No matter the circumstances, Shipman finds joy in football, family

At nearly any given moment during a Holy Cross football game, practice or lift, you can catch senior wide receiver Byron Shipman with a huge grin on his face. A charismatic, positive, outgoing presence, he’s devoted to what he values most: Family, football, and simply having fun. 

“I’m just having fun,” he said. “I have fun every single day. I'm always the one dancing on the sidelines, and having a fun time, whether I'm in or out of the game. There’s just that feeling when I'm out there on the field that I can be whoever I want.”

The Shipman family is one that loves to laugh, dance, exchange corny jokes via text, and live life to the fullest. Shipman’s family — his mother Denise, father Rodney, twin brother Bryson, stepbrother Brandon and countless other relatives — provides a support network that lifts Byron through any form of adversity. And as a result, even through injuries, ups and downs, wins or losses — you can always count on Shipman to care about his teammates and everyone else around him, and to unconditionally lift people’s spirits. 

“Football is just a roller coaster of emotions,” said Holy Cross receivers coach Rich Gunnell. “And the best thing about Byron, and our team in general, is people staying positive. A reason for why we're successful is because of guys like him — guys that always keep everybody up and not bring anybody down.”

Shipman’s joie de vivre has been a consistent staple throughout his life. Even at age 4, when he began playing youth soccer, he embraced the fun of sports right away.  

“He always just had this playful spirit about him,” Denise said. “Some kids are serious and very competitive. But him, at age 4 and 5, he was enjoying it — just running around, being free.”

Byron was born into a family that emphasized the value of sports — “sports have been part of my family for generations,” he said. 

His mother is in the Athletics Hall of Fame at Campbell University after a stellar basketball career; at the time of her induction, she ranked sixth on Campbell's all-time rebounding list (837), seventh in steals (178) and ninth in scoring (1,243). She was a three-time All-Conference honoree and received All-America honors in 1988-89.

Byron’s great-grandfather is also a Hall of Famer at North Carolina A&T University for track and field; he later played professional baseball with a number of teams, including the Indianapolis Clowns in the Negro American League and with the Mexico City Reds of the Mexican League. That set the standard for joy, opportunity and community. 

“My grandfather was that instrument for us,” Denise said. “Because he knew that being a student-athlete was a way for us to get a good education, he pushed all of us to participate in team sports. Because that's the way he grew up, and it led to so many great things for him in his life.”

Bryon’s twin Bryson also plays rugby at East Carolina. Both participated in as many sports as they could from a young age — soccer, swimming, basketball, baseball, football — and gained a great support network, and team-oriented mindset, from doing so. 

“We’ve always been around people, around sports, and around a community,” Denise said. 

For the Shipmans, the value of community and family was built and passed down beyond athletics. Following her basketball career, Denise was commissioned as a United States Army officer; she served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1990 to 1993 and was stationed in Saudi Arabia with the 43rd Air Defense Battalion during the Gulf War. 

“In the military, they teach you that you have to be able to live with your decisions, and understand that you’re not just looking out for yourself — your decisions will affect your whole platoon,” Denise said. “That impacted me as a leader. I wouldn't say I was strict on my kids, but I wanted them to understand the world will not care for you as much as your family does. 

“I'm very family-oriented, with everything that I do. We come from a very large family. The Army has a very big village…so we have a very large family. And we surround our young adults and our children with a lot of love.”

Denise radiates positivity. At games, she is one of the most enthusiastic parents in the stands — cheering loudly not just for Byron, but every single player. 

“My mother is probably the most positive person I've ever met,” Byron said. “Whenever I see her, she's always talking to somebody new. We’ll go to the grocery store, and she's talking to everyone — she's probably meeting 10 new people every day. 

“Having that, and having my family around me at all times — I felt like I've always had just a positive outlook on life.” 

Before Byron steps on the football field — whether it’s a practice or a game — he pauses and kneels down to silently pray. He primarily prays for his grandmother, Ovedia, who passed away in January 2022 after a battle with cancer. 

“Every day when I go out there, I take that knee,” he said, “and I'm thinking about her, and I'm thinking about all the strength that she had going through chemo. I try to put that on my back and try to take the strength that she had and use that out on the field.”

Though the loss presented heartbreak — and still weighs heavily on his heart — Byron still feels her support, and wants to make his grandmother proud. 

“I miss her and I love her — but I know she's supporting me, I know she's looking down on me, and I try to use that every day.”

“Before she passed away, she told the boys that she wanted them to live their life to the fullest and to make good choices — and that she is very proud of them,” Denise said. “That was really important for him, and he holds that in his heart.” 

As a freshman, Byron made an impact immediately, starting two of Holy Cross’ four games during a COVID-shortened Spring 2021 season and catching a touchdown in the Crusaders’ Patriot League Championship Game victory over Bucknell. 

Throughout his career, Byron has been hampered by hamstring injuries, and during Holy Cross’ contest against Buffalo in 2022, he injured his PCL and MCL, sidelining him for seven weeks.  

“Injuries happen as part of the game,” he said, “So I think it's really just how you learn from it. And I just try to play my heart out every time I get on that field.”

As a senior — he’s moved back into a starting role, catching two touchdowns in Holy Cross’ most recent contest against Harvard. He’s become a veteran leader for Holy Cross’ offense, and at 6-foot-3, his height proves to be an advantage for the Crusaders. 

“You’ve got a guy that knows football pretty well, and understands the offense and what we're trying to do,” Gunnell said. “That helps and brings value because you can put him in different spots, and he'll be fine because he knows what's going on. He has the ability as a bigger guy to catch the ball in the middle of the field or high in the red zone, as you saw this past week, and jump ball situations.” 

While he was at St. Peter’s Prep as a high schooler, Byron was a talented basketball player — just like his mother — but chose to focus on football as his future aspiration. And as he was recruited to Holy Cross, it reminded him of family — what he loved most. 

“It was a great atmosphere — it's very family-oriented,” Byron said. “And I feel like that's one of the reasons I came here. You know, just kind of, it's a very personable school. And I feel like everybody cares about how you are and how you feel, which is a big thing for me.”

At Holy Cross, Byron is part of a stellar receivers room — senior Jalen Coker, who set the program’s all-time record for touchdown receptions this past weekend, receives much of the spotlight, but the entire position group is experienced and talented. The group has an unmatched chemistry that has led to Holy Cross becoming one of the top offenses in all of FCS.

“They're like my brothers to me,” Byron said. “I love them to death, and I'll do anything for them. That’s what helps us day in and day out — we're making plays left and right, and we're supporting each other. Nobody has that selfish attitude, and that’s what makes us one of the best receiver rooms in the country. 

“When Jalen goes up and makes a play, we're all his number one fans. Nobody's looking down, like, I should have made that play. We love each other, and we'll do anything for each other.”

That love and compassion extends beyond just the players on the team — Byron always makes time after practices to toss a football around and run around with Gunnell’s two young children.

“My kids love him, and he makes them laugh — he takes time out of his day to hang out with them,” Gunnell said. “He's a joy to be around.”

As Byron’s senior campaign continues, he knows he’s been battle-tested, but that’s led to impressive growth. 

“I think I've definitely grown 100 percent — not just from a physical aspect, but also from a mental aspect,” he said. “Especially dealing with a lot of injuries my whole career. But keeping that positive outlook on everything, that’s helped me to get to where I'm at today. 

“I've been putting in the work each and every day, and I just stick to what I know I can do. And I know the talents that I do have and that I know that God has given me. So going out there, and putting in the work each and every day and just taking advantage of the opportunities that I do get, is one of the main things that's gotten me to where I am.”

No matter the circumstances, even in the face of adversity, Byron looks out for everyone around him. 

“His favorite words are: ‘I got you,’” Denise said. “He tries not to worry, and just pushes through things and knows that things are going to work out.”

“He's had to push through some adversity, but we always told him: just keep working hard, and things are going to work out. And when it’s your time — when it does happen, make sure that you’re ready.” 

And he’s doing it with that smile on his face every step of the way.

“I am proud of Byron because he loves his life,” Denise said. “He's there in the present, and enjoying his life right now, just like his grandmother told him. He's doing what we asked him to do, and enjoying every moment of his life.”

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