by Cory Woodroof | Jun 1, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
To those only familiar with Don Meyer’s on-the-court accomplishments, the coaching titan will be remembered for his striking column of wins and his steadfast love of the game. But, to the members of the Lipscomb community and others who gathered to celebrate the coach’s life Sunday in Allen Arena, Meyer will be remembered for far, far more than his legacy of hoops. “[Meyer] used basketball as such a great ministry,” said Richard Taylor, a former Bison and member of the 1986 NAIA National Championship squad. “He changed the lives of thousands and thousands of people, and his life was such a great example for all of us.” Meyer died May 18 after a lengthy battle with cancer. To honor his legacy of excellence, Lipscomb hosted the Don Meyer Memorial Celebration Service, one of two major public services that celebrated the coach and his life. The first one was May 24 at the campus of Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota. During Sunday’s service at Lipscomb, G. David England led two songs, “To God Be the Glory,” and “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.” Lady Bisons basketball head coach Greg Brown, also one of Meyer’s student assistant coaches, read Meyer’s obituary and led a prayer. A video was shown that featured an interview with Meyer . Tom Kelsey, a former player of Meyer’s from 1982 to 1986 and the director of basketball operations at Louisiana State University (LSU), read a letter from the coach’s family. Martha Ann Hawkins also sang two songs, “My God and I” and “Peace, Perfect, Peace,” at the opening and close of the service, respectively. She was accompanied by Phil...
by Cory Woodroof | May 18, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
Coach Don Meyer’s legacy is the way he spent his life. “I think that’s the reason why that we’re put here on the Earth is to try to help folks and to show that servant leadership and show Christ, and that was everything that Coach [Meyer] was about,” said one of his former players and coaches, Freed-Hardeman head coach Jason Shelton. Meyer, long-time coach of the Bisons and a college basketball icon, died today at age 69. Those who learned from and admired Coach Meyer spent time reflecting on how his life, not just his coaching, affected them. Meyer ends a long battle with cancer, stemming from a 2008 diagnosis that came after a serious car accident that claimed one of his legs. He was at home in Aberdeen, South Dakota, receiving hospice care at the time of his passing. A celebration of life for Meyer will be held in Allen Arena honoring Meyer’s life at 2 p.m. on June 1. A similar service will be held in South Dakota on Saturday at Northern State University. At an Athlete Leadership Chapel held in October 2012, Meyer spoke to a crowd of Bisons and Lady Bisons about a myriad of important subjects – character being one of them. “Character is really important,” Meyer said during his lesson. “Character is important in everything you do.” Meyer lived a life of iridescent character – the kind of character that Jesus taught people to have. The kind of character that showed on the court, in the locker room, at practice and at basketball camps. The kind of character that made him a beloved coach, mentor...
by Carter Sanderson | Aug 21, 2013 | Sports
“He wears so many hats,” Linda Price said in kind reference to Dr. Lynn Griffith. Price, in her 10th year as the Kinesiology Department’s Administrative Assistant, has the privilege of working with Dr. Griffith on a daily basis, and says he’s what some may call “a man of many talents.” Dr. Lynn Griffith has had success in his years at Lipscomb University as the previous chair, former head tennis coach, current director of the tennis center, and a full-time professor; however, Griffith would tell you his greatest success is his son, Samuel. “I think Samuel is an example of what can happen when you have an opportunity,” Griffith said. Samuel, 11 years of age and a rising 6th grader at Lipscomb Academy, was adopted from Haiti by Dr. Griffith and his wife in 2009. “I’ve been to Haiti 25 times now, and Samuel and I actually went back to Haiti together and you could really see the wheels turning for him,” Griffith said. Samuel seemed to understand where he came from and where he is now. As Samuel grew older, he developed a love for sports. Baseball, which Griffith says, “stops at the border,” is something Samuel picked up on in his time in America. He has played organized baseball since 4th grade and is one of the better pitchers on his team. “Being the parent of a pitcher makes me nervous,” Griffith said. “Everything that happens out there on the field starts with him.” Besides baseball, Samuel also enjoys bowling. Griffith’s wife is the bowling coach for Lipscomb Academy, so bowling seems to run in the family. “Samuel...
by Brianne Welch | Sep 14, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
Lipscomb men’s golf hired a new coach, Will Brewer, a Lipscomb alum and NAIA Hall of Famer, to bring fresh leadership to the team this season. Coach Brewer is a Lipscomb graduate and was a golfer during college. Brewer was a three-time NAIA All American, the NAIA National Champion in 1976 and is a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame. The current golfers said they feel they’re benefitting from being coached by a Lipscomb legend. “It’s beneficial for us because he knows what it is like to be in our situation,” said junior golfer Dustin Wilder. “He knows what it takes to succeed at the college level.” Comparing last season to the current season, the golfers said they are excited and anxious for what a new coach with a new plan can bring to the table. “It’ll take a little bit of time for Coach Brewer to really get his system implemented,” said junior golfer Ryan Terry. “As far as the ways a coach can help a team, this year we’ll definitely improve a lot more than last year just because we’ll have someone who can solely devote his time to our team.” In past years, Buddy Harston was the head coach of both the women’s and men’s golf teams. One coach dividing his time equally between two teams can be challenging for the coach as well as the players, Terry said. “It is difficult for one guy to coach two teams,” he said. “Things have been going a lot better just because we have had one coach that has been able to devote himself to just one team,...
by Hunter Patterson | Feb 2, 2012 | News Slider, Sports
One of the more memorable games of Don Meyer’s tenure was the 1990 Battle of the Boulevard held in Memorial Gymnasium on Vanderbilt’s campus. Before I dive into the game, let’s take a look back at what Chip Johnson wrote in the Feb. 16th edition of the Babbler leading up to the game. “Ladies and Gentlemen, the number on team in the nation, The Lipscomb University Bisons.” The top ranked Bisons who now stand at 32-4 overall and 14-0 in the TCAC, face their toughest rival Saturday night in a game that is projected to break the attendance record for any NAIA game ever. Entering the game, the Bisons of Lipscomb University and the Rebels of Belmont College were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 respectively in the TCAC and No. 1 and No. 9 in the nation. That year, the Bison had already played Belmont four times, going 3-1 in those contests. The Bisons were also riding a 15-game winning streak going into the biggest Battle of the Boulevard game in the rivalry’s history. During that streak, Marcus Bodie broke the NAIA record for most steals in a season. Jerry Meyer also broke the Lipscomb record for steals in a season. The span also allowed Hutcheson to work his way up to the number two and three spots on the all-time-scoring list. Everyone was getting up for this game – sports writers, students, die hard fans, casual fans…everyone. Also present was Rick Byrd’s red sweater vest. (Yes, he wore it in 1990, too.) Leading up to the game, the Babbler staff talked to some of those reporters and...
