Freed-Hardeman University Basketball: A Legacy of Lions and Lady Lions
Freed-Hardeman University (FHU) is a private university rooted in the Churches of Christ, situated in Henderson, Tennessee. As a primarily undergraduate and residential institution, FHU's history is intertwined with the educational landscape of Henderson, tracing back to the 1869 charter of the Henderson Male Institute. Governed by a board of trustees, all members of which are required to be affiliated with the Churches of Christ, FHU has grown from its humble beginnings to a university competing in 16 intercollegiate varsity sports as the "Lions" and "Lady Lions."
From Henderson Male Institute to Freed-Hardeman University
The origins of Freed-Hardeman University can be traced to the Henderson Male Institute, a private high school and college established in 1869. Over time, the institution underwent several transformations, being known as the Henderson Masonic Male and Female Institute, West Tennessee Christian College, and Georgie Robertson Christian College.
In the spring of 1907, Georgie Robertson Christian College closed its doors. This closure led N. B. Hardeman, a Georgie Robertson Christian College alumnus, and A. G. Freed to collaborate and establish a new institution. Their vision was the National Teachers' Normal and Business College, intended to address the educational void in Henderson. Incorporated on May 21, 1907, the NTNBC officially commenced classes in the fall of 1908. Recognizing the contributions of its founders, the institution was renamed Freed-Hardeman College in 1919.
A History of Competition: FHU Basketball
Freed-Hardeman University has a rich history of athletic competition, particularly in basketball. The Lions and Lady Lions have faced numerous opponents over the years, showcasing their talent and determination on the court. Here's a look at their historical performance against various institutions:
- Alice Lloyd College (Ky.): 8-7 (Home: 8-5, Away: 0-1, Neutral: 0-1)
- Allen University (S.C.)
- Arizona Christian University
- Arkansas Baptist College
- Arkansas State University
- Arkansas Tech University
- Athens State University: 3-12 (Home: 3-11, Away: 0-1)
- Auburn University Montgomery (Ala.): 4-0 (Home: 2-0, Away: 2-0)
- Azusa Pacific University
- Belhaven University (Miss.): 7-2 (Home: 6-0, Away: 0-2, Neutral: 1-0)
- Belmont University: 10-35 (Conf: 1-9, Home: 10-35)
- Benedictine University: 3-0 (Conf: 2-0, Home: 2-0, Away: 1-0)
- Benedictine University at Springfield: 2-0 (Conf: 2-0, Home: 1-0, Away: 1-0)
- Berry College (Ga.): 9-3 (Conf: 2-0, Home: 8-3, Away: 1-0)
- Bethel University (Tenn.): 45-40 (Conf: 19-15, Home: 35-34, Away: 10-6)
- Birmingham-Southern College
- Blue Mountain University (Miss.): 18-2 (Conf: 12-0, Home: 10-1, Away: 8-1)
- Bluefield University (Va.)
- Brescia University (Ky.): 8-5 (Home: 8-4, Away: 0-1)
- Bryan College (Tenn.): 3-2 (Home: 3-1, Away: 0-1)
- Campbellsville University (Ky.): 18-7 (Conf: 9-1, Home: 11-1, Away: 4-4, Neutral: 3-2)
- Carson-Newman University
- Carver College
- Central Baptist College: 7-7 (Conf: 3-7, Home: 3-4, Away: 3-3, Neutral: 1-0)
- Chaminade University
- Christian Brothers University: 15-27 (Conf: 2-8, Home: 15-27)
- Claflin University
- College of the Ozarks (Mo.)
- Columbia College (Mo.): 8-8 (Conf: 8-6, Home: 4-4, Away: 4-4)
- Concord University
- Concordia College - Alabama: 4-1 (Home: 4-0, Away: 0-1)
- Covenant College (Ga.)
- Crowleys Ridge College: 8-0 (Home: 6-0, Away: 1-0, Neutral: 1-0)
- Culver-Stockton College (Mo.)
- Cumberland University (Tenn.): 47-32 (Conf: 24-15, Home: 39-20, Away: 8-12)
- Dillard University (La.)
- Dordt University (Iowa)
- East-West University
- Evangel University (Mo.)
- Faulkner University (Ala.): 12-12 (Home: 11-10, Away: 1-2)
- Fisk University: 12-3 (Home: 8-2, Away: 4-1)
- Florida College: 1-2 (Home: 0-2, Neutral: 1-0)
- Florida Memorial University
- Florida Southern College
- Fresno Pacific University (Calif.)
- Georgetown College (Ky.): 8-8 (Conf: 5-4, Home: 2-4, Away: 3-3, Neutral: 3-1)
- Grace College (Ind.)
- Hannibal-LaGrange University: 14-7 (Conf: 11-3, Home: 9-5, Away: 5-2)
- Harding University
- Harris-Stowe State University (Mo.): 15-7 (Conf: 8-6, Home: 10-4, Away: 5-3)
- Hawaii Pacific University
- Henderson State University: 2-1 (Home: 1-1, Away: 1-0)
- Hendrix College
- Houston Christian University
- Indiana University East
- Indiana University Northwest
- Indiana University Southeast
- Itawamba Community College
- Jacksonville State University
- Johnson University - Tennesee
- Keiser University
- Knoxville
- Lambuth University: 32-44 (Conf: 6-11, Home: 31-38, Away: 1-6)
- Lane College: 17-11 (Conf: 0-1, Home: 17-11)
- Langston
- Lee College
- Lee University (Tenn.): 13-14 (Conf: 1-1, Home: 10-10, Away: 3-3, Neutral: 0-1)
- LeMoyne-Owen College
- Life University: 7-5 (Conf: 2-3, Home: 2-2, Away: 3-3, Neutral: 2-0)
- Lindenwood
- Lindenwood University-Belleville: 11-5 (Conf: 9-3, Home: 7-2, Away: 4-3)
- Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.): 13-10 (Conf: 9-0, Home: 9-6, Away: 4-4)
- Lipscomb University: 11-48 (Conf: 2-9, Home: 11-48)
- Little Rock
- Louisiana Christian University
- Louisiana State University Alexandria
- Loyola University (La.): 2-0 (Home: 1-0, Neutral: 1-0)
- Lubbock Christian University (Texas)
- Lyon College (Ark.): 32-18 (Conf: 20-12, Home: 23-10, Away: 9-8)
- Marian University
- McKendree University
- Mid-Continent University (Ky.): 16-5 (Conf: 11-5, Home: 10-1, Away: 6-4)
- Middle Georgia State University
- Middle Tennessee: 0-2 (Home: 0-1, Away: 0-1)
- Mississippi College
- Mississippi Industrial College
- Missouri Baptist University: 10-10 (Conf: 8-6, Home: 7-5, Away: 3-5)
- Missouri Valley College
- Montana State University
- Montana Tech
- Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Ohio)
- Nelson University (TX)
- Northeast Mississippi Community College
- Northwest Missouri State University
- Oakwood University: 3-0 (Home: 2-0, Away: 1-0)
- Oklahoma Christian University
- Oklahoma Wesleyan University
- Our Lady of the Lake University
- Park University (MO): 8-6 (Conf: 8-6, Home: 5-2, Away: 3-4)
- Pensacola Christian College: 3-0 (Home: 2-0, Away: 1-0)
- Philander Smith College: 10-4 (Home: 9-2, Away: 1-2)
- Point Park University (Pa.)
- Point University: 2-0 (Home: 1-0, Away: 1-0)
- Reinhardt University: 3-0 (Home: 2-0, Neutral: 1-0)
- Rocky Mountain College (Mont.)
- Rust College
- Saint Louis University: 12-0 (Conf: 11-0, Home: 6-0, Away: 6-0)
- Selma University
- Shawnee State University (Ohio): 3-3 (Conf: 2-3, Home: 3-1, Away: 0-2)
- Shorter University (Ga.): 0-2 (Home: 0-1, Away: 0-1)
- Simon Fraser University (B.C.)
- Southeastern University: 3-0 (Away: 1-0, Neutral: 2-0)
- Southern Nazarene University
- Southern Oregon University
- Southern Polytechnic State University (Ga.): 0-2 (Home: 0-1, Away: 0-1)
- Southern University at New Orleans (La.)
- Southwest Baptist University
- Southwestern Community College
- Southwestern University
- Spalding University (Ky.): 1-1 (Home: 0-1, Away: 1-0)
- Spring Arbor University (Mich.)
- Spring Hill College (Ala.)
- Talladega College: 5-7 (Home: 3-4, Away: 1-3, Neutral: 1-0)
- Tennessee Tech University
- Tennessee Temple University: 1-2 (Home: 1-1, Away: 0-1)
- Tennessee Wesleyan University
- The Master's University (Calif.)
- Thomas More University: 4-4 (Conf: 3-3, Home: 1-2, Away: 2-1, Neutral: 1-1)
- Tougaloo College (Miss.): 14-9 (Home: 8-3, Away: 4-4, Neutral: 2-2)
- Trevecca Nazarene University: 25-44 (Conf: 8-21, Home: 20-40, Away: 5-4)
- Tusculum University
- Union College (Ky.)
- Union University (Tenn.): 30-64 (Conf: 6-27, Home: 26-53, Away: 4-11)
- University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff
- University of Arkansas at Monticello
- University of Illinois Springfield
- University of Mobile (Ala.)
- University of Montevallo: 0-3 (Home: 0-2, Away: 0-1)
- University of North Alabama
- University of Pikeville: 4-2 (Conf: 4-1, Home: 2-1, Away: 2-1)
- University of Science and Arts (Okla.)
- University of St. Francis (Ill.)
- Voorhees College (S.C.)
- Washington University in St. Louis
- Webber International University (Fla.)
- Welsh College (Ohio)
- West Virginia University Institute of Technology
- West Virginia University of Parkersburg
- William Carey University (Miss.): 10-2 (Home: 6-1, Away: 4-1)
- Williams Baptist University (Ark.): 28-21 (Conf: 17-15, Home: 16-9, Away: 12-12)
These records demonstrate the extensive history and broad range of competition experienced by Freed-Hardeman University's basketball programs.
Read also: FHU: Where Leaders Are Made
Notable Achievements
Freed-Hardeman University has achieved significant recognition in athletics. The university notably won the NAIA National Championship after 21 trips to the tournament. The commitment to athletic excellence is further demonstrated by the presence of facilities such as the Crews Colbert Activity Center.
Campus Life and Social Clubs
Freed-Hardeman provides a unique campus environment. The university does not have traditional fraternities and sororities. Instead, FHU fosters community through co-educational social clubs. These clubs are exclusive to Freed-Hardeman and are not affiliated with any national Greek system.
Beyond Henderson: Expanding Horizons
While rooted in Henderson, Freed-Hardeman University extends its reach beyond its main campus. The university offers courses in Memphis, Tennessee, providing educational opportunities to a wider audience. Furthermore, FHU has established European study abroad programs based in Verviers, Belgium, offering students international experiences.
A Commitment to Inclusivity
Freed-Hardeman University's history reflects a journey toward inclusivity. While the college initially did not accept African-American students until 1964, it has since taken steps to promote diversity and inclusion. This commitment is exemplified by recognizing its first black graduate.
Read also: University of Georgia Sorority Guide
Read also: History of the Block 'M'
tags: #freed #hardeman #university #basketball #history
