by Russell Vannozzi | Apr 1, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Belmont basketball coach Rick Byrd is retiring, and it’s not an April Fools’ joke. The longtime Bruin head coach announced the news in a statement posted on the school’s athletics website Monday. “For the past 33 years, it has been my privilege to work with, and for, a remarkable community of men and women at Belmont University,” Byrd said. “Throughout my tenure as men’s basketball coach, our program has received great support from Belmont’s administration, faculty, staff and students. For this, I am forever grateful. “Personally, I have been the beneficiary of a very supportive family that I could count on every single day, a loyal circle of friends who consistently offered encouragement, and a terrific fan base that has embraced our program and our players for over three decades. Most importantly, it has been an honor to coach the young men that have brought credit to Belmont University, not only by how they played the game, but how they represented our university all over our country.” Byrd won his first NCAA tournament game March 19 with a 81-70 victory over Temple in the First Four. The Bruins then lost a 79-77 heartbreaker to Maryland in the second round two days later. The Knoxville native won 805 career games, which ranks 12th all-time among Division I coaches. He served as head coach at Lincoln Memorial and Maryville College before spending 33 seasons as the Belmont skipper. He transitioned the program from NAIA to NCAA Division I in the late 1990s and helped it rise to national prominence. Under Byrd’s leadership, the Bruins made eight NCAA tournament appearances in the last 14 years....
by Erin Turner | Mar 4, 2014 | News Slider
Although the weather kept some students from class, it did not keep them from attending Monday’s SGA Spring Concert featuring Judah & the Lion in Shamblin Theater. To get the evening started, Footlight Parade, Lipscomb’s own indie-folk trio, opened the show with a few cover songs and a few songs of their own. After the opening band performed, students waited in anticipation for Judah & the Lion to come on stage. Judah & the Lion, an Americana-folk band based out of Nashville, got started in December of 2011. Because the band’s lead guitarist and vocalist, Judah Akers, was a Belmont student, some students had previously heard of the band. “My sister goes to Belmont, so she’s friends with them,” said freshman Mandy Durose. Judah and the Lion performed a few crowd favorites such as “After All” and “Sweet Tennessee” while incorporating a few new songs. The open space in Shamblin encouraged students to clap along, stomp their feet and even dance. “In Alumni, everyone is sitting down, but in Shamblin everyone is up – up on the floor, dancing,” said senior Kelli Blackshear, SGA’s social committee chair. SGA had high hopes of bringing in not only more Lipscomb students to the spring concert this year but also non-Lipscomb students. SGA also concluded that having the spring concert in Shamblin, instead of Collins Alumni Auditorium, changed the outcome of the concert. “It’s a more intimate environment in Shamblin,” said Brandon Carver, senior SGA member. We actually feel like we’re a part of something.” Not only did SGA members feel that Shamblin was a better venue, though. Students felt the same. “It was such...
by Carter Sanderson | Nov 15, 2013 | News Slider, Sports
By Carter Sanderson and Cory Woodroof The Belmont Bruins made the short drive to Allen Arena Thursday night for the Lady Bisons’ edition of “Battle of the Boulevard,” making this the third game in five days for the Lady Bisons. However, Lipscomb (0-3) was joined by a new face. As of Thursday morning, the NCAA ruled Florida transfer Chandler Cooper eligible. Cooper made her debut in Thursday night’s match-up against Belmont, giving the Lady Bisons a solid lift. Cooper had 10 points and three rebounds in her first game with Lipscomb. The new Lady Bison did give the team a spark, but Lipscomb was only able to come up with 20 first-half points, trailing the Bruins 32-20 at the half. The Lady Bisons came out to start the second half, hitting back-to-back threes by guards Cooper and forward Ashley Southern, cutting the lead back to single digits. However, that wasn’t enough to overcome the strong showing by the Bruins backcourt in Jordyn Luffman and Blair Bryce,who were both in double-figures for the Bruins. Belmont won the contest 68-52. Ashley Southern led the Lady Bisons with 11 points and 16 rebounds, gaining another double-double on the year. Freshman Faith LeGate also had 10 points for the evening. Cooper says that while it’s been a while since she’s been on the court, she doesn’t expect it to be a long transition. “I haven’t played a game in over a year and a half,” Cooper said. “I’m a little out of shape, but that’s nothing that reps and practice can’t take care of.” The Lady Bisons will have a week to practice and prepare before...
by Aaron Schmelzer | Nov 7, 2013 | News Slider
While the first Battle of the Boulevard has yet to tip off, one battle has already been won. For the first time in a while, Lipscomb and Belmont’s chef clashed in the Battle of the Chefs on Thursday in the Bison Cafe. Lipscomb’s Executive Chef Anthony Bates won the competition, defeating Belmont’s executive chef William Finnegan by a slim margin. The event was held the day before the Bisons and the Bruins play in Allen Arena in the first Battle of the Boulevard this season. James Perry, Sodexo’s District Marketing Manager, said that the event is more of a friendly contest. “It’s meant to [be] a friendly competition between the chefs,” Perry said. “It’s meant to educate people that these are professional chefs.” Perry said that “Battle of the Chefs” is a normal thing for Sodexo accounts, which both Lipscomb and Belmont are. “Belmont and Lipscomb, both Sodexo accounts, have been doing this for years; we just brought it back,” Perry said. Photo credit: Whitney...
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...
