Herd Media
  • Sports

    From the rock climbing club to a spot in Nationals

    When most people think of rock climbing, not many imagine a sport. And not many imagine that sport to be as organized and tiered as other college and professional level sports. But it is, and Lipscomb junior Kalissa Finn is not only excelling in the sport, but climbing through those tiers. Finn, who started climbing seriously when she was 18, recently reached another level in the climbing world. Placing fifth in the Regional competition in Kennesaw, Georgia, Finn earned a spot to compete in Nationals. A fashion major at Lipscomb University, Finn spends her days in the fashion labs piecing together unique designs, and her nights in a very unique…

  • Campus Life,  Sports

    From Hiatus to Revival: The history of the Lipscomb pep band and its recently announced return

    Lipscomb pep band playing at a basketball game (Photo from the 1998 Backlog)

    When you walk into the arena for a college basketball game, there’s a few things that will immediately catch your attention. The chatter and cheers from fans around the arena. The mascot that is running around to hype up those same fans. The raucous crowd of students that is screaming at the top of its lungs. And of course, the school’s pep band that is next to them playing their favorite fight songs. These are some of the many things that make the college basketball experience so unique, but at Lipscomb one of these things hasn’t been present over the past few years and has the potential to return to…

  • Sports

    Super Bowl unites Swifties and NFL fans

    For many, the Super Bowl is one of the more anticipated events of the year. It is a time of gigantic food orders, friendship, sports betting, and commercials. On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers will take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Las Vegas, Nevada, to conclude another exciting football season. But this year brings an element that is hardly unbeknownst to anyone. The game-changer comes in the form of 14-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift, who currently dates Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. “I know some people are upset about it, but I think it brings more eyes to the Super Bowl,” said junior software engineering major Tanish Neema. According…

  • Sports

    The 150th Battle of the Boulevard

    The Battle of the Boulevard is upon us once again. After last year, and the way it ended in such dramatic fashion, with Jacob Ognacevic hitting the game winner in the final seconds, the stakes are higher than ever. This rivalry is iconic in college basketball. Two programs. One street. Lipscomb currently leads in the all time record with 77 wins while Belmont has 73 Last year was a battle for the ages. 16 lead changes throughout the whole game and some very clutch performances by multiple players. Trae Benham dropped in 22 points for the Bison’s collecting 7 rebounds as well. Also, Freshman Cade Thompson rattled in 15 points…

  • Sports

    Men’s Soccer wins its third straight ASUN conference tournament championship 

    Lipscomb University men’s soccer won its third straight ASUN Championship Saturday, defeating Bellarmine 1-0.   The Bisons were charging early, but it was not easy. Excellent goal protection by Bellarmine’s Lukas Tharp prevented a set of goals early from Malachi Jones. That included a saved penalty kick by Tharp to keep the Bisons from catching an early lead.  Solid defending by Lipscomb set them up to take a 1-0 lead in the 40th minute. Jones was able to find Javanne Smith, who then flicked it into the net.   In the 75th minute, the Bisons found trouble. Juan Carlos Rodriguez received a red card, putting the Bisons down a man and having to go…

  • Campus Life,  Sports

    Tunes and Lunatics: Could the return of a pep band be the next step for Lipscomb’s rising student section?

    In late September, you may have gotten an email from Lipscomb Athletics, reading “Lipscomb Basketball Pep Band Interest Form”. When you click on the link to the form you then begin to read this: “The Lipscomb University pep band will embark on its inaugural season this year! If you are interested in learning how to contribute to the electric atmosphere of Allen Arena during the 2023-24 Bison basketball season, complete the form below and we will follow up in the coming weeks about the first interest meeting.” Yes, you read that right. An official Lipscomb pep band is coming to basketball games beginning with the upcoming 2023-2024 season. Lipscomb used…

  • Series

    Why the new MLB rule changes are good for Cubs baseball

    Republished from The Cubs Companion, March 2, 2023. One of my favorite ways to spend a summer afternoon is by taking in a baseball game. Every MLB season I try my best to make it out to the nearby ballparks as much as I can. If the Cubs are not playing in front of me at Wrigley Field, then I will be tuning in and watching on TV whenever possible.   However, watching the Cubs has become more difficult to do in recent seasons, in part because the games have gotten longer and slower. Watching just one baseball game is a considerable time investment.  Embed from Getty Images In 2021,…

  • Series

    Kickin’ It – The data behind NFL kickers, how they make and how they miss

    Not many positions in pro sports are as much as an anomaly as an NFL kicker. Kicking in the NFL isn’t just as simple as having a strong leg. It’s about accuracy and refinement. It’s about your other ten teammates stepping up and doing their job correctly; from the snap, to the hold, to the blocking, all the way to the kick itself. And even if some of those things go perfectly, a simple push of wind can turn a game-winning field goal that leaves you a hero, into a missed opportunity that sees millions calling for your job. It’s a job that despite all of these factors, it’s comes…

  • Sports

    The unorthodox path: 3 Lipscomb athletes who went unique routes

    In the world of sports, there are many times when paths aren’t linear.  Unlike professions that feature more orthodox routes, being an athlete can be an endeavor fraught with many trials and tribulations before the pinnacle of a career can appear. Examples include the journey from Division III basketball to the NBA by Miami heat guard Duncan Robinson or Simone Biles winning five medals in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. We love sports because of the special moments and journeys like the ones above. However, these stories go far beyond the national level. Stories like these can even appear at Lipscomb, with three featured in this article. These…