Sports Spectrum Podcast

Episode 198 For 28 years, Gene Chizik coached college football. He began his career at Clemson and after stints with Middle Tennessee, Stephen F. Austin,  Central Florida, Auburn, and Texas, he got his first shot as a head coach with Iowa State in 2007. Two years later, he became the head coach of the Auburn Tigers, and in 2010, reached the pinnacle of college football, winning the BCS National Championship, defeating Oregon 22-19. Chizik spent 4 seasons with the Tigers before his time ended in 2012. In 2015, he returned to coaching as the defensive coordinator of the North Carolina Tar Heels for two seasons. In 2016, he was named an analyst for ESPN and the SEC Network, where he remains.  In part 1 of our podcast, Coach Chizik shares about broadcasting, parenting, his coaching journey, and where his faith in Christ was rooted.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 197 For four seasons, Jessie Warren played third base for the Florida State Seminoles softball club. The 4-time All ACC player was consistently one of the most productive hitters in the lineup. In 2018, she led her club to their first ever Women's College World Series title beating Washington. Jessie was named the Most Outstanding Player after leading the team in eight different categories, including a .404 batting average, 21 home runs, 70 RBI and a .836 slugging percentage. In Game 1 of the WCWS, she made the play of the year in college softball, snagging a seventh-inning sacrifice bunt attempt on a diving catch to preserve their 1-0 victory. That catch was the No. 1 play on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top Plays and even got the attention of people like Kobe Bryant on Twitter. Her final game with Florida State, Jessie went 3-4 with a home run and 2 RBI to help the Seminoles to an 8-3 victory and their first ever NCAA National Championship. After her college career ended, Warren was selected seventh overall in the National Pro Fastpitch Draft by the USSSA Pride where she helped her team to another title, the Cowles Cup championship, defeating the Chicago Bandits 4-0. On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Jessie about 2018, winning the National Championship, dealing with fame, where her walk with Christ began, the spiritual bond that her Seminoles team built during their run to the title, and what the Lord is teaching her right now after an incredible year. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Jared Dudley is a forward for the NBA's Brooklyn Nets.  A second-team All-American for Boston College, Dudley was the 2007 ACC player of the year and the 22nd overall selection by the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) in the 2007 NBA Draft. His 12-year NBA career has spanned 6 teams, the Bobcats, Suns, Bucks, Wizards, Clippers and now Nets.  On this Throwback Thursday edition of the podcast, we hear Jared's testimony of coming to faith in Christ and where that walk with the Lord began for him.  You can listen to the entire interview of Episode 12 of the podcast here. 

Episode 196 Jesse Holley played wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys from 2009-2011. He was a two-sport athlete at North Carolina where he played wide receiver for the football team and was a member of the 2005 basketball team that won college basketball's national championship. In 2007, after going undrafted, he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals and after being waived, he moved to Canada, signing a contract with the BC Lions of the CFL. In 2009, after his football career looked to be over, Holley became part of the SPIKE TV reality show 4th and Long, hosted by Cowboys Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin where he won the competition and received an invitation to Cowboys training camp. After being released in September of 2009 as part of the final cuts, Holley was placed on the team's practice squad, where he would remain for 2009 and part of 2010. He made his NFL debut on October 17, 2010 against the Vikings. He would finish the 2010 season with 16 special teams tackles. In 2011, he made the 53-man roster and in week 2 at San Francisco, made his first career NFL reception, a 77-yard reception from Tony Romo in overtime, to help the Cowboys beat the 49ers 27-24 in San Francisco. Holley's NFL run would come to an end a year later and today, he is a commentator in Dallas as well as leading his non-profit "Holley's Helping Hands" in Dallas. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Jesse about his work with Holley's Helping Hands, coming to faith in Christ, the experience of being on a reality TV show and making the Dallas Cowboys and how God worked through his entire life to where he is today. Click here to donate to Holley's Helping Hands. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 195 Caroline Stanley is a former pro soccer goalkeeper and an assistant coach with the University of Tulsa. In January of 2018, Stanley retired from professional soccer after playing in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) for the Seattle Reign (2015), Sky Blue New Jersey (2016) and Orlando Pride (2017). Stanley was a three-year letterwinner at the University of Southern California, after playing her freshman season at the University of Missouri.  She started in 55 of 58 games at USC, and had 245 saves in her career. Stanley represented the U.S. Youth Women’s National Team as a member of the U15, U17, U18 and U20 teams.  She also played for Lee’s Summit North High School, where she earned back-to-back Goalkeeper of the Year honors from the Missouri State High School Soccer Coaches Association.  Stanley was a two-time first-team all-state honoree and Examiner all-area first-team selection.  She was also a member of the KCFC Intensity, Scream and Pink Panthers club teams, winning four state titles and capturing the 2011 Summer National Championship with KCFC. Stanley earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology in May 2015 from USC. In part 2 of our conversation with Caroline, we explore the world of professional soccer as she shares her experience playing in the National Women's Soccer League and the awesome story of her final pro game in Orlando last year. We also hear about her experience coaching with the University of Tulsa, as well as the relationship she has with John Means and watching him make his MLB debut this past September with the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 194 Caroline Stanley is a former pro soccer goalkeeper and an assistant coach with the University of Tulsa.     In January of 2018, Stanley retired from professional soccer after playing in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) for the Seattle Reign (2015), Sky Blue New Jersey (2016) and Orlando Pride (2017).    Stanley was a three-year letterwinner at the University of Southern California, after playing her freshman season at the University of Missouri.  She started in 55 of 58 games at USC, and had 245 saves in her career.   Stanley represented the U.S. Youth Women’s National Team as a member of the U15, U17, U18 and U20 teams.  She also played for Lee’s Summit North High School, where she earned back-to-back Goalkeeper of the Year honors from the Missouri State High School Soccer Coaches Association.  Stanley was a two-time first-team all-state honoree and Examiner all-area first-team selection.  She was also a member of the KCFC Intensity, Scream and Pink Panthers club teams, winning four state titles and capturing the 2011 Summer National Championship with KCFC.   Stanley earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology in May 2015 from USC. In part 1 of our two part conversation, Caroline shares how she came to faith in Christ, what it was like growing up as a pastor's kid, dealing with peer pressure as a teenager, retiring at age 24 and how her faith was renewed when she went to college at USC.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 193 Tyler Trent is fighting for his life. The 20 year-old Purdue college student has cancer and is in hospice care. In 2014, Tyler was diagnosed with bone cancer in high school when his arm snapped playing ultimate Frisbee. He had his right arm removed from elbow to shoulder and replaced with titanium. In April of 2017, he was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer and after undergoing a 10-hour surgery in August of 2017, he was able to start classes in his first year of college at Purdue. As he's continued his courageous battle, the past few months have brought Trent's story into the national spotlight after ESPN did a feature on him in October. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Tyler about his health, his sudden fame, how his faith in Christ has guided him during this battle and what he is most thankful for. Purchase a t-shirt at http://Represent.com/Tyler where all proceeds will go to the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

Derwin Gray is a former defensive back, who played 5 seasons in the NFL with the Colts and Panthers. He’s also the Pastor of Transformation Church near Charlotte, North Carolina. On this Throwback Thursday edition of the podcast, we hear Derwin's encounter with a teammate known as “The Naked Preacher” that changes Derwin’s life forever and led him to faith in Christ.  You can listen to the entire interview of Episode 3 of the podcast here.  For more, log on to SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 192 Mike Tolbert played 10 years in the NFL with the Chargers, Panthers and Bills. He was undrafted in 2008 coming out of college at Coastal Carolina, but quickly signed a free-agent contract with San Diego. After 4 years with the Bolts, Tolbert signed a contract with the Carolina Panthers, where he would play 5 seasons, be named to three Pro Bowls, and was named First Team All-Pro in 2013 and 2015.  Tolbert finished up his NFL career in 2017 with the Buffalo Bills, where he helped the club to the playoffs for the first time since 1999.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Mike about his decision to call himself a "former" NFL running back, the story of how he almost died after being born, growing up without a father, coming to faith in Christ, and how he stayed connected to Jesus during his NFL career, and what it was like to walk into the weight room for the first time as an NFL rookie.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 191 Reza Zadeh was born in Iran in 1977. He came to the United States in 1980 at the age of 3.  Through his teen years in high school, Reza was focused on football and school but it was during his time at Colorado State in college that he was first introduced to Jesus Christ.  Today, he's the chaplain for the Denver Broncos and working for Athletes in Action ministering to college athletes at various schools across the state of Colorado. In part 2 of our conversation, Reza tells us what his Iranian family's reaction was when they heard his son had become a Christian, why community and establishing relationship with people allows us to share our faith, what the biggest spiritual battles he's seen athletes struggle, and how he gets fed in his spiritual life when so much of what he's doing is feeding others.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com