by Logan Butts | Aug 15, 2013 | News Slider, Sports
After an off-season full of change, including the hiring of Casey Alexander as the new head coach, the upcoming 2013-14 Lipscomb men’s basketball team officially has its first schedule of the Alexander era, with tilts against conference foes and local competition filling out the slate. Following an exhibition match against Freed-Hardeman on Halloween night, Lipscomb opens the season against arch-rival Belmont in the first Battle of the Boulevard at Allen Arena on Nov. 8. The second round will take place down the street on Nov. 20 at Belmont’s Curb Event Center. The Bisons will take the court against two other Nashville squads in November as well. The Nov. 15 game against Vanderbilt will be the first between the opponents since 2009, and the Nov. 18 matchup with Tennessee State will be the first meeting of the Bisons and Tigers in over a decade. Lipscomb’s first out-of state trip will lead to the program’s first game against perennial heavyweight Georgetown in Washington, D.C. over the Thanksgiving weekend. “That will be an exciting time for our guys to go to the nation’s capital and play a premier program,” Alexander told Lipscomb Athletics. “It will be a dream come true for J.J. Butler to go back home and play in front of his family. There are a lot of really exciting parts to that game to look forward to. Hopefully some Bison fans will be able to travel with us.” December holds key non-conference road tilts for the Bisons against Murray State on Dec. 7 and the University of Georgia on Dec. 14. Lipscomb opens up conference play at Stetson on Dec. 30 followed...
by Monaih Sam | Aug 12, 2013 | News Slider, Sports
Elite Sports Medicine, led by Lipscomb alum Dr. Burton Elrod, is set to take over the providing of health care for Lipscomb athletics after a rebranding initiative made by Saint Thomas Health early last month. The rebranding changed the names of five middle Tennessee Hospitals but has no affect on Lipscomb athletics. “Literally, it’s the name on the shirt that changes,” said Athletic Director Phillip Hutcheson. “We did not change any of our trainers. We did not change any of our services or level of service.” Elite Sports Medicine has taken over the contract from Baptist Sports Medicine, as Saint Thomas Health focuses on other health-care opportunities. “There’s great familiarity with Elite Sports medicine from the surgical and care side,” Hutcheson said. “Dr. Elrod has worked with Baptist a lot and has operated any number of our athletes.” Dr. Elrod also serves as the head team physician for the Tennessee Titans and specializes in sports-related injuries such as arthroscopic surgery of the knee, shoulder and elbow. Elrod received his undergraduate degree from Lipscomb and his medical degree from the University of...
by Carter Sanderson | Jul 25, 2013 | News Slider, Sports
There will be plenty of familiar names on the volleyball court when the season begins on August 8, but two fresh faces will join head coach Brandon Rosenthal on the sideline. Billy Ebel and Ann Armes have been hired as assistant coaches. Rosenthal shared his excitement in having the new staff. “I feel great about having young faces as part of what’s going on,” Rosenthal said. “They have a great opportunity to interact with the girls better than I can.” Rosenthal feels that the younger coaches will play a huge role in their season both on and off the court. Billy Ebel, originally from Kansas City, said he knew of Lipscomb before joining the staff. “Brandon has recruited several girls out of Kansas City, so I’ve known about him and the program,” Ebel said. “It’s a totally different environment here, but I love it. It’s been a smooth transition. “The girls have never seen me train or coach on the court, so I’m excited to bring that energy.” Ebel knows the game very well, having played volleyball for Ball State. Rosenthal praised Ebel’s energy, mindset and ability to recruit. “I’m really excited about his energy and recruiting knowledge,” Rosenthal said. “Such knowledge at a young age is really good. “No doubt he will bring a lot to the table during practices and matches.” Ebel, seven weeks into the new program, says the location change from Kansas City to Nashville hasn’t been too difficult of an adjustment, but the culture that Nashville offers is definitely something he can get used to. “I love the southern hospitality,” Ebel said. “It’s different,...
by Carter Sanderson | Jul 19, 2013 | Sports
Since the close of last season, the Lady Bisons basketball team has worked diligently to improve the program with a batch of fresh faces both on the court and on the sideline. Greg Brown, in his second year as the women’s head coach, has made numerous changes to the roster by letting some people go and signing several true freshman, as well as commit Chandler Cooper, a transfer from the University of Florida. “Chandler was a Top 50 kid coming out of high school,” Brown said. “She just brings a different level of competitiveness and a different level of skills.” Cooper’s parents went to Lipscomb, and her father played for the Bisons during his time as a student. The team has spent a good deal of time together over the summer months. “The summer rule has been great for us,” Brown said. “Being able to work out our players was huge. They were able to hear our voice and it also allowed them to be around each other.” The NCAA has made a new rule allowing coaches to spend time and coach their players during the summer. They have also made it acceptable for every player to work summer camps. “Camp has helped our players see the different roles, and we were able to teach the culture,” Brown said. “I can’t imagine getting into this in August.” Despite all the changes this program is going through, senior Jess Reece, one of the few returners for the Bisons, will be a familiar face to all. Being one of only two players on the current roster that has been here since...
by Carter Sanderson | Jul 18, 2013 | News Slider, Sports
In early May, the Lipscomb volleyball team embarked on an 11-day mission trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Head coach Brandon Rosenthal said that the trip was an exciting time for the group. “There was a tremendous amount of excitement,” Rosenthal said. “It was the first mission trip for a lot of the players and for six of them it was their first time out of the country.” Rosenthal’s main goal for the trip was the get to know each of his players better, and the girls wanted the same thing from each other. “We are already a team,” Rosenthal said. “This is a close team, but I urged them to break down the walls and develop an even deeper relationship as a team.” Work at the church, a stop at the legendary Christ the Redeemer statue and a hike up the Sugarloaf Mountians all played huge roles into making this such an unforgettable trip for all who went. However, the deeper connections formed and lives changed throughout their time in Brazil made this a truly invigorating expedition. “I really had no expectations going into it,” teammate Lauren Ford said. “I wanted to grow in my relationships with the team more than anything.” Playing only one game while over there, the girls had ample time to grow both mentally and spiritually. “Experiencing another culture with my teammates while getting to serve the Lord was the best part of being gone,” teammate Jordan Huston said. “It was cool how we were able to get closer as a team while we were helping others,” teammate Jewell Dobson added. As the week...
by Carter Sanderson | Jun 21, 2013 | News Slider, Sports
Things look to be heading in the right direction for the men’s basketball team after the program underwent a few major changes in the early off-season. The team has been on campus since late May after having spent a majority of the month away. Many team members went home to enjoy some time off, but all arrived safely. During the process of finding a new coach, several of the guys on the team decided to make a change. The Bisons lost three players, one of them being Stephen Hurt, last year’s A-Sun freshman of the year. The program also lost several of the new recruits who had intentions on coming to play for the men’s team this fall. “We’ve lost some players along the way and a lot of the incoming freshman have gone other ways, but I honestly like only having one new guy,” sophomore guard J.J. Butler said. “I think it’s going to be good for majority of the team to have played together once before as we head into this new season.” As they dive into June and prepare for what lies ahead, the guys are full of energy and excited to commence team activities. The team had to report back to campus for physicals on Tuesday night, May 28, and workouts started the next day. They are allowed two hours a week by the NCAA to have an official team practice. The team plan to lift three times a week, condition the other two days, take advantage of the two hours given and stay on top of their business in the classroom. “It’s nice to...
