SEASON 1: EPISODE 4 TRANSCRIPT

The Belmont Way

Betty Wiseman: I am so grateful that when I came here as a freshman and I was so homesick being one hour away from home that people poured themselves into me and gave it themselves and established family for me here and help me see the bigger picture. And if I can give back and give that hope to somebody else, then every day's a gift and you have to give it away.

Dr. Greg Jones: Our world is facing significant challenges and at every turn, another conflict seems to await, yet we survive, we overcome, we even thrive by relying on an intangible and undeniable gift: hope. It fills us, connects us, highlights our individual purpose and unites us in the goal to do more together. Hope fuels us toward flourishing as people and as a community.

My name is Greg Jones, President of Belmont University, and I'm honored to be your guide through candid conversations with people who demonstrate what it really means to live with hope and lean into the lessons they've picked up along their journey. They are The Hope People.

Today's guests, Betty Wiseman and Rick Byrd are beloved Belmont leaders. Affectionately known as Belmont Betty, Betty founded our women's basketball program in 1968 and has been an active figure on campus ever since. Rick served as the head coach for our men's basketball team for over 30 years. Now retired and recently inducted into the College basketball Hall of Fame, his wins rank him 12th on all time among NCAA Division One men's basketball coaches.

Rick Byrd: I think coaches forget that they are teachers of the people that are in their programs. That's how you go about your daily work and life and the things you say and the way that you say them, and that's what they learn. If I'm allowed to be proud of anything, it's that part of what I did. And I'm glad we've won some games and championships, but that's the part that means the most to me.

Dr. Greg Jones: In this episode, Betty and Rick share how their leadership at Belmont, their friendship with each other over the years and their faith in God has shaped how they champion hope.

I want to just start Betty maybe with you to tell a story about someone who has embodied hope for you that helped you learn to be a hopeful and joyful person. What's a story that comes to mind of somebody who has been an exemplar for you?

Betty Wiseman: Well, when I think about my life and my story and hope, it all goes back to growing up. It began with my parents. Who I am today is just a piece of who they were. And growing up on a farm as a young girl and being in an environment that required discipline every day there was something to do that must be done before it was dark to move forward as farm people. So I think the discipline in my life, the patience in my life, determination, getting my hands dirty, working hard for a greater purpose. We were not really poor people, but we made our living by the ground that we lived on. And so it was working and being a part of that family, I was surrounded by people at school, teachers, people in my church, and moving on and on and on up to my time at Belmont. Of course, Dr. Gab Hart was a major figure in my life, but it's always been people who hoped for something better for me.

My dad had an eighth grade education because he was number 11 of 11 children, and my mother graduated from high school, but they wanted what was best for my sister and me, and that was embedded in me and God just provided people along the way. And two of you are sitting here now with me who continue to speak into my life and provide hope for me.

Dr. Greg Jones: I think of a phrase you used when you visited students of my class. The class is called What's Your Why? You said, who's your why? The who, the people. Rick, for you, as you grew up and then became a coach who Have been the people that have really inspired you and that you carry around in your heart as an example of the kind of leadership and character?

Rick Byrd: As she was speaking, I was certainly thinking about my parents and probably my dad in particular. He was a sports writer in Knoxville, a good one. I think he was sports writer of the year in Tennessee about five or six times. And as I grew up and was playing all the sports that everybody plays when they're young, he just wanted me to do whatever I enjoyed and liked. He didn't push me in basketball, he didn't push me to golf, which I came to love. And as I continued to get older and became a serious high school player, he just was all about you do what the coach tells you to do.

I remember at eighth grade I went home and on the way home I questioned my dad while we were playing a zone or something of that sort. And he said, "Listen, you just do what the coach tells you to do." But he was kind and gentle. I hope I learned kindness from him and caring less about himself. I don't know many people that cared less about getting credit than my dad did, and I continue to learn. I learned from my wife Cheryl an awful lot about how to treat people. And I learned from my daughters, Andrea and Megan, they have so many positive attributes and I'm so proud of them. And I learned from, certainly from my staff, but I learned a lot from our players. We're lucky that Belmont allows us to recruit the kind of young people that we can bring in. And we've had some very, very bright and thoughtful and decent young men. And so it's a whole lot of everything, but there are certain people that make the biggest impact.

Dr. Greg Jones: Well, I think a lot of people would point to each of you as ones who have impacted them and shaped them. And Rick, I want to ask you, because Belmont's known for considerable success on the basketball court. You put an imprint on the program, both of winning and doing it the right way, doing it with a sense of character. Talk about how you think about character and athletics and the intersection and how that affected how you recruited, how you coached, what you thought it meant to represent Belmont.

Rick Byrd: I think when you're a young coach, you don't get all of that, and it was about trying to figure out how to win games more than anything else. I think when I came to Belmont and I just saw the Christian environment, I saw the kind of people that worked here, Dr. Trout was the president and the kind of man that he was, it made me think a lot more, and I'm not saying that I didn't think about this when I coached two other schools, but about the people that were representing the school. And I recently found the notes that I made Betty when I came down here for the interview.

Betty Wiseman: I was in that interview.

Rick Byrd: I know you were. And they were the notes that I still believe today about how we want real students here and that it mattered greatly how they represented Belmont College at the time. I completely believe that you can still be as competitive as anybody and have those kind of standards in front of you. So I evolved, but it also just became a way that I think made us better. I think we won more games and more championships because of the kind of people that were in our program.

Dr. Greg Jones: Betty, you had the privilege and burden, I should say, of founding a program, and so you didn't inherit any previous players or any culture or for good or for ill. Talk about what it meant to start that program and what kind of players you wanted and what that intersection between character and athletics and building a women's team from scratch. What was that like and what mattered to you?

Betty Wiseman: Well, I really was very young to begin with and I really didn't know what I was doing, but I knew what I wanted to do and it was a men's world in athletics and there wasn't a lot to look up to. But at that point I knew that it was wrong that women didn't have opportunity to play. And in my heart and my soul, there was still a little girl that wanted to come out and play basketball and I didn't get to.

But I was surrounded here at Belmont when I made the plea to Dr. Gabh Hart. First of all, a man believed in me. The man that to this day I owe so much to. And when he said yes, then it scared me to death that what have I done? So there were men on campus who were a part of a committee that helped to structure things to give me advice, and I went to men's basketball clinics, coaches clinics, and I would be the only female there for those first few years. And I was so welcomed by the men and I think they were excited about somebody doing something like that. They had never seen that before. And so I learned a lot from the men. I was a great observer going to games. I knew I wanted to do it the right way. So who are you going to emulate? You're going to emulate your men's programs. Who does it the right way? And I just, the whole philosopher John Dewey, you just learn by doing.

Dr. Greg Jones: You both have referred to getting to know each other. Rick, when you came to interview, Betty was there. You've been friends for more than three decades, and Aristotle talks about how friendship shapes character and makes such a difference. Rick, talk about your friendship with Betty and how that's evolved and what that means to you.

Rick Byrd: Betty was so much the representative of the Belmont way, for lack of another term. In her deep faith in her love of the kids, her love of the game of basketball. She was in Physical Education Department for quite a while there, and we were in the same building and she was there if I felt like I needed to talk about something, maybe a player situation of what seems to be the right thing to do here, but I so much appreciated that she was there for support. That's beautiful.

Dr. Greg Jones: Betty, what'd you see in Rick when you were on the interviewing committee that you thought, this is the guy who's going to help Belmont rise to new levels? I'm sure you didn't quite imagine how much he could accomplish. Maybe you did, but-

Rick Byrd: Makes two of us.

Betty Wiseman: Well, in his interview, I just remember he was strategic. He was to the point, his true character came out, who he was. He was a real individual. He loved people. I just felt like he was a Belmont man. Now, explaining that, is another whole podcast, what a Belmont person is, but Rick embodied everything in that meeting that I thought we needed to lead our young men. And I have never one moment been disappointed in how he's coached, his actions. Rick, he knows this. He's become a brother to me. We're family. I love him, and I would trust him with my life. And so if I trust him with my life, why would I not trust him with these young people's lives? And he is the difference in our men's program and where it is today.

Dr. Greg Jones: Well, you both have referred to phrases that I love. Rick, you talked about the Belmont way. Betty, you just referred to a Belmont person. And I think both of you have helped create those images and what the content of that looks like and what has it meant to you to pour into others and to be coaches for others, both on the court and off the court? That seems to be characteristic of the Belmont community, of being willing to go beyond your job title to care about others and to give that sense of joy and hope and inspiration. What does that mean to you?

Betty Wiseman: I look back on my own life and all the people who poured themselves into my life and scripture says, "To whom much is given, much is required." And I believe that. And I genuinely am energized by the campus and these students, and I really never saw a student I didn't like or could not get in a conversation with. And I still enjoy pouring into these students even at 80 years old. I feel like I have a better perspective now looking back than I did in some of those days where I poured into students. It might be a little bit different, but I remember people who didn't have to, but they poured into my life in so many different ways. And there's joy in giving hope to somebody. It never grows old to me.

I just spoke with a girl that came back from our mission trip and in my little space in there with her as she talked, tears ran down my cheeks because what happened to her in those moments away from this place with other student athletes, giving herself away, she discovered who she really is in Christ, and she can voice that now. She understands it. And I don't think you can until you get to a point where you're giving yourself away and what is given back to you.


Dr. Greg Jones: I just marvel when I see and get to know former players that both of you have had, it's got to be gratifying to see the quality of the people as they move into their own leadership roles in whatever ways God's given to them to grow. I love talking to Belmont alumni because they talk about the difference this place makes, and it's often been through experiences off the court as well as on.

Betty Wiseman: I'm so grateful that when I came here as a freshman and I was so homesick being one hour away from home that people poured themselves into me and gave of themselves and established family for me here and help me see the bigger picture. And if I can do that, if I can give back and give that hope to somebody else, then every day's a gift. And you have to give it away.

Rick Byrd: Greg, when you talked about people come back and what they talk about, I think 99% of the time it's about the things they feel like they learned because they were a Belmont basketball player that have nothing to do with playing basketball, Xs and Os or they don't talk about, do you remember that play where this guy did that or that big win we had here or there? And when I retired, that was the most gratifying part of it was to read the emails or the texts or the letters, and that's what they talked about and that's what they appreciated. And I think coaches forget that they are teachers of the people that are in their programs, they're the most important. And in my case, it may be 16 or 17 people because there's managers involved and student trainers or different things like that that see you daily, but it's how you go about your daily work and life and the things you say and the way that you say them. And that's what they learn.

And they'll tell me stories about things. I have absolutely no idea what they're talking about or remember, but it's something that stuck with them and they thought it was a good thing that stuck with them. I'm sure they tell some stories about some bad things, but that's what I so much appreciate and I hesitate to say that I'm proud of. But if I'm allowed to be proud of anything, it's that part of what I did. And I'm glad we've won some games and championships, but that's the part that means the most to me.

Dr. Greg Jones: You both have tons to be proud of in your accomplishments and the impact you've had on others. Both of you are also just remarkably humble, good people, and I suspect that some of that humility and that sense of community and friendship is connected to your faith. Rick, talk a little bit about how your faith has shaped the kind of leadership you've provided and what that means to you.

Rick Byrd: Well, I think no matter where anybody is with their faith, where they feel as strongly as Betty does, and she's top of my list of people I know or wonder about things, the Bible just has so many wonderful guidelines to how you live your life. And you talk about humility, and I'm sad to see that that trait seems to be almost lost in all parts of our life. Certainly in sports where everybody wants to bring attention to themselves when they do one little thing. You need to respect your opponents and respect the game itself, and part of that's not showing them up. I think greater things get accomplished when you don't care about who gets the credit.

Betty Wiseman: Rick, I remember, Greg, when I had breast cancer, of course I had retired and I was really in a deep hole. It really hit me hard. If you're going to have breast cancer, you are lucky if you have what I had and could recover like I did. But it was during that time after I'd had surgery, Rick was going to the NCAA tournament and the day before, I was at home and feeling sorry for myself and Rick and Cheryl called and said, "We want to bring dinner out to you, Betty and sit with you." And I said, "But aren't you leaving tomorrow for the NCAA?" "Yeah, but we're coming to see you."

They brought dinner, Rick, you came into my home and the humble man that you are, you walk back to my kitchen and you've got in my cabinets, set the table, and I'm sitting there thinking, this man who is on top of the world in athletics and going to the NCAA tournament tomorrow is in my house taking care of me. He and Cheryl, I thought, "Man, they'll need to leave and get on," and you all stayed a good hour or so and just loved on me.

Rick Byrd: Cheryl gets more credit than I do for making those kinds of things happen, frankly.

Betty Wiseman: But that's why you are who you are.

Dr. Greg Jones: Well, that's a beautiful story that you shared, Betty and I hear these stories about both of you. Betty, you just celebrated your 80th birthday and we were able to celebrate with you. And Maddie, one of your first players came back and she's also featured in that wonderful mini-documentary called Shoulders We Stand On about the women's basketball story, which is also the Betty Wiseman story. What did it feel like to watch that documentary and to think about the journey of women's basketball and your part in it? To watch that and to think about 50 plus years of that journey?

Betty Wiseman: It was pretty humbling to begin with. I was thinking about my girls who were all a part of that during the process and how still connected so many of us are, but I don't take anything for granted, and more than this documentary is seeing this program and where it is and with Bart Brooks at the helm now and what he's doing to carry on this tradition. It's personally satisfying, but it's very humbling and it takes me to my knees and my roots all the time.

Dr. Greg Jones: Rick, you've had a remarkable last few years of recognition. Induction into the College Basketball Hall of Fame, the John Wooden Recipient, the Joe Lapchick Award. Your name is now associated with the greats of college basketball and coaches. How has that all felt for you as you reflect back on your leadership and legacy?

Rick Byrd: Oh, I think the first, I'm so appreciative that all those particular entities would take a look at someone that didn't have the same kind of resume as Mike Krzyzewski or Roy Williams or the people that so totally belong in everything that you can ever do. And that they'd take a look at a mid-major program and where it went and what it accomplished. And it is nice to know that if you've tried real hard to have the standards that I talked about in competition, that it's noticed and it can be noticed at Belmont University, and you don't have to be at UCLA or Kentucky or Duke or North Carolina. Betty, can you ever imagine that whoever was hired at that time and that these kind of things could happen from Belmont? I'm proud for my two girls and whoever comes after that they'll have that to look back on about their dad. I think that matters too.

Dr. Greg Jones: Thank you for participating in this conversation with The Hope People. Our aim is to inspire you to become an agent of hope yourself and to help us cultivate a sense of wellbeing for all. To join our mission and learn more about this show, visit thehopepeoplepodcast.com. If you enjoyed this conversation, remember to rate and review wherever you get your audio content.