Spring organization fair, pg. 2
Flamenco performance, pg. 3
Child art prodigy, pg. 3
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Volume 164, Issue 1
Crusaders clinch national title
Photos courtesy of David Morris
Left: Senior running back Markeith Miller evades the defense as he carries the ball in the Dec. 14 game against Mount Union in Shenandoah, Texas. Right: (L-R) After defeating Mount Union in the Stagg Bowl, the Cru celebrates with the NCAA Division III championship trophy. Free safety Robbie West, defensive end E’Monte Smith, wide receiver T.J. Josey, offensive lineman Lane Smith and running back Marquis Duncan hold up the championship trophy with pride. By Beau Kemp Staff Writer UMHB will be celebrating their second Division III National Championship win Thursday, Jan. 31, after their third consecutive trip to the Stagg Bowl. The UMHB Crusaders met the University of Mount Union from Alliance, Ohio for the second time on Dec. 14, and won back the trophy. The Crusaders spent the majority of the season unmatched by their opponents, winning the majority of their games by a landslide. The closest score gap of the season was Dec. 1’s playoff game against St. John’s University, where the Crusaders achieved a three-point win over the Johnnies. The largest score gap of the season was the very first game on Sept. 15, when the Cru traveled to Reading, Pennsylvania to defeat the Albright College Lions by 84 points.
Crusader fans cheer on their team from the stands. Despite their promising winning streak, the Crusaders still played every game with skill and spirit. This
UMHB’s 10-year transformation
Photos courtesy of Randy Yandell
Above: Construction is in progress on Bawcom Student Union in 2013. Left: The completed building and football field are pictured in 2014.
By Amy Lucas Staff Writer If you have been on the internet or social media recently, then you have probably noticed the new trend called the “10-Year Challenge.” People are posting a photo of themselves from ten years ago next to a current photo to show how their look and personal style have evolved over time. Just like the individuals in these personal compara-
tive photos, the UMHB campus has also seen many changes in the last 10 years. Since 2009, several new buildings have been added to campus to accommodate academics, athletics, visual and performing arts and residence life. There is also a new parking lot. The Baugh Center for the Visual Arts, named after Eula Mae and John Baugh, opened in the fall of 2012. The art department had outgrown its home in the basement of Presser Hall, creating a need for a new building solely for the visual arts. Located across the street from the Mabee Student Success Center, the Baugh Center for the Visual Arts has accommodations for all types of art, including studios for painting, drawing and ceramics, as well as computer design labs and an art gallery. See Transformation, pg. 2
was partially because Mount Union kept a zero on the Crusader scoreboard at the 2017 national championship. This year, UMHB was out to prove that they could defeat this strong rival. The desire to rise to the championship again and redeem themselves seemed to be great motivation for the Cru, as they started off the season with a huge win over Albright College. This motivation carried on throughout the season, and the team was undefeated going into the championship. However, achieving the national title would be no easy feat. The Crusaders were set for a rematch against the Mount Union Purple Raiders in Shenandoah. Michael Carpenter, a former running back for the Crusaders, felt that this year, UMHB had to prove themselves as they headed into the championship. See Champions, pg. 4
New sport and new coach arriving on campus By Emily Mahan Editor-in-Chief
UMHB has chosen its new coach for its new sport: Acrobatics and Tumbling. Head coach Courtney Pate will help build this new program, which will begin in the spring semester of 2020. Pate graduated from Belton High School and Baylor University, where she helped win two team national championships and three individual national championships in the sport. On Thursday, Jan. 3, Vice President for Athletics Randy Mann announced the addition of the sport. “We are very excited to add the sport of Acrobatics and Tumbling to our sport offerings,” he stated in a release on the UMHB website. “We have been studying this opportunity for a couple of years now, and the time is right for us to launch the Acrobatics and Tumbling program at UMHB. We are proud of our success as a department and look forward to having another competitive program. We are anxious to get a head coach in place to begin recruiting talented student-athletes with that goal in mind,” his statement reads. Because the sport is not recognized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the new team will compete as part of the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association (NCATA). According to their website, “the mission of the NCATA is to bring the sport of Acrobatics and Tumbling through NCAA emerging sport status to become a fully sanctioned NCAA championship sport.”
Currently, 26 universities compete as members of the NCATA. Other Texas colleges that participate in the organization are Baylor University, which has earned the NCATA national title for the past four years, and East Texas Baptist University. In an official news release on the NCATA website, NCATA President Dr. Renee Baumgartner said, “We are proud to share the news that the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor has added Acrobatics & Tumbling to their varsity sport offerings… UMHB is an excellent NCAA Division III institution that builds upon recent NCATA expansion in Texas. We are excited by their decision and commitment to new opportunities.” Freshman education major Alena Bellon is excited that there will be a new team that allows students to practice their tumbling skills without being a member of the cheerleading team. “I am excited for the team because the only way in the past to actually tumble was through the cheer team,” Bellon said. “This is a great opportunity for me to work on my skills without the cheer setting.” Senior psychology and criminal justice double major Kelly Taylor thinks that the new team will be a great addition to the school. “I would definitely participate if I had any coordination whatsoever and wasn’t graduating!” Taylor, who is excited to see the new team succeed, said. Students who are interested in joining the team can stay updated by checking out the Cru Athletics website or the NCATA Facebook page.
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Wednesday, January 30, 2019
The Bells
Campus News
Transformation: see how the campus has changed over time After
Before
Photos courtesy of Randy Yandell
Left: Constuction workers build the new stadium in 2013. Before the stadium was built, UMHB’s football team played at Belton High School’s football field. Right: Crusader Stadium was finished later that same year. The Cru played Wesley College for their first game in the new stadium on Sept. 21, 2013. Continued from pg. 1 The Scott and White College of Nursing at UMHB has grown substantially in the last 10 years, presenting the need for a building for all things medical. Dedicated in 2013, the Isabelle Rutherford Meyer Nursing Education Center brought a new look to campus. Thanks to generous donations, including a leading contribution from the Paul and Jane Meyer Family Foundation, the three-story building was designed to include classrooms, offices and a simulation hospital equipped with state-of-the-art technology. One of the greatest and most recognizable additions to UMHB is Bawcom Student Union and Crusader Stadium. This two-year construction project resulted in a
new main hub for student activity on campus. In Bawcom, you can find students enjoying a meal in the dining hall, studying with friends, buying supplies at the bookstore or practicing their instruments in Farris Band Hall. In addition to several offices and conference rooms, each floor has a panoramic view of Crusader Stadium. This 8,000-seat stadium was the first football field on campus, providing a permanent home field for the Cru. In 2017, a dream was turned into a reality when the first performing arts center at UMHB was opened. The Sue and Frank Mayborn Performing Arts Center is outfitted with rooms used to host theater productions, ensemble performances, dance recitals and other performing
arts events. The Baugh Performance Hall occupies the main portion of the building. It seats 524 audience members in front of a multipurpose performance stage equipped with an orchestra pit and accommodations
for theater productions. Each year, enrollment continues to rise, and the size of the freshman class continuously beats the previous record. Due to this growing number, there has been a need for more student hous-
ing on campus. In 2010, Garner Hall was added to Independence Village, increasing the number of on-campus apartments. In 2011, Farris Hall, which houses 163 students, was completed. Most recently, Lord Hall was opened in the fall of 2018 with the ability to house 214 students. This co-ed, threestory dorm is the first on campus to offer key card access for all residential rooms. With the completion of Lord Hall, renovations are set to begin this semester on Stribling Hall, which previously housed female freshman students. The most recent addition to campus is the large parking lot located on the corner of College Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Construction workers clear the demolition site of the Huckins Avenue. apartments, which were torn down in January of 2016. The This new parking lot pronew Sue and Frank Mayborn Performing Arts Center now vides much-needed space for faculty and commuter resides on this lot.
students so that they can be closer to their specific buildings. Remschel Hall Resident Director Julie Barr, class of 2008, shared her thoughts about the changes on campus over the past 10 years. “While the campus has changed a lot, what I love most is that it’s not unrecognizable. It’s still the same place I fell in love with as a 17-year-old high school student. The heart of the campus hasn’t changed. It’s only grown more beautiful and has managed to keep the parts we hold dear to our hearts the same....with maybe a fresh coat of paint.” These additions are only a few of the improvements that UMHB has experienced over the past 10 years, and students can expect even more great things to come in the school’s future.
Spring organization fair gets students involved By Brianna Bullion Assistant Editor Rising steam and the promise of ice cream attracted students to the Chemistry Club table at the Spring Organization Fair in Bawcom Student Union on Wednesday, Jan. 22. Shailey Hearn, a junior chemistry and biology double major, attended the fair as a representative of the Chemistry Club. “The Org Fair really helps us get more members,” Hearn said. “When most people hear ‘Chemistry Club,’ they say: ‘Oh, it’s chemistry, I don’t want to join.’ “But once they see us doing the stuff that we do regularly, like working with nitrogen ice cream or a super quick DNA extraction, they become more interested,” Hearn said. Lizzie Webster, a junior prephysical therapy and exercise sports science major, attended the event as a representative for Impact Dance. “We have participated in five or six Org Fairs,” Webster said. While the fair provides the opportunity for organizations to recruit new members, it also allows for communication between organizations. “It isn’t just people who stop by to become members,” Webster said. “We get to meet other organizations that we may possibly become involved with for our future projects.” Other organizations discussed the community service projects they participate in. Miranda Flores, a junior premed biology major, attended the
fair as a representative of Knit and Cro. Her organization meets to craft blankets and other warm items for donation to those in need. “We are basically a knitting and crocheting charity,” Flores said. “We knit things for people with terminal illnesses, parents who have just lost their children or other people in need. “We actually just donated scarves to the Red Scarf Project, which helps kids who are in orphanages and going to college,” Flores said. “It was to give them a little bit of encouragement to continue on with higher education. They sent us a postcard to thank us for the scarves. It felt awesome to get that card back.” The members of Knit and Cro work together to create the items they donate. The organization’s display featured a blanket that they are knitting now to be donated to Afghans for Angels. “Working together to make these things feels awesome, and it’s a lot of fun,” Flores said. “It always feels great to turn out the final product and give it to someone who really needs it.” Knit and Cro started in August of 2017 and currently has 15 members. Though the organization is new, it has grown substantially since it began, thanks to events like the Spring Organization Fair. Other groups also attended the fair to promote their community service projects and events. Lindsey Conklin, UMHB junior English major, attended the fair as a representative of the English
Club. “We get to talk to students who may not know about the things we do in the English Club,” Conklin said. “We also try to talk to them about how they can get involved in the English Club with their schedules. “It’s nice to talk to people outside of the English and humanities departments who want to be involved,” she said. While the English Club holds several events that are focused on literature, such as the fall and spring book clubs, the Poe Party and the Shakespeare by the Pond event, the organization also focuses on community service projects. Dr. Jacky Dumas, Associate Dean of the School of Humanities at UMHB, discussed the community service projects that the English Club participates in. “We do Operation Christmas Child every November,” Dumas said. “We are also going to be working with The Store, which is a new organization to help students who don’t have the means to obtain a meal plan. We will be collecting various food items to donate to The Store,” he said. The English Club also volunteers at the Texas Book Festival every fall. The Spring Organization Fair provided the opportunity for organizations to recruit new members and publicize the different events and projects they participate in. While the next fair will not be held until August, students can learn about different student-led events at go.umhb.edu/student/ orgs.
Left to right: Junior chemistry major Taylore Pleas and junior pre-med chemistry and biology double major Shailey Hearn make nitrogen ice cream smoothies at the Spring Organization Fair.
Photos by Brianna Bullion/The Bells
Junior pre-med biology major Miranda Flores, left, discusses her organization, Knit and Cro, with Burt Hall Resident Director Mary Catherine Carnes.
The Bells University of Mary Hardin-Baylor - Publisher Dr. Randy O’Rear - President Dr. Rebecca McEntee - Adviser
The Bells newspaper is a biweekly publication, owned and published by UMHB. Editorials express the opinion of the author; opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the adviser, staff and/or the university. Feedback from various points of view is encouraged.
Leadership Team
Letters to the editor must include the author’s name, email address and phone number. The Bells reserves the right to edit grammar, punctuation, length and relevance.
Emily Mahan- Editor-In-Chief Brianna Bullion-Assistant Editor Production staff: Writers/Editors/Layout Designers/Photographers/Artists Jimmy Boutte Beau Kemp Amy Lucas
Madeline Oden Randi Whalon
The Bells mission is to represent the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor community through print and electronic media. The Bells strives to serve the campus and community through reporting fair, accurate and relevant news. The Bells adheres to the standards, policies and procedures established by UMHB. Email: thebells.umhb@gmail.com Front page design by Emily Mahan
Campus Phone: 4598
Campus News page design by Madeline Oden
The Bells
Wednesday, January 30, 2019 3
Life & Arts
Jácome Flamenco troupe ignites the Performing Arts Center By Madeline Oden Staff Writer The latest Highways and Byways performance in the Sue and Frank Mayborn Performing Arts Center on Thursday, Jan. 24, left audience members in awe. Jácome Flamenco, led by Chris B. Jácome, performed breathtaking flamenco routines that had the crowd bobbing their heads and tapping their feet along with the music. During the introduction, Jácome encouraged the audience to interact throughout the performance by yelling “Olé!” and cheers to the dancers. Chayito Champion, the lead singer of the group, jokingly stated they didn’t want to hear any “yee-haws,” which prompted laughter from the crowd. Three of the troupe members played various instruments while Champion sang and three dancers made their way onto the stage. The emotion and intense dancing as well as the beautiful music captivated the audience, causing many to cheer and chant with the dancers. After intermission, each of the dancers performed a solo. Jácome and Champion performed a duet. There was never a dull moment. While the dancers underwent costume changes, Jácome shared some facts and trivia
about the flamenco form to the audience. The show went wonderfully, which is why it was surprising to hear they didn’t rehearse beforehand. “We got here today, did sound check, talked about what we were going to do, and we did it. No rehearsals,” Champion said. When asked how she knew when to chime in with her singing or clapping without rehearsals, she explained, “Sometimes they just give me a look or do something with their body, and I know to come in. Its all about feeling.” After the event, audience members had the chance to buy signed CDs and take pictures with the performers. Paulina Riewald is a senior sports management major who attended the show. “I loved it. I wanted to be up there with them,” she said. “I loved the music and the dancing was beautiful and it was really fun.” To learn more about Jácomes Flamenco, visit jacomeflamenco.com. There you can browse merchandise, find tips and tricks about the art of flamenco and get a sneak peak at where they will be performing next.
Jácome Flamenco artists performed at the PAC on Thursday, Jan. 24. Clockwise from top left to right: musicians Chris Jácome and Chayito Champion, dancer Lena Jácome, and dancer Julia Chacon.
See more photos and video at thebells.umhb.edu Photos by Madeline Oden/The Bells
The art of Sofia LeJeune: child prodigy’s artwork featured By Amy Lucas Staff Writer The art of Sofia LeJeune, a 10-year-old legally blind and autistic child artist from McKinney, Texas was on display from December 2018 to Jan. 14 at the UMHB Baugh Center for the Visual Arts. Sofia’s interest in art began when she was just 18 months old, and she has been creating ever since. During a phone interview, Sofia was more than happy to share about her life and her passion for art. She says that it is a great way to “…express your feelings, it looks pretty,” and it’s a “…good way to impress people.” Her mother, Rebeca Gracia, shared the details about how Sofia’s condition has developed over time. “She was severely autistic when she was younger. We have been using natural therapies… for the past five years with great success. Now, she is high functioning, and we thought we would see how she likes public school,” Gracia said. After being homeschooled since the start of her education, Sofia began her first year of public school in 2018. “Sofia’s vision impairment originates in the brain, not the eye. [It] has several components: nystagmus, which is improving . . . decreased acuity, which has remained the same, and astigmatism, which has worsened since starting public school,” Gracia said. In relation to Sofia’s talents,
Gracia said that Sofia’s school does not have a strong art program, so it brings her daughter joy when people share an interest in art and talk to her about her artwork. Sofia said that she tried her
Photo courtesy of Rebeca Gracia
hand at pottery and made some books with a lady named Helen. She was talking about Helen Kwiatkowski, who teaches book arts, photography and design here at UMHB. Although Sofia has experimented with various media and subjects, her preference is for drawing animals of all kinds. Using simple pencils and any scratch paper she can find, she creates lively illustrations through contour lines and expression. Sofia was recently diagnosed as legally blind but has struggled with her vision for a while. She
described her vision as, “kinda good, kinda bad.” She can see to draw up close but has a very hard time seeing far away. Aside from her artistic hobbies, she, like most third graders, finds additional joy in a large array of things. Her favorite subject in school other than art is, as she said, “Science! Science! Science!” Sofia has also been participating in mixed martial arts for two years and is delighted to share that she has just earned her yellow belt. She also enjoys playing games inside and outside, like checkers, Go Fish and playing pretend. She shows pure excitement when she talks about the fun times she has on her greatgrandmother’s farm, where she helps take care of the cows, including the cow she named ‘Cuddles.’ Sofia has some advice for other young artists who struggle with their performance. “Keep trying,” she said. “Get a little more practice and ask for help.”
Photos include a cartoon horse, multiple cartoon figures and a bird drawn with pen and ink.
Photos courtesy of Rebeca Gracia
Trilogy conclusion “Glass” shatters expectations By Jimmy Boutte Contributing Writer
On Jan. 19, the highly anticipated end to the “Unbreakable” trilogy hit the box office. “Glass,” directed by M. Knight Shyamalan, features several well-known actors and actresses, including James McAvoy, Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson and Sarah Paulson. “Glass” follows three incredible people with extraordinary gifts. They all meet each other when a woman named Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson) finds them and takes them to a psychological facility to learn more about the gifts they have.
Kevin (James McAvoy) is a very complex character because he has Dissociative Identity Disorder. In this movie we get to see 20 of his personalities. McAvoy portrays Kevin’s character well and handles the difficult task of portraying multiple personalities with expertise. When Kevin is especially angry, he becomes an unstoppable monster and takes on the name “The Beast.” Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson) is responsible for derailing David Dunn’s train in “Unbreakable,” the first film in the series. Elijah has Type I Osteogenesis Imperfecta, which causes his bones to be fragile. Elijah’s alterego is a villain named “Glass.” His inspiration for this name
comes from his childhood nickname due to his rare genetic condition. The main theme of the movie was terrific. In the movie, Dr. Staple told the characters that they were just imagining their extraordinary powers and gifts. They almost started to believe that they were not special. However, Elijah told Kevin that they were special and that their gifts should be shared. While his plan to achieve this goal was not morally right, his idea is correct. “Glass” is a suspenseful movie that keeps the audience guessing until the credits roll across the screen. Additionally, the screenplay and cinematography in this film made “Glass” a great movie. Page design by Brianna Bullion and Amy Lucas
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Wednesday, January 30, 2019
The Bells
Sports
Crusaders enjoy redemption after last year’s disappointment Continued from pg. 1 “After coming up short like they did last year, they definitely had something to prove,” Carpenter said. “I think you always have something to prove, though.” UMHB definitely succeeded in proving themselves with a 24-16 victory over Mount Union. On the night of the game, the stands were packed. Because tickets for UMHB fans had sold out quickly, Crusader fans filled both sides of the stadium, despite the cold weather. The game started off in Mount Union’s favor, and the first quarter ended with a score of 10-7 with the opponent in the lead. By halftime, however, UMHB had stepped up their game, and they took the lead with a score of 13-14.
At the end of the third quarter, the Cru had improved their score to 17-13, and by the end of the game, the final score was 24-16. In the final seconds of the game, the stadium erupted. Fans were ecstatic that the Crusaders had won their second title in three years. Players and coaches gathered on the field to accept their trophy and celebrate their win together. If you were unable to attend the game or if you want to join in another celebration, UMHB will be hosting a celebration for the team’s victory on Jan. 31 in the Frank and Sue Mayborn Campus Center from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The first 1,000 to enter get a commemorative poster signed by the team and the coaches. The trophy will also be on display, and there will be door prizes throughout the night.
Left: Sophomore wide receiver K.J. Miller breaks a tackle from senior Mount Union linebacker Danny Robinson and uses his speed for a big gain. Right: Coach Fredenburg embraces defensive coordinator Larry Harmon in a celebratory hug after the Cru wins their second national championship. Photos courtesy of David Morris
Oklahoma Sooner Kyler Murray has big decisions to make By Beau Kemp Sports Writer
The chance of a high school athlete playing major league baseball is .4 percent. The odds of a high school athlete playing in the National Football League are .08 percent. The chance of having the opportunity to choose either is slim to none. Kyler Murray from Oklahoma University has achieved this rarity.
After playing quarterback for Texas A&M, Kyler Murray decided to take his talents to the baseball diamond for Oklahoma University. He did not play his best right away, but after coming back from a disappointing first season, Murray began to catch the public’s attention. In his second season, he had a .296 batting average with 47 RBIs, 10 stolen bases and 10 home runs. After his second season, he declared for the MLB draft, where he was drafted ninth overall by the Oakland Athletics. In
Photo courtesy of TNS
Kyler Murray plays football for the Oklahoma Sooners (left) and baseball for the same school (right).
Basketball Trivia 2. What NBA player was nicknamed “Plastic Man”? a) Stacey Augmon b) Magic Johnson c) Dikembe Mutombo d) Billy Cunningham 3.What team won the first National Basketball League championship? a) Bristol Pile Drivers b) Camden Electrics c) Trenton Nationals d) New York Wanderers 4. Who was the only player voted Most Valuable Player in both the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association? a) Larry Bird b) Willis Reed
c) Bob McAdoo d) Julius Erving 5. Who has the most blocked shots in NBA history? a) Dikembe Mutombo b) Hakeem Olajuwon c) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar d) Mark Eaton 6. Which NBA team plays at Madison Square Garden? a) New York Knicks b) Golden State Warriors c) Brooklyn Nets d) Miami Heat 7. How many games did Wilt Chamberlain foul out of during his 14-year NBA career? a) 25 b) 11 c) 0 d) 94 8. What player won All-Star Game MVP, NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP awards in
2000? a) Tim Duncan b) Shaquille O’Neal c) Kobe Bryant d) Michael Jordan
UMHB’s impressive basketball seasons
By Madeline Oden Staff Writer
The men’s and women’s basketball teams have been doing really well this season. Both teams have moved forward into the ASC tournament and are coming close to the finals. As of Sunday, Jan. 27, the men’s basketball team has won 15 games and lost five in this season. Of these games, six wins and five losses were in conference games. The women’s team has won 10 games and lost one game. Both the men’s and women’s teams will be playing against McMurray University on Thursday, Jan. 31 in Abilene, Texas.
9. Who was the first Chinese player to play in an NBA game? a) Yao Ming b) Mao Zedong c) Wang Zhizhi d) Hai Rui 10. How many players were allowed on the court per team in the first college basketball game? a) 9 b) 3 c) 7 d) 11 Answers:
Sophomore guard Madison McCoy looks to score with freshman forward Karlea Ritchie of Hardin-Simmons close behind at UMHB on Jan. 10.
As accorging to usefultrivia.com Answers: 1. b; 2. a; 3. c; 4. d; 5. b; A6. a; 7. c; 8. b; 9. c; 10. a
1. Who invented the game of basketball? a) Abner Doubleday b) James Naismith c) Walter Camp d) Frank Mahan
signing his contract, Kyler Murray received a $4.6 million signing bonus. However, Murray wanted to finish his final year of football for the Oklahoma Sooners. Despite being smaller than average for a quarterback at only 5’10, Murray had a fantastic second season playing for the Oklahoma Sooners. Kyler was in the running for the Heisman Trophy, the award presented annually to the most talented college football player, from the beginning of his second season. As the season progressed, it only solidified his spot in the front-running for the esteemed trophy. Murray finished the season with over 4,300 passing yards and was responsible for 42 touchdowns. While Murray was playing for Texas A&M, coach Kevin Sumlin clocked Kyler’s top speed at 22 miles per hour. This insane speed was responsible for Murray rushing for over 1,000 yards in the season. After another great season, Murray decided to also declare for the NFL draft. This has put him in a difficult situation, because as a quarterback, his team would be very dependent on him, especially if his talent carries over into the NFL. Therefore, he will not be able to play both sports like Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders did. His ability to translate his talent to the NFL is a big “if”, because, as previously stated, Murray is very small for an NFL quarterback. Furthermore, if you look at the history books of Heisman winners that were draft busts, it is not a positive outlook. A bright side to playing in the NFL is that he will get more endorsement deals and he will be in the spotlight from day one. Some fans speculated that his NFL signing contract would be larger, but the Oakland Athletics said that they would match the price that an NFL team is willing to pay for him. In the long run, he would likely make more money playing baseball because he will have a longer career in that sport. It is not as physically demanding and he will not have to worry about multiple concussions throughout his career. If he played baseball, it is likely that he could get a multimillion-dollar contract well into his 30s. A perfect example of this would be Andrew McCutchen, who signed a three-year, $50 million contract at the age of 32. This is not very likely to happen in the NFL. It seems as if the only downsides to baseball are that it is not as paparazzi-prone and Murray would have to spend a few years in the minor leagues before he makes it into the spotlight. Could this be a deciding factor for Murray? Will he choose the fame or the money?
Graphic by Madeline Oden/ The Bells Photo courtesy of AMZ Images
Page design by Beau Kemp and Madeline Oden