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Men's Basketball's Bobby Ferrell: Where Are They Now?

He is a point guard's point guard – still a scrapper who grew up in Donelson, played for two different coaches at Lipscomb, put in 25 years as a basketball referee, and 30 years as a teacher/coach. Everyone who knows Bobby Ferrell knows he's still on the go. He's an inventor and salesman too – he created and acquired approval for something referees use every game. We learned plenty when Bobby sat down for an entertaining conversation with LipscombSports.com.
 
 
What years did you compete for Lipscomb?
 
I played basketball four years for the Bisons, from the fall of 1971 through the 1974-75 season. Mike Clark was our coach my first two years, and Charles Strasburger took over my last two years.
 
 
What teammates were most memorable?
 
From my first year through my last, I was around some really great guys – Bruce Bowers later became a high-ranking administrator in Metro Nashville Schools, Roy Pate became a successful businessman, Farrell Gean became earned his Ph.D. and worked at Pepperdine, Calvin Bailey is an administrator at a school system in West Tennessee, Cooper Wood is a talented local businessman – and those are teammates just from my first year or so. Later I got to play with Barry Dean, who was a big deal with his own accounting firm before selling it to a huge national firm; Clyde Whitworth, who was also an accounting genius; Mark McConnell, who was just a literal genius who went to Johns Hopkins and Stanford University Law after Lipscomb; and I roomed one year with Dr.  Steve Flatt, and we all know his intellect. You're getting the picture: the only reason they recruited me was to bring down the median G.P.A.
 
I went with Coach Clark to watch Steve (Flatt) play and to recruit him, and the biggest question was whether he was more deserving of athletic or academic scholarships – it wasn't "if" but "how much of both?" I roomed with him two years, and I was constantly amazed at the difference in our studying – he needed 15 minutes to ace a test, and I needed eight hours to squeeze by with a C. He was amazing.
 
We had a solid string of players from Donelson in those years: Ron Rippetoe, me, Steve, and Ralph Turner – in that order – guys who played for Joe Allen at either Donelson High School or McGavock then came to Lipscomb.
 
We had some guys at Lipscomb who were smart and hard workers. It was great being around those folks. I'm thinking of David Martin, John Buford, and lots of others who were just very good people and ended up being extremely successful in their lives.   
 
 
What degrees have you earned?
 
I graduated from Lipscomb in 1976 with a major in Health & Physical Education and minors in several areas. I added a master's degree from Tennessee State University and advanced education degrees from Lincoln Memorial, Cumberland University, and Tennessee State.
 
 
Why did you attend Lipscomb?
 
A friend named Frank (Sonny) Batson was student at Lipscomb and a former student body president at Donelson High School. He was the same age as my big brother, and he came back to a high school game and saw me play. He asked if I would consider playing at Lipscomb, and I jumped at it: "I'll play anywhere!"
 
He set up a workout for me at Lipscomb with Ron Rippetoe and some other guys. I also had a tryout down the street at Belmont, and I got offers from both schools. The package from Lipscomb was better, so I became a Bison. I owe it all to Frank – he's a big-time homebuilder in Nashville now, and he was the Lipscomb connection who made it happen for me.
 
 
What is your favorite athletic memory at Lipscomb?
 
The first was my freshman year, and we were scheduled to play at Belmont the next night. A group of guys came through the dorm asking if anyone wanted to go late that night and take a "campus tour" at Belmont. I'm glad I said no, because they apparently left their mark on the campus. The next morning Willard Collins announced in Chapel, "This is a grave day. (Belmont president) Dr. Gabhart just called …"
 
I don't know exactly what happened, but somehow the stars aligned, and we went over there and beat 'em. They had beaten us something like eight straight times, but that night we beat 'em. Unfortunately, they came to McQuiddy later that season and the place was packed – people were hanging from the rafters – and they beat us in double overtime.
 
That same year, we were playing Athens State and Bruce Bowers was killin' it – he had something like 47 or 48 points. The game was winding down, and we all wanted him to break the school scoring record. We all knew, when we got the ball, we were feeding Bruce. With just a little time left, an Athens State player shot an absolute brick, with one of those high bouncing rebounds. Bruce grabbed it himself and started leading the break down the court. He was all of 6-foot-1 and our post player, but he could dribble as well as anyone. He took it all the way to the free throw line, and we were all yelling, "SHOOT IT!" He passed, in true Bruce form of course. The next time down the floor he shot, though, and he ended up with 51 points that night – a new school record.
 
Even crazier, if I remember this right, we went down to Athens State later in the season and Bruce put 51 on them again! They had a huge player – I remember his name but I'll protect his identity for now – who yelled at Bruce, "Shoot it, fat boy!" We were all on the bench at that moment looking straight at each other and thinking the same thing: "Wrong thing to say." Bruce took a pass deep in the corner, barely inbounds, and knocked the absolute bottom out on the most beautiful jump shot you've ever seen. We went NUTS, and for one of the very few times I can remember Bruce talking back, he calmly ran back down the court and said, "In your eye." Our bench completely fell out – it was just classic.
 
One last story – my junior season was pretty tough. Coach Strasburger had just come in September, so we took a lot of losses the first half of the season. When the season started, in fact, we only had about seven or eight guys. One day a student who had transferred to Lipscomb after two years at Freed-Hardeman came to Coach and said, "I know you need players. I played at Freed, and I just want to help you out." He came in as a walk-on, and I've never seen anybody like him. He led every single drill. He was first in line every time. He finished ahead in every sprint. We knew he was struggling, because he hadn't worked out with us in the summer or fall, but he was an inspiration. Kent Burnett ended up helping us win some games, and I've never forgotten him. 
 
 
Who influenced your athletic career at Lipscomb?
 
The first thing that comes to my mind is the guys – the teammates who worked and fought together, especially those like Kent Burnett who walked-on or came on partial scholarships. They made the greatest impact on me, because they worked just as hard as those with full rides.
 
Our Lipscomb teachers also influenced us. After they taught classes and labs all day, they came to watch our games at night. I specifically remember Dr. (Ralph) Nance and Dr. (Bob) Hooper. They made an impression on us.
 
I remember the baseball players, too. We lived on the same floor in the dorm and became good friends, so we came to watch each other play. I remember Jamie (Pride), Butch (Stinson), Bo (McLaughlin), Mike (Dennis), Steve (Fletcher) – lots of guys who were good players and are now in the Lipscomb Athletics Hall of Fame. Those guys and (Dr.) Burton Elrod – I remember them well and I appreciate the way we all supported each other.
 
 
What do you remember about Lipscomb campus life during your time here?
 
One word: strict. We had a high level of student conduct, and it wasn't for everyone. For those who weren't raised that way, it was a little bit different. I was probably saved by the fact that we didn't have much spare time on our hands. We studied, practiced, went to class, ate, worked out, and played games – that was pretty much it. Nothing's wrong with that. I had no problem with any of it, but we sure didn't spend a lot of time hanging out in the student center or sitting in the square.
 
I'll add one more thing. I will tell you I really benefitted from Bible study. Learning the Bible helped me learn how to study. More than any other subject, I sat in classes taught by Bible teachers like Harvey Floyd, who could absolutely dissect scripture word-by-word, and I learned to value the subject and to appreciate the lifestyle. Bible study at Lipscomb changed my life, and it became a benefit of campus life to me.
 
 
What is the most valuable lesson you learned in your time at Lipscomb?
 
The greatest lesson I learned was the discipline the people at Lipscomb taught me and the code of conduct that was expected of us as students. That led to the whole structure of expectations and organization that became a natural part of my life. You'll hear students complain about rules and deadlines, but those students end up appreciating that discipline when they get real jobs and face the responsibilities of being spouses and parents. Discipline may not have been fun at the time, but it benefitted me, and I'm grateful to have experienced that culture.
 
 
Who were your favorite professors?
 
I enjoyed lots of good instructors, although I can't promise I like their subjects or did well in their classes. I really liked Dr. (Bob) Hooper, Dr. (Ralph) Nance, Dr. (Joe) Gray, Denny Loyd, 'Fessor (Eugene) Boyce, Bro. (Batsell Barrett) Baxter, Charlie Pearman, Mike Clark, Tom Hanvey – just great, great teachers. They made learning memorable.
 
 
Where did you grow up?
 
I grew up in Donelson, just outside Nashville, and went to Donelson High School.
 
 
What do you do now?
 
I was a communications specialist in the Air National Guard, and I taught school for 30 years. I got to coach football, basketball, track, soccer, and volleyball – I loved it. I had some great students and some great athletes, and I really enjoyed it. I was also a basketball referee for 25 years, including high school and the Big 12, Conference USA, the Sunbelt, and the Southland. I got to call in three pro leagues – the USBL, the World Basketball League, and the New ABA.
 
Now here's a nugget the readers will get only here: I created the V-neck officiating shirt worn in high school and college basketball starting in the early '90s. I worked and got it passed by the National Federation of State High School and the NCAA. It took a long, long time and all kinds of effort, but it finally passed and referees everywhere thank me – it's a much more comfortable shirt for calling a game. And here's an interesting fact: the guy on my first advertisement was a referee and former Lipscomb student, David Mason. [Editor's note: David is the son of Bob Mason, who was featured last week in this column.]  
 
 
Tell us about your family:
 
My wife, Brenda, and I have been married 40 years. She's amazing – a Trevecca graduate and a preacher's kid who really loves the Lord.
 
We have two sons – one who is a lawyer and a major in the United States Air Force, and another who is a college basketball coach in Florida.
 
 
FAST FINISH: 
  • Favorite food: Hamburger (Gabby's in Nashville)
  • Favorite TV show or movie: Hoosiers
  • Favorite Bible scriptures: Genesis 1:1 – "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," and John 1:1 – "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
  • Favorite sports teams: The Bisons and wherever my son coaches
  • Pet peeve: People who don't work
  • Person I most admire: Jesus Christ
  • Person I'd most like to meet: Apostle Paul
  • Rather ride or drive? I'm driving. Remember, I'm a former point guard. We drive.
  • Pick one – salad or dessert: Salad
  • Dream vacation spot: Wherever I can see my kids
  • Early morning or late night person? Early morning
 
You can reach Bobby via email at b.ferrell1953@me.com.
 
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