Bethel Professor and Sports Fan Serves
as School's Liaison to NAIA...and Loves it
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By Jim Steele
steele@mckenziebanner.com |
| |
Dr. Laddie Lollar has been a psychology professor at
Bethel College and a quiet fixture in McKenzie for many
years.He is a favorite among students, faculty and staff at BC
and frequently named faculty-member-of-the year at the
school.
Lollar will wear all those hats with subtle pride, but
what many people don't realize is that he is a huge sports
fan and supporter of the Wildcats.
Ever wonder why Bethel fields competitive teams in nearly
all athletic endeavors? Lollar is BC's liaison to the
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
and knows the sanctioning body's book backwards and
forwards. He is the guy who makes sure Bethel is in NAIA
compliance and that all the school's athletes are
eligible. And, if players are worthy of national academic
recognition, Lollar makes sure the student-athlete has a
fighting chance.
Last year, BC baseball player Aaron Johnson earned the
NAIA's prestigious A.O. Duer academic award, one of
Lollar's recommendations. When the professor sends along
his approbation, it is usually a cinch.
"My batting average is pretty good," says Lollar, his eyes
bristling. "I am 4-for-4 when I recommend an athlete for
the Duer Award."
That's a sure sign that Dr. Lollar is well esteemed at the
national level. He and the NAIA are well acquainted with
each other.
"Listen, they know him at the NAIA," says Bethel baseball
coach Glenn Hayes. "They know him and they respect him at
the national level. They listen to him, there."
A couple of examples: Last year, he wouldn't say what
team, a player's eligibility forms hadn't been sent in on
time, yet the player participated in a game. Lollar was
alerted to this, notified the NAIA of the minor
indiscretion and sent in the proper paperwork. Instead of
game forfeiture and public embarrassment, Lollar said the
NAIA was rather congenial.
"We found out about it and we got on the ball. I sent in
the paperwork and added a little note saying that it was
late," he said. "We were treated with kindness, but we did
get a warning."
Another time, Bethel had a pitching prospect that hurt his
elbow early in the season and was lost for the rest of the
campaign. Hayes went to Lollar to find out if the player
could obtain a medical redshirt.
Lollar just about spouted from memory the ruling on such
things, but he cross-referenced the book and checked with
Hayes to be sure. The player got the desired redshirt
another year, thanks to Lollar's efforts.
"In the short time that I've been here, I've known him as
the faculty representative," said newly appointed BC
athletics director Jeff Britt. "He knows everything about
the rules and keeps us on our toes. He's also such a good
teacher."
The late Bill Elkins, who served as Bethel's president in
the 1990s, asked Lollar to assume the role of NAIA faculty
representative. It's a role he diligently plays.
"I've always thought any job worth doing is worth doing
well," Lollar said. "I've always caught our own violations
first. No other school has caught us. We've done it first
and reported it and that has put us in good graces with
the NAIA."
And because of that, Bethel has a clean bill of health.
"Laddie is extremely conscientious; he cares about the
academic as well as the athletic progress of the students
at Bethel College," said Matt Fry, the NAIA's director of
legislative services. "We definitely have a good rapport.
He asks thought provoking questions and that's what I'm
here for, to interpret the rules. I enjoy talking to Laddie. Laddie and Bethel College are great examples of
high integrity and good ethics."
The athletics department at BC has swelled from just a
handful of activities to a teeming 17-sport
responsibility.
"It's an immense amount of work," said Lollar. "At one
time we had single-digit sports. The other night, Jerry
Wilcoxson (former Bethel AD) said 'now we have 17 of these
things.' Football alone makes up six pages of athletes
(rosters and eligibilty status)."
Many people aren't aware that Lollar is a huge sports fan.
He grew up in Missouri and developed a fondness for the
St. Louis Cardinals. He really became hooked when the
Cards beat the Boston Red Sox in the 1946 World Series.
The Cards had some great players in those days. Del Rice,
Joe Garagiola, Enos Slaughter, Red Schoendienst and a guy
named Stan Musial took care of Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr
and the Sox in seven games that year.
"That was my junior year in high school. Many of the
players on that team have statues out in front of Busch
Stadium now," said Lollar. "One in particular is Stan
Musial. His statue is the biggest of all out there. I
admired Stan more than anything. They had a number of
top-notch guys then."
Having recently seen a game at St. Louis, the July 3 epic
where the Cards exploded for 8 runs in the second inning
for a 9-5 win, Lollar is equally impressed with the
caliber of today's team.
"Oh, that was a fantastic game and that eight-run inning
was exciting. They had been slaughtered by the Giants in
the three previous games. They have a lot of great
players," he said, even highlighting in the program the
statistical leaders on the team. "I think they have some
excellent players. And the Cubs are struggling right now."
Spoken like a true Cardinal fan.
While Lollar has a love for sports, he is a stickler when
it comes to academics. And he thinks the two go hand in
hand, even for instructors. That's why it's commonplace to
see him taking up tickets at football games or attending
baseball or basketball games.
"It's fun to go to the games," he says. "But in order to
get the students -especially the prodigals - to produce in
the classroom, it's important for them to see what kind of
person you are outside of the classroom."
Interaction with students and athletes outside the
classroom is important. He has numerous, heart-rending
tales of students who were marginal performers upon
matriculation turning it around and becoming honor
students in some cases. Most all go on to become
successful professionals.
Much of their success is attributed to Lollar's tutelage.
And he has lasting friendships to show for it.
"A 4.0 student is going to be a 4.0 student whether you
are there or not," said Lollar. "But I get more joy when
students who make Ds and Fs recognize what kind of
potential they have and then start making As and Bs for
the first time. When they recognize their potential, it
changes their lives." |
