Bob McMichael, the Associate Vice President for Student Life at Lancaster Bible College, is at the top of the order for our Summer Seven Series. While overseeing Student Services is his day job, McMichael also assists the Lancaster Bible College Athletic Department most days as being the Voice of the Chargers at most home events. McMichael works at soccer, volleyball and basketball games and also provides the occasional drop-in at spring events too. 

In addition to providing his pipes at home events, McMichael also helps plan events and functions within the athletic department. Many aspects he assists the athletic department with go on behind the scenes, but he is a tremendous help on many projects throughout the academic year.

The seven questions asked to McMichael appear in red, while his responses are in black. Go Chargers Go!

1. Did you play sports growing up? If so, which sports, if not, what other hobbies did you have?
-No. I didn't play sports growing up, but I grew up on a farm and was thus, very active. I mowed grass, did field work and checked on chickens. The best and worst day of every summer would be the morning we woke up and saw a wagon-load of corn sitting outside the house. My dad woke up early and went and got corn which we would then husk, cook and bag all day long. The best, and only good part of the day, was we would get to eat pizza for dinner that night. 

2. What is the importance of athletics at our institution?
-I believe athletics gives our students a chance to use their talents and be a godly example to the other teams we play. Sport truly reveals character and hopefully we are revealing Christian character every time we play. One of the examples that always comes to mind is when former men's soccer student-athlete Lawrence Lartey learned how to say a prayer using sign language so that he could pray with the Gallaudet team after a game. I think that is just one example of how athletics can reveal character and what is good about our student-athletes.

3. What positive changes have you seen from student-athletes during your tenure at Lancaster Bible?
-Some of our best student leaders have been student-athletes. They have the ability to play a sport, excel in the classroom and balance a busy schedule. I think the best part and the positives to come from the student-athletes are they are caring for others and using their walk with God to become better leaders. They are catching on to what it truly means to live out your faith.

4. What are things you would like to see improved within athletics as a whole?
-I would love to see the school continue to appreciate athletics and student-athletes continue to learn to appreciate other aspects of the school. I love that more and more people are attending athletic events and it's great to see more and more athletes attending worship and performing arts events and other events on campus. This school will continue to grow as those two things continue to improve.

5. In what ways do you support Lancaster Bible College Athletics?
-In addition to being on the microphone at most home events, I help athletics in any way I possibly can. I love athletics and being able to see our students succeed.

6. How do you think student-athletes can better serve the Lancaster Bible community?
-I love how close all of our teams are at Lancaster Bible. That being said, I think it is great when they branch out and spend time with students who aren't athletes. When they sit with others at lunch or chapel or they go to a dorm retreat or simply get involved with another group or organization on campus, it goes a long way in the eyes of fellow classmates and professors. The more well-rounded our students are, the better.

7. In your opinion what are the most memorable Lancaster Bible College athletic moments in your time?
-I still think of Homecoming 2010 when Cory Greiser scored with one second left in the game to give Lancaster Bible a 2-1 victory. I can still see the ball floating through the air, over the goalie and into the back of the net, just a very cool moment. The other was a men's basketball game from the 2011-12 season when we played Penn St. Abington here and we were losing by 20 points in the second half. I remember talking about how things looked bleak and then all of a sudden, we just started scoring and Darrell Epps hit a 3-pointer to tie the game as time expired and we won in overtime. It was just a regular season game, but I remember how loud the gym got that night, it was awesome.