Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Cody Ingram

The 宅男福利社 celebrated the completion of a 7,000 square foot renovation and expansion of its football locker room at Homer Field House with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 2.

The $4.7 million renovation and expansion project enhances the daily experience of 宅男福利社student-athletes while reinforcing the university鈥檚 commitment to excellence both on and off the field. Dedicated supporters of 宅男福利社Athletics contributed $1.3 million to help bring this project to life.

宅男福利社President Dr. Todd G. Fritch said at the ribbon cutting ceremony that the project is a reflection of the University’s commitment to student success and strengthening the student experience.

“This celebration is a clear statement about who we are and who we are committed to becoming,” Fritch said. “Students are our purpose, and that guides every investment we make. Our student-athletes dedicate themselves to excellence in competition, in the classroom, and in leadership across our campus, and we want our facilities to match that dedication.”

Athletic Director Brett Gilliland, who previously served as head football coach for 11 years, told the crowd gathered that this renovation and expansion is a game-changer for UWA, built on a vision centered on students’ needs.

“It is rare for a facility construction project to turn out exactly like the vision,” Gilliland said. “So many times when a project is completed you may notice things you wish you had done differently, but not this one. This is exactly what we envisioned, especially for our student athletes.”

The new locker room features 116 lockers and a spacious meeting area designed to accommodate the entire roster. Fifty-three of the lockers have been sponsored by former Tigers and supporters and are recognized with commemorative plaques. Each state-of-the-art locker features integrated charging ports, built-in bench seating with storage, and secure lock boxes for personal valuables.

Named the 鈥淭iny鈥� Campora Locker Room, in memory of Don 鈥淭iny鈥� Campora through the generous support of Steve and Gayle Campora, the locker room marks the family’s commitment to and investment in 宅男福利社student-athletes and the Livingston community for more than a decade.

Head Football Coach Scott Cochran said that he looks forward to the program’s growth and development through his team’s use of the new amenities. The project was underway when Cochran joined 宅男福利社Athletics in February 2025.

“The vision for this place is incredible,” Cochran said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been under construction since I walked in the door here. Just like the football team, we are always building, always trying to get better. Knowing that you have a facility like this鈥攚hen it comes to recruiting, when it comes to a standard of excellence鈥攊t lines right up with everyone鈥檚 vision for this place, and I get to see it every day and am grateful to be a part of it.鈥�

The renovation also includes a modernized cold plunge room, new restroom and shower facilities, and a separate entrance and exit to the field, eliminating the need to share space with the visiting team.

Upstairs, the facility features an updated reception area and the King-Ferris Football Team Room, honoring Coach Jim King, his wife, Sandy King, and their grandson, the late Patrick Ferris. The designation recognizes the family鈥檚 enduring legacy and profound impact on both the Livingston community and 宅男福利社football.

Adjacent to the King-Ferris Football Team Room is a dedicated student-athlete career development office designed to support professional growth beyond the playing field. The space will serve as a resource for virtual interviews, career preparation, and collaborative opportunities, including engagement with partners like Podium X who provide career preparation guidance for students. The room will be available to student-athletes across all programs as they prepare for life after graduation.

The Champions Deck, a new viewing terrace overlooking the south endzone, honors Livingston University alumni Ronnie and Kathy Gilliland and the 1971 NAIA National Championship football team. Made possible through the generosity of Steve and Gayle Campora, Champions Deck provides a premier vantage point while commemorating a milestone moment in 宅男福利社Athletics history.

鈥淭his space brings together the spirit of 宅男福利社Athletics and reflects the sense of community that is so strong at our University,鈥� Fritch said. 鈥淭his can be seen throughout the facility, whether in the gathering spaces that support team and fan fellowship, through the amenities offered to our student-athletes in the locker room, or the equipment that will support health and safety for the entire team. We can anticipate many exciting times ahead in this space.鈥�

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Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Cody Ingram

宅男福利社business student balances the classroom and the gridiron

Whether he鈥檚 flying around a motocross track or drilling field goals for the 宅男福利社, Elijah Guyton approaches every challenge with the same mindset: make a plan, then make it happen.

A management major at UWA, Guyton didn鈥檛 begin his football journey as a kicker. He started playing the sport in seventh grade, but it wasn鈥檛 until his junior year of high school that a coach mentioned the team needed someone to handle the kicking duties. Guyton volunteered, figuring 鈥淲hy not me?鈥�

What started as a spontaneous decision quickly became a serious path. After performing well for someone who had never kicked before, he began attending camps and one-on-one training sessions the following year. Scholarship offers followed, and he chose 宅男福利社for its close-knit campus community and the chance to be 鈥渕ore than just a number.鈥�

A high honor student, Guyton arrived ahead of the game. Because he took dual enrollment classes and then a full load each semester, he shaved off a full semester and is set to walk in commencement exercises on Friday, Dec. 12.

Although football brought him to UWA, Guyton knew a business degree could take him in countless directions. Still eligible to play next season after redshirting his freshman year, he plans to begin work on an this spring while continuing to contribute on the field in the fall.

That decision, he said, is part of a larger plan he set in motion long before college.

鈥淚 had a goal when I came to college to not have any student loan debt to pay off,鈥� Guyton said. By using his scholarship funds to cover graduate coursework, living in the dorms, and walking to class, he is well on his way to achieving that target鈥攁nother example of the deliberate approach that shapes both his academic and athletic life.

A diligent student, he noted that if he happens to miss a class, at least one professor typically checks on him.

鈥淚 like that my professors know me and notice if I鈥檓 not there for some reason. It鈥檚 not like me to miss, so they don鈥檛 hesitate to reach out,鈥� Guyton said. 鈥淭hat personal connection,鈥� he added is a big part of why 宅男福利社feels like home.鈥�

Named an AFCA All-American last year, he recently hit a career-long 51-yard field goal against Northeastern State. He hopes to attend some kicking camps next year that can get him in front of NFL scouts and pro evaluators.

鈥淎 lot of kids dream about making it to the college level to play football, and I鈥檝e made it鈥攕o why not push the limit and go the next step while I鈥檓 at UWA? If it doesn鈥檛 work out, I鈥檒l have two degrees to fall back on.鈥� He figures the odds are in his favor either way.

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Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Cody Ingram

Harrison McGriff鈥檚 Uncharted Journey

At first glance, the arena and international law seem worlds apart. But 23-year-old Harrison McGriff鈥檚 life defies the ordinary.

One week he鈥檚 gearing up for a bull ride in Alabama; the next, he鈥檚 catching waves in Costa Rica.

From homeschooling in a small town to studying politics with global ambitions, McGriff鈥檚 path is anything but typical.

Now a senior at the 宅男福利社, McGriff has spent his life chasing new skills and purpose鈥攖hrough competitive swimming, flying lessons, surfing, learning new languages, and most recently, immersing himself in Spanish and Latin American culture.

鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted more than the traditional path,鈥� McGriff says. 鈥淗omeschooling gave me the flexibility to pursue opportunities that wouldn鈥檛 have been possible in a traditional school setting.鈥�

That flexibility opened doors early. McGriff began swimming at age five and joined a competitive swim team two years later. By ten he had enrolled in the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets, aspiring to a military career. 聽

At just eight years old, inspired by his swim coach鈥檚 wife, who taught Mandarin Chinese, he began learning the language, which is said to be one of the most difficult languages for English speakers to learn. This was an early sign of the global curiosity that would shape his future.

His passion for travel was sparked through swim competitions and deepened through his later involvement in rodeo, where he loved meeting people from different backgrounds outside his small hometown of Slocomb, Alabama.

In ninth grade, McGriff and his mother relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida, so he could attend Admiral Farragut Academy, a prestigious international boarding school. Surrounded by students from around the world, McGriff found his worldview expanding, igniting an even greater desire to travel and explore.

Eager to finish high school early, he began taking dual-credit classes at nearby St. Petersburg Community College. He also ventured into the rodeo scene and bull riding. After attending bull riding school, McGriff knew he had discovered a new passion. He returned to Alabama, homeschooled, and continued to earn college credits through Enterprise State Community College while diving deeper into rodeo. It wasn鈥檛 long before took notice.

Over the past four years at UWA, McGriff has continued bull riding and added bronc riding to his skill set. Academically, he鈥檚 found his niche in politics and justice studies, with minors in business administration and Spanish

His interest in Spanish began with a rodeo buddy from Guatemala, who spoke no English upon arriving in the U.S. The two began teaching each other their native languages.聽 McGriff soon realized he had an affinity for languages which has dovetailed nicely with his interest in international law.

When he discovered he couldn鈥檛 fulfill the Spanish minor requirements at UWA, his Spanish instructor, Ms. Carla Gray, introduced him to the聽聽program. It was through this program that McGriff spent 12 weeks this past summer studying Spanish in Peru and Costa Rica earning the academic credits he needed while immersing himself in Latin American language and culture.

While in Cusco, Peru, McGriff also landed an internship with the Attorney General鈥檚 office, spending four hours each morning at the office, followed by four hours of Spanish classes in the afternoon. 鈥淓ven better, my host dad was a chef, so I got to sample incredible local cuisine.鈥�

In addition to his studies, McGriff explored Peru鈥檚 natural and historic landmarks, including Machu Picchu, the iconic 15th-century Incan citadel nestled in the Andes Mountains, and Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) known for its vivid stripes created by 14 different colorful minerals. As recently as 2013, the mountain was not visible due to permanent snow cover.

From Peru, McGriff flew to Costa Rica, spending three weeks studying Spanish in the capital, San Jos茅, before traveling to Manuel Antonio, a popular coastal resort district for the final six weeks of language school.

As he enters his final year at UWA, McGriff is already looking ahead to graduation next May.

鈥淩ight now, my plan is to take the LSAT in February. I want to take a gap year, keep competing in the rodeo circuit, travel across the country in my camper, and visit as many countries as I can,鈥� he notes.

Confident he鈥檚 positioned himself well for the future, McGriff appreciates the flexibility he鈥檚 built into his plans. 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 placed all my eggs in one basket, that鈥檚 for sure,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hen I was in Costa Rica, I met a guy who is a lawyer and owns several businesses. He told me once I earned my law degree to come work for him. I鈥檝e kept in touch, so who knows, I may end up working for him some day.鈥�

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