Parents Coming Home: Families of Cru Football Players Celebrate Them

Last Updated: October 15, 2026By Editor1

By Jack Freedman, Staff Writer

Junior linebacker Jake Shepherd embraces mother Lisa Shepherd following the homecoming game.

Another year brings another homecoming game, and 2026 provided the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor a victory of 33-10 against Howard Payne University. As UMHB students and staff celebrate their football players, no one could be happier than their parents, who helped their athletes along their journeys.

“I’m super proud,” Lisa Shepherd, mother of junior linebacker Jake Shepherd, said. “My son has worked really hard to earn this. His dad and I have really supported him. He’s hoping to become a strength training coach.”

Even though college athletes are away from their families, they are still grateful for the support they have received over the years.

“I think it’s a whole family effort from start to finish,” Kelly Walker, mother of junior quarterback Ryland Walker, said. “These guys start playing as young as eight. My husband’s a coach and we’ve always been there to pick them up when they need it.”

Junior quarterback Ryland Walker and mother Kelly Walker celebrate after Cru victory.

Some students knew from a young age that they would play sports later in life. Their parents had the task of helping them stay motivated, and nowhere is that more obvious than when they help their team win.

“[Brett’s] dad is coach at UMHB,” Sandy Harmon, mother of sophomore center Brett Harmon and husband of football coach Larry Harmon, said. “As soon as my boys could ball boy for him, they wanted to play football.”

While not all Cru parents are able to make it to every game, they try their hardest to show their support.

“We try to come whenever we can, and we’ve been impressed with the learning environment at UMHB,” Walker said.

Even though these players have become more independent, many still look to their parents for guidance, especially freshmen.

“I’ve been to every game since my son was in Little League,” Joe Silas, father of freshman quarterback Jaquaylon Silas, said. “It’s pretty much him, I just give him the professional help that he needs. He showed me what he wanted and I did what I needed to do. But from a dad’s part, he gets something from me every day.”