BELTON - Jordan Shipley has probably had more time to ponder life’s questions than most other college athletes.
After being forced to sit out his first two years of football at the University of Texas because of injuries, the 23-year-old Longhorn receiver has a much firmer grip on why he’s where he is and what he’s doing.
“College is a time to develop our faith,” said Shipley, at Sunday night’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes Sharing the Victory banquet at UMHB’s Mayborn Campus Center. “I realized I was out there to look good and make plays for TV. But if I break every record there is, it’s not going to save my soul.”
Shipley was the keynote speaker at the banquet which serves as a fundraiser for the local Heart of Texas South Chapter of FCA. The banquet is a lead-in to the Bob McQueen/Joe Pirtle FCA Golf Classic, which will be at Salado’s Mill Creek Country Club today.
Once Shipley became physically healthy, his Longhorn career began to fulfill the promise it had after a record-setting high school career, first at Rotan and then Burnet. Shipley was born in Temple in 1985 when his father, Bob Shipley, was an assistant under McQueen at Temple High. The younger Shipley is the only Longhorn in history to score touchdowns via reception, kickoff and punt returns in the same season. He ranks second all-time for the Longhorns in reception yards and No. 6 in receptions. His 15 catches against Oklahoma State is a school record.
Shipley was granted a rare sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA and will be back for a final season this fall.
“I’ve heard all the old man jokes,” he said. “They’re getting pretty old.”
At one turning point of wondering what direction his life should take, he took a tour through the hall of faith in the 11th chapter of Hebrews. Shipley said the definition of faith professed in the first verse “sparked me” and that later in the chapter the writer states that “without faith it is impossible to please God.”
An awakening to those verses and the lives of Old Testament stalwarts like David, Joshua and Caleb motivated Shipley to live out his faith. Once that decision was made, the speaking gigs and other ministry opportunities began to roll in.
“It was a fast transition for me,” he said. “We’ve had a huge transformation on our team. We have a lot of strong Christians on our team and the FCA program helps with that.
“You never know who you’re going to have an impact on when you do things the right way,” he said. “All the pressure is gone for me. I know who’s going to provide for me. If I live out my purpose for God, it’s going to pay off for me on and off the field.”
Also speaking at the banquet was UMHB receivers coach Braxton Harris, who talked about the influence FCA has had on his life.
“FCA has been a huge part of my life,” he said. “It’s challenged me to be different and not just a run-of-the-mill coach.
“FCA is the last line of defense,” he said. “The time is urgent. The time is now.”
The banquet attendees also heard from area FCA representative Seth Chambliss and former Lake Belton Middle School FCA group leader Marshall Mann.
Former Dallas Cowboy great Billy Joe Dupree was in attendance. Dupree will be one of the record 160 golfers taking part in today’s fundraising tournament.
