCT has done a Snuggery show. The performance is geared toward kids 5-and-under, but is most certainly enjoyable for the parents as well. The show is comprised of two characters: Glimmer and Sparkle. The two are star-catchers and spend the entirety of the show searching for “Little Star.” The cast starts the show by inviting the young audience members as well as the adults to become star-catchers with them by giving them star-catcher kits and taking them through an interactive training that includes: dancing, singing, searching for stars and learning to be star-catchers. An interactive theater is a new concept and a fun way to get away from a screen for 45 minutes, said Eric D. Pasto-Crosby (who portrays Glimmer). “I personally love how different it can be,” he said. “I thoroughly enjoy that (children’s reactions0 part, having to loop that in as we go through. You could easily go on autopilot, but they don’t allow you to.” The dynamic between the two-person cast creates a new energy in the theater, according to Pasto-Crosby: “We go through all the ranges. We get sad, happy and it’s a full art, they experience with you…. It’s the same energy each time, but different dynamic” The actors are wonderful at including the whole audience in the...
by Erika Plunkett | Jul 6, 2019 | BREAKING NEWS, News Slider, Sports
It is time to invest in some new Bison gear after Lipscomb Athletics signed a five-year deal to make Under Armour the official sports outfitter. This partnership, signed this week, gives the Bisons a number of unique advantages over fellow ASUN teams. Lipscomb’s agreement with Under Armour makes it the only ASUN member to have an exclusive, direct partnership with an apparel powerhouse. By joining the Under Armour family, Lipscomb Athletics will have newly available funds that can be used throughout the department. “Coming off of one of the greatest competitive years in the history of Lipscomb Athletics, I am excited to see what’s next for us, and I’m glad to have Under Armour as a part of the plan to elevate our programs,” Lipscomb Athletic Director Philip Hutcheson said in a statement released by Lipscomb Athletics. “Recruits, serious athletes and casual fans alike all are familiar with the Under Armour brand, and we are proud they will be outfitting our Bison fans and teams in the coming years.” Not only does this deal offer Lipscomb monetary savings, but additionally Under Armour offers an annual allotment of promotional dollars to be spent on apparel, equipment and uniforms; a significantly reduced rate on all additional apparel and equipment purchases; marketing and branding dollars to enhance the athletic facilities and direct access to UA’s inventory and customer service. This deal covers all of the Bisons sports teams except men’s soccer, which has a separate arrangement. The incentives and financial support are almost secondary to the brand recognition that Lipscomb will enjoy as a partner of Under Armour, as the Bisons will...
by Cavin Jacobson | Jul 3, 2019 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
“Spider-Man: Far From Home” returns to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s roots and delivers a story that feels straight from the pages of a comic. Coming fresh on the heels of “Avengers: Endgame,” “Far From Home” makes for the perfect coda to the story that Marvel wrapped up with “Endgame.” It is important to note that this review will have slight spoilers for “Far From Home,” references to past MCU movies, and spoilers for “Avengers: Endgame.” If you have not seen “Endgame,” a new version was released in theaters last Friday. “Spider-Man: Far From Home” immediately answers the questions that bothered so many after “Endgame.” While the film does not answer them perfectly, “Far From Home” reminds the audience just why the MCU formula is a winning one. After the comedic exposition of how life was for non-superpowered people during “Endgame,” we find Peter Parker (Tom Holland) wanting to return to normal high-school life and work up the courage to ask out MJ (Zendaya). The world has different plans for Spider-Man though, as the burden of being the next Iron Man falls on his shoulders. Peter Parker flees the burden of Spider-Man and goes on a class trip across Europe. The traveling montages hark back to the style of National Lampoon movies and clearly shows director Jon Watts’ love for ’80s teen comedies. While on the trip, Peter is forced to be Spider-Man when creatures known as Elementals start attacking cities that Peter and his class are visiting. A new superhuman called Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) arrives on the scene to help stop the Elementals’ threat. He is joined by Nick...
by Mckenzi Harris and Kathryn Farris | Jul 1, 2019 | Arts and Entertainment, Galleries, News Slider
Lipscomb closed out the Summer Celebration conference with the music and fireworks of the 15th annual Bison Block Party. Summer Celebration, previously known as the “Lipscomb Lectures,” is when Lipscomb opens the campus for guest speakers and hundreds of visitors from the community. The celebration started over 90 years ago and is one of Lipscomb’s oldest traditions. Each year since about 2003 Lipscomb has celebrated Independence Day by hosting the free, grand finale Bison Block Party in the Allen Arena Mall. This year’s big finale was June 28. The block party kicks off the Independence Week celebrations by offering the community an evening of food vendors, live music and fun. Lipscomb alumni bands Arcadian Wild, Dave’s Highway, and S. Grant Parker performed as did the Faculty Brass Quintet with Ben Blasko. The full evening was hosted by retired long-time WSMV-TV sports anchor and Christian inspirational speaker Rudy Kalis. The night ended with a free fireworks show set to music from the Faculty Brass Quintet. Check out the following photo gallery from Mckenzi Harris and video from Kathryn Farris. ...
