There comes a point in every season where frustration turns into something heavier, something that feels like resignation. For Titans fans, that point seems to have arrived months early. With the team tumbling toward what looks like a second straight No. 1 overall pick, the conversations in Nashville have shifted from disappointment to suspicion. Not just “Why are we losing?” but “Are we even trying to win?” The idea of tanking is always complicated. No coach will ever admit to it, and no player would allow it. But fans watch with clear eyes, and right now many believe this team isn’t giving itself a chance. As lifelong fan and Lipscomb sophomore Mason Swiggart put it, “we haven’t proven anything with the team we have,” which is why he thinks the Titans, “should tank for the number one pick.” Whether it’s poor roster construction, questionable game management, or a rebuilding strategy that keeps resetting itself, the product on the field makes it hard to argue with him. And that leads directly to the bigger issue – trust, or rather, the lack of it. A growing portion of the fanbase no longer believes this is a team with a steady hand at the top. Much of that frustration is aimed squarely at controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk. Fans have not been shy about voicing their concerns, and sometimes the criticism is sharp. Junior Lipscomb student and lifelong Titans fan Cal Holland didn’t hold back, saying, “Amy Adams Strunk is the worst owner in the NFL,” and calling her, “completely unqualified.” For him, her leadership has been one long string of missteps, from directionless roster moves to firing a head coach many believed was the team’s greatest stabilizer. As Holland put it, “She has made nothing but horrible decisions, including firing one of the best head coaches in the league in Mike Vrabel.” Swiggart echoed that same sentiment, saying the team should consider being sold because Strunk, “doesn’t know how to run a football team,” and has, “cost this team many years of success.” Whether fans agree with every word or not, these comments tap into a larger feeling pulsing through Nashville. You can rebuild a roster, but it’s harder to rebuild trust in ownership. So what happens if the Titans do land the No. 1 pick again? Ironically, they may not even want to use it. With quarterback Cam Ward still developing, the Titans could very well trade the pick for a massive haul of assets. A deal like that could reshape the franchise, but only if the right people are making the decisions. And right now, many fans aren’t convinced those people are in place. Holland doesn’t believe in tanking at all. In his words, “We should be trying to win every game to give some confidence to our young quarterback.” Yet even he admits he has, “no doubt” the Titans will end up with the top pick because he doesn’t believe they’ll win another game this season. That’s where the tension lies. Fans want hope. They want progress. They want a sense that the franchise is building toward something rather than collapsing inward. And lately, it feels like every Sunday brings the same story, slow starts, stalled drives and a team drifting toward a finish line no one asked for. In a city that cares deeply about its football team, frustration has become the common language. Whether it’s tanking or simply failing, the Titans are headed toward another moment of reckoning. And unless something changes, on the field or in the owner’s box, fans may soon demand more than just another draft pick. They may demand a new direction entirely.
As federal SNAP benefits remain limited, the conversation about food insecurity is growing. Dr. Autumn Marshall, chair of Lipscomb’s Department of Nutrition and a registered dietitian, said people underestimate how common food insecurity is on college campuses. “I was really surprised when I did some digging on this, that about 19% of college students experience some level of food insecurity,” Marshall said. “Typically, the ones who live on campus, that’s not a problem because they’re required to have a meal plan. But students who move off campus to save money or who are living at home may be experiencing food insecurity, especially if they’re not able to work as much because they’re in school.” This year, Lipscomb created the Nourish Nook, a small food resource space located in the Office of Student Success and Well-Being. It provides microwavable meals and snacks for students who don’t have easy access to food options. Students can take up to five items every two weeks, after completing a check-in form. “When you’re hungry, you can’t concentrate in class,” Marshall said. “And, you know, we’ve seen this in little kids. That was the whole reason for the creation of school lunch and school breakfast programs was to make sure that kids weren’t sitting in class, not able to pay attention because they’re so hungry. So this just kind of brings it up to the college level.” Marshall said the rising cost of groceries and limited time to work while in school creates barriers for many students who live off campus. Some juggle multiple jobs, and that reduces the time they have to study. “I’m sure that we do have students whose families have been on SNAP benefits,” she said. “They may be here on scholarship, but that means there’s no money left over for food. So that is complicated by the government shutdown and the limit to payments.” Marshall explained that SNAP benefits are based on the federal Thrifty Food Plan, which sets the lowest-cost model for feeding a household. “The thrifty food plan is supposed to be based on the Consumer Price Index, and it’s designed to provide adequate food for the least amount of money possible. So if you look at the Thrifty Food Plan, it will tell you this is the amount of money we’re going to give per week for a family of four. And then it will define the family of four as two adults and two children under the age of 18.” Lipscomb also participates in Swipe Out Hunger, a program run through Sodexo where students can donate unused meal swipes to peers who may not have enough meals. “It provides for students who can’t afford the biggest meal plan,” Marshall said. “Sodexo manages all of that and helps students who are in need get some extra meals.” Marshall said she sees a rising need both in Nashville and nationally. She volunteers regularly with Room in the Inn, where shelters and food pantries have been strained by increased demand. “If you are a college student experiencing food insecurity, please explore the options that are available through Student Life,” she said. “Education is key, and I don’t think a lot of people get the nutrition education they need.”
Over 100,000 foreign-born citizens call Nashville and Davidson County home, making up over 15% of Nashville’s population. Many are refugees who had to flee their homes due to persecution, conflict or violence. Urban Promise was founded by Jonathan Sheahen, a former Lipscomb Academy teacher and principal and his wife, Shawna. Their mission is “to show the love of Jesus to refugees by helping them heal, learn and direct their own future for good.” On Saturday, Urban Promise hosted its 4th annual “Race for Refuge,” an event for the Nashville community to experience a simulated refugee journey. Lipscomb’s Student Government Association (SGA) senators volunteered all day to help put on the event. Rachael Ferguson, the SGA Vice President, initiated a partnership with SGA volunteers and Urban Promise last year. Ferguson volunteered with Urban Promise as a high school senior and interned with them as a Lipscomb sophomore. She saw a need for volunteers at Race for Refuge and decided to get her peers involved with the nonprofit. “I thought it would be fun to get our senators involved in Urban Promise, and give them a taste of a Nashville nonprofit in a really up-close way,” said Ferguson. “It’s a big day, and there’s a lot happening. So our senators are all spread out, each manning a different station.” Ferguson was helping with the last leg of the multi-stage course, which simulated an immigrant family’s final “challenge” before entering the United States. Teams were making their way through an “airport” with signage in foreign languages, passing government interviews and dealing with law enforcement. Earlier, competitors experienced a simulated refugee camp, which included a food distribution, water purification and firewood collection station. SGA senators ran each station. “Having SGA help out has been a godsend,” said Mary Jones, one of the Race for Refuge organizers. “It helped take the event to the next level, because we have a huge bank of Lipscomb volunteers who are super reliable. It’s great.” Jones, a Lipscomb alumna, has worked for Urban Promise for four years, joining the organization after volunteering at a Race for Refuge. One of Saturday’s SGA volunteers was Katie McGinnis, a member of the Freshman Leadership Council. McGinnis had never volunteered with Urban Promise, so Race for Refuge was her first time hearing about the organization. She said the event taught her a lot more than she expected. “It’s been very eye-opening, especially the informational session at the beginning of the day, just to realize how many refugees there are in the world, and in Nashville. It’s so cool to experience firsthand, through the simulation, what they go through,” McGinnis said. After the Race for Refuge competition concluded, Urban Promise invited volunteers and participants to share a meal. They reflected on their simulated experience and the lived experiences of many refugees. For Ferguson, the day was a reminder of a lesson Urban Promise teaches its volunteers. “People I perceive as very different from me aren’t actually that different from me. There’s so much more that unites us than divides us,” Ferguson said. She encouraged Lipscomb students to look for volunteer opportunities like Urban Promise. “Nashville is so full of diverse communities, and it’s so good to get involved with a group of people that are different from you.” Lipscomb students can apply to volunteer at Urban Promise via their website: https://www.urbanpromisenashville.org/get-involved. Feature image courtesy of Rachael Ferguson.
As federal SNAP benefits remain limited, the conversation about food insecurity is growing. Dr. Autumn Marshall, chair of Lipscomb’s Department of Nutrition and a registered dietitian, said people underestimate how common food insecurity is on college campuses. “I was really surprised when I did some digging on this, that about 19% of college students experience some level of food insecurity,” Marshall said. “Typically, the ones who live on campus, that’s not a problem because they’re required to have a meal plan. But students who move off campus to save money or who are living at home may be experiencing food insecurity, especially if they’re not able to work as much because they’re in school.” This year, Lipscomb created the Nourish Nook, a small food resource space located in the Office of Student Success and Well-Being. It provides microwavable meals and snacks for students who don’t have easy access to food options. Students can take up to five items every two weeks, after completing a check-in form. “When you’re hungry, you can’t concentrate in class,” Marshall said. “And, you know, we’ve seen this in little kids. That was the whole reason for the creation of school lunch and school breakfast programs was to make sure that kids weren’t sitting in class, not able to pay attention because they’re so hungry. So this just kind of brings it up to the college level.” Marshall said the rising cost of groceries and limited time to work while in school creates barriers for many students who live off campus. Some juggle multiple jobs, and that reduces the time they have to study. “I’m sure that we do have students whose families have been on SNAP benefits,” she said. “They may be here on scholarship, but that means there’s no money left over for food. So that is complicated by the government shutdown and the limit to payments.” Marshall explained that SNAP benefits are based on the federal Thrifty Food Plan, which sets the lowest-cost model for feeding a household. “The thrifty food plan is supposed to be based on the Consumer Price Index, and it’s designed to provide adequate food for the least amount of money possible. So if you look at the Thrifty Food Plan, it will tell you this is the amount of money we’re going to give per week for a family of four. And then it will define the family of four as two adults and two children under the age of 18.” Lipscomb also participates in Swipe Out Hunger, a program run through Sodexo where students can donate unused meal swipes to peers who may not have enough meals. “It provides for students who can’t afford the biggest meal plan,” Marshall said. “Sodexo manages all of that and helps students who are in need get some extra meals.” Marshall said she sees a rising need both in Nashville and nationally. She volunteers regularly with Room in the Inn, where shelters and food pantries have been strained by increased demand. “If you are a college student experiencing food insecurity, please explore the options that are available through Student Life,” she said. “Education is key, and I don’t think a lot of people get the nutrition education they need.”
Over 100,000 foreign-born citizens call Nashville and Davidson County home, making up over 15% of Nashville’s population. Many are refugees who had to flee their homes due to persecution, conflict or violence. Urban Promise was founded by Jonathan Sheahen, a former Lipscomb Academy teacher and principal and his wife, Shawna. Their mission is “to show the love of Jesus to refugees by helping them heal, learn and direct their own future for good.” On Saturday, Urban Promise hosted its 4th annual “Race for Refuge,” an event for the Nashville community to experience a simulated refugee journey. Lipscomb’s Student Government Association (SGA) senators volunteered all day to help put on the event. Rachael Ferguson, the SGA Vice President, initiated a partnership with SGA volunteers and Urban Promise last year. Ferguson volunteered with Urban Promise as a high school senior and interned with them as a Lipscomb sophomore. She saw a need for volunteers at Race for Refuge and decided to get her peers involved with the nonprofit. “I thought it would be fun to get our senators involved in Urban Promise, and give them a taste of a Nashville nonprofit in a really up-close way,” said Ferguson. “It’s a big day, and there’s a lot happening. So our senators are all spread out, each manning a different station.” Ferguson was helping with the last leg of the multi-stage course, which simulated an immigrant family’s final “challenge” before entering the United States. Teams were making their way through an “airport” with signage in foreign languages, passing government interviews and dealing with law enforcement. Earlier, competitors experienced a simulated refugee camp, which included a food distribution, water purification and firewood collection station. SGA senators ran each station. “Having SGA help out has been a godsend,” said Mary Jones, one of the Race for Refuge organizers. “It helped take the event to the next level, because we have a huge bank of Lipscomb volunteers who are super reliable. It’s great.” Jones, a Lipscomb alumna, has worked for Urban Promise for four years, joining the organization after volunteering at a Race for Refuge. One of Saturday’s SGA volunteers was Katie McGinnis, a member of the Freshman Leadership Council. McGinnis had never volunteered with Urban Promise, so Race for Refuge was her first time hearing about the organization. She said the event taught her a lot more than she expected. “It’s been very eye-opening, especially the informational session at the beginning of the day, just to realize how many refugees there are in the world, and in Nashville. It’s so cool to experience firsthand, through the simulation, what they go through,” McGinnis said. After the Race for Refuge competition concluded, Urban Promise invited volunteers and participants to share a meal. They reflected on their simulated experience and the lived experiences of many refugees. For Ferguson, the day was a reminder of a lesson Urban Promise teaches its volunteers. “People I perceive as very different from me aren’t actually that different from me. There’s so much more that unites us than divides us,” Ferguson said. She encouraged Lipscomb students to look for volunteer opportunities like Urban Promise. “Nashville is so full of diverse communities, and it’s so good to get involved with a group of people that are different from you.” Lipscomb students can apply to volunteer at Urban Promise via their website: https://www.urbanpromisenashville.org/get-involved. Feature image courtesy of Rachael Ferguson.