Big Stories

The University of Arizona's Adaptive Sports athletic department is a rarity. They are among the few nationwide, and each team is only made up of Wildcat student-athletes. But they don't want to be treated as a feel-good story. These men and women are seriously talented athletes. In this episode, you'll hear the personal journeys of several athletes and how the University of Arizona and playing spo...

Baylor graduates Jimmy and Janet Dorrell transformed an unlikely location—beneath the rumbling I-35 bridge in Waco, Texas—into a thriving church community. Every Sunday, amidst the sounds of big rigs and traffic, something unexpected happens: worshippers gather to sing, clap, and share meals. In this episode, we explore how the Dorrells took their faith beyond the walls of a traditional church to...

Landry Weber’s college football career ended with an injury just a few plays into Kansas State's Texas Bowl victory over LSU. What came next was a total surprise. Members of the media sought out his story after it was announced during the game’s broadcast of his plans to become a Catholic Priest. In this episode, Landry talks about following God’s promptings and the tough decision to forgo his fin...

University of Wyoming Women's Rodeo coach Jacey Hupp never thought she would pursue a rodeo career after completing her eligibility on South Dakota State University’s rodeo team. So, how did Hupp eventually land herself in Laramie coaching the Cowgirls? A family tragedy pushed Jacey to follow her dreams. In this podcast episode, we tell you how Hupp has found purpose in her new position and how fa...

When you hear the squeak of sneakers on a hard court, you might think of basketball, but in this case, it’s all about futsal—a fast-paced, high-energy sport described as basketball with your feet. Esteban and Manuel Mariel, former Southern Methodist University soccer players, have teamed up with their other members of the Mariel clan to build City Futsal in Dallas, Texas. The Mariel’s dedication t...

A Chinese proverb states “The journey of one-thousand miles begins with one single step.” Former Southern Illinois Saluki football player Bill Story’s current thousand-mile journey is on artificial legs. Now, Bill hopes to walk one more time on the Saluki Stadium field. In this podcast episode, Bill shares how persistence, perseverance, and cool technology helped him walk again. Guests: Bill Story...

It can be difficult for entrepreneurs to start a new business when they don't know what they are doing. They might not know how to get money or create a business plan, but many have a good idea. That's where the University of Houston and the SURE program comes in. SURE stands for Stimulating Urban Renewal Through Entrepreneurship. Under-resourced entrepreneurs can apply to the program and get free...

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes was founded so that athletes and coaches could promote the transforming power of Jesus Christ. But FCA at TCU is so much more than football players and volleyball stars witnessing to others that they are Christians. It's about being there to help anyone along life's journey. In this episode, find out how Chauncey Franks, Carrie Casey, and the Horned Frogs let t...

Go before you’re ready. That is Lt. Colonel Dan Rooney's life anthem. The former University of Kansas golfer mantra helped him become a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot. It also pushed him to establish a non-profit that helps the families of fallen and disabled U.S. military service members receive scholarships. In this episode, we find out the genesis of Folds of Honor and how it helped one family du...

The University of Central Florida was founded to support NASA. It's a fascinating story that UCF's Athletic Department wanted to tell the world. That's why they came up with the Space Game each football season, featuring out-of-this-world uniforms and nods to reaching the stars and beyond. Guests: Jimmy Skiles - UCF Senior Executive Associate Athletics Director, Chief Branding Officer Manoj Chopra...

Thane Baker desired to run in the Olympics at an early age. His mother timed him every day running home with an alarm clock. Then an accident at garage almost derailed Thane's budding track career. In this episode, find out how Baker walked on to the Kansas State track team, lived out his dream as one of the fastest men in the world, and was eventually honored as one of the greats in Wildcat sport...

What is a twirler? It's someone who performs routines and tricks with a baton. The University of West Virginia has a proud tradition of competitive twirlers and even won a national competition in 2014. But these twirlers spend lots of time and money to be a Mountaineer feature twirler. So why do they keep twirling when they could focus more on academics? For these women, the benefits go beyond twi...

Bill Potts loved his time as a student and marching band member at the University of Texas. Potts believed his time in Austin helped him become the man he is today and continually battle cancer. In this podcast episode, Bill details his fight with different cancers, what has kept him going, and how God encouraged him to write a book. Guests: Bill Potts - Author of Up For the Fight Kim Potts - Bill...

Lauryn Salazar was mad. When she was 17, she was told she was too fat and ugly to be an opera singer. She didn't want anyone telling her what she could and could not do. Now, the Professor of Musicology at Texas Tech University has blown the roof off conventional musical studies at the collegiate level. She has turned her cultural anthem of Mariachi into a pathway for education and success for stu...

Conrad Hawley was living every football-loving boy’s dream. He had a scholarship to play quarterback for the University of Kansas. So, why did he give it all up to become a walk-on for the Iowa State basketball team? In this podcast episode, Conrad explains his decision and how he’s helping and benefitting from being the team’s CEO or Chief Energy Officer. Guests: Conrad Hawley - Iowa State Basket...

Cassady Brewer wanted out of Apopka, Florida. The softball player wanted to play anywhere else other than UCF. But her mother’s dying wish was for Cassady to be a star player for the Knights. In this podcast episode, we discover why Cassady decided to stick close to home to play softball and how coach Cindy Ball Malone influenced her life and her ultimate return to the Knights as an assistant coac...

We hope you've enjoyed the Big Stories podcast. We will have more great stories featuring some of BYU's Big 12 basketball foes in January 2024. They will include tales from UCF, Kansas, Texas Tech, Texas, and Iowa State.

Oklahoma State’s wrestling team is legendary. The Cowboys have won 34 national titles and it’s largely been supported by wrestlers from Oklahoma. How hard work has produced some of the top wrestlers in the country and set men up for life. Also, Kay Norris asked how she could help OSU’s athletic department during the expansion of Gallagher-Iba Arena. They asked her to turn a hallway into Heritage H...

The Selmon Brothers are among the best football players ever to don an Oklahoma Sooners jersey and anchored one of the best defenses in college football in the 1970s. They have been honored with a statue outside of Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. But Lucious, Dewey, and Lee Roy Selmon are so much more than their success on the football field. Discover their rise to prominence and how t...

Jack Trice Stadium is home of the Iowa State football team. But who is Jack Trice? We dive into the life and death of the Cyclone's first African-American player and how the stadium came to be named after him. And, how former Iowa State softball player Lea Nelson's social media post led to two team's fan bases coming together to support the "Cycloneers." Guests: George Trice - Jack Trice's Cousin...

West Virginians take pride in their Mountaineers. In this episode, we will focus on five who have blazed their own trails. The 69th Mountaineer mascot, Mikel Hager, is small in stature but big in heart. We detail Hager’s determination that got him to the University of West Virginia and to be the living symbol of WVU. Hot Rod Hundley was a basketball legend. We document the Mountaineer basketball l...

This podcast episode focuses on a Texas Longhorns legend and the son of a legend. Former Texas running back Earl Campbell is an official Texas state hero. His son, Tyler, is a hero of a different kind. Tyler shares his football tale of redemption, faith, and a no-quit attitude after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Darrel K. Royal is football royalty at the University of Texas. The school'...

Lubbock may not be to everyone's liking when it comes to scenery, but there is a different feel when it comes to the people. This podcast episode tells four stories of strength, resilience, and love. Tim Siegel's son Luke suffered severe brain damage from a golf cart accident, but his strength and faith in God have led him to help other families going through similar trials. Texas Tech Football Ch...

TCU walk-on point guard Darius Ford brings energy and determination to every Horned Frog basketball practice. How he went from homelessness to college hoopster is truly inspiring. And one of college football's biggest awards is named after a Texas Christian University quarterback. We dive into the man behind the Davey O'Brien award, why the winner isn't always the best college quarterback, and how...

Cincinnati. The Queen City. It's the home of the first-ever professional baseball team and the chili capital of the U.S. It's also the city that showed a lot of love for a foe. This podcast episode reflects on how Cincinnatians came together to support Buffalo Bills DB Damar Hamlin after he collapsed in a game against the Bengals. Also, football saved former Cincinnati Bearcat running back Isaiah...