by Michael Fox | Mar 3, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
Brent High’s focus in the athletics department has shifted from sports information to spiritual formation. This was a welcomed change for the associate athletic director for spiritual formation because of his previous experience in youth ministry and working in non-profit organizations. After assuming the new responsibilities in October, High began taking steps to make sure team captains go through leadership training. The athletes also learn about a new chaplain program, mission trips, service opportunities, coach retreats and the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter. This past Christmas break High teamed up with Lipscomb’s mission director TJ McCloud to collaborate on a mission trip to Honduras for nine days. It was the first effort to mix multiple Lipscomb teams together to go on a mission trip. Ten men went on the trip, including McCloud and High as well as eight athletes who represented four different sports. The group worked together with Mission Lazarus to help in construction of a school and went to a village in Honduras and helped start building adobe brick houses. “The trip really had a huge impact on me,” said soccer player Kyle Erickson, one of two athletes who decided to be baptized while on the trip. “It made me realize how much God has really blessed me. Going from Honduras, seeing what those people have … how they were living with the small houses we built, to coming back to school and seeing everything that I have made me realize how much God has really blessed me.” “We knew going in we were going to help a lot of people, but at the same time...
by Hunter Patterson | Jan 23, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
Adnan Hodzić, former Lipscomb basketball star, graduated last May and went on to extend his basketball career in Germany. He returned to his alma mater to give his spiritual testimonial about how exactly Jesus Christ changed his life forever. After the testimonial, Lumination Network sat down with Hodzić who has changed so much in seven short months, not just physically but spiritually. Please upgrade your browser Hodzic plays professionally for the German BBL club Walter Tigers Tübingen and was given a week off during the league’s All-Star Day break. “I learned this year to really lean on the Lord,” Hodzic told LipscombSports.com. “He blessed me. I’m a firm believer in Christ. I see him working in my life. I give all the glory to him, man, because he’s helped me and without him I don’t know where I would be now going through all the struggles that I did at the beginning of the season.” When asked about his plans for the future, Hodzic offered only one specific goal. “My goal is to just keep following the path that God wants me to be on,” Hodzic said. “I don’t really think much outside of that because when you start looking at that kind of stuff it can add stress to you. … For me, I’m just looking at this season playing as hard as I can and then the offers will come next season.” “And where God takes me, he takes me,” Hodzic continued. “I figured that that way is the most stress-free, most enjoyable way to play the game instead of thinking, ‘I gotta put on a performance....
by Hunter Patterson | Jan 9, 2012 | News Slider, Opinion, Sports
When he was in college, the nation could not get enough of his ability to push his teammates through any situation. When he was drafted, the Broncos were ridiculed because his throwing motion was not that of an NFL quarterback. Now the media, college campuses, workplace water coolers and especially the Internet are buzzing with “Tebowmania.” In the AFC Wildcard game last night, Tebow completed 10 passes. That’s nothing compared to what Drew Brees or Matt Stafford did in their games, completing 33 and 28 passes respectively. But Tebow did something that neither of the two have done in their entire careers. He broke Twitter. Well, sort of. When Tebow threw the 80-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas on the first play of overtime against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Twitter exploded with over 9300 tweets per second. That was more than when Beyonce announced her pregnancy (8000+) and when Bin Laden was killed (5000+). Only adding to the shock and the excitement of the moment was Tebow’s final stat line. The Heisman winning quarterback had two touchdowns and a 125.6 (out of 158.3) QB rating, going 10-21 for 316 yards. That’s right, 316. Before entering the NFL where the rules do not allow it, Tebow wrote two Bible verses on his eyeblack – Philippians 3:14 and John 3:16. Beyond his football career, Tebow is changing the way people think about faith. Personally, I thought the comparing of stats and Bible verses was a bit over the top and absurd. However, now one day removed from the upsetting loss of my favorite team, I love that people are talking about Scripture....
by Hunter Patterson | Dec 5, 2011 | News Slider, Sports
Legendary coach Don Meyer now has his name on the court inside Allen Arena. With a coaching record of 655-179 in 24 years of coaching the Bisons, Meyer is undoubtedly the biggest name in Lipscomb sports history. It’s only fitting that his name be on the court in Allen. Though Meyer never coached a game inside the arena, the court will forever carry his name. “For all he has done on the court and all he has done with the records and accomplishments, this is what it is all about,” said Lipscomb Athletic Director Philip Hutcheson. “For the first time, and for everyone here, the court is officially yours.” Meyer, who is hardly ever overwhelmed, was very gracious about the court’s naming in his honor. “I want to thank God for letting me have enough time to see all thee guys for another time,” Meyer said, speaking to the nearly 70 former players that attended the ceremony. “That means a whole lot more than anything else.” Meyer’s family also joined him on the court, which was also fitting because one of Meyer’s biggest points during his career was to love those around you – especially family. “I have been very lucky to have had the family I have had,” Meyer said. “They made a lot of sacrifices to be a coach’s family.” Meyer was humbled by the day, and it self-admittedly made him tired. However, Meyer was still colorful as ever. “McQuiddy was the kind of gym that if you had 11 people in it was loud as the Boston Garden,” Meyer said. “McQuiddy was special.” Meyer has retired...
by Emily Snell | Nov 8, 2011 | News Slider
A bus accident killed one Abilene Christian University student and left at least a dozen passengers injured Nov. 4 when the driver lost control on a curve, crashing the bus into a concrete culvert, causing it to roll and eject several students. ACU, Lipscomb’s sister school in Abilene, Texas, annually sends agriculture students to serve at a children’s home in Medina, a town about 230 miles from the university. The bus was carrying 12 students, three faculty and one faculty member’s wife. Anabel Reid, a 19-year-old student, was killed in the crash. Monday afternoon, Nov. 7, the ACU Optimist reported that two people were still in critical condition, three others were listed in good condition and three more were in fair condition. Seven had been treated and released. Several members of the Lipscomb faculty have ties to ACU and responded with heartfelt concern for the community. Kent Gallaher, chair of Lipscomb’s Department of Biology, taught at ACU from 2004 to 2008. He and ACU Professor Emmett Miller started the annual trip to Medina Children’s Home. “My dear friend Emmett Miller experienced major head trauma and a broken arm,” Gallaher said. “His wife, Pat, was very badly injured and, as of this morning, continues to be in a coma. “I’ve been in close contact with folks in Texas since Friday evening. It makes my heart ache,” he continued. “The annual Medina trip was something that Emmett and I did together. If I were still teaching there, I too would have been on that bus.” Lipscomb’s Jackie Halstead, associate director of the Institute for Christian Spirituality, worked at ACU for 12...
