BOLIVAR, Mo. - For Southwest Baptist University's Joel Crisler, it was an extra special Homecoming.

Crisler (6-3, 245, RsFr.) is a linebacker from Liberty (Mo.) High School. And last Saturday, a packed crowd at SBU’s Plaster Stadium was visibly moved, as they watched Crisler’s father, Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) R. Patrick Crisler, administer the oath of office to his son.

Joel Crisler accepted a 3-year scholarship for the Army ROTC. When he learned that his father, LTC Crisler (who is stationed in England) happened to be travelling to the United States, the younger Crisler began to envision standing at midfield, being sworn in by his father, in front of his team, coaches, classmates, and SBU Alumni.

Six minutes before the game, the fans stood at attention for the opening prayer and the singing of the Star Spangled Banner, as they usually do. They watched two individuals march to the 50-yard line, and approach a microphone stand. As Joel Crisler stood in his SBU Football uniform with his right hand raised, he faced his father, who was wearing his Army class A military uniform. In a moving, but ‘all business’ exchange, which only took about a minute, LTC Crisler administered the oath to his son. After the oath, the two hugged, and stepped off the field together. A capacity crowd had just witnessed an amazing ceremony.

“For me, I would put this right up there with life’s most memorable events,” said SBU’s Director of Athletics, Brent Good. “I just happened to have lunch with Joel in our cafeteria a couple of days before that. We got to know each other, discovered our backgrounds, and exchanged stories about what it was like to grow up in a military family.”

“And because I grew up in the military, I have great respect for what took place on our field,” continued Good. “This involved a young man on our football team, and his father, who have chosen to defend our country. I’ve never heard the words of that oath, and I suspect that the people in attendance hadn’t heard it either. It was special, to say the least. That’s why people give their life for our country – because they have taken that very oath we heard at that moment.”