Sports Spectrum Podcast

Episode 491   Jeff Scott is the head football coach with South Florida, having been named to the position in December of 2019.  He spent the previous 11 years as an assistant coach with Clemson, where he was a part of 5 straight College Football Playoff appearances and two national championships (2016, 2018).   On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Jeff Scott about his new role with South Florida, how he's coaching amidst a pandemic, the lessons he's learned during Covid-19, his journey of faith and the impact Coach Dabo Swinney had on Jeff's walk with Christ.    For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website - http://SportsSpectrum.com. 

ESPN Football Analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky returns to Sports Spectrum to share his thoughts on covering football during the pandemic, the importance of living your faith out with others, having an impact on his kids' lives and how to handle Twitter bullies properly.   For more stories of sports and faith, check out http://SportsSpectrum.com. 

Episode 490   Jon Ackerman is the managing editor for Sports Spectrum, in charge of the organization’s magazine and website. He joined the team in 2017 after more than 14 years in sports media. He covered six Olympics for NBCOlympics.com, and has also worked as a writer and editor for NBC Sports, Universal Sports, Back9Network and more.   After giving his life to the Lord at age 25 in a small church in Stamford, Connecticut, Ackerman saw God work in his career and life in ways that only He can. And it prepared him and his wife, Shannon, for trials that only God could help them endure.   After having a healthy baby girl, the Ackermans became pregnant again nearly a year and a half later. But at a 13-week ultrasound appointment, they were told, “Your baby is incompatible with life.” Though they couldn’t completely comprehend the implications of that statement at the time, their world was rocked. In March 2016, they met their son and after a few breaths on his mother’s chest, he went to be with the Lord. The couple became pregnant again soon thereafter, but were given the same diagnosis at the 13-week ultrasound. They met their second son in January 2017. More or their boys’ story is told here.   Jon and Shannon were able to bring home a second healthy child in May 2018, through the help of in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, a second child through IVF, a baby girl, was lost due to miscarriage in June 2019.   On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Jon about working in sports ministry, giving his life to the Lord, and the story of how he and his wife clung to God during the trials of losing two children at birth and another to miscarriage.   * Interview recorded prior to coronavirus outbreak.   For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website http://SportsSpectrum.com   

Episode 489   * Interview recorded prior to coronavirus outbreak.   Lorenzo Alexander played 13 NFL seasons with the Redskins, Cardinals, Raiders, and Bills. He played his college football California University but went undrafted coming into the league in 2005. His NFL career saw him play through 2019 before retiring after this past season.   On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Lorenzo about the decision to retire, how he's grown in his faith during his time in Buffalo, the pain that he would experience each week as an NFL linebacker, how the death of Sean Taylor impacted Lorenzo to begin his journey with Christ and why it is the best decision he's ever made.    For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 488   Anthony Tolliver is a professional basketball player in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies. He came to the NBA as an undrafted free agent out of Creighton and signed with the San Antonio Spurs in 2008. Since then he has played for eleven different franchises in his 12 seasons and played in 711 career NBA games.    On the podcast today, we talk to Anthony about his crazy 2019-2020 NBA season, the pandemic putting a halt to sports, staying in shape, trusting in Christ during this uncertain time, and his favorite Kobe Bryant memory.    For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website http://SportsSpectrum.com 

BONUS EPISODE   Jake Reed is a pro baseball pitcher in the Minnesota Twins organization. Janie Reed is Jake's wife and a member of the USA Olympic Softball team.    On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Jake and Janie about the pivot that they have had to make during the coronavirus outbreak. Jake shares what that moment was like being in spring training with the Twins, having to pause his baseball journey and how God has shown himself to him during this time. Janie shares what that new preparation looks like for her readying for Tokyo and the now 2021 Summer Olympics.    For more stories of sports and faith, check out http://SportsSpectrum.com. 

Episode 487   Rachel Baribeau is a professional encourager. She is the founder of "Changing the Narrative," a movement promoting positive mental health and encouragement for for students, professionals and parents to create an individual legacy of purpose, passion and platform. On this episode of the podcast, we welcome Rachel back to the show to talk about finding purpose in her pain, how the loss of her mom brought her closer to Jesus, why she's passionate about helping student athletes and how the Lord helped her through a dark time in her life.    Rachel was also a guest on Episode 41 of the podcast that you can listen to here or anywhere podcasts are found.   For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website http://SportsSpectrum.com.

Episode 486   David Boudia is an Olympic Gold Medal winning diver for the United States. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to David about his faith in Christ, having the Olympics postponed to 2021, what his preparation now looks like with a delayed Olympic Games, and how the Lord has been working in his life since he decided to come back for another Olympic Games.    For more stories of sports and faith, log on to our website http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 485   Mike Clement is the hitting and third base coach for the Ole Miss baseball team. He joined Ole Miss prior to the 2015 season after spending two years at Kansas State in 2013 and 2014.    In 2020, Clement and Ole Miss had a 16-1 record through 17 games and held the longest winning streak in the country before the Coronavirus outbreak cancelled the remainder of the baseball season.   A former college catcher, Clement played two seasons at Kirkwood, helping the Eagles compile a 91-25 record. He finished his college career at Morningside, where he earned his bachelor's degree in physical education/secondary education in 2002. Following college, the Marshalltown, Iowa, native played professionally one season for the Canton Coyotes of the Frontier League. Clement comes from a baseball background as his father, Brad, was a legendary head coach at Marshalltown (Iowa) High School, helping the Bobcats win three state championships before being inducted into the Iowa High School Hall of Fame. Clement's younger brother, Jeff, was drafted in the first round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft by the Seattle Mariners. The eight-year veteran spent time in the majors with Seattle and Pittsburgh before retiring prior to the start of the 2014 season.   On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Mike about how having the 2020 baseball season cancelled, staying connected to his coaches and players during the pandemic, the keys to being a great leader, staying connected to Christ and amazing story of becoming a father.    For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website: http://SportsSpectrum.com 

BONUS EPISODE   Daniel Jones and Nate Solder are our guests today on the show. Daniel is the starting quarterback of the New York Giants and Nate is his left tackle, protecting his quarterback. They both joined Jason Romano and FOX Sports Football Analyst Brock Huard on a Sports Spectrum LIVE event that took place Wednesday night April 22. Daniel and Nate both share their NFL Draft stories, as well as why giving back is so important as athletes with large platforms.   You can watch the entire #TeamUp broadcast on our YouTube channel here and you can be a part of Compassion International and helping to donate and release children from poverty. Check out the website http://Compassion.com/TeamUp.