Podcast Episode 006

Austin Bennett (00:18)
Welcome to the right way to play the NAIA podcast! Where we go beyond the scoreboard to explore college athletics, the way it was meant to be. I'm Austin Bennett alongside co-host Alan Grosbach. In each episode we sit down with coaches, athletic directors, student-athletes, and thought leaders to talk about building champions on and off the field, fostering community through competition, and leading with common sense. Whether you're at an NAIA member institution or just passionate about the future of college sports, you'll find inspiration and insights here.

Alan Grosbach (00:43)
Once again, Austin, super excited about today's show. I think we've got a really good one. But before that, we need to kick it off with our Red Banner Rundown. For those that are new, this is where Austin and I share a quick hit around the association, big plays, cool stats, or maybe just an awesome story. Austin, you want to get us started?

Austin Bennett (00:47)
I do. So with the calendar flipping to February, it's an exciting time of year across the rest of the sports in the NAIA. With my rough math, if you will, have about 1,800 teams competing, about 50,000 student-athletes, because we are right in the heart in the closing run of winter championships, which means we're coming down to those battle for the red banners for basketball, swim and dive, indoor track and field, wrestling, et cetera. But with February means we're kicking off spring sports. And so really excited to be at this point in time in the calendar in the NAIA season. And just so many student-athletes out there competing the right way and looking to battle for a Red Banner.

Alan Grosbach (01:33)
Yeah, this is definitely a time of year where everyone feels like they're competing. I want to talk about Northwestern College men's basketball. A weeks ago on January 28th, they played their GPAC rival, Dordt, and Jalen Langsy went insane. He hit (12) three-pointers, a new single game record that had been held since the 89-90 season by someone named Alan Visser. He collected 48 points. I mean, just a wild game. Scoring at will. His 48 points tied him for fifth in the single game scoring record for a Northwestern College men's basketball player and is one point shy of his career record. And that's the most insane point. He had (12) three's and scored 48 points and didn't hit his career record mark, which is wild. But He's obviously a sharpshooter -- shoot to get hot shoot, to stay hot. And he was hot against Dordt in in late January, which is pretty cool.

Austin Bennett (02:25)
All right, Alan. Well, today's episode is a powerful one. We're sitting down with Lennx Brown, senior wide receiver at Morningside University. Lennx, who has earned all conference recognition, has helped Morningside to a conference championship and a national semifinal run. But what truly defines Lennx happens off the field. From service work in Louisiana, Cuba, Uganda, and Honduras, to tornado relief and youth mentorship back home, Lennx brings the same discipline and heart to serving others as he does to football.

Lennx's story is about service and leading with intention. It's a reminder that leadership isn't just measured in stats or wins, but in the lives you touch along the way. Lennx Brown, welcome to The Right Way to Play podcast.

Alan Grosbach (03:04)
Yeah, welcome Lennx.

Lennx Brown (03:05)
Hello, thank you so much for having me.

Alan Grosbach (03:08)
So I want to just jump right to it. You were honored this year as a member of the Allstate Good Works team (AFCA), and that's definitely not nothing. Huge. I mean, you're honored at the Sugar Bowl. You're one of just a handful of guys in the sport of football to get recognized for your service off the field as part of that recognition. Can you share what it felt like to receive such an award? And what stands out to you most about the honor and where you've had impact beyond ⁓ the athletic field?

Austin Bennett (03:16)
Huge, huge.

Lennx Brown (03:36)
Absolutely, it was such an amazing experience and a huge honor. i was just looking at some of the guys who have received it before me and the things that they ended up going on to do and it was very humbling. Also being able to talk to all the guys that I was there on the trip with, the impacts that they're making in their community, once again, so humbling. And it's great to know that there's other people wanting to make a genuine change in the world. The honor, just being able to go on the trip in general, the experience as a whole was something I'll never forget.

The Sugar Bowl game was amazing, but I'd have to say that the best part was when we got to help out the community there. We put on a camp that Tim Tebow was at where we talked about life after football for kids. Then we also did some football drills with them as well. And you know, the kids didn't care if you were from a D1 school or if you were from NAIA. They just cared that you spent some time with them and it was awesome to be able to do that.

Austin Bennett (04:30)
Love that. That's awesome. 

Alan Grosbach (04:31)
That's really neat. Yeah, congratulations. That's amazing. That's such a cool award.

Lennx Brown (04:35)
Thank you so much.

Austin Bennett (04:35)
All right, Lennx, let's go back to the end of your senior high school season. What about Morningside made it the right place for you to continue your education and obviously your football career as well?

Lennx Brown (04:47)
Absolutely. I was being recruited by a couple of colleges. There was a handful that I was trying to decide between. But when I went on my visit to Morningside, the thing that really stuck out was they didn't only care about me as an athlete like some of the other schools did, but they wanted me to become a better man as well. And sitting down with Coach Ryan and him talking about that, talking about some of the past players how they've become great men in their life. I mean, that that really stuck with me and my family as well.

So that's why I decided Morningside. And the winning games part, that's also very important.

Austin Bennett (05:16)
That's awesome. Very cool. Very cool. Of course.

Alan Grosbach (05:16)
Yes, yeah.

They are very good at that. So you mentioned Coach Ryan, but who are who are some of the other key people from Morningside coaches, teammates, staff who helped shape your journey and why? What did they kind of provide you to kind of kind of do that?

Lennx Brown (05:34)
There's been so many people at Morningside. First, would say our Chaplain Dirk. Sadly he passed away about a year and a half ago or a year ago. That man really changed my life for the better. Not only from a religious standpoint, but once again, what it looks like to be a real man. Going down the religious trail, there's also K.J. Williams, who also received the same award as me, and Isaac. Both of those guys, gave 110 % in everything they did. And being able to see that as a younger athlete just gave me some great guys to look up to. And not only did they give 110 % in sports, but also off the field as well and wanting to help the community.

But I cannot forget about Coach Ryan. He is an amazing man. And one of the best parts about him, like I mentioned earlier, is how he wants to create more great men. our meetings, that's what the subjects typically are. It's not always about football. And his ability to just sit down with you and show genuine care about you. It's something that you don't see everywhere. And I think that's the reason why Morningside is so successful.

Austin Bennett (06:40)
That's great. Yeah, we love coach Ryan here. And Alan and I just little look back on his first championship. We worked together was a football national championship and morning sighting coach Ryan were in that game, so I've got to know him for a long time now, which is it's great to hear a player speak so highly of him based off what we already knew about him.

Well, cool. Well, can you share a moment where athletics challenged you to grow as a person and not just an athlete?

Lennx Brown (07:04)
I could talk about the, comeback wins but honestly, I don't think any of that had as much of an impact as the mission trips that I went on. We're encouraged at Morningside to go on mission trips over spring break rather than going back home to, you know, party or be with your friends. Normally you're up to no good on spring break, but all of those, not me, not me, but...

Alan Grosbach (07:23)
I don't know what you're talking about. ⁓

Lennx Brown (07:28)
No, I'm kidding, of course. But those mission trips have changed me and all my teammates who have went on them for the better.

One of the best ways to really help the community before you can do that, you have to understand what people are going through. And I think it's hard to know what's going on around the world if you don't end up going there for yourself. I think oftentimes people don't realize just how good we have it in America and and being able to go to other countries and make some genuine change and spread the love of Jesus definitely had the biggest impact on me as a whole.

Alan Grosbach (08:01)
You've obviously been around the world a little bit. Is there one in particular that sticks out in your mind?

Lennx Brown (08:05)
I would have to say, all the trips are great, but Uganda is my favorite. specifically in Entebbe, Uganda, and and Jinja, Uganda.

Austin Bennett (08:12)
What'd you do there?

Lennx Brown (08:13)
So there we worked with an organization called Man Up and Go and we worked with the local community. It was a church and school together. We did some physical labor there, kind of building them a new playground, playing with the kids, which was always super fun, building new fences. The main reason why we were there is to encourage

children, more specifically the young men, to kind of turn things around in their country. They have a culture right now where, husbands will get a wife, promise that they'll take care of their kids, have kids, and then just leave and go over to the next person.

And because of that, there's just so many children without fathers. And I mean, as we know, country cannot thrive that way. So just encouraging them in that way to become better men.

Austin Bennett (09:00)
Very cool. Good

you.

Alan Grosbach (09:02)
As you think about a current high school senior that might be coming into the NAIA, what would your message be to them as they're considering that decision? I mean, obviously you've had a very well-rounded experience and you've taken advantage of all opportunities as student athlete, how would you advise someone who's thinking about making that leap into college athletics?

Lennx Brown (09:21)
I would say,

oftentimes I hear people talk about NAIA as if it's a lower level of football, do not think of it like that. Any sort of opportunity to play is a blessing. And the athletes at the NAIA level are exceptional. I have many friends on different levels of football and I've watched many levels of football

with players from

all levels and do not

overlook the NAIA is what I would have to say. I think some of the most genuine football is played at this level you're not in it for the money, NIL deals aren't necessarily paying all the guys

NAIA. You're in it for the love of the game and there's something beautiful about that.

Alan Grosbach (10:05)
Yeah, if you've ever had any doubts about NAIA football, go watch a Northwestern Morningside football game on a Saturday.

Austin Bennett (10:06)
or not.

Well, not just that, but this past year alone, we had any schools defeat Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3 programs. So like you talk about, what level is it?

think the upper echelon of the NAIA can compete really at any level.

Lennx Brown (10:22)
Absolutely.

Alan Grosbach (10:23)
All right, Lennx, we'll be right back after a quick break.

Also, it's time for our character break, where we spotlight one of our five core values of the NAIA's Champions of Character ® program, the values that shape how our student athletes train, compete, and lead.

Austin Bennett (10:35)
That's right Alan and for this character break we're highlighting one of the core values of the NAIA Champions of Character ® program which is respect. Respect starts with how you prepare. It shows up in how you treat your teammates, your opponents, and the game itself. It's playing hard without crossing the line, competing fiercely, while honoring everyone involved.

In the NAIA, respect isn't passive. It's intentional. It's listening before speaking. It's valuing every role in the locker room. It's understanding how you carry yourself matters just as much as how you perform. When respect leads the way, competition elevates. Culture strengthens and leadership becomes something others want to follow. That's respect and that's Champions of Character ®.

All right, Lennx, welcome back. got one more question for you before we jump into our fast five.

finish it off, obviously this podcast is called The Right Way To Play. It's a huge initiative in the NAIA. It's a changing of the brand and the way people are thinking about the

So we want to hear when you hear the phrase, the right way to play, what does that mean to you personally?

Lennx Brown (11:31)
To me, it screams out, you know, using football as a platform rather than a pedestal. It's like using football as a way to achieve greater things in your life rather than having it be the highest thing in your life. know, given 110 % in all you do, you know, that's that's not only in football, but that's outside of football as well. Right. And, you know, like for me, using it as a platform, I was able to go on mission trips,

to encourage other people to do the same.

That's what screams out right way to play to me. And like I mentioned earlier

the NAIA how I believe that it's some of the most genuine football played is for the love of the game. You don't have the best facilities, but you have team and team is what really matters.

Austin Bennett (12:14)
Great answer. I love that.

Alan Grosbach (12:15)
Yeah,

me too.

All right, we are pivoting to our Fast Five lightning round. Lennx, these are five questions, no overthinking, first gut reaction. We have had these kind of dip into a moderate five or a slow five, so we're looking for Fast Five. First thing that comes to your brain. All right, question, question one, what's your pregame hype song? What's your go-to playlist song in pregame?

Austin Bennett (12:28)
the

Lennx Brown (12:31)
Okay. All right, let's do it.

Go to playlist song. Uh oh. He said fast five. I know we're already off track.

Alan Grosbach (12:46)
See, we're already on to a moderate five.

Lennx Brown (12:50)
X Gon' Give It To Ya by DMX. That's a good one.

Alan Grosbach (12:53)
okay.

Austin Bennett (12:55)
There you go. Love that. It is. is. Pre-pod. Yeah.

Alan Grosbach (12:56)
All right. That's on Austin's too. Pre-pod mix, of course, but yeah.

Lennx Brown (12:59)
Yeah

Austin Bennett (13:03)
OK, question two. Maybe a tricky one

remember who you're playing for and how you're going to answer this. So what's the best road environment in the NAIA?

Lennx Brown (13:12)
I would have to say Concordia. They redid their field. They have a cool light show at halftime. If you play a night game.

I said Concordia.

Alan Grosbach (13:19)
All

Austin Bennett (13:20)
Shout out there, Bulldogs. Come

Alan Grosbach (13:21)
All right, Seward Nebraska.

All right, Lennx, you have run, thrown, and caught touchdown passes in your career at Morningside. Which is your favorite?

Lennx Brown (13:32)
That's hard catching and throwing touchdown passes are both up there. I'd say I was best at running, but I liked

Alan Grosbach (13:33)
Hahaha

Lennx Brown (13:39)
catching and throwing them the most.

It's hard to choose this one, getting more people involved.

Austin Bennett (13:41)
Does

one in your career stand out?

Lennx Brown (13:46)
one like touchdown in particular

Austin Bennett (13:48)
Any of

them, What memorable touchdown in your career.

Alan Grosbach (13:49)
Yeah.

Lennx Brown (13:51)
would have to say.

That's hard. None of them really stand out in particular. I mean, I've had, they all count the same. I can't pick a one in particular.

Austin Bennett (13:56)
They all count the same, right? They all count for six. That's right. Yeah.

Alan Grosbach (13:56)
When you score, hey, and when you score, when you score that often, it just doesn't matter, right? I mean, I'm not

good at running, catching or throwing them. So I, I'll just live vicariously to you, Lennx. Right.

Austin Bennett (14:06)
Yeah, when you have over 40 total touchdowns in your career, it's hard to remember one that really stands out.

Lennx Brown (14:12)
I wasn't ready for that fast five question.

Austin Bennett (14:14)
So yeah, that one's on us. That's not on

Alan Grosbach (14:14)
Sorry, that was a bonus. That was a bonus.

Austin Bennett (14:17)
Okay, number four, what's your go-to pregame meal?

Lennx Brown (14:20)
Go to pregame meal, this one's controversial, but I'm a big cereal guy before a game. Yeah, I know it's crazy, early in my career I had it and then I had a great game and I was like, I'm not gonna change anything about my pregame routine.

Alan Grosbach (14:25)
Milk-based pregame meal?

Austin Bennett (14:26)
Okay.

Wow.

Good for

you. Love that. What kind of cereal?

Alan Grosbach (14:38)
Bonus,

there you go.

Lennx Brown (14:40)
So it's always, it's whatever's in the cafertia at the time. Preferably Captain Crunch though.

Alan Grosbach (14:46)
sugary cereal.

Austin Bennett (14:46)
man after my heart.

What about you, Al? What would your pregame cereal be?

Alan Grosbach (14:50)
Pre-game cereal? ⁓ man. Probably Froot Loops or Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

Lennx Brown (14:56)
Great options.

Austin Bennett (14:58)
Captain Crunch for sure. You can't beat Captain Crunch.

Alan Grosbach (14:57)
you? yeah, mean you.

You gotta go sugary cereal, right? We can't. We're not talking healthy

Alright Lennx, the last of now like a fast seven. ⁓ Your head coach is an NAIA Hall of Famer.

Lennx Brown (15:10)
You

Alan Grosbach (15:13)
What's Coach Ryan's most common word or phrase to the team during the season? And of course this is a this is a kid friendly show so.

Lennx Brown (15:21)
Yeah, Coach Ryan, doesn't cuss ever.

So before or in the middle of every practice, he says, "Gentlemen, today's the beginning of a new day. God has given you this day to do it as you will. You can waste it use it for good. Tomorrow will come and this day will be gone forever. Leave in this place something you've traded. Make sure success not failure, gain not loss, good not evil". And then we break. It took me every practice, every practice we hear that.

Alan Grosbach (15:44)
Holy, every practice? my God, yeah!

Austin Bennett (15:46)
I got goosebumps. ⁓

Lennx Brown (15:50)
After hearing it hundreds of times, I'm able to memorize it.

Alan Grosbach (15:54)
That's incredible. I was, I know, ⁓ man, kind of emotional. All right.

Austin Bennett (15:54)
That's awesome. Coach Ryan. I feel like we just got coached up right there. Holy cow. Man. Well, cool.

Lennx Brown (15:59)
yeah.

Austin Bennett (16:05)
Well Lennx, thank you so much for sharing your journey, for joining us on the podcast and talking about not only football, but life outside of football. Congratulations to you on an impactful collegiate career on the football field,

in so many more ways off the field. You're obviously an outstanding young man with a great message and a great heart and

And thank you for sharing some of that with us today.

Alan Grosbach (16:25)
Yeah, Lennx, I appreciate you sharing your greatness with us.

Lennx Brown (16:27)
Thank you so much for having me on this

I really do appreciate it.

Alan Grosbach (16:31)
All right, Austin, every game, well, not every game, but a lot of games have walk-off moments, and this is ours. This is where we close the episode talking about what our big takeaway from our conversation was. Austin, what stood out to you today?

Austin Bennett (16:43)
Yeah, I can't help but the word coming to my mind is pride.

So much pride in the NAIA and very proud of Lennx and the career he's had on and off the field as we just heard about.

proud of our schools.

you know, lot of schools do a lot of great things out there, but really proud of Morningside for how they're shaping

next

only on the field or on the court, whatever it might be, but encouraging them to go and give back.

You know, you talked about you can go do anything for spring break and what are they doing there? A lot of times they're going on mission trips and serving others and just pride, pride in Lennx, pride in Morningside, pride in the NAIA is really what's standing out to me.

Alan Grosbach (17:18)
Yeah, I think we get caught up sometimes just as sports people and the wins and losses and the games of the championship and things like that, and sometimes we forget that there are these young people of such amazing character that it's being cultivated by their coaches and their colleges and universities and to me, like Lennx is the perfect embodiment of that. I mean, he works hard for his community. He loves football. He works hard for his school and he's just such a great representative of what I think.

college sports in general should be about. And that's why I think the NAIA is the right way to play.

Austin Bennett (17:50)
No doubt, no doubt. Well, thanks for joining us on this episode of The Right Way To Play podcast. We hope you enjoyed the conversation and got a glimpse of what makes college athletics so powerful. We'd love to hear from you, your thoughts, comments, even ideas on future guests. So drop us a line at TheRightWayToPlay@naia.org and help us shape where this podcast goes next.

Alan Grosbach (18:10)
Until next time, keep competing with character, leading with purpose, and always playing the right way.