This morning, sksimants was driving me to work, and my phone beeped with a new text from my boss, Renee.  She told me that if I wanted, I should take today as a Comp Day for working last weekend.  I said I would, and determined then that I was going to go (as we say in the South) “eat me some Fried Catfish.”

Dr. Fitz Hill

Now, either I was not listening real close in men’s group, or John wasn’t real forthcoming with information, because I did not know that I was going to be as touched, inspired, impressed, or blown away as I was.  And while I will admit that the catfish WAS THAT GOOD, it was not what impressed me the most.

I’ll get the full story wrong, so won’t try to tell it, but the long and short of it is as follows….

125 years ago in the 1884, a group of former slaves founded Arkansas Baptist College.  It’s located here in Little Rock, Arkansas, on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard just south of the Capitol Building.  It’s an aged campus with a lot of character.  The surrounding neighborhood had (in the past few years) become a very shady (for lack of a better word) area.  In fact, one of the gentlemen at lunch referred to it as  “crack row”.  The college was struggling to survive much less grow, former President’s were held in poor regard — many choosing not to even live near the campus.  Then came Dr. Fitz Hill.

Dr. Hill brought a vision to Arkansas Baptist College.  He brought dedication.  He brought students (enrollment is up from 150 to 750 since he took over). He brought, Coach Charles “Rip” Ripley.

Coach Rip is an Arkansas living legend.  His biography is simply impressive and can be found here (it’s a must read if for nothing else than a picture at the amazing successes that Coach Rip has had a hand in: Houston Nutt, Keith Jackson, Sr., and Derek Fisher to name three) in a 2008 article by Jim Harris.  Dr. Hill brought Coach Rip in as the Athletic Director for the College, and could not have made a better decision.

Coach Rip

The minute you meet Coach Rip, be prepared to overwhelmed by his passion.  He loves his job, his life, his school, but most of all he very clearly loves “his kids”.  It was incredible to sit down with Coach Rip and listen to him talk about the programs at Arkansas Baptist College.  He gave us insight into the way that the program came to be, and the incredible turnaround that Dr. Hill (and although he would not likely admit it, Coach Rip) have been able to bring to Arkansas Baptist College, and probably more importantly, the impact that they have made on the community surrounding the campus.

As we ate lunch, Coach Rip, told us stories of kids that Arkansas Baptist had assisted.   See, Arkansas Baptist College’s athletic program works with kids that might not have otherwise had an opportunity to go to college, much less play sports in college.  They help the kids get the discipline and mentoring that they need to be successful and they invest heavily into those lives.  Coach Rip told us the story of a young man that they brought to the school off the streets of Tulsa.  They had to buy him long pants and a jacket for the winter because this young man had nothing.  Yet, he came.  He persevered (Coach’s words), and in December will graduate from Memphis State with a degree in African-American Studies and with an ability, discipline, and hope to create a good life for himself.  As Coach Rip told us this story, it was easily the proudest that I have ever seen a man be of what he called “a son.”  That’s when coaching meets real-life.

While the stories about Houston Nutt and Mac Brown and others were interesting and a bit awe-inspiring, the stories of the young men and women that are being touched by Coach Rip, Dr. Hill and Arkansas Baptist College, served to put everything in perspective.  As we sat at lunch, Coach Rip (who knows his sports) talked about the vision that he has for his program.  It really is pretty simple.  He’s not out to be an athletic powerhouse.  Win/lose records don’t really paint the picture of success for him.  It isn’t about jetting around on private planes or driving fancy cars.  It is about the kids that surround him like you would an old favorite uncle that you haven’t seen in a few years.  Those kids love Coach Rip.  It’s clear in the way they listen to him, the way they talk to him, and it is clearly a mutual love.

Old Main at Arkansas Baptist College

After we ate (have I mentioned that the Catfish was PHENOMENAL?), Coach Rip took us for a walk around the campus.  As we step out of the cafeteria door, we see construction.  A new classroom building (complete with skybridge) is going up and scheduled to be completed in the Spring.  The skybridge connects it to “Old Main”, which is undergoing restoration.  Clearly things that Coach was happy about.  We walked through another building and turned towards the gym.  Across the street from the gym are two houses with a vacant lot behind him.  He points and says,  “Those two houses are scheduled for demolition soon.  That’s where the Charles Ripley Men’s Dormitory is being built.”  John leans in and tells me, Scott Ford has donated $2.5m for it to be built on one condition: It has the Coach’s name on it.  Coach turns and says, “But if someone wants to give more, they can put their name on it too.”

We walked into the gym.  Four months ago, you wouldn’t even have recognized this place, he tells us.  Work has clearly been happening.  New risers are going up — materials donated by Home Depot and the labor donated as well.  A wall had been removed and a weight room that overlooks the basketball court has been built.  The school logo and the mascot (The Buffalo) has been freshly painted on the most beautiful old hardwood basketball floor that I have ever seen.  “I have some pretty exiting plans for the lobby, and the exterior of the building too”, Coach says, and then points to the backboard, “We put a lighting kit behind the class that we can make flash.  It’s pretty neat, but most importantly, the Kids like it.”  The hope is to have all work done and the gym “re-dedicated” at the Buffalo’s home opener on November 18th.

We walk back out of the gym, and Coach introduces to a few members of the “Lady Buffs” basketball team, and points across the street to a bus.  It has recently been donated to the athletic department.  It need an air conditioning compressor, but that’s just details Coach tells us.  He shows us a duplex next door to the gym.  When Dr. Hill came into his position he commissioned a study.  They looked at all the houses in the neighborhood, and found thirty that had been boarded up.  The College now owns fourteen of them.  Some, like this duplex, are being fixed up to house students, while others are being turned into administrative offices.

At the end of our tour, Coach Rip gave us a few parting words.  He told us that he works long hours, but does it because he knows that God has placed him on earth to accomplish one goal: make a difference in someone’s life.  He told us how if he is ever discouraged about something that all he has to do is eat a meal in the dining hall, and everything gets put into perspective.  He said that it’s because it’s clear that they are giving kids chances that they would not have had.  What a lesson.

So, thanks, John for the invite, Craig for the company, Renee for the day off, Arkansas Baptist College Cafeteria for some killer Catfish, and Coach Ripley for the lesson and perspective on life.

Go for the catfish (I’ll happily join you), but stay for the incredible life lessons.  As for me, I’m now a Buffalo.

Arkansas Baptist College Buffaloes