by Logan Butts | Aug 13, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
Filming for the upcoming movie “My Many Sons” will be taking place on Lipscomb’s campus until August 16. The film will detail the life of the late, legendary Lipscomb basketball coach Don Meyer. Production of the movie will continue in various locations across Nashville over the coming weeks, as well as Aberdeen, South Dakota, the location of Northern State, where Meyer coached for over a decade. Former Lipscomb student-athlete Casey Bond is heading the project. Bond, whose Bison baseball career led to a stint in the Minor Leagues, starred in the Oscar-nominated film Moneyball in 2011. “My Many Sons” depicts the relationships that Meyer forged with his players throughout his career and the impact he had on generations of young people. This story is not about wins or records, but rather about Coach’s relationships with players and their families,” Casey Bond told Lipscomb University, “It’s about how one man took the time to build character in young people, which is something we desperately need in our world today. Coach Meyer made the most of a very difficult situation in his life and ran with it.” Bond will be joined in his producer role by longtime Hollywood producer Brad Wilson. The two will be producing the film under their production company Higher Purpose Entertainment. Bond will also be playing the role of Don Meyer’s son Jerry in the film. He will be joined in the cast by former Oscar winner Tatum O’Neal as Carmen Meyer. Veteran Hollywood actor Judge Reinhold will be taking on the lead role of Don Meyer. The film will offer students of the newly created Film...
by Logan Butts | Jul 22, 2014 | Opinion, Sports
In the past few months, there was a craze among media outlets and just people in general to make a “Mount Rushmore” of everything, whether sport, entertainment, profession or just about anything else you could think of. The premise is fairly simple; you just have to come up with the four most prominent figures of the group of your choosing for a so-called Mount Rushmore of (fill in the blank). Lumination even took a stab at it with a Mount Rushmore of Lipscomb Professors. Inspired by all the discussions of ranking current and historical notable figures, something I love to do, I decided to make a Mount Rushmore of Lipscomb Sports Figures. There are a few rules I came up with to help narrow down the field of nominees: 1. No current athletes can make the final list of four people. Despite the great success of our current athletes, it would not be fair to include a player whose Lipscomb career is ongoing. 2. Current coaches are eligible for the list, but only if they have coached for five or more seasons. 3. Only one coach or athlete from a single sport is allowed on the final list of four. Otherwise, you could have a single sport taking up half of the spots. Now, on to the list. The first spot should be obvious. Don Meyer: Basketball coach, 1975-1999 The late, great Coach Don Meyer was not only one of the pillars of college sports at Lipscomb, but he was also integral to the college basketball community throughout the country. Meyer’s team went 11-19 during his first season with...
by Logan Butts | May 21, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
The greatest lessons the late coach Don Meyer taught his players had nothing to do with how to play the game of basketball. Although they did learn countless strategies, schemes and tips for the game from Meyer, the most important lessons he taught his teams dealt with how to perform off the court. “Coach Meyer didn’t just influence me when it came to basketball, he influenced everything in my life,” former Bison Alan Banks said. “He influenced the way I do business. He even influenced the way I raise my kids.” Banks played at Lispcomb from 1978-1982 and has a daughter, upcoming junior Alex Banks, playing for the Lady Bisons’ basketball team “My daughter will hear something Coach Meyer said, and she will say that my dad tells me that all the time,” Banks said. Meyer first became known across the country for his impressive 923 wins totaled throughout his prolific career. However, the legendary coach stuck in people’s minds because of the life values that he instilled in his players. “He’s affected probably every area of my life,” former Lipscomb basketball player Wade Tomlinson said. “It would really be hard to narrow down to the best piece of non-basketball advice that he gave me because there were so many. But, mainly I guess for me, when bad things happen to you, look to help other people. I lost a son early on, and Coach Meyer did the service. He helped me out through a tough time.” During his 24 years at Lipscomb, as well as during his stints with Northern State and Hamline, Meyer took struggling programs and...
by Cory Woodroof | May 13, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
Don Meyer, the iconic former men’s basketball coach who has been battling cancer, is in hospice care, according to The Tennessean’s Mike Organ. Meyer, 69, is receiving the care at home after spending three days at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Meyer’s town of residence. The Meyer family released a statement to Nashville’s morning newspaper on the coach’s situation and on his stubborn fight against the disease. “As a family we are so proud of that perseverance. He is at peace, loved and getting exceptional care.” The family recommends those wishing to reach out to Meyer should contact his Twitter handle (@CoachDonMeyer) or his Facebook page. Meyer coached at Lipscomb from 1975-1999. His 1985-1986 squad won the NAIA National Championship. Meyer is a member of the Lipscomb University Athletics Hall of Fame, and the annual Don Meyer Evening of Excellence is held in his honor. In 2011, Lipscomb named its basketball court in Allen Arena the “Don Meyer Court.” The coach has had health struggles, stemming from a cancer diagnosis that followed a serious car accident in 2008. Meyer’s son Jerry commented on the battle his father has fought. “He’s fought hard,” Jerry Meyer said to The Tennessean. “He was diagnosed with (cancer) and he’s exceeded the prognosis.” Photo: Meyer, in the striped shirt, smiles as his team gathers at a timeout during the 1998-1999...
by Jesica Parsley | Nov 6, 2013 | News Slider, Sports
The Lady Bisons defeated the Fisk Lady Bulldogs in the second and final exhibition game in Allen Arena Wednesday afternoon. Lipscomb got on the board first with a jump shot by sophomore Alex Banks. The Lady Bisons never looked back. The final score was 83-66. Four players scored in double digits for the Lady Bisons while Ashley Southern and Faith LeGate each posted a double-double. Southern, a redshirt sophomore from Tuscumbia, Ala., led the way with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Banks finished with 14 points and nine rebounds. Junior Sara Bliss had six assists on the night. All 10 players that are healthy got several minutes of playing time and all scored points in the game. “There are a lot of girls that haven’t played in a college game, so it’s good to see them get comfortable on the court and calm their nerves before the actual season starts,” Banks said. Stevonna Scott, the Fisk junior from Chattanooga, Tenn., led the game with 35 points. Rebounds were the key for Lipscomb. The Lady Bisons grabbed 54 rebounds with 20 of them being offensive. “We just crashed the boards as hard as we could which is what Coach jams into our minds every single day,” Banks said. Coach Don Meyer was in the stands and talked to the Lady Bisons after the game. “We all love Coach Meyer like he is our coach, and he is so wise,” Banks said. “It’s so great getting to talk to him.” The Lady Bisons begin regular season on Nov. 10 against Morehead State in Allen Arena. The game will be streamed on...
