In today's episode we pay a visit to that hub of sports (and other) conversations ... the barbershop. In this case, it's a conversation with the owner of Coach's Cutz in Columbus, IN, "Coach" Ray Gipson. Born Hayward Raymond Gipson III in Princeton, NJ, Coach's father, Hayward Jr., was the first African-American football player at Princeton University in 1964 (the last Ivy League football team to integrate). You're able to read a bit about the elder Gipson here.
The Gipson family is an athletic one, featuring Coach's son, Keenan Noel, who played at Ball State as did Jahwan Edwards(BSU's all-time leading rusher)the father of Coach's grandson, who also plays football as well as a pretty good game of baseball.
As though we were seated in Coach's chair at the shop, our conversation covered plenty of ground: We discussed being a campus baby at Princeton and hanging out as a toddler with future NBA Hall of Famer and U.S. Senator, Bill Bradley, and former Heisman Trophy-winner, Dick Kazmaier; the impact out-of-the-blue Indianapolis Colts' hire, Jeff Saturday, might have; his time in the Navy aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Independence; attending a Ball State road game at Texas A&M to watch his son play the Aggies which featured freshmen backup QB Kyler Murrayand sophomore defensive lineman Myles Garrett; the impact of the NCAA's Name, Image, and Likeness policy; Coach's philosophies on how important participating in athletics are to a successful life; and how grateful he is to the Columbus community for becoming his home and giving him the opportunity to become Coach.
(Note: The Jim and Nora Coach referenced are mutual friends and longtime Columbus residents, Jim and Nora Coleman.)
Other people referenced in this epsiode:
