by Grant Ledgister | Apr 15, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Not many people switch out of a stable job to pursue a career in something far less stable. Yet, that Lipscomb women’s soccer senior goalkeeper Kate Mason, a double major in accounting and finance, did this year. Mason had already accepted a full-time accounting position at a public accounting firm before she got an offer to play for Telge United FF, a Swedish professional soccer club. “When this came up, I knew it was something I couldn’t turn down,” Mason said. “Luckily the firm was very understanding of that and made it known that if I want to come back, there will be a spot for me.” At Lipscomb, the 5-foot-10, brown-haired goalie recorded more than 100 saves and allowed just 43 goals in her 42 career games. She posted shutouts in three of her final five games, including a 1-0 victory over Mississippi State in the first round of the NCAA tournament last November. It was the support system around Mason that made her decision to play professional soccer in Europe easier. She said her coaches, teammates and friends at Lipscomb had major influence on the trajectory of her life and playing career. “This was a place that was really special to me and I had grew so much, not only as a soccer player but off the field too,” Mason said. “It was so awesome to be in a place where I was encouraged to play for something bigger than myself and use this platform to share the gospel.” A player of Mason’s caliber does not go unnoticed in the recruiting process. She could have gone to...
by Tyler Harvey | Apr 11, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Lipscomb baseball played the Kentucky Wildcats Wednesday night at Dugan Field in a game that came down to a tough fielding play and a rough eighth inning for the Bisons. A popup just beyond the infield in the fifth inning got lost in the lights and ended up bringing in two runs for the Wildcats. Then in the eighth inning, Kentucky was able to score four runs, all with two outs. Coming into the game The Bisons came into the game off a tough road trip that started with ASUN conference foe Florida Gulf Coast, who swept the Bisons in a three-game series, and ended in Knoxville where the Volunteers hit seven home runs to defeat Lipscomb 11- 2. Kentucky also came into the game on a rough stretch that had seen them lose seven of their past 10 games after starting their season with a 14-8 record. Senior Erik Gutierrez made his second start of the season for the Bisons on the mound, while Kentucky put forward freshman starting pitcher Dillon Marsh. Both starting pitchers have begun the season with rough stat lines. Gutierrez came in having pitched 10 innings on the season and earning a 4.50 era, while Marsh had pitched 24 innings and earned a 6.75 era. The Game Both pitchers might have finally gotten their season on the right track with their starts Wednesday night. Gutierrez got through the first four innings of the game not giving up any runs and only allowing two hits and one walk to the Wildcats. Marsh allowed more baserunners than Gutierrez through four innings, giving up four hits to...
by Russell Vannozzi | Apr 10, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Wednesday morning brought news that Lipscomb coach Casey Alexander is heading to Belmont to take the reins at his alma mater. Lipscomb is now tasked with a national coaching search to replace him. Associate Head Coach Roger Idstrom will serve as the interim in the meantime. Two of the top names being tossed around include Brian Ayers, a former Lipscomb player and current Belmont assistant, and Drew Maddux, an ex-Vanderbilt star and current head coach at CPA. Athletic director Philip Hutcheson could look to others with Lipscomb connections or someone with college head coaching experience. Here are Lumination’s five potential candidates to replace Alexander (listed alphabetically): Lennie Acuff, University of Alabama-Huntsville head coach Acuff’s resume speaks for itself, as he has turned UAH into a national power in the D-II ranks. He has a 437-214 record with the Chargers and a 554-325 overall record in 29 seasons as a head coach. His track record of success might interest Lipscomb. According to public records, Acuff earned about $180,000 at UAH for the 2017-18 school year. A D-I opportunity in Nashville would give him a salary bump and a chance to stay close to his hometown of Huntsville. Brian Ayers, Belmont associate head coach As a Lipscomb alum with plenty of college coaching experience, Ayers figures to a natural choice. Stadium basketball analyst Jeff Goodman tweeted that Ayers could be high on Lipscomb’s list Wednesday morning. Ayers graduated from Lipscomb in 1993 and was an assistant at Lipscomb Academy for the 1994-95 season. He was later on the staffs at Austin Peay and Vanderbilt before joining the Bruins as an assistant in 1998....
by Russell Vannozzi | Apr 10, 2019 | BREAKING NEWS, News Slider, Sports
Lipscomb coach Casey Alexander is changing addresses on Belmont Boulevard. In an email sent to students Wednesday morning, Lipscomb president Dr. Randy Lowry III announced that Alexander will accept the open Belmont coaching job. Alexander will be formally introduced as the Bruins’ head coach Thursday at 9 a.m. CT in a welcome event at Curb Event Center. Lipscomb associate head coach Roger Idstrom will serve as the interim while Lipscomb conducts a national search for its next coach. Alexander previously spent 20 seasons at Belmont, including four as a player and 16 as an assistant under the legendary Rick Byrd. Alexander has spent the last eight seasons as a head coach, including the last six at Lipscomb. “It’s an honor and a great privilege to have the opportunity to return to Belmont,” Alexander said in a Belmont release. “I’m grateful that Dr. [Bob] Fisher and Scott Corley believe I’m the right person to lead this incredibly successful program. The experiences gained over the last eight years have shaped and impacted me greatly, and I return to Belmont far better positioned to lead.” Byrd spent 33 years as Belmont’s head coach. He won 805 career games, which ranks 12th all-time among NCAA Division I coaches. Alexander said he is excited to follow the legacy his mentor left with the Bruins. “This will always be Coach Byrd’s program in my mind,” Alexander continued. “So nothing will motivate me more than to make him proud and honor his legacy. We have a history of sustained excellence at Belmont, and everything is in place to build upon recent successes and make new history. We’re...
by Mckenzi Harris | Apr 6, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Lipscomb had a big turnout on Thursday night to watch the NIT championship game. Despite the conflicting but re-scheduled Singarama show going on the same night, the Lipscomb student body showed out to support the team in its final game. The fans spent time discussing the season while sharing popcorn, snacks, sandwiches and desserts. There was also giveaways and a T-shirt throwing to get the fans into the game day spirit. But Thursday’s story was much different than that of Tuesday. The Bisons fought hard but fell short to Texas in the end. Singarama was scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday night, but due to the NIT Championship game happening at the same time, it was moved to 8 p.m., directly following the game. The crowd did die down a bit at halftime as students participating in Singarama went to get ready. But many students stayed to watch the game. Several students even did each other’s makeup for Singarama while sitting at tables watching the game in the cafeteria. There were some new students and audience members to come in and watch the game after half time as well. With five minutes left in the game, Lipscomb cheerleader Samson Tucker (who wasn’t able to make the trip to New York with the rest of the cheer team) said he wasn’t going to give up. “I know it’s a long shot, but I still have faith,” Tucker said. “I don’t give up till the last minute.” Following the championship, Lipscomb student Meagan Drake said she was disappointed about the team’s game. “I’m a little upset,” Drake said. “I feel like there’s...
by Russell Vannozzi | Apr 6, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Coach Casey Alexander and his Lipscomb team capped their season with an 81-66 loss to Texas in Thursday’s NIT championship game in New York. Naturally, the questions about Alexander’s future have already begun. He’s an obvious candidate for the open Belmont job after spending 20 total seasons with the Bruins – four as a player and 16 as a coach. But Alexander has been noncommittal in his public statements about the coaching vacancy so far. “Obviously there’s a lot of people talking about that,” he said at Lipscomb’s welcome home ceremony Friday afternoon. “I’m glad I’m the Lipscomb coach. We’ll deal with that when it happens, if it happens.” Alexander’s mentor and longtime Belmont head coach Rick Byrd announced his retirement Monday morning after 33 years on the Bruin sidelines. Alexander has routinely credited Byrd for impacting his life both on and off the court. “Belmont is important to me,” Alexander told 104.5 The Zone’s 3HL show Wednesday. “I spent 20 years there, I graduated from there, my wife graduated from there. I’ve got a history of 20 teams of players that were important to me. Hardly anybody’s more important to me than Coach Byrd is.” Before entering the coaching ranks, Alexander was a star player in his own right. He was a three-sport standout at Brentwood Academy and won two state championships. He later starred for Belmont’s basketball team (1992-95) and is among the school’s all-time leaders in assists and steals. Alexander was inducted into the Belmont Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005. Two of Alexander’s current staff members – associate head coach Roger Idstrom and assistant coach...
