When it comes to Vanderbilt, I'm "all in"

I attended an event the other night at Vanderbilt (in the Board of Trust room, I might add) that turned out to be a focus group of young alumni sponsored by Development and Alumni Relations. First, it's very nice to be considered "young" because pushing 31, I don't always feel that way. Second, for a school that seems to lack a visible student interest in athletics (with basketball being the exception), it was interesting to hear how many times athletics entered the conversation--one that was about the Vanderbilt brand, specific memories we each had from our time in school, our affinity for Vanderbilt, etc.

Of the 15 alums present, there were two guys who each write comprehensive Vanderbilt sports blogs (ones that make this little blog seem laughable), myself, and several others who specifically mentioned that the combination of an academically rigorous institution and SEC athletics played a big role in their decision. When I mentioned one of my favorite VU moments being the Auburn football game of 08 and the fact that the student section was FULL before the game started, many agreed and several reflected on memories of that same game. When asked what our single most powerful Vanderbilt memory was, the guy next to me said the VU/Georgetown Sweet 16 game in East Rutherford in 07. Oddly enough, that would have been on my top 3 list, and it turns out that 4 of the 15 Nashville young alums (including me) traveled to New Jersey for the game.

It was a fun event, as having someone ask me to share what I love (and don't love) about Vanderbilt and why the place is special to me is never an opportunity I'll turn down! I hope the DAR folks came away with some good information about what recent (and not too recent, in my case) alums think of their school, but more importantly, I came away realizing that the interest in athletics IS there amongst students and young alums, I think much more so than when I was an undergrad. Now, if the folks in Kirkland would only ask for me for my opinion of what Vanderbilt can do to better promote that interest and get the students to the games!

A friend who graduated from another SEC school recently sent me a text about football recruiting that read, "If I knew I was going to play, I would have to say playing at X (SEC school) would be 10000X more exciting (than Vanderbilt), but if I was just going to be a scrub then it would be good to have a Vandy degree." Obviously, this didn't sit well with me, and it really got me thinking about what was discussed at the alumni event. This friend is right that our football gameday experience isn't great, and it can't be fun for the players to see the stands half full (if not more) of opposing fans. However, to the recruit who WILL play in the SEC, the scrub, or just the student considering VU, here is what I would say:

We're a top 20 university that accepted 15% of its freshman applicants for the Fall 2011 class, we have a wonderful financial aid program that allows students to earn a $200K+ education debt-free, we have a beautiful campus (several called it idyllic--I wouldn't argue) in the middle of a great city (and the largest SEC city by far), we have strong graduate programs on that campus, AND we currently have a top 5 baseball program, there's reason to finally have some hope for football, and we have a preaseason top 10 basketball program. What more do you need?

And I know Vanderbilt isn't perfect, and there things I didn't like as a student that bother me even more now. However, for once in my life as a Vanderbilt fan, I'm focusing only on the positive!

(I promise Vanderbilt didn't ask me to write this--I doubt they care--but I would accept another invitation to the Board of Trust room in return for the free publicity.)

Recruits, celebrities, and tombstones...

I'm embarrassed to admit that it has been a month since my last post, as I know you all have been waiting with baited breath. I've been busy, there hasn't been too much going on with VU athletics, and I still have no pictures to include in the blog.

But, I will share some thoughts from the past month:

1) Football recruiting--James Franklin, where in the world did we find you?! While I'm a huge pigskin fan, I don't religiously follow recruiting like some friends. However, after a fairly slow start--having just one commitment for quite a while--we have signed five more this week!! And these are talented kids with multiple big-time program offers! Franklin tweeted recently about trying to get people to drink the VU kool-aid that he was selling. Give me a big glass please...

2) Earl Bennett's son--some of you may know that Earl is married and has a 13 month old son. He shared a picture of his son on Twitter the other day. I would post it here, but I'm unsure if I'm allowed to share a picture from someone's Twitter account. Part of my uncertainty is with the copyright issues (clearly, I have never taken a law course), but I'm also a little concerned that I may look like a huge stalker. You know, the kind of person who follows former Vanderbilt players on Twitter. Oh wait, that IS me. Haha. Back to the point--his son was wearing a Vanderbilt outfit and is ADORABLE. If Jay and Kristin hurry up and have a child soon, it could be Cutler to Bennett circa 2005 all over again.

3) Speaking of celebrity children, does anyone other than me remember being a Cubs fan as a kid because their games were all carried on WGN? If so, you'll remember Shawon Dunston who was a shortstop for Chicago for seven seasons. I guess I was a grammar dork even as a teenager, because it used to always bother me that his name was spelled Sha-won but pronounced Shawn. Anyway, his son, Shawon Jr, recently committed to Vanderbilt for baseball! I'll forgive his dad for the pronunciation of his name now that his son will be wearing black and gold (if he doesn't choose the pro route first). We'll soon have two former major-leaguers in the stands watching their sons/grandsons.

4) Vanderbilt baseball, what is going on? I have my regional and super regional tickets ordered, I have those dates cleared on my calendar, and I want to see baseball in person the first two weekends in June! I think we'll still be a national seed unless we lose the UGA series and lose early at Hoover, and hopefully neither of those things will happen. I just don't want this year's post-season experience to go the same way of the last regional I watched in person!

5) And... on a non-ahletic note, I was recently invited to attend a focus group for Vanderbilt alumni. The e-mail stated I received the invitation because I am an engaged and committed alum. Finally, someone has noticed, and I think I have found the words for my tombstone. Instead of loving mother and wife (in the future, hopefully), caring daughter, believer in God, etc, I may go with "engaged and committed Vanderbilt alum." (I'm only half joking.)