Commodore Nation, Summer 2011 by Vanderbilt Commodores

INSIDE: 2010-11 REVIEW; FOOTBALL CULTURE CHANGE

Summer 2011

OMAHA! OH MY!

table of contents 2 Compliance Corner Off-campus housing 3 Jr. NCC Enroll a young Commodore fan today 4 National Commodore Club Lucy Jones Day

7 More from McGugin By the numbers 8 Year in Review Baseball makes first trip to Omaha

10 Year in Review Success across the board in 2010-11 13 My Turn: Rod Williamson Looking back at the year that was

4 Changing the Culture 1 Fan suggestions implemented 16 Mark Carter NCC finds new director in own ranks 8 Athletic Hall of Fame 1 Fourth class to be inducted Sept. 2 1 NCAA Career in Sports 2 Three student-athletes attended forum

23 Upcoming Events Fall sports calendars 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 writerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name and address and may be edited for clarity and space.

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24 Last Shot Commencement 2011

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

table of contents 2 Compliance Corner Off-campus housing 3 Jr. NCC Enroll a young Commodore fan today 4 National Commodore Club Lucy Jones Day

7 More from McGugin By the numbers 8 Year in Review Baseball makes first trip to Omaha

10 Year in Review Success across the board in 2010-11 13 My Turn: Rod Williamson Looking back at the year that was

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24 Last Shot Commencement 2011

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

COMPLIANCE

COR NER Q: A:

Back Hand is a tennis student-athlete who is attending summer classes on campus. Back doesn’t want to stay in the dormitories because they are too expensive. One of Back’s teammate’s parents own a rental property near campus and has offered to let Back stay there cost-free until school resumes in the fall. Is this permissible? No. Offering free or reduced-cost services to a student-athlete is considered to be an extra benefit. Off-campus housing should not include any extra benefits or preferential treatment in ALL cases, and student-athletes must pay fair, market value for any place they are living. It should be consistent with what anyone else living in that particular place would have to pay.

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 Jenny Mandeville Anne Rayner

Compliance questions? Please contact:

John Russell

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

Susan Urmy

Contributors: Laina Balafas

Andy Boggs Sterling Frierson Larry Leathers George Midgett

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

Ryan Schulz Jennifer Stevens Donald Turnbaugh

Administrative

GO DORES Get the latest in Commodore apparel and gifts

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: Vanderbilt baseball wins Nashville Super Regional, photo by Joe Howell, 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 IMG Sports & Entertainment Properties. Jeff Miller, general manager 615/322-4468; jeff.miller@imgworld.com

Vanderbilt Bookstore

Rand Hall | www.vanderbiltbookstore.com 0695SC032711A

SUMMER 2011

Commodore Nation is printed using recycled paper.

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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 Jenny Mandeville Anne Rayner

Compliance questions? Please contact:

John Russell

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

Susan Urmy

Contributors: Laina Balafas

Andy Boggs Sterling Frierson Larry Leathers George Midgett

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

Ryan Schulz Jennifer Stevens Donald Turnbaugh

Administrative

GO DORES Get the latest in Commodore apparel and gifts

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

Vanderbilt Bookstore

Rand Hall | www.vanderbiltbookstore.com 0695SC032711A

SUMMER 2011

Commodore Nation is printed using recycled paper.

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

LUCY JONES DAY – MAY 14, 2011

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

COR N E R

Saturday, May 14, 2011, was proclaimed Lucy Jones Day at Hawkins Field. The National Commodore Club honored Senior Director Lucy Jones for her 28 years of service to Vanderbilt Athletics. Lucy will retire effective June 30 but still will be a mainstay at Commodore athletic events.

PHONE: 615/322-4114 • ONLINE: vanderbilt.edu/ncc WELCOME NEW NCC MEMBERS Recruit a new member today and help us reach our goal of 1,000 new NCC members. Below are the NCC members that joined during the month of April. We welcome each one of our new members and look forward to many years of having you as a valued member.

Jennifer and Jesse Acton - Nashville Ryan Aulds - Lebanon Amanda Aven - Hendersonville Sherrill and Leland Bandlow - Nashville Jenna and Mark Bell - Nashville Frank Benson - Warwick, R.I. Lauren Blair - Nashville Paige and Patrick Boze - Gallatin Mark B. Brown - Nashville William Bunce - El Dorado Hills, Calif. David Butler - Goodlettsville Terry Byrd - Clarksville Stacy and Michael Carter - Nashville Sarah and Joshua Clinton - Nashville Patrick Connor - Thompson’s Station Michael Cross - Memphis Jessica and Keith Deerkoski - Nashville Jane DeWitt - Nashville Allison Egner - Raleigh, N.C. Jerry Fife - Nashville Edna Finch - Nashville Becky Ann and Jerry Flannery - Mount Juliet Maria and Robert Garner - Nashville David Garrison - Nashville Nell and Phillip George - Gallatin Colleen and Bill Grissom - Goodlettsville Kathleen and Jim Hansen - Kula, Hawaii Sandy Hardiman - Ardmore, Ala. Robert Harrington - Nashville Alphonso Harvey - Nashville Victor Hatridge - Brentwood Andy Hazelwood - Tullahoma Gregory Hebrank - Greensburg, Pa. Hunt Enterprises LLC Fred Hurt - Franklin Angela Istvanditsch - Rockvale Brant Kairit - Senatobia, Miss. Sally and Thomas Kanaday - Nashville Erin Kersh - Nashville Kevin Key - Nashville Troy Kiber - Atlanta, Ga. Alex Kimerling - Birmingham, Ala. Jessica and Mark Kubow - Kildeer, Ill. Julianna and Taylor Leachman - Austin, Texas George Lewis - Clarksville Mithcell Lilly - Murfreesboro Patricia and Ernest Lowe - Oxford, Miss. Joshua and Kristen Lynch - Shelbyville

SUMMER 2011

Mark your calendar for the Commodore Tailgate Tour

NCC 101

The Vanderbilt Alumni Association and the National Commodore Club will team up once again to sponsor tailgates at two away games during the 2011 football season. The two stops include Saturday, September 24, at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, and Saturday, October 8, at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Stay tuned to the NCC website for details and make plans to join us on the road this fall.

Cassie Lynn - Nashville Rachel McCall - Nashville Megan and Peter McCauley - Gainesville, Fla. Elizabeth and Ryan McCostlin - Nashville Drew Mexic - White House Katy Miller - Nashville Frances and Clayton Mosley - Henderson, Ky. Dena and Rob Nessari - Hendersonville Stanford Overby - Columbia, S.C. Wayne Owen - Cumming, Ga. Charles Owens - Lynnville Megan and Ryan Peters - Nashville Samuel Patton - Nashville Maggie Pepin - Hermitage Charles Ragland - Clarksville Lindsay Rhodes - Washington, D.C. Eli Richardson - Nashville Ruth and Anthony Salce - Naples, Fla. Emily and Chris Sayers - Austin, Texas W. Russell Scott - Chattanooga Andrew Shapiro - Woodbridge, Conn. Scott Shimamoto - Deerfield, Ill. Lisa and Michael Smiley - Brentwood Debra and Terry Stilger - Prospect, Ky. James Stone - Madison, Ala. Sheryl and Matthew Stovall - Franklin Aaron Templeton - Lebanon Brent Turner - Brentwood William Tyree - Brentwood Lee Van Dyke - Nashville Jennifer and Adam Vazquez - Franklin Teri and Douglas Watts - Culleoka Emily Weikert - Brentwood Melinda and Jimmy Williams - Nashville Mr. and Mrs. John A. Witherspoon - Nashville Stephen Wix - Frankfort, Ky. Phyllis Young - Greenbrier

Jody Jones (’94), Phil Vassar, Lucy, Doug and Dewayne Jones (’88)

NCC members Jay (’04) and Jimmy (’70) Webb with Lucy Jones and Frank Bass

NCC members Joy and Sam Short

Lucy Jones with NCC members Jane and Ken Sharp

IMPORTANT DATES September 16-18, 2011—Parent and Family Weekend September 24, 2011—Commodore Tailgate Tour October 8, 2011—Commodore Tailgate Tour October 21-23, 2011—Reunion Weekend November 19 & 21—Legends Classic March 1-4, 2012—Women’s SEC Basketball Tournament March 8-11, 2012—Men’s SEC Basketball Tournament May 23-27, 2012—SEC Baseball Tournament May 31, 2012—NCC Renewal Deadline Basketball alumni Butch Feher (’76) and Charles Davis (’82) with Lucy Jones

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

LUCY JONES DAY – MAY 14, 2011

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

COR N E R

SUMMER 2011

Mark your calendar for the Commodore Tailgate Tour

NCC 101

Jody Jones (’94), Phil Vassar, Lucy, Doug and Dewayne Jones (’88)

NCC members Jay (’04) and Jimmy (’70) Webb with Lucy Jones and Frank Bass

NCC members Joy and Sam Short

Lucy Jones with NCC members Jane and Ken Sharp

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

More from McGugin

Cross country mentor Keith to lead track & field

Bruce Hornsby Feb. 18, 2012

Wynonna Sept. 15 - 17, 2011

Sonny Rollins Oct. 14, 2011

2011/12

SEASON SCHERMERHORN

Home for the Holidays featuring LeAnn Rimes Dec. 8, 2011

Valentine’s with Johnny Mathis Feb. 14, 2012

AT THE

BUY TICKETS AT NashvilleSymphony.org 615.687.6400

Branford Marsalis Jan. 20, 2012

Béla Fleck’s Banjo Concerto Sept. 22 - 24, 2011

Ax Plays Beethoven Oct. 6 - 8, 2011

Yo-Yo Ma Sept. 9, 2011

TICKETS ON SALE JULY 15 Chris Botti May 17 - 19, 2012

SUMMER 2011

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NUMBERS 1.83

acres of sod were laid at Vanderbilt Stadium over two days in July just weeks after the venue played host to a sold-out concert by U2.

former Vanderbilt standouts on National Football League rosters at the conclusion of the 2010-11 season.

By The

Commodore baseball players selected in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft, an SEC record.

American Lacrosse Conference Academic Honor Roll selections from Vanderbilt, an alltime league record.

135

minutes before kickoff: the expected arrival time of the football team at the corner of Natchez Trace and Children’s Way to begin the walk through Vandyville.

308

total tackles for the Southeastern Conference’s active career leader, Chris Marve.

24,000

seats in TD Ameritrade Park, the new home for the College World Series, which replaced Rosenblatt Stadium this year.

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

THE YEAR THAT WAS

The highlight of Vanderbilt’s 2010-11 school year undoubtedly occurred after the close of the academic calendar. On June 11, the Commodore baseball team finished a two-game sweep of Oregon State to advance to the school’s first College World Series. In Omaha, the Commodores won twice to reach the national semifinals.

PHOTO BY STEVE GREEN / VU PHOTOGRAPHY

SUMMER 2011

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

THE YEAR THAT WAS

PHOTO BY STEVE GREEN / VU PHOTOGRAPHY

SUMMER 2011

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

RUSSELL

FULLER

Men’s basketball was ranked as high as 18th in the nation en route to a second consecutive NCAA Tournament berth. The squad’s seven top scorers will return next season.

Lauren Mira won the clinching point as the tennis team advanced past host Tennessee to reach the NCAA Sweet 16 for the 13th time in school history.

Warren Norman‘s 80-yard touchdown run was the decisive blow in Vanderbilt’s second straight win in Oxford, Miss.

PETIT

SUMMER 2011

LEVY

MARTI

Soccer’s Molly Kinsella, left, was named a firstteam ESPN Academic AllAmerican, while lacrosse’s Ally Carey earned firstteam All-America honors for the second straight season.

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Sophomore Jordan White, above right, advanced to the NCAA Championships and led her cross country team to third place in the SEC, while freshman Jasmine Lister was one of four players to average more than 11 points for a basketball team that made its 12th straight NCAA appearance.

SOFRANKO

<< HOWELL

RUSSELL

Anna Leigh Keith tied for 15th to lead the VU golfers to a Top 10 finish at the 2011 NCAA Women’s Championship. The Vanderbilt Legends Club will play host to the event in 2012.

JORGENSEN

Making its sixth straight trip to the NCAA Championship, the bowling team advanced to the finals for the second time in school history.

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

RUSSELL

FULLER

Men’s basketball was ranked as high as 18th in the nation en route to a second consecutive NCAA Tournament berth. The squad’s seven top scorers will return next season.

Lauren Mira won the clinching point as the tennis team advanced past host Tennessee to reach the NCAA Sweet 16 for the 13th time in school history.

Warren Norman‘s 80-yard touchdown run was the decisive blow in Vanderbilt’s second straight win in Oxford, Miss.

PETIT

SUMMER 2011

LEVY

MARTI

Soccer’s Molly Kinsella, left, was named a firstteam ESPN Academic AllAmerican, while lacrosse’s Ally Carey earned firstteam All-America honors for the second straight season.

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SOFRANKO

<< HOWELL

RUSSELL

Anna Leigh Keith tied for 15th to lead the VU golfers to a Top 10 finish at the 2011 NCAA Women’s Championship. The Vanderbilt Legends Club will play host to the event in 2012.

JORGENSEN

Making its sixth straight trip to the NCAA Championship, the bowling team advanced to the finals for the second time in school history.

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

It’s My Turn By Rod Williamson

Moments of Reflection

emember Bobby Johnson? While it seems dog years ago, it has been just about 12 months since that startling day last July when our football coach announced his retirement. Let’s have that be our starting point as we take a quick stroll down the 2010-11 Memory Lane. Robbie Caldwell was pulled off a sweltering practice field to be informed he would succeed Bobby as our head coach. A week later he was a sensation at the Southeastern Conference’s gigantic Media Days, using his down-home stories and good-ole-boy charm and wit to get the first standing ovation in anyone’s memory from the otherwise cynical gang of writers. Alas, a long-term run was not to be, and he offered his resignation at season’s end, leaving behind a classy and lasting impression. The next 20 days were filled with speculation—much of it incorrect—about who would be our new head coach. When the curtain was raised, the dynamic James Franklin was being introduced in the Board of Trust Room of the Sarratt Student Center. A new era had begun. A capacity crowd filled the Student Life Center as we inducted our third Hall of Fame class in September, an elite group that spanned from Grantland Rice (1901) to Shan Foster (2008). We bid adieu to giants. Hall of Famer Roy Skinner left us in October, and golf legend Mason Rudolph’s heart finally gave way in April. Both humble gentlemen let their unforgettable accomplishments do the talking. Winter’s cool north breezes escorted red-hot evenings to Memorial Gymnasium. Our women’s basketball team notched its 12th consecutive 20-win season and NCAA Tournament appearance while Melanie Balcomb made it to 200 career wins faster than any Commodore coach in school history. The team’s attendance bolted into the Top 20. We’ll remember the ceremony in mid-February in which Chantelle Anderson’s jersey was retired, just the fourth to hang from the rafters. Her 2,604 points are more than any Dore has scored. The men’s basketball team was in the national spotlight much of the year, taking down foes and residing in the Top 25. The season’s end didn’t match the dream script, but people took note when the trio of Festus Ezeli, John Jenkins and Jeff Taylor announced they were returning next year while on the same page of the newspaper two Kentucky Wildcats said adios and headed for the NBA. Our bowlers understood that it’s how you finish that counts. They recovered from a slow start by playing for the NCAA Championship on ESPN; the young team finished second to an internationally dominated opponent. Women’s tennis and golf also hit their stride late. The hard-courters upset Tennessee and advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16, while our golfers had to win a playoff at the regional championship for the last NCAA finals berth before catching fire on the Texas plains and finishing 10th in the nation. And what a season for the Boys of Summer! The SEC tri-champion baseball team thrived in the polls and set record attendance levels at Hawkins Field throughout the year, finishing with a flourish by sweeping five straight NCAA contests at home to advance to the school’s first College World Series. As the fiscal year wound down, we lost two stalwarts to retirement. Development officers Christy Passmore and Lucy Jones announced they were leaving us June 30. They will be missed. And the school year adjourned much the same as always; 63 Commodores earned degrees as the NCAA announced that Vanderbilt led the SEC in the Academic Progress Report by a mile. Soccer’s Molly Kinsella became a first-team Academic All-American. The more things change, the more they stay the same. n

SUMMER 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

Moments of Reflection

SUMMER 2011

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

CHANGING CULTURE

• PICNIC AREA Coca-Cola is sponsoring a terrific new picnic area around the giant video screen at the north end of Vandyville. This includes tables, some with umbrellas for shade and protection from the elements.

T H E

• VANDYVILLE STAGE There will be a stage on the southern end of Vandyville near Blakemore where live bands will perform before each game.

You spoke; we listened We wanted to make attending football games easier and more fun so we went to the experts on the topic—you! We listened to a lot of you through personal conversations, an online suggestion box and even a fan retreat last winter. The priority list became clear very soon, and we began making a concerted effort to bring many of those ideas to reality. Here is an overview of many of the primary “Changing the Culture” items that have been enacted for this season.

Parking enhancements

Inside Vanderbilt Stadium

This was the most common request, and it became our top priority. Fans wanted more parking options, especially near Vandyville and hopefully at a reasonable price. The new and vastly improved parking plan offers fans the opportunity to purchase quality parking in paved lots adjacent to Natchez Trace/Vandyville for as low as $150 for the entire season. As an added bonus to the season parking, a year’s membership to the National Commodore Club is included. Some of the participants in this new plan are seeing the Commodore Nation magazine for the first time as a result.

1) A brand new sound system. 2) The Jumbotron will be active with new interactive content from when the gates open until kickoff. 3) The Commodores will enter Dudley Field through a new inflatable tunnel.

• MORE TENTS EXTENDING DOWN NATCHEZ TRACE Fans will notice that Vandyville continues to grow, expanding southward down Natchez Trace.

Bigger and better

Vandyville • TEAM WALK-THROUGH Coach James Franklin will lead his team northward through Vandyville approximately two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff. The team will arrive in buses at the Children’s Way-Natchez Trace intersection and begin its walk to the McGugin Center locker room. Commodore fans are encouraged to line Vandyville and cheer their favorites. • LEGENDS TENT A designated tent during pre-game where Vanderbilt Athletic celebrities will be available to meet and greet the fans. Legends will be announced the week of each game.

• NCC MEMBER SERVICES TENT The National Commodore Club will have a designated area on Vandyville for its members to enjoy. • IMPROVED SIGNS Large wooden signs will be strategically placed in the Vandyville area detailing standard pre-game events and when they will occur. • COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF In addition to announcing the team’s on-field arrival or celebrating Commodore scoring plays, the stadium horn will be used to give tailgaters time reminders, such as so many minutes before Star Walk or until kickoff. The horn will soon have a name as fans suggested more than 90 names during the spring and early summer. Fans will be voting for the final name online and at Dore Jam.

4) Recorded pre-game music will include favorites from the Commodore team, coaching staff and other notables. 5) There will be a special ceremony before each game presenting the Commodore Anchor, a cherished team symbol. 6) The new grass field will have new end-zone graphics. 7) Rest room signs for faster and easier entry and egress. 8) Improved food concession areas, especially on the east side.

Also of interest • The athletic ticket office will open four hours before kickoff for added fan convenience.

Expanded tailgating options Right behind better parking on your list was expanded options for tailgating. Another good idea! Vanderbilt Athletics has responded in several ways: A new designated family tailgate area has been added on the eastern corner of Natchez Trace. The Vandyville Too Kid’s Zone is fenced with green grass and has seven inflatables, cotton candy, face painting and more fun for safe and comfortable tailgating on the south end of Vandyville. It is conveniently located near some of the new parking. In addition, the expanded parking space also will give more fans prime tailgate territory.

SUMMER 2011

• The Chick-fil-A of Rivergate Tailgate Show heard over the Vanderbilt-IMG Sports Network will be expanded from 60 minutes to 90 minutes, with the first half originating live from the heart of Vandyville. • Considerable progress toward standardizing our gold color (Vegas gold) is being made, although the full impact will not be seen for about one year. It takes that long for a wide range of companies producing the gear worldwide to make the transition. • Later this fall, the Vanderbilt Bookstore will move to the former Borders Books on West End Avenue. The new location will be much bigger and easier for the public to access.

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

CHANGING CULTURE

T H E

• VANDYVILLE STAGE There will be a stage on the southern end of Vandyville near Blakemore where live bands will perform before each game.

Parking enhancements

Inside Vanderbilt Stadium

• MORE TENTS EXTENDING DOWN NATCHEZ TRACE Fans will notice that Vandyville continues to grow, expanding southward down Natchez Trace.

Bigger and better

Also of interest • The athletic ticket office will open four hours before kickoff for added fan convenience.

SUMMER 2011

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

NCC’s Carter excited for challenge ahead

ark Carter’s experience as a collegiate athlete has served him well during his career as a development officer at several major universities. Carter was recently promoted to become Vanderbilt’s associate director of student athletics and the executive director of the National Commodore Club and Athletics Development. It’s a big title for a big job, although he sees it as much more than that. “This is a challenge, but it’s also a very big opportunity,” he says. “Our mission is clear: we are to give our administration and coaches the resources they need to attract the finest studentathletes in the nation and compete in the nation’s best athletic conference.” Carter is competitive, befitting a former catcher whose role it was to be the hub of a baseball team’s defense. The University of Memphis graduate has been at Vanderbilt since March of 2010, and in his new role it hasn’t taken him long to identify priorities and immediate goals. “Over the past 15 years or so, the number of our donors and their composite giving has stayed relatively the same,” he notes. “During that time, many of our peer schools have grown rapidly in both areas, so our goal must be not to grow by small amounts, but rather to push both our annual membership and our giving total in larger increments. We must do this to accomplish our mission.” It’s that kind of fire and enthusiasm that made Carter the logical choice a year ago when he was lured to Vanderbilt from Duke, where his last role was as the director of major gifts for athletics. While in Durham, he was part of the most successful six-year period in the Blue Devils’ athletic history. The soft-spoken Carter knows that achieving goals requires a coordinated team effort. Like any successful professional, Carter has had his share of excellent mentors. They include Scott Rabenold, a development executive at Memphis, two former Duke associates—Jack Winters and Tom Coffman—and John Currie, now the Director of Athletics at Kansas State but a development officer when Carter worked at the University of Tennessee for one year.

SUMMER 2011

These men and others taught Carter that development work has to become personal, that fundraising and friend-raising need to be intertwined. “Philanthropy is not for everyone, and being a sports fan is not for everyone,” Carter notes. “But when you can link the two it can become very exciting. It doesn’t matter how many zeros are on the check, if the match is a good one to someone’s passion, the giving part usually takes care of itself.” Carter understands some things require time, and he has the persistence for the long haul. He credits his baseball experience with giving him the perseverance to continue chasing his dream. He had gotten his first taste of life outside the competitor’s uniform when chronic back problems forced him to hang up his catcher’s mask. “I went to R.C. Johnson (the Memphis athletic director) and asked him if I could volunteer or work for peanuts to gain experience. He gave me a shot, and it was an eye-opening experience. I got a chance to see that development was one of the biggest pieces of his job and realized it was an area where I could eventually make a difference.” Vanderbilt coaches, administrators and even the student-athletes—whether they realize it or not—will be counting on Carter and his colleagues to make that difference in the months and years to come. There is another opportunity for this old baseball catcher to rally the team toward yet another victory.

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

NCC’s Carter excited for challenge ahead

SUMMER 2011

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

Hall Fame

H Class of 2011 H Vanderbilt Athletics officials announced the school’s fourth Hall of Fame class in July. The Class of 2011 includes nine members and spans more than 70 years of Commodore history. Hall of Fame Weekend is again scheduled to coincide with the opening of the football season. The fourth annual Hall of Fame and Scholarship Dinner will take place on Friday night, Sept. 2. The Class of 2011 will appear at Vandyville the following day and be recognized at the season-opening game against Elon.

Track & Field

Long before he launched a decorated political career during which he has represented the state of Tennessee with distinction on the national and international stage, United States Senator Lamar Alexander was a Vanderbilt studentathlete. Alexander joined the men’s track team for his sophomore and junior years of school, running the one-mile relay, 440-yard dash and 440-yard relay for the Commodores. He filled out a talented relay team that would set school records and remain competitive against its Southeastern Conference opponents despite operating without athletic scholarships.

SAM

PERDUE

MADISON

LATIMER

Lamar Alexander

John Ingram

Peter Lamb

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

TENNIS

For more than 15 years, John Ingram has followed in the generous tradition of the entire Ingram family by donating his time and resources as chairman of the Shape the Future campaign for Vanderbilt Athletics. A former graduate student at Vanderbilt and the son of former University Board of Trust Chairs Bronson and Martha Ingram, John has helped drive numerous athletic projects. Ingram has played a vital role in the facility upgrades to Vanderbilt Stadium, McGugin Center, Memorial Gym and Hawkins Field that have helped Vanderbilt become more competitive in the athletics-rich SEC.

Peter Lamb’s exceptional ability on the tennis court landed him considerable public attention during his four-year Vanderbilt career. A native of South Africa, Lamb distinguished himself upon his admittance to Vanderbilt when he became the first tennis player ever to be offered a full athletic scholarship to the school. As a sophomore Lamb became the first non-white player ever to represent South Africa in international Davis Cup play. As a member of the team he competed against the United States in the 1978 North and Central America Zone Final, a match held in Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gymnasium.

David Latimer

Scotti Madison

Cross country

BAseball

Runner David Latimer concluded an eventful undergraduate career at Vanderbilt with a flourish in 1997 when he became the school’s first recipient of a Rhodes Scholarship in 14 years. Latimer, a double major in physics and mathematics, lettered in cross country in his junior and senior seasons and represented the team in the season-ending SEC Championships and District IX Championships. Those athletic accomplishments supplemented his already impressive academic resume—his undergraduate work in theoretical cardiac electrophysiology was published in numerous journals.

Scotti Madison arrived on campus in 1977 with a scholarship to play both football and baseball, but it was his dominance on the diamond that ultimately propelled him to be regarded among Vanderbilt’s all-time greats. The first baseball player in school history to be selected as a first-team All-American, Madison graduated with numerous school records, including career home runs, single-season batting average and single-season walks. He is also the only VU player to be named to the All-SEC first team for two different positions: as an outfielder in 1978 and as a catcher in 1979 and 1980.

Tyler Griffin

Carl Hinkle

Will Perdue

Sheri Sam

soccer

FOOTBALL

BASKETBALL

Goalkeeper Tyler Griffin backstopped the Commodores to their most successful stretch of the decade, including two consecutive NCAA Tournament berths in 2005 and 2006. A transfer from North Carolina, Griffin played her way into the school record books in several goalkeeping statistical categories in just three years and garnered All-America recognition from multiple national organizations. Her dominant run during the 2005 campaign was highlighted by an 11-game winning streak during which she allowed just one goal and helped the Commodores record 16 victories that year.

LAMB

INGRAM

HINKLE

GRIFFIN

ALEXANDER

SUMMER 2011

Playing on both sides of the line from 1935 to 1937, Carl Hinkle led the Commodores with his toughness, endurance and penchant for the big play. As team captain in 1937, Hinkle played every minute of seven of his team’s nine games, leading Vanderbilt in tackles and finishing among team leaders in interceptions. He also was on the field in 1935 for Vanderbilt’s first victory over Tennessee since 1926, snapping the longest losing streak to the Volunteers in program history at the time. Hinkle is one of only five Commodores enshrined in the National College Football Hall of Fame.

Will Perdue’s big senior season in 1988 helped lift the Vanderbilt basketball team to several milestones, including the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth in 15 years and first Sweet 16 appearance in school history. He blossomed into a dominant player in his final two collegiate seasons, averaging 17.4 and then 18.3 points per game and drawing honors and recognition on the regional and national stage. The 7-foot center went on to have the longest NBA career of any former Commodore and earned four NBA Championship rings playing on some of the game’s great teams.

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Sheri Sam’s four-year career began and ended with postseason success—she was a freshman when the Commodores reached the Final Four in 1993 and a senior on the 1996 team that reached the Elite Eight. In between those runs, Sam grew from a spot contributor off the bench into one of the nation’s premier frontcourt players. She led the team in points, rebounds and steals in her final two seasons. After averaging 20.4 points per game as a senior in 1996, Sam became the third player in school history to be named a Kodak AllAmerican and remains one of only four VU players to be so honored.

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

Hall Fame

Track & Field

SAM

PERDUE

MADISON

LATIMER

Lamar Alexander

John Ingram

Peter Lamb

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

TENNIS

David Latimer

Scotti Madison

Cross country

BAseball

Tyler Griffin

Carl Hinkle

Will Perdue

Sheri Sam

soccer

FOOTBALL

BASKETBALL

LAMB

INGRAM

HINKLE

GRIFFIN

ALEXANDER

SUMMER 2011

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

Three Commodores attend NCAA Career in Sports forum

he 2011 NCAA Career in Sports Forum took place June 12-15, 2011, at the Downtown Marriott in Indianapolis, Indiana. Only 303 student-athletes were selected to participate in the forum out of more than 1,100 nominations. Three Commodores—basketball’s Jordan Coleman, football’s Rob Lohr and lacrosse’s Natalie Wills—attended the event, which featured 10 sport-specific coaching tracks and one track focused on administration. The administrator track covered the internal and external operations of intercollegiate athletics, highlighting departments such as academics, compliance, development, event management and marketing. The coaching track also discussed a wide range of topics, including organization, teaching, ethical concerns, communications, injury prevention, conditioning and evaluation. The forum was made up of small-group sessions, sport-specific meetings, a career fair, dinner etiquette instruction and a networking social. Coleman and Lohr both participated in the administrator track, while Wills focused on coaching lacrosse. All three came in with different goals, but each left with a better understanding of their options after college. For Coleman, a communication major

SUMMER 2011

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Coleman

Lohr

who is interested in a possible career in sports marketing, the forum’s impressive list of high-profile guests was a highlight. “They brought in marketing professionals who talked about how they got to where they are, and how we can get to where they are as well,” Coleman said. “It was really beneficial to have contact and network with so many people in the industry.” An economics major, Lohr saw the forum as an opportunity to learn more about a prospective career in marketing, which may or may not involve athletics. “I thought this would be a good way to network and get more information,” Lohr said. “I really learned the importance of

Wills

networking. It’s not all about your resume, but also the relationships you’ve cultivated along the way.” On the coaching track, Wills gained a new appreciation for her own mentors while absorbing knowledge from the varied groups represented in Indianapolis. “The biggest thing I took away is that there is no one coaching philosophy,” Wills said. “There’s so much you have to bring to the table in many different aspects. It helped me understand the full job that [coaches] have that we don’t always see as student-athletes. The whole experience was very helpful for anyone that wanted to get into the sports industry.”

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

Three Commodores attend NCAA Career in Sports forum

SUMMER 2011

vucommodores.com

Coleman

Lohr

Wills

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

2011 FALL SCHEDULES Football Sept. 3

Elon

NASHVILLE

Sept. 10

Connecticut

NASHVILLE

Sept. 17

Ole Miss *

NASHVILLE

Sept. 24

at South Carolina *

Columbia, S.C.

Oct. 8

at Alabama

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Oct. 15

Georgia *

NASHVILLE

Oct. 22

Army

NASHVILLE

Oct. 29

Arkansas

NASHVILLE

Nov. 5

at Florida *

Gainesville, Fla.

Nov. 12

Kentucky *

NASHVILLE

Nov. 19

at Tennessee *

Knoxville

Nov. 26

at Wake Forest

Winston-Salem, N.C.

Cross Country Sept. 2

Belmont-VU Opener

Sept. 17

Commodore Classic

Sept. 24

Roy Griak Invitational

Oct. 1

Greater Louisville

NASHVILLE NASHVILLE Minneapolis, Minn. Louisville, Ky.

Oct. 14

Wisconsin-adidas Invite

Oct. 16

NCAA Pre-Nationals

Madison, Wis.

Oct. 31

SEC Championships

Nov. 12

NCAA South Regional

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Nov. 21

NCAA Championships

Terre Haute, Ind.

Terre Haute, Ind. Knoxville

Men’s Golf Sept. 3-4

Carmel Cup

Sept. 23-25

Mason Rudolph Championship

Carmel, Calif.

Oct. 9-11

The Prestige

FRANKLIN La Quinta, Calif.

Oct. 23-25

Isleworth Collegiate

Oct. 31-Nov. 1

The Hummingbird

Orlando, Fla.

Feb. 20-21

Mobile Bay Intercollegiate

Mobile, Ala.

March 5-6

Palmetto Invitational

Aiken, S.C.

Cashiers, N.C.

March 16-19

Schenkel E-Z-GO Invitational

Statesboro, Ga.

April 9-10

Memphis Intercollegiate

Memphis, Tenn. Sea Island, Ga.

April 20-22

SEC Championship

May 17-19

NCAA Regional

May 29-June 3

NCAA Championship

TBD Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Women’s Golf Sept. 11-13

Cougar Classic

Charleston

Sept. 23-25

Mason Rudolph Fall Preview

FRANKLIN

Oct. 14-16

Stanford Intercollegiate

Oct. 21-23

Mercedes SEC-Pac 12 Challenge

Feb. 20-21

Central District Invitational

March 2-4

Darius Rucker Intercollegiate

March 9-11

LSU Golf Classic

March 30-April 1

Ping/ASU Invitational

April 20-22

SEC Championship

May 10-12

NCAA Regional

May 22-25

NCAA Championship

Palo Alto Knoxville Parrish, Fla. Hilton Head Baton Rouge Tempe Fayetteville TBD FRANKLIN

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

2011 FALL SCHEDULES Football Sept. 3

Elon

NASHVILLE

Sept. 10

Connecticut

NASHVILLE

Sept. 17

Ole Miss *

NASHVILLE

Sept. 24

at South Carolina *

Columbia, S.C.

Oct. 8

at Alabama

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Oct. 15

Georgia *

NASHVILLE

Oct. 22

Army

NASHVILLE

Oct. 29

Arkansas

NASHVILLE

Nov. 5

at Florida *

Gainesville, Fla.

Nov. 12

Kentucky *

NASHVILLE

Nov. 19

at Tennessee *

Knoxville

Nov. 26

at Wake Forest

Winston-Salem, N.C.

Cross Country Sept. 2

Belmont-VU Opener

Sept. 17

Commodore Classic

Sept. 24

Roy Griak Invitational

Oct. 1

Greater Louisville

NASHVILLE NASHVILLE Minneapolis, Minn. Louisville, Ky.

Oct. 14

Wisconsin-adidas Invite

Oct. 16

NCAA Pre-Nationals

Madison, Wis.

Oct. 31

SEC Championships

Nov. 12

NCAA South Regional

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Nov. 21

NCAA Championships

Terre Haute, Ind.

Terre Haute, Ind. Knoxville

Men’s Golf Sept. 3-4

Carmel Cup

Sept. 23-25

Mason Rudolph Championship

Carmel, Calif.

Oct. 9-11

The Prestige

FRANKLIN La Quinta, Calif.

Oct. 23-25

Isleworth Collegiate

Oct. 31-Nov. 1

The Hummingbird

Orlando, Fla.

Feb. 20-21

Mobile Bay Intercollegiate

Mobile, Ala.

March 5-6

Palmetto Invitational

Aiken, S.C.

Cashiers, N.C.

March 16-19

Schenkel E-Z-GO Invitational

Statesboro, Ga.

April 9-10

Memphis Intercollegiate

Memphis, Tenn. Sea Island, Ga.

April 20-22

SEC Championship

May 17-19

NCAA Regional

May 29-June 3

NCAA Championship

TBD Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Women’s Golf Sept. 11-13

Cougar Classic

Charleston

Sept. 23-25

Mason Rudolph Fall Preview

FRANKLIN

Oct. 14-16

Stanford Intercollegiate

Oct. 21-23

Mercedes SEC-Pac 12 Challenge

Feb. 20-21

Central District Invitational

March 2-4

Darius Rucker Intercollegiate

March 9-11

LSU Golf Classic

March 30-April 1

Ping/ASU Invitational

April 20-22

SEC Championship

May 10-12

NCAA Regional

May 22-25

NCAA Championship

Palo Alto Knoxville Parrish, Fla. Hilton Head Baton Rouge Tempe Fayetteville TBD FRANKLIN

VUCOMMODORES.COM 22

SUMMER 2011

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

CHAD DRIVER

ommencement is one of the biggest days of the year on Vanderbilt’s campus, and the sentiment rings just as true for student-athletes as for the general student population. Due to their demanding spring schedules, however, each year a handful of student-athletes are unable to attend the university-wide commencement celebration on the second Friday in May. Above: Chancellor Nick Zeppos and Vice Chancellor David Williams pose with student-athletes before the Friday morning Commencement ceremony. Members of the baseball team were able to walk at Commencement on Friday morning before opening an SEC series at Hawkins Field that evening. Right: Members of the men’s tennis team received their diplomas in a Tuesday morning Athletic Commencement ceremony inside the Student Life Center. Chancellor Zeppos and Vice Chancellor Williams presided over the event, which also featured the women’s tennis and women’s track and field teams.

SUMMER 2011

last shots JOHN RUSSELL / VU PHOTOGRAPHY

CHAD DRIVER

SUMMER 2011

last shots JOHN RUSSELL / VU PHOTOGRAPHY

It’s the VANDERBILT

this isn’t going away CLINIC.

If you’re still sore from this weekend, maybe you’re more than just sore. Vanderbilt Bone & Joint Clinic’s high quality, comprehensive care is now available after hours, when it’s convenient for you. We offer evaluation and treatment of injuries to shoulders, knees, and ankles. We also have on-site X-ray and diagnostic services. Best of all, you’ll benefit from the expertise of a highly trained Vanderbilt orthopaedic specialist. No appointment necessary. For more information, visit VanderbiltBoneandJoint.com VA N D E R B I LT B O N E & J O I N T A F T E R H O U R S C L I N I C FRANKLIN

206 Bedford Way 615-261-0443

HOURS

M–Th 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.