Commodore Nation, March 2011 by Vanderbilt Commodores

March 2011

ANINARM THE STORM

table of contents

2 Compliance Corner Celebrating accomplishment 4 National Commodore Club Meet Coach Franklin in Atlanta 7 More from McGugin By the numbers 8 My Game Junior bowler Samantha Hesley 0 Weather by Will 1 Clinard aims to be meteorologist 13 My Turn: Rod Williamson Getting others on board

5 Lacrosse in Nashville 1 Team boasts three local players 6 FB Staff Announcements 1 Franklin names defensive hires

17 Super Bowl Brother

Jordan Rodgers talks family, future

9 Former Dores Giving Back 1 Snedeker, Price lend helping hands 1 David Williams Q&A 2 Vice Chancellor begins monthly piece 23 March Calendar This month’s athletic schedule

To submit a letter to Commodore Nation, you can e-mail: commodorenation@vanderbilt.edu or write to Commodore Nation, 2601 Jess Neely Drive, Nashville, TN 37212. Letters should include the writer’s name and address and may be edited for clarity and space.

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24 Last Shot Football’s signing day celebration

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C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

table of contents

5 Lacrosse in Nashville 1 Team boasts three local players 6 FB Staff Announcements 1 Franklin names defensive hires

17 Super Bowl Brother

Jordan Rodgers talks family, future

9 Former Dores Giving Back 1 Snedeker, Price lend helping hands 1 David Williams Q&A 2 Vice Chancellor begins monthly piece 23 March Calendar This month’s athletic schedule

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24 Last Shot Football’s signing day celebration

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C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

COMPLIANCE

COR NER Q: A:

Fast Break has just won SEC Player of the Week for Vanderbilt, and a representative of athletics interest would like to buy him a commemorative ring to support his honor. Is this permissible? No. According to NCAA Bylaw 16.11.2.1, this is an extra benefit and is considered to be impermissible. The term “extra benefit” refers to any special arrangement by a representative of athletics interests (i.e., booster) to provide the student-athlete or his or her relatives or friends with a benefit not expressly authorized by NCAA legislation.

Editorial

Publisher: Vanderbilt University Editor-in-Chief: Chris Weinman

Director of Communications: Rod Williamson

Designers: Jeremy Teaford

Chris Weinman

Digital Image Specialist: Julie Luckett Turner VU Photography: Mary Donaldson

Daniel Dubois Steve Green Joe Howell

Compliance questions? Please contact: Candice Lee George Midgett Director of Compliance Compliance Coordinator 615/322-7992 615/322-2083 candice.lee@vanderbilt.edu george.d.midgett@vanderbilt.edu

Jenny Mandeville Anne Rayner John Russell Susan Urmy

Contributors: Laina Balafas

Andy Boggs Sterling Frierson

John Peach Andrew Turner Compliance Coordinator Recruiting/Compliance Coordinator 615/343-1060 615/322-4543 john.w.peach@vanderbilt.edu andrew.turner@vanderbilt.edu

Larry Leathers George Midgett Ryan Schulz Jennifer Stevens Donald Turnbaugh

Administrative

Chancellor: Nicholas S. Zeppos Vice Chancellor for University Affairs: David Williams II Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs: Beth Fortune

Vanderbilt University’s Mission, Goals and Values Vanderbilt University is a center for scholarly research, informed and creative teaching, and service to the community and society at large. Vanderbilt will uphold the highest standards and be a leader in the quest for new knowledge through scholarship, dissemination of knowledge through teaching and outreach, and creative experimentation of ideas and concepts. In pursuit of these goals, Vanderbilt values most highly intellectual freedom that supports open inquiry, and equality, compassion and excellence in all endeavors. Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action university. ON THE COVER: Will Clinard photo by Steve Green, VU Photography. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to National Commodore Club, 2601 Jess Neely Drive, Nashville, TN 37212. SUBSCRIPTION: To subscribe to Commodore Nation, please contact Chris Weinman by phone at 615/343-0019 or by e-mail at commodorenation@vanderbilt.edu ADVERTISEMENT: To advertise with Commodore Nation, please contact Vanderbilt ISP Sports. Jeff Miller, general manager 615/322-4468; jmiller@ispsports.com

Commodore Nation is printed using recycled paper.

MARCH 2011

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C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

COMPLIANCE

COR NER Q: A:

Editorial

Publisher: Vanderbilt University Editor-in-Chief: Chris Weinman

Director of Communications: Rod Williamson

Designers: Jeremy Teaford

Chris Weinman

Digital Image Specialist: Julie Luckett Turner VU Photography: Mary Donaldson

Daniel Dubois Steve Green Joe Howell

Compliance questions? Please contact: Candice Lee George Midgett Director of Compliance Compliance Coordinator 615/322-7992 615/322-2083 candice.lee@vanderbilt.edu george.d.midgett@vanderbilt.edu

Jenny Mandeville Anne Rayner John Russell Susan Urmy

Contributors: Laina Balafas

Andy Boggs Sterling Frierson

John Peach Andrew Turner Compliance Coordinator Recruiting/Compliance Coordinator 615/343-1060 615/322-4543 john.w.peach@vanderbilt.edu andrew.turner@vanderbilt.edu

Larry Leathers George Midgett Ryan Schulz Jennifer Stevens Donald Turnbaugh

Administrative

Chancellor: Nicholas S. Zeppos Vice Chancellor for University Affairs: David Williams II Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs: Beth Fortune

Commodore Nation is printed using recycled paper.

MARCH 2011

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C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

COMMODORES ON BOARD KICKOFF – FEB. 5, 2011

C O M M O D O R E C LU B

COR N E R

The National Commodore Club held a Commodores On Board kickoff event at the McGugin Center for a select group of alumni, parents and friends of Vanderbilt Athletics. For more information on the Commodores On Board program, visit the NCC website at vanderbilt.edu/ncc or call 615/322.4114.

PHONE: 615/322-4114 • ONLINE: vanderbilt.edu/ncc I am preparing to file my taxes for this year. Is my NCC contribution tax-deductible?

NCC 101

Your NCC membership entitles you to certain benefits, which include parking passes, the right to buy tickets, and Commodore Nation magazine. The value of these benefits will reduce the tax credit of your NCC gift, in accordance with federal tax regulations. If you wish to receive full tax credit for your gift, please indicate that you are declining NCC benefits (and please note that by declining, you will not receive parking passes, the right to buy tickets, or Commodore Nation).

’DORES ACROSS NASHVILLE - JAN. 17, 2011 Dr. Ann (’71) and Scott (’71) Price hosted a dinner for the Vanderbilt women’s tennis team through the ’Dores Across Nashville program sponsored by Vanderbilt Alumni Relations. Dr. Price is a women’s tennis alumna and was inducted into the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame last fall.

NCC members Kailey (’03) and J.R. Hand (’03).

NCC members Alan (’84) and Ann (’87) McKinney with new Jr. NCC member, Alison.

REBOUNDERS REUNION – FEB. 5, 2011

WELCOME NEW NCC MEMBERS Below are the names of NCC members who joined in December. We welcome you and look forward to seeing you at Commodore games and events this year.

Kenneth Barrett – Nashville Susan and Harold Caldwell – Coronado, Calif. Joseph Deering – Collierville Kenneth Dyer – Chattanooga Heath Edwards – Atlanta, Ga. Richard Eiseman – Germantown Timothy Fisk – Madison, Ala. Michael Han – Nashville Kate and Jacob King – Seattle, Wash. Clark Nicholson – Clarksville Harriet and James Porter – Atlanta, Ga. Jeremy Procter – Clarksville Jane and Van Sayler – St. Petersburg, Fla. Jan Read and Greg Dye – Nashville Michael Smith – Murfreesboro Robert Sullins – Brentwood

Above: Dr. Ann (seated, middle) and Scott (standing, left) Price hosted a dinner for the women’s tennis team in January. Alumni attendees included Mary Catherine Bradshaw (’78) and Amanda Taylor (’08), as well as current assistant coach Aleke Tsoubanos (’04). Men’s basketball alumni and NCC members Bob Dudley Smith (’52) and Gene Southwood (’52).

COACH FRANKLIN MEETS ATLANTA - MARCH 10 Join Atlanta alumni, family and Commodore fans for a very special event during the SEC men’s tournament with our new Head Football Coach James Franklin. Be one of the first to meet Coach Franklin outside of Nashville and learn what is in store for the coming Commodore football season.

The Jr. NCC is for Commodore fans 13 and younger and is a great way to introduce your favorite young person to Vanderbilt Athletics. Below are names of our Jr. NCC members as of Feb. 15. Jack Hunter – Atlanta, Ga.

Isabella Baltz – Brentwood

Brandon Jackson – Franklin

Victoria Baltz – Brentwood

Sydney Jackson – Franklin

Bruce Carter – Fayetteville

Alison McKinney – Brentwood

Nash Carter – Nashville

Allan Passmore – Rogers, Ark.

Georgia World Congress Center

Beau Elkington – Germantown

Daniel Ralph Tompkins IV –

Rooms C202 and C203 285 Andrew Young International Boulevard NW Atlanta, GA 30313

Audrey Gray – St. Louis, Mo.

Maximilian Gray – St. Louis, Mo.

Jackson Vingelen – Nashville

Archer Heeren – Nashville

Luke Vingelen – Nashville

Simon Heeren – Nashville

Katie Walker – Nashville

$20 per person (includes heavy hors d’oeuvres; cash bar available)

MARCH 2011

WELCOME JR. NCC MEMBERS

Reese Noelle Anderson – Jupiter, Fla.

Thursday, March 10 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Men’s basketball alumni Mike Rhodes (’81) and NCC member Robert “Snake” Grace (’65).

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John’s Creek, Ga.

Hadley Horner – Macon, Ga.

C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

COMMODORES ON BOARD KICKOFF – FEB. 5, 2011

C O M M O D O R E C LU B

COR N E R

PHONE: 615/322-4114 • ONLINE: vanderbilt.edu/ncc I am preparing to file my taxes for this year. Is my NCC contribution tax-deductible?

NCC 101

NCC members Kailey (’03) and J.R. Hand (’03).

NCC members Alan (’84) and Ann (’87) McKinney with new Jr. NCC member, Alison.

REBOUNDERS REUNION – FEB. 5, 2011

WELCOME NEW NCC MEMBERS Below are the names of NCC members who joined in December. We welcome you and look forward to seeing you at Commodore games and events this year.

Isabella Baltz – Brentwood

Brandon Jackson – Franklin

Victoria Baltz – Brentwood

Sydney Jackson – Franklin

Bruce Carter – Fayetteville

Alison McKinney – Brentwood

Nash Carter – Nashville

Allan Passmore – Rogers, Ark.

Georgia World Congress Center

Beau Elkington – Germantown

Daniel Ralph Tompkins IV –

Rooms C202 and C203 285 Andrew Young International Boulevard NW Atlanta, GA 30313

Audrey Gray – St. Louis, Mo.

Maximilian Gray – St. Louis, Mo.

Jackson Vingelen – Nashville

Archer Heeren – Nashville

Luke Vingelen – Nashville

Simon Heeren – Nashville

Katie Walker – Nashville

$20 per person (includes heavy hors d’oeuvres; cash bar available)

MARCH 2011

WELCOME JR. NCC MEMBERS

Reese Noelle Anderson – Jupiter, Fla.

Thursday, March 10 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Men’s basketball alumni Mike Rhodes (’81) and NCC member Robert “Snake” Grace (’65).

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John’s Creek, Ga.

Hadley Horner – Macon, Ga.

C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

By The

NUMBERS

Alumni Assoc. honors Academic All-Americans

JOHN RUSSELL

Southeastern Conference teams in the top seven of Baseball America’s 2011 preseason poll, including No. 4 Vanderbilt.

Academic All-American is perhaps the highest honor a Vanderbilt student-athlete can achieve. Six Vanderbilt men’s basketball student-athletes have been so recognized—Terry Compton (Eng ’74), Jeff Fosnes (A&S ’76, Med ’80), Tom Shultz (A&S ’79), Steve Grant (Eng ’91), Bruce Elder (A&S ’92, Owen ’93) and Frank Seckar (Eng ’96). The Vanderbilt Alumni Association hosted a pre-game brunch on Feb. 5 to honor those men, who are pictured above (left to right) in a halftime ceremony during the South Carolina game.

UM Sports Hall of Fame to induct Duvenhage

signees in Coach James Franklin’s first recruiting class— including Scout.com four-stars QB Lafonte Thourogood and TE/DE Dillon van der Wal.

goals scored on Feb. 12 by the lacrosse team—the most in a season opener and second-most all-time (23 at Binghamton, 2010) UM Archives

Head Men’s Tennis Coach Ian Duvenhage will be honored at the 43rd Annual University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame Banquet on Thursday, March 24, at Miami’s Jungle Island. Duvenhage coached the UM women’s tennis team to seven NCAA appearances, 1982-88, boasting a dual-match record of 131-44. He was named the Wilson Intercollegiate Coach of the Year in 1986. During his time with the Hurricanes, Duvenhage coached three UM Hall of Famers—Lise Gregory, Ros Riach, Ronnie Reis—and 18 All-Americans. His 1985 squad reached the NCAA Finals and won a school-record 29 dual matches. That fall he coached Reis and Gregory to the 1985 ITA National Indoor Doubles Championship. The pair would go on to win the school’s first NCAA doubles championship in 1986.

Coach Duvenhage’s VU men’s tennis team upset two Top 25 teams in February.

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total strokes under par for Brandt Snedeker in consecutive Top 10 finishes at the Farmers Insurance Open and the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Bossung named TN Athletic Trainer of the Year Tom Bossung, M.Ed., ATC, LAT, head athletic trainer of Vanderbilt University, received the Eugene Smith/Mickey O’Brien College Athletic Trainer of the Year Award at the recent Tennessee Athletic Trainers’ Society Annual Meeting. The College Athletic Trainer of the Year Award is named for former head athletic trainers Eugene Smith of then Memphis State University and Mickey O’Brien who served at the University of Tennessee– Knoxville. These people were some of the most talented athletic trainers in sports and helped set the model that others have followed in providing care at the collegiate level. This award honors those whose work epitomizes that legacy. Bossung has been in the field for 21 years and is a Vanderbilt graduate.

days of spring football practice allowed by NCAA rule, culminating in the annual spring game scheduled for the evening of April 17.

student-athletes named to the Southeastern Conference’s 2010 Fall Academic Honor Roll from football and women’s soccer.

139

GERLACH/TATS

JR. National Commodore Club

More from McGugin

active members in the V Society—which consists of former student-athletes who have given to the NCC this fiscal year.

C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

My Game A junior bowler from Wellington, Fla., Samantha Hesley transfered to Vanderbilt last summer and has quickly become a key cog in the Commodores’ rotation—bowling the fifth and 10th frames as the team’s “anchor” during Baker games. Hesley discussed her game—from preparation and perspiration to her aspirations of litigation—with Commodore Nation.

Samantha

Hesley

On the camaraderie among the team: “When I go to dinner every day at 5:30 with my teammates, and we spend all weekend together, there’s very rarely a point where I get tired of one of them. I can spend a ridiculous amount of time with one of them. It’s like a family. Even when there’s a problem or an issue, when I want to tell one of my close friends on the team how I feel, she’ll listen to me, and then she’ll tell me how she feels.” On encouragement in the heat of competition: “There’s a feeling of trust when you hear your teammates are being supportive. I hear them before I step on the lane, but on the approach, it’s gone. My teammates usually say to me, ‘C’mon, Sam!’ That’s pretty much all I like to hear. Mentally, if I just hear, ‘C’mon, Sam,’ then I’m not really refocusing on something they’re saying. ‘C’mon, Sam,’ allows me to register my own thought process instead of focusing on what they were maybe thinking.” On having 12 bowling balls: “We have a bowling ball that we strictly use for spares. Then we have bowling balls for heavier volume oil, lighter volume oil, different length of patterns. There are so many variations. Sometimes its really hard to make a decision on what you want to bring to a tournament. You have to take a pretty broad variety arsenal. You take your spare ball, then you take a ball that’s for heavy oil, a ball that’s for light oil. Usually we take five bowling balls, then you can maybe take one that’s above to heavy volume and one that’s below the light volume.”

On her preparation for a second shot: “To be quite honest with you, it should be the same. But there are times when it ends up not being because I’m not refocused. That’s something I’m working on.” On approaching a split: “When I leave a split, I refocus on picking up the pins that I can get on the lane. Once I come back, I analyze what went wrong and try to figure out what I can do differently next time.”

Samantha’s first bowling ball: 10-lb. “Too Hot” by Storm

Samantha’s favorite split: The 6-7-10.

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On looking forward to a career in law: “I like being in school and I really want to be successful. I’m more interested in a profession that is intellectually stimulating, rather than than customer service. I worked in a bowling alley for seven years. I’m not very strong in the customer service department, whether it’s giving someone a lane or changing to a different size of shoe.” n Editor’s note: Looking to catch up with the Commodore bowlers? The team’s lone home meet of the 2010-11 season, the Columbia 300 Music City Classic, is scheduled for March 18-20 at the Smyrna Bowling Center, 20 miles southeast of Nashville down I-24.

MARCH 2011

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3 1 STEVE GREEN

On her pre-shot routine: “I have a very regimented pre-shot routine. It’s very imperative to my shot making, in my opinion. When I get up on the approach, I pick the ball up and put it in my left hand and cradle the ball. Then I have a rosin bag that dries my hand off, and I move it around in my right hand, and then I use the hand dryer. Then I put my foot up on the approach, and I line up. I put my hand in the bowling ball, and I start.”

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C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

Samantha

Hesley

Samantha’s first bowling ball: 10-lb. “Too Hot” by Storm

Samantha’s favorite split: The 6-7-10.

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MARCH 2011

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10 6

3 1 STEVE GREEN

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C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

By Donald Turnbaugh

Will Clinard boasted a 2.68 ERA in 43.2 innings pitched last season.

“That comes from my wild side,” Will said. “Growing up, whenever a storm approached I would sit outside in it until my parents had to drag me in. I like reading maps and all, but there is nothing like being outside in the midst of it, experiencing the elements. It’s a mixture of wanting to see the weather patterns and feeling the rush of the storm.” Even though Will has such a passion for meteorology and the weather, baseball is still his main focus. The redshirt sophomore is coming off a successful freshman cam-

paign where he went 4-0 with a 2.68 ERA in 21 appearances. He dreams of playing in the big leagues someday, and, like everything else in his life, he has a focus and determination about it unlike anyone else. “I think it is rare to find someone who knows what they want to do at such a young age,” Feyes said. “A lot of people in Will’s situation would have given up and not pursued their dreams, but Will never wants to settle. He puts his mind to something and will do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.” n

STEVE GREEN

Junior right-hander studies meteorology

JOHN RUSSELL

Will Knows Weather

for the department of earth and environmental sciences, and the two soon realized they had similar interests. Miller agreed to become Will’s academic adviser, and the duo submitted the proposal to the committee of programs. The committee decided it was a legitimate major and approved the request. Clinard will graduate with an interdisciplinary degree in environmental studies. “I think Vanderbilt is great at working with students and doing what is in their best interest,” Feyes said. “They want to help those students and make sure they get a degree that is useful to them. If you come to an institution such as Vanderbilt, you need to make sure you have the opportunity to study something of interest to you. I’m glad Will was able to get it approved and study something that he has such a passion for.” Having your own major does not make classes any easier; it actually may take more time to get through. While the average student may take 30 hours of classes in their respective fields, Will has to take 48 hours of specialized classes. He has been able to find enough classes to fit his needs, with subjects such as “Earth and Atmosphere” or “Global Climate Change” sparking his interest. While the common man might immediately think that a person with a meteorology degree would become a weatherman, Will says he wants to stay behind the cameras looking at maps and computers. He breaks down the storm and wants to be able to help people who are in danger of natural disasters. His biggest dream of all, though: storm chasing.

An interest in meteorology prompted junior Will Clinard to sculpt his own interdisciplinary major.

hen a winter storm heads into Tennessee, residents generally stay indoors, grab some cocoa and wait for the weather to pass through. Schools tend to cancel classes, sports teams pack it in and children sit by the fire watching cartoons. Will Clinard does none of these things, and he never has. From a young age, the Vanderbilt pitcher has embraced storms and studied their patterns, hoping to learn more about Mother Nature. Will grew up on a tobacco farm in Cross Plains, Tenn., a rural community north of Nashville. His father, Kevin, would keep an eye on the weather coming in from the west to see how it could affect the crop. Wanting to help out, Will took after his father and started to pay attention, as well. Soon, it became an obsession. “As a 4-year-old, my classmates would go home and watch Barney,” Clinard said. “I would get home from school and watch the Weather Channel in hopes to help out my dad. Our crops were so greatly affected by the weather that I wanted to do whatever I could to contribute.” Since then, Will has taken it a step further and made it his own passion, realiz-

MARCH 2011

ing it is something he wants to be a part of for the rest of his life. While most kids are unsure of what they want to do in the next few moments, Will is someone who knew exactly what he wanted to do and went after it, breaking down roadblocks on his journey. The Clinard family has been lifelong fans of Vanderbilt athletics, and it was a childhood dream for Will to don the black and gold as a Commodore. Baseball was his favorite sport growing up, and he started to harness his skills early on. Clinard blossomed in high school and had a sensational career, becoming the fourth-ranked baseball prospect in the state and getting drafted in the 37th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. After being named to numerous allstar teams, Will decided it would be best to attend Vanderbilt to play baseball and earn a college degree. When Will got to campus, he was set on majoring in meteorology or something closely related. Vanderbilt does not offer that specific major, but Will worked with his academic counselors in hopes of finding another major that would interest him. He tried classes ranging from economics to philosophy, but nothing was able to take his mind off the weather and meteorology.

“We looked at everything in the student handbook,” said Katie Feyes, Will’s athletic department academic adviser. “But every semester we would sign up for classes and by the end of the semester it never clicked. We knew there needed to be a change, so after two years we realized it was time to create a major.” That is exactly what they did. Will did not want to settle, so he did everything in his power to get the ball rolling on creating his own major that was tailored to meteorology and the weather. Will and Feyes found out what steps had to be taken, and they went after it without hesitation. The first thing Will had to do was meet with one of the deans to make sure doing this would be in his best interest. Once he got the approval from the dean, he had to write an essay of sorts, describing the major and what he would be taking away from it. Katie was able to help him throughout the process, and they started to create a list of classes he would need to take to fulfill his requirements. After coming up with a curriculum, Will had to find an on-campus academic advissdfsadfafdsfsafsafasdfasfdadsr who worked in his field of study and could help him with his classes. He met Molly Miller, who worked

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C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

By Donald Turnbaugh

Will Clinard boasted a 2.68 ERA in 43.2 innings pitched last season.

STEVE GREEN

Junior right-hander studies meteorology

JOHN RUSSELL

Will Knows Weather

An interest in meteorology prompted junior Will Clinard to sculpt his own interdisciplinary major.

MARCH 2011

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C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

It’s My Turn By Rod Williamson

Getting Others On Board

t was August 1983. The Commodore gridders were coming off a Hall of Fame Bowl appearance, and Athletic Director Roy Kramer had the city buzzing with excitement. Vanderbilt was “Nashville’s Team.” A few years earlier, Kramer had lured the dynamic George Bennett from Clemson to breathe new life into the National Commodore Club, and by 1983 the NCC was receiving $2 million in annual gifts and trades from approximately 2,000 members. That income came close to meeting our annual scholarship need and was typical of giving among our peer schools. Flash forward to June 2010. The NCC reported giving of $2.7 million from 2,810 members. Our annual scholarship obligation for 325 student-athletes has risen to just north of $12 million. A study of peer institutions such as Duke and Wake Forest reveals they have thousands more annual donors, and their athletic scholarship endowments are significantly higher. Stanford has endowed all of its athletic scholarships! In the 27-plus years since 1983, the cost of nearly all of our major line items such as recruiting and transportation, salaries, game expense and guarantees, and plant operations has skyrocketed. The cost to charter a plane is astounding. Right about here, some of you could be getting confused. If the National Commodore Club is raising money for athletic scholarships, what does that have to do with other expense line items? Every dollar we are not raising from alumni and friends to offset our scholarship obligation, be it annual or endowed support, is a dollar we must subtract from other important objectives. We are losing the impact that millions of dollars would have in making our Commodores better because our giving has not kept pace with either inflation or our competition. We are preaching to our good and faithful choir today, but understand there are those waving the Black and Gold flag who would like to get to Heaven without having to die. Too many say, “Let’s beat those Gators, but don’t ask me for a dime to help make it happen.” We’ve got to work on those folks, and here’s a good way. Our dedicated and creative Athletic Development staff has developed the Commodores on Board program. Most of you received a mailing introducing this simple but important program. (If you didn’t get this mailing, call the NCC at 615/322.4114.) We want you to find others like you. Identifying new members should be easy. Encourage that neighbor who hits you up for extra tickets or the foursome at the golf course. Get those in your social circle involved. Parents and grandparents can enroll their kids in the Junior National Commodore Club. We want to stimulate membership at comfortable levels of giving. There are a few who will never get beyond that urban legend about our school’s pot of gold, a.k.a. endowment, and believe we really don’t need this help. Wrong! The fallacy of that theory is that endowment money is earmarked upon giving and accordingly is only used toward its originally intended purpose. We know you enjoy the Commodores and understand what we represent to collegiate athletics. We appreciate that. It is not easy asking for help, and this writer believes many of our past pleas have lacked the necessary sense of urgency. Today our mission is clear. The goal before us is to be at 3,810 members on May 31. We are already making progress. This program is one of the best ways you can help the program you care so much about. It’s a great way to Be All In and On Board. n

MARCH 2011

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C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

It’s My Turn By Rod Williamson

Getting Others On Board

MARCH 2011

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C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

anderbilt was the first team from the central time zone to reach the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Final Four, making the national semifinal in 2004. The varsity lacrosse program was only 9 years old at the time, and the sport was just beginning to gain traction outside of the East Coast. Nashville is one of many communities that have embraced the sport of lacrosse in the past 10 years. And Vanderbilt’s success in bringing lacrosse to the South has been an inspiration for a number of regional programs. This season, three Vanderbilt lacrosse student-athletes are Nashville-area products—the most local flavor on the Commodore roster under 14-year Head Coach Cathy Swezey. All three players have taken different routes to get to West End. Sophomores Paige Cahill and Sarah Dolan both played prep lacrosse at Harpeth Hall. Cahill was first introduced to the sport while living in Connecticut, but had never played until moving to Nashville in the late 1990s. Dolan, a lifelong Nashvillian, was even less famil-

iar with the sport. Neither Cahill nor Dolan had much of an opportunity to play lacrosse in Nashville until they started attending Vanderbilt’s summer lacrosse camp. Girls teams were not beginning to form in the midstate until the pair reached middle school around 2002. Byner moved to Nashville from the Washington, D.C., area in 2008, and her family searched out a place where she could continue to play lacrosse. They found the Ensworth School, where former Commodores Meg Spies Freeman (’05) and Dana Messinger (’06) lead the varsity girls lacrosse team. Ensworth would advance to the state championship game in 2010. In addition to her duties at Ensworth, Messinger also coaches club lacrosse with TNLAX. The staff of that program, started in 2005 by former VU assistant Megan Riley Clark, currently includes another pair of former Commodores turned coaches: All-American Sasha Cielak (’08), head coach at Brentwood High School, and Jess Demorest (’08), head coach at Father Ryan High School. n

NEIL BRAKE

Commodores cultivate lacrosse in the South

Meg Spies Freeman, a 2005 VU grad, coaches varsity lacrosse at Nashville’s Ensworth School.

JOE HOWELL

Value is the new luxury.™ Fortunately we deliver both in

ACROSS FROM VANDY. SPECIAL RATES AVAILABLE.

loewshotels.com/vanderbilt 800.336.3335

MARCH 2011

Brandi Byner

Paige Cahill

Sarah Dolan

Freshman Defender Ensworth

Sophomore Defender Harpeth Hall

“There is a notion that southern states aren’t good at lacrosse, but there are a lot of teams that are from the South that are actually really good.”

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“When I moved here, there was nothing, now I see kids running around with sticks all the time.”

“It’s actually incredible because I didnt even know what the sport was when I was in seventh grade.”

C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

NEIL BRAKE

Commodores cultivate lacrosse in the South

Meg Spies Freeman, a 2005 VU grad, coaches varsity lacrosse at Nashville’s Ensworth School.

JOE HOWELL

Value is the new luxury.™ Fortunately we deliver both in

ACROSS FROM VANDY. SPECIAL RATES AVAILABLE.

loewshotels.com/vanderbilt 800.336.3335

MARCH 2011

Brandi Byner

Paige Cahill

Sarah Dolan

Freshman Defender Ensworth

Sophomore Defender Harpeth Hall

“There is a notion that southern states aren’t good at lacrosse, but there are a lot of teams that are from the South that are actually really good.”

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“When I moved here, there was nothing, now I see kids running around with sticks all the time.”

“It’s actually incredible because I didnt even know what the sport was when I was in seventh grade.”

C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

BOB SHOOP

BRENT PRY

Bio: 23-year veteran of coaching ranks. Four seasons as defensive coordinator at William & Mary. 2009 FootballScoop NCAA FCS Coordinator of the Year. Head Coach at Columbia, 2003-05. Held positions at Boston College, Army. Started coaching career at alma mater, Yale.

Bio: Comes to VU after one season as defensive coordinator at Georgia Southern. Eagles reached FCS semifinal behind unit that ranked 11th in scoring defense and ninth in total defense. Coached three seasons at Memphis, five at LouisianaLafayette and four at Western Carolina.

Franklin on Shoop: “Bob and I have known each other for a long time, and he is a tremendous coach. I want to surround myself with as many talented, intelligent people as I possibly can, and that’s what I’ve really done here. He has a tremendous work ethic and understands what big-time college football is about.”

Franklin on Pry: “I played for Brent’s father at East Stroudsburg where I went to school, so we’ve known each other for a very long time. Brent has a wealth of experience. He’s going to help Bob; where Bob is going to be coaching the safeties, Brent is going to coach the linebackers and help Bob coordinate the front seven.”

Defensive Coordinator/Safeties

Co-Defensive Coordinator/LBs

WESLEY McGRIFF

SEAN SPENCER

Bio: Four years at Miami included mentoring All-American Kenny Phillips and Green Bay Packer Sam Shields. More than 20 years experience coaching. SEC experience at Kentucky under Guy Morriss, 2001-02. Assistant Head Coach at Kentucky State in late ’90s.

Bio: Coached at Bowling Green, with defensive unit making 40 sacks in two seasons after returning no starters to 2009 squad. Mentored All-American David Buris at UMass. Also coached at Hofstra, Villanova and Holy Cross. Has spent 11 years coaching defensive line.

Franklin on McGriff: “Wes and I go way back; we worked together at Kansas State, although not for very long because once we got him, the University of Miami snuck him out on us. When I got the job, Wes is one of the first guys that I called. He’s a great coach, a great recruiter. He has also been a defensive coordinator, as well.”

Franklin on Spencer: “Sean Spencer is the guy from the beginning that I’ve wanted to have on my staff. I think Sean is exactly what we’re looking for. He’s a really intelligent guy who has a passion for the game. He loves working with kids. He is a very good technician and fundamental guy in terms of coaching his position.”

Defensive Recruiting Coord./DBs

Defensive Line Coach

Rodgers strives to emulate brother on, off field

t’s been a crazy few months for a humble quarterback from Chico, Calif., named Rodgers. No, not the one with the Super Bowl ring and championship belt. Vanderbilt’s own Jordan Rodgers followed his brother Aaron and the Green Bay Packers throughout the 2011 playoffs. After transfering to Vanderbilt last January, Rodgers sat out the 2010 season due to injury. As spring practice approaches, Rodgers’ shoulder is nearly back to full strength, and the redshirt junior quarterback is hungry for a chance to prove himself. Rodgers spoke with Commodore Nation about watching his brother win Super Bowl MVP, recovering from shoulder surgery and creating his own legacy. COMMODORE NATION: You were in Dallas for Super Bowl XLV. What was it like to be at the big game? JORDAN RODGERS: “There was tons of nervousness. My parents get really nervous during the games, for obvious reasons: a mom watching her son out there. Me and my older brother (Luke) were pretty excited. I think we got a little nervous at times. Through the course of the game it felt like [Aaron] was playing lights out, in his groove. We took a deep breath and relaxed a little bit until it started getting hairy there at the end.” CN: And when the Packers won? JR: “We were in utter shock at the end of the game. When they finally won, I think my brother and I didn’t say a word for about a

BRIAN SMOKLER

Franklin announces defensive staff hires

Among his numerous media engagements over the past few months, Jordan appeared on ESPN’s First Take prior to the NFC Championship game.

minute. We just gave each other a big hug and we were in shock as the confetti was falling, realizing my brother just won the Super Bowl and he might be the MVP. That was unbelievable. “We got to go down on the field when the confetti was falling and he was on the stage with the trophy. It was an unreal experience. He had about a million reporters and cameras around him, so we just got a brief hug and said “good job” and that we’d see him afterwards, and he was swept off by the media to do the postgame interviews.” CN: Your brother’s “championship belt” TD celebration has become famous. Is that something you plan to emulate? JR: “I’ve been asked that a couple times. I’m probably not going to do it on the field. Maybe on my way back from the field I might try it. But I don’t want to get a penalty. I don’t think that would be good. Coach Franklin wouldn’t be too happy if I got a penalty on my first-ever touchdown pass. I might try to come up with my own celebration. I might do a ninja bandana or something, I’m not sure yet. I’m trying to figure it out.”

After Aaron (right) came to Nashville last April for Vanderbilt’s Spring game, Jordan spent his weekends this winter on the road following the Packers.

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CN: You have been asked a lot of questions about Aaron over the past few weeks. Are you ready to talk about Jordan? JR: “Absolutely. It’s great, all the attention my brother has gotten.

But at the same time, I’m a competitor. My dream is to follow in the footsteps of my brother, so I’m chomping at the bit to really get healthy and get out there and show what I can do. The reins are on me right now, but I’m so ready to get back going and try to win the starting job and have some success here. I just can’t wait.” CN: Will you be ready to go when spring practice starts in March? JR: “I’ll be starting my throwing program [in mid-February]. They said it would be about a month after that before I really started feeling good. I’ve talked with the coaches, and if I’m not 100 percent that first week that’s fine. What we’re really shooting for is for me to be really healthy and competitive that second week of spring ball. Obviously, we want to get as healthy as possible as quickly as possible, but our goal is for me to have a couple good weeks leading into the spring game to show what I can do.” CN: What’s the No. 1 thing you’ve learned from Aaron? JR: “The way he’s handled himself in all the controversy and conflict he’s been through in the last three years in Green Bay. He was sitting behind [Brett] Favre, but he was getting the feeling he was ready to start playing, he had the skills to play. The biggest thing I’ve learned from him is when you get an opportunity, you have to take full advantage of it. I’m just going to be waiting for my opportunity, and when I get it I’m going to try to carry myself how he carries himself.” n

C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

BOB SHOOP

BRENT PRY

Defensive Coordinator/Safeties

Co-Defensive Coordinator/LBs

WESLEY McGRIFF

SEAN SPENCER

Defensive Recruiting Coord./DBs

Defensive Line Coach

Rodgers strives to emulate brother on, off field

BRIAN SMOKLER

Franklin announces defensive staff hires

Among his numerous media engagements over the past few months, Jordan appeared on ESPN’s First Take prior to the NFC Championship game.

After Aaron (right) came to Nashville last April for Vanderbilt’s Spring game, Jordan spent his weekends this winter on the road following the Packers.

MARCH 2011

vucommodores.com

CN: You have been asked a lot of questions about Aaron over the past few weeks. Are you ready to talk about Jordan? JR: “Absolutely. It’s great, all the attention my brother has gotten.

C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

Former Commodores keep it local

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl

Former Vanderbilt standout Brandt Snedeker and wife, Mandy, (with Franklin American president & CEO Dan Crockett and Music City Bowl Board Member and 1966 VU graduate Toby Wilt) teamed up with fellow PGA Tour professional Lucas Glover to raise money and awareness for the continued problems facing flood victims in the Nashville area by playing host to the 4th Annual Franklin American Mortgage Charity Cup. The four-ball Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup style competition pitted teams composed of alumni, administrators and celebrities from ACC and SEC schools against The Golf Club of Tennessee on Oct. 17 and 18. The event has raised more than $150,000 for local charities since its inception in 2007. According to Snedeker: “My wife and I really wanted to find a way to help our community, which is still struggling today. We are committed to make this a special golf tournament that will create a positive result for those who are still struggling from this awful flood.”

Tommy Boualaphanh

On Nov. 18, 2010, David Price’s Project One Four foundation hosted its annual “Dining with David and Friends” evening at the Holiday Inn-Vanderbilt on West End. The event includes dinner, a charity auction and a panel discussion. This year’s panelists were (from left to right): VU Head Baseball Coach Tim Corbin, Pittsburgh Pirate Pedro Alvarez, Price, VU Associate Head Baseball Coach Derek Johnson, Atlanta Brave Mike Minor and John Mitchell, a graduate of Overton High School and member of 1986 World Champion New York Mets. The event raised funds to further the mission of Project One Four, which aims to “support programs and organizations that provide opportunities for youth to learn life skills in a safe and supportive environment.”

MARCH 2011

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C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

Former Commodores keep it local

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl

Tommy Boualaphanh

MARCH 2011

vucommodores.com

C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

Words of Williams Vice Chancellor David Williams kicks off a recurring feature in Commodore Nation this month, answering questions about his role as Vice Chancellor for University Affairs and Athletics. Now in his eighth year at Vanderbilt, Williams also pens a question and answer segment, “The Williams Report,” for the athletic department’s official website, vucommodores.com. Fans can submit their questions for either venue via the website or by e-mailing commodorenation@vanderbilt.edu

Q: A:

David Williams is in his eighth year overseeing Vanderbilt athletics in his role as Vice Chancellor for University Affairs and Athletics, General Counsel and Secretary of the University.

MARCH 2011

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What are some of the biggest challenges in running a Southeastern Conference athletic department? “I think finding and understanding the proper balance between fielding programs capable of competing in the Southeastern Conference against the imprint made by the mission of a worldclass academic institution that prides itself on excellence and integrity is very challenging. We must make certain that everyone involved in the department understands what we stand for and stays true to those beliefs. Balancing plays a role in many things. In fund-raising, we must raise money, but we can’t accept money from anybody for any purpose. In football, for example, we might have enjoyed better outcomes in the past, but at what academic and integrity expense? After our men’s team beat Alabama, I walked out of the gym wishing our guys could rest up before having to play Kentucky in 36 hours. No way, there are classes the next day. What are the biggest challenges? Finding the proper balances. I’m proud that we’ve never changed who we are or what we believe.”

C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

Q: A:

David Williams is in his eighth year overseeing Vanderbilt athletics in his role as Vice Chancellor for University Affairs and Athletics, General Counsel and Secretary of the University.

MARCH 2011

vucommodores.com

C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

MARCH Schedule

MARCH BIRTHDAYS

Baseball 1

Western Kentucky (Hawkins Field)

4 p.m.

Brown (Hawkins Field)

5 p.m.

Brown (Hawkins Field)

2 p.m.

Brown (Hawkins Field)

1 p.m.

Wofford (Hawkins Field)

4 p.m.

Kennesaw State (Hawkins Field)

4 p.m.

Illinois-Chicago (Hawkins Field)

4 p.m.

Illinois-Chicago (Hawkins Field)

2 p.m.

Illinois-Chicago (Hawkins Field)

1 p.m.

Purdue (Hawkins Field)

4 p.m.

Mississippi State (Hawkins Field)

6 p.m.

Mississippi State (Hawkins Field)

2 p.m.

Mississippi State (Hawkins Field)

1 p.m.

Tennessee Tech (Hawkins Field)

6 p.m.

Arkansas (Fayetteville, Ark.)

6:35 p.m.

Arkansas (Fayetteville, Ark.)

2:05 p.m.

Arkansas (Fayetteville, Ark.)

1:05 p.m.

Tennessee-Martin (Hawkins Field)

1 2 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 22 24 25 26 27 31

6 p.m.

Men’s Basketball 1

Kentucky (Lexington, Ky.)

8 p.m.

Florida (Memorial Gym)

5 p.m.

SEC First Round (Atlanta, Ga.)

SEC Quarterfinals (Atlanta, Ga.)

SEC Semifinals (Atlanta, Ga.)

SEC Championship (Atlanta, Ga.)

Noon

Rob Lohr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Football Chris Marve. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Football Sarah O’Brien. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bowling Emily Boldt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Track/Cross Country Nia Washington. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Track/Cross Country Joe Duffy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Men’s Basketball Andy Pulido. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Men’s Tennis Christina Foggie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Women’s Basketball Adrienne DiRaddo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Track/Cross Country John Jenkins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Men’s Basketball Trent Pruitt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Football Mark Lamm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baseball Andre Walker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Men’s Basketball Katie Mastropieri. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lacrosse Sarah Tustin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lacrosse Taylor Hill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baseball Casey Howards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Track/Cross Country Emily Franke. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lacrosse Rita Jorgensen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Track/Cross Country Brandon Barden. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Football Taylor Jackson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Track/Cross Country Renee Maggart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Track/Cross Country Jessica Earnest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bowling Emily Bush . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Soccer Ryan van Rensburg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Football Connor Harrell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baseball Dan Sutton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Football Reggie Ford. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Football Rachel Bachtel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Soccer Hannah Tuomi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Women’s Basketball Ryan Thornton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Men’s Golf

Swimming 17-19 NCAA Championships (Austin, Texas)

Women’s Basketball 3

SEC First Round (Nashville)

Men’s Tennis

SEC First Round (Nashville)

Mississippi State (Starkville, Miss.)

SEC First Round (Nashville)

Ole Miss (Oxford, Miss.)

1 p.m.

SEC First Round (Nashville)

Ball State (Currey Tennis Center)

2 p.m.

Georgia (Currey Tennis Center)

5 p.m.

Tennessee (Currey Tennis Center)

Auburn (Currey Tennis Center)

Noon

Alabama (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

1 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

Bowling 18-20 Columbia 300 Music City Classic (Smyrna Bowling Ctr) Men’s Golf 7-8

Cleveland Golf Palmetto Invitational (Aiken, S.C.)

2 p.m.

Noon

Women’s Tennis

11-12 Bandon Dunes Championship (Bandon, Ore.)

Mississippi State (Currey Tennis Center)

Ole Miss (Currey Tennis Center)

Noon

Women’s Golf

Georgia (Athens, Ga.)

3 p.m.

14-15 Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational (Honolulu, Hi.)

Tennessee (Knoxville)

Noon

25-27 Bryan National Collegiate (Greensboro, N.C.)

Georgia Tech (Currey Tennis Center)

Noon

Auburn (Auburn, Ala.)

Alabama (Currey Tennis Center)

18-20 Schenkel E-Z-GO Invitational (Statesboro, Ga.)

Lacrosse 3 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

2:30 p.m. Noon

Cincinnati (VU Lacrosse Complex)

Jacksonville (Jacksonville, Fla.)

Duke (Durham, N.C.)

5 p.m.

11-12 NCAA Indoor Championships (College Station, Texas)

New Hampshire (VU Lacrosse Complex)

5 p.m.

18-19 Rhodes Invitational (Memphis)

Penn State (University Park, Pa.)

Stanford (VU Lacrosse Complex)

Noon

Louisville (Louisville, Ky.)

2 p.m.

10:30 a.m.

11 a.m.

Women’s Track

25-26 Black and Gold Invitational (Vanderbilt Track) All times Central and subject to change. Those not shown are TBA – check vucommodores.com for updates.

MARCH 2011

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C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

MARCH Schedule

MARCH BIRTHDAYS

Baseball 1

Western Kentucky (Hawkins Field)

4 p.m.

Brown (Hawkins Field)

5 p.m.

Brown (Hawkins Field)

2 p.m.

Brown (Hawkins Field)

1 p.m.

Wofford (Hawkins Field)

4 p.m.

Kennesaw State (Hawkins Field)

4 p.m.

Illinois-Chicago (Hawkins Field)

4 p.m.

Illinois-Chicago (Hawkins Field)

2 p.m.

Illinois-Chicago (Hawkins Field)

1 p.m.

Purdue (Hawkins Field)

4 p.m.

Mississippi State (Hawkins Field)

6 p.m.

Mississippi State (Hawkins Field)

2 p.m.

Mississippi State (Hawkins Field)

1 p.m.

Tennessee Tech (Hawkins Field)

6 p.m.

Arkansas (Fayetteville, Ark.)

6:35 p.m.

Arkansas (Fayetteville, Ark.)

2:05 p.m.

Arkansas (Fayetteville, Ark.)

1:05 p.m.

Tennessee-Martin (Hawkins Field)

1 2 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 22 24 25 26 27 31

6 p.m.

Men’s Basketball 1

Kentucky (Lexington, Ky.)

8 p.m.

Florida (Memorial Gym)

5 p.m.

SEC First Round (Atlanta, Ga.)

SEC Quarterfinals (Atlanta, Ga.)

SEC Semifinals (Atlanta, Ga.)

SEC Championship (Atlanta, Ga.)

Noon

Swimming 17-19 NCAA Championships (Austin, Texas)

Women’s Basketball 3

SEC First Round (Nashville)

Men’s Tennis

SEC First Round (Nashville)

Mississippi State (Starkville, Miss.)

SEC First Round (Nashville)

Ole Miss (Oxford, Miss.)

1 p.m.

SEC First Round (Nashville)

Ball State (Currey Tennis Center)

2 p.m.

Georgia (Currey Tennis Center)

5 p.m.

Tennessee (Currey Tennis Center)

Auburn (Currey Tennis Center)

Noon

Alabama (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

1 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

Bowling 18-20 Columbia 300 Music City Classic (Smyrna Bowling Ctr) Men’s Golf 7-8

Cleveland Golf Palmetto Invitational (Aiken, S.C.)

2 p.m.

Noon

Women’s Tennis

11-12 Bandon Dunes Championship (Bandon, Ore.)

Mississippi State (Currey Tennis Center)

Ole Miss (Currey Tennis Center)

Noon

Women’s Golf

Georgia (Athens, Ga.)

3 p.m.

14-15 Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational (Honolulu, Hi.)

Tennessee (Knoxville)

Noon

25-27 Bryan National Collegiate (Greensboro, N.C.)

Georgia Tech (Currey Tennis Center)

Noon

Auburn (Auburn, Ala.)

Alabama (Currey Tennis Center)

18-20 Schenkel E-Z-GO Invitational (Statesboro, Ga.)

Lacrosse 3 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

2:30 p.m. Noon

Cincinnati (VU Lacrosse Complex)

Jacksonville (Jacksonville, Fla.)

Duke (Durham, N.C.)

5 p.m.

11-12 NCAA Indoor Championships (College Station, Texas)

New Hampshire (VU Lacrosse Complex)

5 p.m.

18-19 Rhodes Invitational (Memphis)

Penn State (University Park, Pa.)

Stanford (VU Lacrosse Complex)

Noon

Louisville (Louisville, Ky.)

2 p.m.

10:30 a.m.

11 a.m.

Women’s Track

25-26 Black and Gold Invitational (Vanderbilt Track) All times Central and subject to change. Those not shown are TBA – check vucommodores.com for updates.

MARCH 2011

vucommodores.com

C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N

last shot JOHN RUSSELL / VU PHOTOGRAPHY

oach James Franklin celebrated his 39th birthday on Feb. 2 with a National Signing Day Party. Voice of the Commodores Joe Fisher looked on as Franklin blew out the candles (above) after the pair introduced Vanderbilt’s impressive incoming Class of 2011. The recruiting class of 21 student-athletes included two four-star prospects and 18 players with at least a three-star rating. Vanderbilt’s 2011 Football Signing Class: Jake Bernstein............. OL.................Crystal Lake, Ill. Darien Bryant............... Ath............Pickerington, Ohio Barron Dixon................ DL.................. Alpharetta, Ga. Larry Franklin............... DB................ Vero Beach, Fla. Josh Grady................... QB....................... Tampa, Fla. Conor Hart................... DL...... Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Mitchell Hester............. RB..........Neptune Beach, Fla. Kris Kentera................. QB.. Colorado Springs, Colo. Derek King................... DB................. Nashville, Tenn. Jacquese Kirk.............. WR/DB................Jasper, Ala. James Lewis................ OL................. Arlington, Tenn. Jahmel McIntosh......... DB................ Cleveland, Miss. Spencer Pulley............. OL............ Germantown,Tenn. Steven Scheu............... TE...................Evansville, Ind. Jerron Seymour........... RB.......................Hialeah, Fla. Jimmy Stewart............. DE/LB.......... Cape Coral, Fla. Joe Townsend.............. DL/OL.. Hendersonville, Tenn. Lafonte Thourogood.... QB........... Virginia Beach, Va. Jose Valedon............... OL...............Oak Ridge, Tenn. Dillon van der Wal........ TE/DE.. Woodland Hills, Calif. Andrew Williamson...... DB............San Antonio, Texas

MARCH 2011

Michael Hazel, director of football operations, presents Coach Franklin with a birthday cake in front of a packed house inside the Student Life Center’s Board of Trust Room.

last shot JOHN RUSSELL / VU PHOTOGRAPHY

MARCH 2011

Michael Hazel, director of football operations, presents Coach Franklin with a birthday cake in front of a packed house inside the Student Life Center’s Board of Trust Room.