Volume 131, Issue 1: September 8, 2022

the

VOLUME 1 31 , ISSUE 1

S GNAL SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

The heart of Ouachita news

CONTENTS PAGE 2 | WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM

COVER STORY.............................3 NEWS......................................4-5 ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT...............6 OPINIONS................................... 7 SPORTS......................................8

CONNECT WITH THE SIGNAL

@obusignal

SCAN FOR AN ONLINE EDITION

the

Julia Shands

S GNAL

PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Valeria Gomez

ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Emilee Webb NEWS EDITOR

Wyatt Ashlock

Isaac Bourne SPORTS EDITOR

Rachel Dunnam OPINIONS EDITOR

Sydney Motl COPY EDITOR

ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Dr. Jeff Root Adviser

Ouachita Baptist University Office: Lile Hall Email: signal@obu.edu Phone: (870) 245-5210

Matthew Cheatham

AD COORDINATOR

Addie Chumley STAFF DESIGNER

Levi Dade

PHOTO EDITOR

Sarah Dean

PHOTO EDITOR

Dr. Deborah Root Adviser

Jackson Carter Online Adviser

The Signal is the student newspaper of Ouachita Baptist University, and is published twice a month on Thursdays during the fall and spring semesters when school is in session. The newspaper is distributed free of charge; 1,200 copies are placed in more than 20 locations across campus.

Opinions expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the newspaper staff or university. The Signal is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press and is printed by the Nashville Leader.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Letters to the editor are encouraged and accepted, unless libelous, irresponsible or obscene. Letters should be typed and include a signature and contact phone number, and must be less than 500 words. The Signal reserves the right to edit letters for space and style. Letters should be sent via campus mail to Box 3761 or via email to signal@obu.edu.

COVER STORY WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM | PAGE 3

Silva arrives to Ouachita after trials, prayer

BY SYDNI WHITFIELD Staff Writer

Ligia da Silva was born in the beautiful state of Manaus, Brazil.

Her dad is a pastor, and her mom is a lawyer. At the age of 9, Silva’s family was called to move to Portugal to be trained as missionaries.

Growing up, Silva spent a lot of time traveling, but she had never experienced anything like moving to another country.

“It was huge at the time for me,” Silva said. “We were far from everyone and everything we knew.”

When she was 12 years old, her family made the decision to move back to Manaus. Looking back, she realizes the impact moving to Portugal had on her life.

“Those three years were very important for me,” Silva said.

“When we moved there, I was a child. When we returned, I was no longer a child. I had incredible experiences with God and the bond I grew with my mom and dad was so much stronger than what it had been before.”

When they first arrived to serve the church in Portugal, there were only eight members. When they left to return home, there were around 30.

“It was not easy,” Silva said.

“People were very closed off to God and the church at the start; however, we really saw God work there.”

At the age of 15, now having been home in Manaus for a few years, Silva and her parents learned that a friend was planning to finish high school early to fast track medical school. They loved the idea, and because Silva dreamed of going to law school, she decided to do the same.

In 2021, Silva left high school to attend a private school and study law. She completed two semesters of law school and is currently tak-

ing a break to be at Ouachita.

Silva first heard about Ouachita through alumnus Ronald Greenwich and his wife Alana Greenwich, who are currently missionaries in Manaus, Brazil. The Greenwiches introduced Silva to the Ouachita world and first encouraged Silva’s parents to look into sending her to Ouachita.

Unfortunately, Silva’s family faced three obstacles in sending Silva to Ouachita: financial difficulties, a language barrier and the lack of a visa.

“It felt impossible for us, but in February of 2022, we started the process of applying,” Silva said.

With these challenges standing in the way, it was difficult for Silva to even imagine being at Ouachita, but in April 2022, Silva’s family received their first sign of hope: a substantial scholarship from Ouachita.

“In that moment, we really started thinking we could do this,” Silva said.

Silva then started studying for the IELTS, the International English Language Testing System.

Studying for the test took an entire month.

“I was studying so much that it was hard to hang out with my friends, but it was for a good reason, and it was worth it,” Silva said.

Having worked out the finances and succeeded in passing the IELTS, Silva still needed to obtain a visa. At the end of April, she started the process to get a visa and at the end of May, to Silva’s family’s astonishment, she received it.

“I could never have done all of that alone: to have overcome all of those challenges and faced all of those anxieties, I needed God by my side,” Silva said.

The obstacles Silva had to overcome to make this dream a reality taught her more than ever to have faith in God’s plan.

Silva is a freshman history major from Manaus, Brazil. She heard about OBU through two missionaries and left her home country to study at Ouachita for a semester before returning to Brazil to finish law school at 17. (photo by Levi Dade)

“Through this, I learned you won’t miss what God has for you,” Silva said. “Everything we do is for the glory of God­, and I hope my story inspires someone. Trust in him and the process and just try to enjoy it.”

Silva’s plan at the present is to stay at Ouachita for this semester through the international program.

“When we first visited the campus, we were in love with the

place, and if God shows me this is where I am supposed to be, then we will find a way for me to stay,” Silva said.

Silva is thrilled to be spending the next few months at Ouachita and seeing what more God has in store for her. She has friends back at home who have witnessed her story unfold.

“They struggled with the same challenges that I did, except the

financial challenge can be even greater,” Silva said. “But I know that when God has a plan for you, nothing can get in the way. This has been a dream come true because I have always dreamed of studying abroad.”

Silva urges others to pay attention to where God is directing them and realize that challenges seen as insurmountable are trivial in his eyes.

NEWS

PAGE 4 | WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM

Ouachita mourns loss of student-athlete, senior Clark Yarbrough

BY FELLEY LAWSON

Communications & Marketing

A recent photo of the new Terrace Apartments where students will reside this fall. The new apartments were finished during student move-in due to the lingering effects of the pandemic, causing supply chain issues and labor shortages. (photo by Levi Dade)

Ouachita unveils new apartments

BY MATTHEW CHEATHAM Staff Writer

It has been a long summer filled with many adventures for new and returning students, but that hasn’t stopped the excitement in the air for new adventures at Ouachita.

Even with unforeseen circumstances, the tiger community has a strong outlook.

In August of 2021, it was announced that Ouachita would begin the massive building project of the Terrace Apartments, two buildings that would collectively hold 144 students in 36 furnished apartments. The project was estimated to cost $12.6 million and planned to open by fall 2022.

While these plans came to fruition, the project stumbled into obstacles. A side effect of the pandemic has resulted in supply chain issues as well as seeing many subcontractors run into labor shortages, resulting in work delays. While the city has given the certificate of occupancy stating that Terrace Apartments passed necessary regulations to allow students to move in, every apartment has problems of varying degrees.

While the plan is to make repairs over Christmas break, most work, such as drywall restoration, would

likely need to wait until summer of 2023, as the resulting dust would damage students’ property.

Ouachita encouraged contractors to focus on the immediate needs of the buildings prior to move-in.

Several students who had to be on campus for early activities such as WOW (Welcome to Ouachita’s World), were able to spend two nights at the Fairfield Inn at Ouachita’s expense. Ouachita also provided meal swipes for those whose kitchens weren’t available by move-in.

“Dr. Sells has done an amazing job keeping us informed and making sure we are taken care of,” said Josh Case, a senior Christian studies and communications double major from Fort Worth, Texas.

“Most of the people are pretty understanding. I think it’s hard from a communication aspect because things are constantly changing so it can be confusing to hear multiple different dates on when things are happening or supposed to be finished. It’s important to be flexible and just go with the flow as they get finished up.”

While it can be easy for students to get discouraged, there is genuine excitement for the new expansion.

“We are really excited about the apartment project overall,” said Dr. Keldon Henley, vice president

of for institutional advancement and chief of staff. “The design has gotten great reviews by students with the physical layouts of the the space, and over the long-term, we think they will be really appealing to students as another option of student life at Ouachita.”

While larger enrollment played a part, Ouachita has also gotten out of leases that were once tied to local apartments. With the completion of Terrace Apartments, all OBU students now live in Ouachita-owned buildings besides Tatman Corner, which will eventually be given to Ouachita through a charitable trust.

During the summer the contractors will resume their work to complete the finishing touches needed for the rooms. In addition, old building foundations and pavement will be cleared from 10th St. and replaced with landscaping.

“We are very grateful for the grace that students have demonstrated in moving into a building that was still a bit rough,” Dr. Henley said. “They have been very patient, very understanding and worked well with contractors and subcontractors who have needed access to the apartments to resolve issues that needed immediate attention. For all of that, we are very grateful to our student residents.”

Ouachita Baptist University senior Clark Yarbrough, 21, of Rowlett, Texas, died Sept. 4. A business administration/sport management major and starting defensive lineman for the Tiger football team, Yarbrough was the son of Mattie Yarbrough of Rowlett. He is remembered on campus for the example he set as a leader, a scholar-athlete, a friend and a man of faith.

“Clark was an exemplary student – academically, athletically and spiritually,” said Dr. Rickey Rogers, vice president for student development at Ouachita. “He held strongly to his Christian faith, and it was evident in the way he lived his life and led his fellow students.”

Jason Jackson, a senior finance major and Tiger defensive back from DeKalb, Texas, said Yarbrough was “a special kind of guy.

He always led me in the right direction, from the day I got here until the last conversation I had with him. He made me feel welcomed, like I had a real brother in Christ at a brand-new university where, at first, I felt like I was all alone.

Clark was my first friend when I got here, and I will cherish him forever.”

Yarbrough earned a spot in the Tigers’ starting lineup in 2021, earning All-Great American Conference honorable mention accolades for his efforts on the field.

Although he was a senior academically, he had two years of football eligibility remaining, including the 2022 season. Knight recently had a conversation with Yarbrough about his future with the team since he was on pace to graduate in May of 2023.

Starting defensive lineman Clark Yarbrough passed away Sunday morning. (photo by Dr. Wesley Kluck)

“Clark was that kind of young man, always thinking and preparing for what’s next,” said Knight.

“He wanted to be an athletic director and was already making plans for internships and graduate school.”

Knight said Yarbrough was a quiet leader who lived out his favorite Bible verse, James 4:10, which says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

Yarbrough died Sunday morning, Sept. 4, following a sudden collapse. Ouachita staff provided immediate emergency assistance, and, following additional measures by emergency responders and other medical professionals, he was pronounced dead at Baptist Health Medical Center in Arkadelphia.

Asked how the Tigers will be impacted by the loss of their highly-regarded teammate, Knight said, “We were already playing for a purpose, but now there’s an added sense of motivation. It’s something we are going to take very seriously.”

NEWS

WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM | PAGE 5

A Tiger Serve Day team member works to trim bushes for a senior adult. Each team that particpates in TSD is sent to assist a senior adult or an organization in the community. (photo by Levi Dade)

Tiger Serve Day Team gears up for fall TSD

BY EMILEE WEBB News Editor

The Ben M. Elrod Center For Family & Community is hosting this semester’s Tiger Serve Day on Saturday, Sept. 24th, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Tiger Serve Day, or TSD, is designed for Ouachita students, faculty and staff to give back to the community, show the love of Christ through serving others, form relationships with residents and make the town a better place. In just a few short weeks, the streets of Arkadelphia, Arkansas will be full of members of the Ouachita family who are eager to give back and form lifelong memories with their peers.

The theme of this semester’s Tiger Serve Day is “Purpose.” Judy Duvall, the director of the Elrod Center, explains how this semester’s theme relates to TSD’s mission.

“This word encompasses so much of the day and all that goes into it,” Duvall said. “There is purpose in the practical work that is done that helps people in their

homes, non-profits, schools, nursing homes, etc. There is purpose in the community that is formed as teams serve together. There is purpose in the relationships that are formed with the individuals that are helped on that day, and most importantly, there is purpose in living lives that are centered in serving God and people.”

Leigh Anne McKinney, the associate director of the Elrod Center, echoes Duvall’s sentiment.

She shares how everyone should participate in serving and how the relationships formed at Tiger Serve Day truly make a difference.

“I think that it is really special that we have the opportunity to serve many of the same senior adults and nonprofits year after year through Tiger Serve Day,” McKinney said. “Although we love getting to connect with new faces each semester as well, there is something very significant about the relationships that have been formed and continue to be shaped with visits to these same people year after year. Longevity can be a powerful thing and these relationships are very meaningful to all

involved.”

As the date of Tiger Serve Day inches closer, a lot is going on behind the scenes in order to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

“The Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team is composed of 24 students who are strong servant leaders with a huge heart for helping the community,” Duvall said.

“They meet for a month before the day to plan and orchestrate all the behind-the-scenes logistics. They produce all the media, recruit volunteers, visit every project for the day, buy tools and many more important tasks.”

Two members of the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team, Cabb Batson and Emma Bynum, are enthusiastic about their roles on the team and are excited to share this special day with the entire campus.

Emma Bynum, a senior biology, pre-med major, outlines her responsibilities as a member of the projects committee and tells why she enjoys it.

“Before the event, we visit the different homes and businesses where each team will serve,” Bynum said. “We have the amazing

opportunity to meet with community members and learn more about the needs within Arkadelphia. I have loved meeting the people of Arkadelphia. There are vast life stories, experiences and lessons that each person has to offer, and I get the opportunity to hear and learn from them.”

Cabb Batson, a junior biology, pre-med major, serves on the logistics committee. Batson is an avid supporter of TSD’s goal and tells his favorite part of serving on the leadership team.

“I really love getting to see all the people involved in Tiger Serve Day and helping with outreach,” Batson said. “I know that it is a really cool thing for our campus to get to show Arkadelphia what Ouachita means to us and how we are just a great group of students that want to help them out. I love getting to see that from the other side.”

In addition, Batson encourages his peers to sign up to serve.

“I would encourage everyone to sign up for Tiger Serve Day,” Batson said. “Freshmen can sign up with their residence hall, a group

of friends or as a free agent to be placed on a team by the leadership committee. It’s a great way to reach out and expand your scope out of Ouachita’s bubble and move into Arkadelphia’s community.”

Judy Duvall invites students and faculty to participate in the incredible event that is Tiger Serve Day. “Tiger Serve Day is an opportunity for Ouachitonians to get off campus and invest in the community of Arkadelphia,” Duvall said.

“As they do this, they can meet some great people, see genuine needs and then are able to provide help to meet those needs. There is something wonderful about 800 volunteers showing up on a Saturday morning to work together for the good of the community. There is a lot of energy, joy and excitement as the crowd gathers before being sent out. As the teams return to campus, they are exhausted, but at the same time, they are joyful and have great stories to tell of their experiences working together and the people they have met.”

Students can get more information and sign up for Tiger Serve Day at www.obu.edu/elrod/serve.

ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 6 | WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM

“Elvis” reintroduces the King to next generation of music listeners

BY WYATT ASHLOCK

Arts & Entertainment Editor Being born in the year 2000, I did not grow up with some of the most influential singers of all time including: Aretha Franklin, Freddy Mercury and Elvis Presley. However, all that changed in 2018 when a new wave of biopics came to the big screen. “Bohemian Rhapsody” started the trend of musician biopics, followed by “Respect” (2021) and the latest debut “Elvis” (2022).

Starring Austin Butler as Elvis Presley and Tom Hanks as his manager, Colonel Tom Parker (a.k.a. “The Snowman’’), “Elvis” tells the story of Presley’s journey from young singer to actor to the King of Rock and Roll, narrated by Parker.

The film starts at the end, not of Presley’s life but of Parker’s life. It makes it feel as if the entire movie is a confession from Parker’s deathbed. Instantly, the movie lets the audience know that Parker was a horrible person who many blamed for the death of Presley.

The movie then back-tracks to how Parker first heard about Presely and the journey continues from there.

Director Baz Luhrmann put on a spectacle matching that of the

concerts Presley was known for.

Luhrmann starts the movie in 1955 showing the sprint of Presley’s rise to fame, but then pumps the brakes in 1968 when Presley performs his comeback special. After that, the plot slowly progresses through Presley’s residency at the International Hotel.

Composer Elliot Wheeler did an excellent job at using melodies from Presely’s albums and turning them into scores that would amplify the storytelling. Wheeler has a great balance of music from the time period and new music

by Doja Cat, Eminem and Kacey Musgraves to keep both older and younger generations invested.

In one part of the movie, Elvis says, “When things are too dangerous to say, sing” and that is exactly what this movie does. Most of the movie uses Presley’s songs not just as music but as a score to tell a message of love, triumph, betrayal and downfall in a way that does not

overwhelm the audience, but keeps the audience invested in the story and characters.

Butler’s performance is phenomenal. He captures the image of Presely perfectly and creates an instant

connection with the audience. Butler does a fantastic job at becoming Presley to the point that if you were to watch Butler’s performance next to Presley’s, they would be almost

identical. Butler puts his heart and soul into becoming the “King.”

While Butler does sing throughout the film, Presley’s vocals were used for the pivotal songs such as “If I Can Dream.”

Luhrmann made the right choice to use Presley’s vocals in certain songs, anddespite Butler being able to perform similarly to Presley, I could tell whether it was Butler or Presely’s vocals. Luhrmann even went so far as to use footage of Presley at the end of the film when performing “Unchained Melody,” which I thought was the perfect way to conclude the movie.

While there are some inconsistencies in the story compared to the history, Luhrmann made sure to credit those that influenced Presley’s career. Before seeing this movie I did not know that Presley did not write “Hound Dog;” it was actually written by Big Mama Thorton. There is also

a big focus on the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy that led Presley to write, arguably one of his most passionate songs ever, “If I Can Dream”.

Toward the end of the movie Presely says “I never did anything lasting. I never made that classic film I could be proud of” and it broke my heart seeing that Presely had no knowledge on how influential he was and still is in 2022.

Not growing up with “The King” and having no knowledge of his backstory, I had no clue what to expect going into the theater, but I was stunned with everything I had learned about how hard Presley’s life was, how horrible Parker was to him, his addictions and how despite all of his hardships, he rose above it all to be an amazing musician. I also learned a lot about Presley’s music. I knew the classics like “Jailhouse Rock,” but I heard so many of Presley’s songs that I now listen to on a daily basis.

I highly recommend that everyone go see this film to learn more about one of the legends who shaped rock and roll for us all.

“Elvis has left the building” with a 5 out of 5 tiger paws. The movie is in theaters and available to stream now on HBOMax.

Arts Engagement Calendar Art Credit

Art Credit

Music Credit

Music Credit

Theater Credit

Kara Gunter: Germinal Aug. 23 - Sept. 30 Moses-Provine First Floor Gallery

Estamos Aqui (We Are Here) Aug. 23 - Sept. 30 Moses-Provine Second Floor Gallery

NFMC Young Artist Recital Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m.

McBeth Recital Hall

Ouachita Choirs Worship Concert Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m.

Evans Student Center

Anne of Green Gables Sept. 22 -24, 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 25 at 2:30 p.m.

Verser Theatre

OPINIONS

WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM | PAGE 7

Social media provokes privacy concerns

BY MARIAH HALBERT Staff Writer

For years, documentaries, TedTalks and other news sources have been telling us to be aware of how much we share on social media.

They suggest possible adjustments to our settings to ensure maximum privacy, yet even then, how can we be sure our information isn’t being recorded by companies or individuals? This is a question that has many hope to have answered.

Social media serves many purposes: a platform for influencers, an inside view of users’ individual lives, broadcasting, promoting businesses, marketing and at its finest, it serves the purpose of manipulation. Behind the scenes of most social media apps is a tracking system for each individ-

ual using the app. When tracking and recording information of what viewers are liking, rewatching, tapping and posting, media companies are capable of influencing users to stay on the app because of the curated feed specific to the user.

The goal of social media apps is eyes. How many eyes can the app capture and keep? It’s not like the app doesn’t warn people about their villainous tracking. It’s clear-

ly stated in fine print when signing up for the account. Because of this commonly skipped step, users are agreeing to an invasion of privacy with the simple click of a check box.

The news of apps recording our information and invading our privacy shouldn’t be a new revelation.

Consumers of the media are given plenty of heads-up if they would like to take the time to read precau-

tions to protect their privacy.

Of course apps don’t put it as the first warning of their terms of agreement. They don’t want to scare away possible consumers.

Though, there are consumers that understand the app is wanting to collect their specific information and exploit them. Unfortunately, those same people still don’t take a stand against companies and reject their product to start a movement

against social media. If consumers are going to complain about their phones listening to them because an ad for a product has popped up after an in-person conversation with someone, then they should take the first step of eradicating the problem.

If consumers are no longer wanting companies to invade their privacy, then they should delete the app. Instead of living in a constant state of fear from these companies broadcasting personal information, a movement to delete all social media should be put into place.

Of course there are still good things about social media, but if consumers are more worried about what is getting taken from them and not what they are taking out of it, then the problem should be taken away completely by the simple press of a button called “delete.”

A Christian’s perspective on loan forgiveness

BY LEVI DADE Photo Editor

Student loan forgiveness (SLF) is a complicated issue. It can be messy, and there are undoubtedly many dimensions to it. Given this complexity, I can’t address every concern, nor will I argue for any specific stance. Rather, I want to offer some points to keep in mind when considering this issue, no matter what side you land on.

People on social media argue that Christians must agree with forgiving student debt since their debt has been forgiven. No, just because we have been forgiven of our moral, spiritual debt through Christ does not entail we must be in favor of SLF.

This argument commits the fallacy of equivocation. The word “debt” in the first sense doesn’t mean the same thing as the second. Our spiritual debt is moral, not monetary. We can’t pay it ourselves. That’s why we need forgiveness. Also, if Christ paid our debt, this argument would parallel the government paying our debt, but taxpayers are the ones paying.

While Christ willingly paid our debt, taxpayers would be required to pay others’ debt.

While economic justice and forgiveness are biblical concepts, the Bible doesn’t offer a position on student debt. SLF is difficult to outline from the Bible, so we should avoid searching for biblical “proofs” that validate our preferences. It may be wiser to humbly

engage others with an open mind, research alternative stances and seek God’s guidance through the Holy Spirit in the pursuit of how we think about SLF. The Christian life is primarily communal. We see the world in light of community. We should be stewards of our resources and economy, willing to help those who may be less fortunate than ourselves.

The Bible emphasizes taking care of the poor and needy, but it also stresses that everyone should work hard to avoid needing assistance.

Still, there will certainly be people who don’t have the resources or income that others may be fortunate to have.

Many who pay taxes are concerned about “paying for others’” decision to go to college. While I

empathize with this concern, there may be more to consider. We pay taxes for many different programs that the government puts into effect, and it seems to be something we have accepted to be a part of life in the United States. This should be no different.

While some people might take advantage of SLF marginally, it might be worth noting that it would help alleviate the debt that students owe for their college loans, meaning they will sooner be able to get out from under the burden of debt and be more successful in the pursuit of their career and calling. Any Christ-follower should support this concept.

Another important distinction should be noted, though I already alluded to it. This would only alle-

viate student loans. It isn’t to take care of everything someone owes.

One may only qualify for $10,000 in SLF, but they owe $40,000 altogether. They would still owe the other $30,000 after SLF. One final thing to remind Christians: we live under God’s grace, and for that reason, we are to extend grace to others. SLF can serve as an object lesson for the Gospel.

Whether or not you agree with SLF, we should all take advantage of it by gracefully being stewards of the country’s economy.

More importantly, we could take this issue and point others to a forgiveness far more significant and life-giving than SLF: the forgiveness of sin through the cross of Christ. Thankfully, that forgiveness is open to everyone!

SPORTS

PAGE 8 | WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM

Tigers bring key returners into new season

BY ISAAC BOURNE Sports Editor

Big expectations have always been standard for the OBU Tigers, this year being no different. The Tigers stand as the 17th ranked team in Division II (2nd in the GAC) entering the 2022 season and they hope to take another shot at history after finishing second to Harding University last season.

“We’re always excited for a new season,” Offensive Coordinator Jay Derby remarked, “We have a lot of experience back on offense with our new quarterback in Riley Harms. Our defense has some new players in the secondary but a lot of experience at linebacker.”

Derby also welcomed back senior running back TJ Cole and sophomore running back Kendel Givens into his offense scheme after both players put up big numbers last season. Cole led the GAC in rushing yards while also breaking the conference record for rushing yards in a season, Givens led Division II in scoring average per game (13.1ppg) while finishing second in the GAC (4th in Division II) in touchdowns.

When asked about his goals for the season, Cole was eager to spotlight the team’s accomplishments.

“The vision is still the same, but in all honesty, the team goals are mine too,” Cole said. “This team is on a mission for greatness and we’re taking it one day at a time.”

Cole’s constant devotion to his team displays the leadership the senior brings. His backfield partner, Givens, had nothing but praise for Cole, citing his leadership as a big motivator this offseason. Both Givens and Cole expect to see an array of touches this season.

“We both bring something to the table that helps us play off one another,” Givens said.

Center Jax Gasaway lines up against the OBU defensive line at practice. The Tigers have high hopes for this season with several key returners. (photo by Levi Dade)

While the Tigers have significant talent on the offensive side, senior All-GAC First Team Defensive End Anthony Freeman leads a young, but talented defensive squad. They also return three linebackers to the roster. All-GAC Honorable Mention Terrell Gibson returns for a graduate year along with junior Dawson Miller, senior Tommy Crumpton and sophomore Jacobi Nolen.

In the secondary, the losses of NFL-bound and All-GAC First Team Cornerback Gregory Junior and All-GAC Second Team Safety Hayden Lassiter will hurt, but junior cornerback Andrew Hayes leads a young group of defensive backs.

The most exciting side of this year’s team looks to be the electricity of the special teams. Sophomore All-GAC First Team Return Specialist Xaylon Falls, who set the school record for average yards per return last year in just his

freshman season. He also was one of only five players in Division II last season to return two kickoffs for touchdowns.

Joining him will be sophomore All-GAC Honorable Mention Return Specialist Connor Flanigan, who finished last season with ten punt returns for a total of 172 yards, and also led the team in receiving yards.

Rounding out the special teams is junior All-Great American Conference Honorable Mention Kicker Gabe Goodman. Goodman booted a 53-yard field goal to finish off Henderson last season in the climactic Battle of the Ravine, making it the third longest field goal in GAC history.

The Tigers scored four touchdowns in the second half at Oklahoma Baptist to defeat the Bison 42-32 last Thursday night. The Tigers’ home opener is Saturday night at Cliff Harris Stadium.

Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

FOOTBALL Ouachita Baptist Oklahoma Baptist

42

Thurs, Sept 1

MEN’S SOCCER

Sat Aug 28 OBU 1 Union 2 Fri Sept 2 OBU 1 Delta St 1 Sun Sept 4 OBU 1 MC 3

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Sat Aug 28 OBU 2 SBU 1 Thurs Sept 1 OBU 2 Union 1 Sat Sept 3 OBU 2 CBU 4

32

VOLLEYBALL

Fri Sept 2 OBU 3 MSU 0 Fri Sept 2 OBU 2 ENM 3 Sat Sept 3 OBU 0 FHS 3 Sat Sept 3 OBU 2 TWU 3

CROSS COUNTRY Bob Gravett Invitational Sat Sept 3 Women 1st place Men 1st place