October 2011
BACK in BLACK
table of contents 2 Compliance Corner Text messaging 4 National Commodore Club Reunion weekend activities 7 More from McGugin By the numbers
8
8 My Game Soccer senior Candace West
13
11 My Turn Rod Williamson’s monthly column 13 Johnell Thomas Diminutive defensive end plays big
15 Kristen Findley Across countries, scaling mountains 17 Scotti Madison Memorable Hall of Fame weekend 9 William R. Frist Family Gate 1 Billy and Jennifer Frist honored
17
21 Tigert and Blake Two early 1900s Rhodes Scholars
15 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.
23 Upcoming Events 2011-12 women’s basketball schedule 24 Last Shot Black helmets at UConn game
Compañia FlamenCo José porCel
gallim danCe
spiriT oF uganda
Spain’s flamenco superstar and his celebrated troupe of dancers, singers, and musicians.
A New York dance company that pushes the edge of their physical limits.
Standing drums, choreography, layered rhythms, and call-and-response vocals from East Africa.
Thursday, September 22 Langford Auditorium
Friday, October 28 Langford Auditorium
José Torres Tama
indian ink TheaTre Co.
Radical Latino performance artist and writer who lives by his doctrine – make art that matters.
An intimate theatre company from New Zealand that reminds us of simple truths.
Wednesday, October 5 Student Life Center
Wednesday, November 2 Student Life Center
alFredo rodríguez
Cloud gaTe 2 U.S. Tour Premiere
Riveting pianist schooled in the rigorous classical conservatories of Havana.
Taiwan’s pillar dance legacy which started with Cloud Gate Dance Theatre.
Friday, October 14 Langford Auditorium
Saturday, February 4 Langford Auditorium
Vu sTudenTs always $5
Photo: LIU Chen-hsiang / Cloud Gate 2
VUCOMMODORES.COM
Saturday, February 25 Langford Auditorium
The aCTing Company presents Julius Caesar Wednesday, February 29 Langford Auditorium
Shakespeare’s classic story of pride and envy, arrogance and honor.
red BaraaT
Friday, April 13 Student Life Center
Bhangra Funk explosive nine-piece band aka Dhol ‘n’ Brass that includes dhol, drum-set, percussion, sousaphone, and horns.
non Vu $10
www.vanderbilt.edu/greatperformances CommNation 1-2page GP 8-1-11.indd 1
vucommodores.com
7/27/11 4:45 PM
C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N
1
COMPLIANCE
COR NER Q: A:
Screen Pass is a prospective student-athlete preparing to begin his senior year of high school. The Vanderbilt football coaches would like to send Screen a text message wishing him good luck in the upcoming season. Is this permissible? No. NCAA Bylaw 13.4.1.2 states that electronically transmitted correspondence that may be sent to a prospective student-athlete is limited to electronic mail and facsimiles. All other forms of electronically transmitted correspondence (e.g., Instant Messenger, text messaging) are prohibited. Color attachments may be included with electronic mail correspondence sent to a prospective student-athlete, provided the attachment only includes information that is not created for recruiting purposes, except for items that are specifically permitted as printed recruiting materials (e.g., questionnaires). In addition, attachments shall not include any animation, audio or video clips and there shall be no cost (e.g., subscription fee) associated with sending the item attached to the electronic mail correspondence.
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 John Peach Andrew Turner Compliance Coordinator Recruiting/Compliance Coordinator 615/343-1060 615/322-4543 john.w.peach@vanderbilt.edu andrew.turner@vanderbilt.edu
COMMODORES
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 John Russell Susan Urmy Contributors: Andy Boggs Sterling Frierson Eli Horowitz Larry Leathers George Midgett Kyle Parkinson Ryan Schulz Jennifer Stevens Bill Traughber
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: The Commodore football team wore black helmets during Sept. 10’s 24-21 win over UConn. Photo by John Russell, VU Photography POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to National Commodore Club, 2601 Jess Neely Drive, Nashville, TN 37212. SUBSCRIPTION: To subscribe, contact Chris Weinman by by e-mail at commodorenation@vanderbilt.edu
Vanderbilt Bookstore
ADVERTISEMENT: To advertise with Commodore Nation, please contact Vanderbilt IMG Sports & Entertainment Properties. Jeff Miller, general manager 615/322-4468; jeff.miller@imgworld.com
Rand Hall | www.vanderbiltbookstore.com Commodore Nation is printed using recycled paper. 0695SC072910A
2
OCTOBER 2011
vucommodores.com
C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N
3
C O M M O D O R E C LU B
COR N E R
PHONE: 615/322-4114 • ONLINE: NationalCommodoreClub.com SOCCER ALUMNI DINNER – AUG. 22, 2011
Through its Dores Across Nashville program, Vanderbilt Alumni Relations sponsored a dinner between the 2011 women’s soccer team and several local soccer alumni. The dinner was hosted at the home of Molly (’05) and Brian Burgdorf. The event created an opportunity for the current student-athletes to network with alumni, and it allowed the alumni to get better acquainted with the current team and coaching staff.
Standing (L-R): Laura Stewart (’00), Mary Wilder (’89), Lisa UiberallNoble (’93), Molly Burgdorf (’05); Front: Laura Hershenow (’04), Tayler Gudeman (’03)
What are some of the events surrounding the upcoming reunion weekend (Oct. 21-23)?
NCC 101
Current student-athletes and alumni gathered for dinner at Molly (Wilson) Burgdorf’s house.
HALL OF FAME INDUCTION - SEPT. 2, 2011
• Vanderbilt Athletics hosts annual open house, Noon3:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 21 at the McGugin Center. • Vice Chancellor David Williams will give an update on athletics from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Sarratt Cinema. • On Saturday, all former student-athletes, cheerleaders, coaches, managers and trainers are invited to a pregame tailgate on McGugin Lawn. The tailgate will begin three hours prior to kickoff. Walk-ups are welcome, but you can register at NationalCommodoreClub.com or call the NCC Office at 615/322-4114. Admission is $10 per person. We look forward to seeing you on Reunion Weekend!
4
OCTOBER 2011
Standing (L-R): David Latimer, Scotti Madison, Lamar Alexander, Peter Lamb, John Ingram Seated: Stanley Bair (daughter of Carl Hinkle), Will Perdue, Sheri Sam Not in attendance: Tyler Griffin
National Commodore Club Tailgate Photos – SEPTEMBER 2011 All NCC members are invited to our two upcoming football tailgates before the Georgia (Oct. 15) and Army (Oct. 22) football games. The tailgates will be on McGugin Lawn and will begin three hours prior to kickoff.
NCC member Billy Frist with NCC Executive Director Mark Carter
NCC members and football parents Cindy Lassing with Lisa and William Bridges
NCC members and Vanderbilt parents Terry (’78) and Connie Palmberg
NCC members Patrick (’04, Football), Hadley and Ashley Brunner
TICKETCITY LEGENDS CLASSIC – NOV. 19 & 21, 2011 The Vanderbilt men’s basketball team will be playing in the TicketCity Legends Classic at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J., on Nov. 19 and 21. Anthony Travel has put together a great package for Commodore fans, including accommodations at the historic Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City and transportation to and from each game. There also will be a pregame reception for fans and alumni attending the Saturday’s game at the IZOD Center. For more information or to register, visit www.NationalCommodoreClub.com or call us at 615/322-4114.
vucommodores.com
C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N
5
Let us orchestrate your dream. For the perfect products for your kitchen or bath, stop by a Ferguson showroom. It’s where you’ll find the largest range of quality brands, a symphony of ideas, and trained consultants to help orchestrate your dream. With showrooms from coast to coast, come see why Ferguson is recommended by professional contractors and designers everywhere.
APPLIANCES
PLUMBING
FIXTURES
LIGHTING
Murfreesboro:
540 New Salem Rd
(615) 890-5599
Lebanon:
713 E Main St
(615) 444-2111
Nashville:
3201-B Powell Ave
(615) 385-3054
Clarksville:
1369 Ashland City Rd
(931) 647-0276
©2011 Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
6
PASSIONATE PEOPLE
OCTOBER 2011
FERGUSON.COM
More from McGugin
By The
NUMBERS
‘Coach Mac’ honored at UConn game
3
touchdowns on the first three career receptions for redshirtfreshman wide receiver Chris Boyd, including two TDs vs. Elon.
5
F
ormer Vanderbilt Head Football Coach George MacIntyre was honored in a special ceremony during halftime of the Commodores’ Sept. 10 football game against Connecticut, nearly 30 years to the day after he led the VU football team to an upset win over Maryland to dedicate a gleaming new Vanderbilt Stadium. Fred Pancoast, Mickey Jacobs and Steve Curnutte helped organize the event, which also raised awareness for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. MacIntyre, 72, was
JOE HOWELL
Southeastern Conference schools in the Top 10 of Collegiate Baseball’s ranking of incoming recruiting classes, including No. 2 Vanderbilt.
diagnosed with MS in 1997. The tribute included the unveiling of a painting by former Vanderbilt football player and Nashville artist James Threalkill. Seventy former VU players and coaches attended the event to recognize MacIntyre, who coached the Commodores for seven seasons from 1979 to 1985. MacIntyre was named the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year in 1982 after leading the Commodores to eight wins and an appearance in the Hall of Fame Bowl.
Hamilton, Garvin named Athletes of the Year
B
vucommodores.com
Southeastern Conference regular season games on television in 2012 for the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team, including an ESPN2 appearance in February at Kentucky.
10
interceptions in the first three weeks of the 2011 season for the Commodore football team, good for the national lead in that statistical category.
13
The national ranking for junior Ryan Lipman in the ITA’s preseason poll.
890
John russell
owling All-American Brittni Hamilton and SEC Pitcher of the Year Grayson Garvin took the top student honors at the annual Welcome Back Dinner on campus. Tim Corbin, who led his Commodores to their first ever College World Series appearance, was named Vanderbilt’s Coach of the Year. Hamilton was voted the Female Athlete of the Year after a tremendous 2010-11 that included two national individual titles and the team’s NCAA second place finish. She has returned to campus for her senior season. Garvin, named Vanderbilt’s Male Athlete of the Year, has signed a professional contract with Tampa Bay. Vanderbilt’s Senior Athletic Managers were responsible for voting. Corbin won the honor for the third time in his career after a season that set school and even Southeastern Conference records and included a title in the NCAA Super Regional. The women’s golf team won the Tolbert Cup for having the best combined athletic, academic and community service achievements. Women’s cross country earned the Provost’s Award for being the team with the highest combined grade point average.
10
All-American bowler Brittni Hamilton
In other awards, assistant ticket manager Michael West received the Special Appreciation Award and the compliance staff received the Vice Chancellor’s Award for outstanding year-round performance.
strokes (+26) at the Mason Rudolph Fall Preview for the Vanderbilt women’s golf team, which finished ninth in a field of the Top 20 teams in the country.
1,668
points in the PGA Tour Playoffs for Vanderbilt alumnus Brandt Snedeker, good for eighth overall after seven Top 10 finishes in the 2011 season.
C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N
7
My Game Senior Candace West is a soft-spoken leader for the Commodore women’s soccer team. The left-footed West hails from Doraville, Ga.—a northeast suburb of Atlanta—and spent seven weeks in Germany this summer through the Vanderbilt in Berlin program. West discusses her family, her professional career goals and the most memorable goals of her soccer career. How old were you when you first started playing soccer? “I was 4 years old. The name of our team was the Lions. I was usually the only girl on the team, and I remember my dad was a coach. My dad had played in high school. Both he and my mom are pretty athletic. She’s into staying fit—bike-riding, running, all that stuff.” Are your siblings athletic, as well? “All of us have played soccer, at least at one point. I played with my younger brother [Hans] a lot. My older brother [Ahmad] played in college [at Morehouse]. He was the one who built my foundation growing up, like my basic foot skills. He would always drag me out after school and make me work on things. The whole family is pretty athletic.” Did you play any other sports? “I played football for a year in high school, kicking for Lakeside. I’m the type of person where, if you say, ‘Oh, you can’t do that,’ then I want to set out to prove you wrong. At P.E. one day, somebody saw me kick a ball and they said, ‘Oh, you should go out for the football team; just joking around, you could never do that.’ So I decided I was going to do it. We had three kickers. One was the punter, and he also did kickoffs—my mom would not let me do that because you can get tackled. I mainly kicked extra points and closer field goals. There was another kicker that was more powerful than I was, but he was less accurate.” Who do you remember looking up to when you were young? “Mia Hamm was one of my big role models. Tiffeny Milbrett, too, because she was so short (5’2”). I watched both of them play on the national team. And Charmaine Hooper—she was attacker for the Atlanta Beat and for the Canadian National Team. She used to train me for a little while, and she was one of my big role models.” How do you approach a free kick? “The first thing I do is decide if I’m going to cross it to one of my teammates or shoot. Whichever I choose, I pick a spot—just a quick look, then I look down at the ball—and I think to myself, ‘You practice this, you’re in a game, it’s just gonna come to you,’ and then I just don’t worry about it and kick it. Usually it goes where I want it to.”
Candace
West
Who has been your favorite professor at Vanderbilt? “Dr. Peggy [Setje-Eilers]. She came with us to Berlin this summer. She’s just really bubbly, and she always makes classes fun. It was the first time I had studied the history of Germany in German. I’m already pretty bad at history, so learning it in a different language was even tougher for me. But she made it really fun.”
ZAC HARDY
What did you take away from your experience in Germany? “My grandmother grew up in Germany. My dad was born here in the states, but his father was in the Army so he grew up partially in Germany and partially in the United States. It was kind of funny because when I was growing up I was really close to my grandmother, and when I went over there and saw a lot of the habits that Germans have, I thought, ‘Oh, my grandmother does this all the time. Now it makes sense to me.’ I got to go there and see my roots, see where my
8
OCTOBER 2011
grandmother was born. She was born in Berlin a little before World War II started and they had to move, but the house where they lived wasn’t destroyed during the war, so I got to see it, which was pretty cool.” What’s the best goal you’ve ever scored? “The one I’m really proud of was last year against Alabama where I scored off a corner kick, where I bent it in. Before that, in the Georgia game, I had so many shots I was trying to bend in. That was my goal throughout the season, and I finally did it.” How about the most meaningful goal? “Last year, when we went to the SECs and played Florida, we were down 3-0. When I scored that initial goal, I felt like that was pretty meaningful because it gave us hope. We ended up coming back and tying the game 3-3. Granted, we ended up losing, but it gave us that drive and that chance.” What are your career goals? “I want to be a nurse practitioner. I’m not exactly sure what specialty. I don’t have a nursing degree, but I do want to help people, and I’m more of a science person, so I figured nursing was a good way to put those two things together.
JOE HOWELL
“Before that, I’d like to take maybe a year off and just keep playing soccer. It would be great if I had an opportunity to play overseas, maybe in Germany. I’m really willing to play anywhere that I have the opportunity, because I’m not really ready to stop playing yet. You live once, and once I start getting into the real world I don’t think I’ll be able to come back to soccer. So I’d rather do it now, play as much as I can, and then get into the real world.” n
vucommodores.com
C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N
9
TEMPLE HILLS COUNTRY CLUB IS A PROUD PARTNER OF VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS.
Go from tee to green to courts League Play
Tennis Facilities
Swimming
Social Events
Temple Hills is a private, full-service, family-oriented club that offers 27 spectacular holes of golf, along with swimming, tennis
to pool
and social activities! It’s a membership the whole family will enjoy. Dues start at just $258 per month. Temple Hills members also enjoy reciprocal golf privileges at several other courses
to dinner.
including King’s Creek Golf Club in Spring Hill.
JOIN TEMPLE HILLS FOR $500! That’s over $500 in savings. Call (866) 538-8186 for more information and ask about
The Unlimited Membership!
Two year membership commitment required to receive the above offer. Entry fee of $1,000 offered for a one year commitment. Promotion not valid with any other offers and expires October 31, 2011. Other restrictions may apply.
10
OCTOBER 2011
www.templehillsgolf.com
OCTOBER AT THE SCHERMERHORN BUY TICKETS AT NashvilleSymphony.org 615.687.6400
OCT. 6
7 8
AX PLAYS BEETHOVEN Nashville Symphony Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor Emanuel Ax, piano
OCT. 14
SONNY ROLLINS
Concert presented without orchestra
OCT. 20 21 22
CHRISTOPHER CROSS Nashville Symphony Albert-George Schram, conductor
TM
CONCERT SPONSOR
OCT. 29
THE COMPOSER IS DEAD Nashville Symphony Kelly Corcoran, conductor Giancarlo Guerrero, narrator
PIED PIPER SERIES
Presented in English & Spanish
OCT. 31
HALLOWEEN MOVIE NIGHT
FEATURING PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Tom Trenney, organ Concert presented without orchestra
With support from:
Christopher Cross
Sonny Rollins
It’s My Turn by Rod Williamson
Rearranging the real culture
T
he Ole Miss football game had ended minutes earlier. Fans were high-fiving and sharing the thrill of victory up and down Natchez Trace. Just before Coach James Franklin would walk into the news conference, we handed him a stat sheet and gushed that the five interceptions had pushed our season total to more than we had all of last year. “We don’t talk about last year,” Franklin deadpanned, tonguein-cheek (we think). It was a humorous moment during an exciting afternoon, but it underscored how things have changed. We had talked about changing the culture since last Christmas, prior to the hiring of our dynamic new head coach. And when we did, the unspoken assumption was that we were targeting things such as more convenient parking, expanded tailgating areas, improved stadium sound systems and so forth. Throughout the spring and summer, those very topics were foremost on our minds as we prepared for the season. But a funny thing happened on the way to change. We realized that changing the tangible stuff was a lot easier than changing how we thought or how we acted. We are creatures of habit, no matter how “out of the box” we believe we function. We make assumptions and draw conclusions based upon past experiences. Many of us are affected by what others say or how we are treated. So when the fellow nearing social security age, having seen but a handful of winning seasons in his adult life, can’t get past the point of thinking Vanderbilt football is a prescription for heartache, we can understand. And when the gang at the water cooler heckles us because we are an easy target, we become conditioned to shrink and accept our lot as a college football have-not. Years of football futility messes with your mind, even if it is just a game. We know good people who don’t want to become fans again because they just can’t take the disappointment if things don’t work out—much like what is said after a beloved pet dies. Then along comes an outsider, a strong stranger not entrenched in history and negativity. He sees the glass half-full—not halfempty—and optimism where the masses see gloom. He says as much and is quickly labeled “naïve.” We could be writing about Baseball Coach Tim Corbin, but let’s stick with James Franklin for now. After the team’s 3-0 start, a scribe asked Franklin how he planned to keep his team’s feet on the ground with so many fans gushing about success. “We have been talking to the team since we arrived about how we were going to handle success,” Franklin explained to a room that seemed to have trouble understanding that he was EXPECTING success from the get-go. We suspect many fans also would be in disbelief that handling success was on his agenda last spring, the same way some were astonished to learn that the baseball team practiced the victory “dog pile” it would employ at the Super Regional during last winter’s workouts. It takes dynamic leadership to change the real culture—the human mind. We resist the pleas to wear the school colors or to invest in the program through season ticket purchases or gifts to the National Commodore Club. There were many who said they would “wait and see” if the actions matched the talk. Those fans missed a come-from-behind victory over Big East champion Connecticut and the eye-opening win over the Rebels. n
Emanuel Ax
vucommodores.com
C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N
11
12
OCTOBER 2011
Undoubted Thomas
Junior end excels at Vanderbilt against the odds By Chris Weinman
“Our strength grows out of our weaknesses.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
JOHN RUSSELL
A
JOE HOWELL
On the field, redshirt junior defensive end Johnell Thomas compensates for his lack of size. According to teammate Rob Lohr: “I’ve never seen a guy so explosive.”
vucommodores.com
s the smallest defensive end on the Commodore football team’s roster, redshirt junior Johnell Thomas may have trouble seeing over linemen and into the opposing team’s backfield. But the Orlando, Fla., native has no problem seeing just how far he has come in his life. At 6’0” tall, Thomas is at least three inches shorter than all but one of the players within his position group, but he’s never seen his size as a disadvantage. “I see it as me having leverage on anybody that is bigger,” Thomas said. “But really it’s all heart. That’s the mentality you have to play with. You know you put enough work into your game. So I really never worry about my size.” Besides, the challenges Thomas has faced in his life are larger than the offensive tackles he lines up against every day in practice, all of whom stand at 6’5” or above. Before arriving at Orlando’s Boone High School as a freshman, Thomas had “gone through a lot of hardships.” Then he met Boone Assistant Coach Peter Kearney. Kearney saw the potential that Thomas possessed, not only on the football field, but also in life. So the Kearney family opened their home, and Peter and wife Lisa became Thomas’ legal guardians. “There was a situation where I had a chance to be taken in by a family,” Thomas said. “[Peter Kearney] has always been there for me. He wouldn’t want me to stay with anyone else but him. I’m very blessed and thankful for what’s he done for me.” The Kearneys provided Thomas with a stable living environment, and Peter—a constant presence both at home and at school— helped motivate Thomas to see his own potential. “He’s always been a really hardworking kid, a real dedicated kid in the classroom,” Kearney said.
“If anybody had the opportunity to go the wrong way, it was Johnell. He just never chose that route. He always chose the route of hard work.” After becoming a starter at defensive tackle for the Braves as a sophomore, Thomas began to realize that playing college football might be in his future. “I hadn’t even thought about going to college until maybe my junior year,” Thomas said. “Coach Kearney was the one who actually told me, ‘You’re good enough to play in college.’” By the end of his junior season, Kearney’s sentiments were being echoed by a host of interested college coaches. “A lot of schools loved the fact that his motor never stopped,” Kearney said. “By the end of his junior year, we knew he was going to go to college somewhere, we just didn’t know where.” That changed when Vanderbilt added its name to the list of Thomas’ suitors. “He always had a Vanderbilt poster in his bedroom at the house,” Kearney said. “That’s where he wanted to go to school.” Thomas is the first in his family to attend college, and VU’s June 2011 Student-Athlete of the Month is on pace to graduate with a degree in human and organizational development. For Thomas, the struggles that he overcame early in his life—and the support he received along the way—have helped make any future obstacles not loom quite as large. “The way that it’s helped me the most is to see adversity not as something that’s negative,” Thomas said. “People strive once they go through adversity. What I’ve been through is part of the reason I’m here at Vanderbilt right now [because of] people helping me—like Peter Kearney and a lot of other people." n
C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N
13
Admission Weekend: November 5-6, 2011 Visit www.harpethhall.org to learn more about applying to Harpeth Hall.
Harpeth Hall Athletes-
Champions on and off the Field. Harpeth Hall Where girls in grades 5 - 12 learn to think critically, to lead confidently, and to live honorably.
The Harpeth Hall School | 3801 Hobbs Road | Nashville, TN 37215 | 615-297-9543 | www.harpethhall .org
57
luxurious suites with sitting area, fold out sofa, microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker, hair dryer, iron/ironing board, two phones with data ports and clock radio 42" LCD TV with full HD channels in every suite Free high speed wireless internet Fitness center with cardiovascular equipment Business center with internet, copy and fax Deluxe complimentary breakfast with omelets, waffles, sausage, and other items Frequent stay program
622 Church Street East Brentwood, TN Phone 615-277-4000 Fax 615-277-4653 Toll Free 1-866-277-4009 brentwoodsuites@yahoo.com www.brentwoodsuiteshotel.com
14
OCTOBER 2011
Kristen Findley: Up to the challenge
by Eli Horowitz
W
DANIEL DUBOIS
hile women’s cross country runner Kristen Findley may be used to following a path as a runner, her life motto is far from pedestrian. Approaching everything from athletics, academics, family and travel as an opportunity for growth, it came as no surprise that Kristen decided to take on the daunting task of climbing the Matterhorn this past summer. Bordering Italy and Switzerland, the Matterhorn towers 15,000 feet above sea level. If heights alone aren’t enough to scare off potential climbers, the Matterhorn may be the most dangerous peak in the Alps—500 people have died attempting the feat. Because of these factors, climbing this towering beast requires four days of rigorous training with professional guides. Couple all this with a brutal climate and the accompanying mental pressures, and this endeavor is the last thing many people would consider taking on. But for Kristen, climbing the Matterhorn was just another chance to take on a challenge. Born in Boise, Idaho, Kristen underwent a major change at age 10 when she moved to Saudi Arabia—a nation where women can’t drive and people cannot consume alcohol or eat pork. From the land of the free to an intensely religious culture, Kristen was thrust into a vastly different lifestyle. Yet, this extreme change did not bother her. Instead, she embraced Saudi Arabia, playing on travel soccer teams and interacting with locals. Through this experience at such a young age she developed a confident swagger that helps her face daily obstacles today. “It was the move to Saudi Arabia where I underwent a sort of paradigm shift,” Kristen said. “I realized there’s so much more out there, traveling to so many places and seeing different ways of life.” It was this shift in perspective that developed and instilled the gogetter attitude for which Kristen is known. She credits this growth with setting the stage for her to climb the Matterhorn 10 years later. As a runner, Kristen had opportunities to be a star at a smaller Division III school. Yet, she wanted to run at a Southeastern Conference school, even if that meant not being the top runner on the team. “At the engineering school I worked at this summer, I could have had two or three records,” Kristen said. “But it’s pretty rewarding being able to compete with the best, especially in the SEC, such a tough conference. I’d rather be in the middle of my team at a really good school than at the front of my team where I’m always winning. I really like my spot on the team because I always have something to work toward.” Expectations are high for the Vanderbilt women’s Kristen puts this cross country team this season. sentiment of having something to work toward to practice by setting a personal goal to always travel to road meets. Since road meets often take only the top eight runners, not everyone can attend. Nevertheless, Kristen earned a spot on the travel roster when the Commodores ran at the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis. In the classroom, Kristen is a biomedical engineer, one of the most academically demanding majors at Vanderbilt. Not only does she study a dense field on top of being an athlete, Kristen has plans to earn
vucommodores.com
Kristen and her father, Jim, traveled to Europe this summer to climb the Matterhorn, a mountain on the border of Switzerland and Italy.
a Ph.D. abroad, as she wants to research restoring vision to the blind. Kristen’s mother is Mexican, and Kristen is fluent in Spanish, which fuels her interest in conducting her post-graduate studies abroad. After living in Saudi Arabia and traveling to 30 countries, there is no doubt in her mind she can earn her Ph.D. internationally in Spanish. Since climbing the Matterhorn—an experience Kristen called the “most physically and mentally draining” of her life, it became clear that her challenges in school, on the track and in the rest of her life were no more than opportunities for success. Kristen is as eager as ever to continue to pursue her goals of travel and international study. She also is more confident than ever about the cross-country season, both individually and as a team, and believes Vanderbilt has a chance to win the SEC Championship. Whether or not the Commodores conquer the SEC this fall, Kristen has decided to constantly strive to reach new heights. The determination that has already taken her to one of the highest peaks in Europe continues to fuel her goals closer to sea level. When asked about her motivation to push herself to the limits, Kristen shrugs and states simply, “I like a challenge.” n
C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N
15
“Absolutely GorGeous”
osHi F L OWERS
Photo by Ron Manville Planner/ Angela Profitt
Flowers | orcHids | truFFles | osHi cAndle
www.osHiFlowers.com | www.mydormFlowers.com The Foot of the Capitol - 615.254.6744 206 capitol blvd. nashville, tn 37219
The Pinnacle at Symphony Place - 615.259.0444 150 third Ave. south (main lobby) nashville, tn 37201
Direct to Perri (OSHi) 615.972.5425
DaiLy DELivERiES WORLDWiDE: FLORaL DESign upWaRD OF $100
Photos by McLellan Style
16
OCTOBER 2011
He went to
Hawkins
PEYTON HOGE
Hall of Famer Madison’s proposal at home plate.
O
n the morning of Sept. 3—as the Vanderbilt campus was buzzing with preparations for the first football game of the 2011 season—baseball legend Scotti Madison walked with his girlfriend, Heather Pennington, to Hawkins Field. The night before, Madison had been part of the fourth class inducted into the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame, but he had even bigger plans for that Saturday morning. “The next day I’d forgotten all about Friday night,” Madison said. “Because I had a bigger event: asking Heather to marry me on the baseball field.” When the couple arrived at Hawkins Field, most of the baseball team—there for a voluntary morning workout—began to congregate behind home plate. Local photographer Peyton Hoge also was on hand, and Heather began to put the puzzle pieces together. “I had thought we were just going there to reminisce,” Heather said. “But when we got there, he started getting really nervous as we were walking toward home plate. As we were getting closer, he started shaking, and I could tell his mind was very preoccupied. When he grabbed my hand I knew what he was about to do.” According to Madison: “I said, ‘I guess this is something I could probably do at the Eiffel Tower or maybe at the Golden Gate Bridge, but some of the happiest days of my life were playing baseball right here on this field, and I want to be able to enjoy and experience that same happiness again. I can’t do that unless you’re a part of my life.’” n As you have no doubt already surmised, Heather said yes.
vucommodores.com
C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N
17
T H E D R I V E TO W I N
PRECISION. EXCELLENCE. DRIVE. The qualities that carry Vanderbilt athletes to victory. These same qualities make GRAND AVENUE the ground transportation partner you can trust with all your travel needs. Make Grand Avenue and our diverse fleet of vehicles a part of your winning team today. Corporate, special occasion and customized transportation. Be Driven.
Corporate transportation • Airport transportation • Weddings & receptions • Member services Sporting events • Nights on the town • Concert service • Signature events & fundraisers Anniversaries & birthdays • Proms
The Ground Transportation Choice for Vanderbilt Athletics
18
OCTOBER 2011
(615) 714.5466 or visit www.grandavenuelimo.com
Call us today at
Family tradition
F
ans will notice an addition to Vanderbilt Stadium’s Gate 2—the facility’s main entrance from Vandyville at the corner of Natchez Trace and Jess Neely Drive. The William R. Frist Family Gate has been dedicated in honor of a generous donation from William R. (Billy) and Jennifer Frist to the National Commodore Club’s stadium renovation fund. Jennifer holds a computer science degree from Vanderbilt’s School of Engineering. Billy, a Nashville native and former state champion wrestler at Montgomery Bell Academy, did not attend Vanderbilt, but grew up cheering for the Commodores thanks to his grandfather, Thomas Sr., and father, Thomas Jr.—both Vanderbilt alumni. “My grandfather was a great supporter of Vanderbilt athletics right up until he died,” Billy said. “Going to games with him is a great memory of growing up.” A plaque is planned at street level in honor of Thomas Sr., who graduated from Vanderbilt’s School of Medicine in 1933 and passed away in 1998 at the age of 87. After living away from Nashville for years, Billy and Jennifer moved back in 2001 and have been regulars at Commodore events. The couple recently completed a pledge that was initiated after the Commodores’ 2008 victory in the Music City Bowl. “Football expenses are tremendous,” Frist noted. “In the SEC it’s an especially costly endeavor. But it’s a process that keeps moving forward, and it’s important that we keep up to stay competitive.” n
vucommodores.com
“Every school has a core group of supporters to help champion their programs, and Billy and Jennifer are definitely two of our champions. This year has the potential to be a great year for Vanderbilt Athletics, and the investment Billy and Jennifer have made is a big reason why. I am proud to see the family honored with the naming of the William R. Frist Family Gate.” — NCC Executive Director Mark Carter
C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N
19
20
OCTOBER 2011
Tigert and Blake: Rhodes Scholars
by Bill Traughber
His selection as a Rhodes Scholar would be the first of someone from the state of Tennessee. Tigert would find time in Oxford to continue his athletic competitiveness in tennis, cricket and rowing. He completed his Master of Arts degree at Pembroke College in 1907. Upon his return to the United States, Tigert taught at Central College in Fayette, Mo. At age 27, he was named president of Kentucky Wesleyan in Owensboro in 1909. With a career in education his desire, Tigert accepted a position at the University of Kentucky as a professor of psychology and philosophy. He kept his ambition for sports while serving as the university’s athletic director from 1913 to 1917. Coaching would be part of his college experience with additional duties as the Wildcats’ men’s basketball coach (1913), women’s basketball coach (1911-17) and football coach (1915-16). Tigert’s coaching records include 5-3 in men’s basketball, 10-2-3 on the gridiron and
vucommodores.com
50 YEARS OF VANDERBILT FOOTBALL
T
he Rhodes Scholarship has been recognized as the oldest and most prestigious postgraduate award for the study at the Oxford University (Oxford, England). It is administered and dispersed by the Rhodes Trust that was established in 1902 by the terms in the will of Cecil John Rhodes. The recipients are chosen from an application, which is based on their academic achievement and moral fiber. Two former Vanderbilt football players, and one-time teammates, were among the first to be accepted into the honored program. John J. Tigert (1901-03) and Bob Blake (1903-07) became members of the All-Southern team with their exploits on the football field. Both were halfbacks while Blake also played at the end position. Tigert was born in Nashville and earned his high school diploma, with honors, from the Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tenn. While at Vanderbilt, he was a prominent athlete participating in football, basketball, baseball and track. Tigert graduated from the university in 1904 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Blake and Tigert (top row, far left) both played on the 1903 Vanderbilt football team; both men would earn All-Southern Conference accolades during their athletic careers.
23-4 with the women’s basketball. In 1921, President Warren G. Harding appointed Tigert as the U. S. Commissioner of Education. He would serve seven years that continued into the administration of Calvin Coolidge. In 1928, the Florida Board of Control hired Tigert as the president of the University of Florida. He continued his interest in athletics being responsible for the construction of a football stadium on campus (Florida Field) in 1930 that seated 22,800. He aided in the founding of the Southeastern Conference in 1932 with Florida as one of 13 members. While maintaining his position as Florida’s president, Tigert would serve one term as SEC president (1934-36) while implementing grant-in aid to college athletes. Tigert resigned his presidency at Florida in 1947 after 19 years and worked as a consultant on education for the government of India. He taught philosophy at the University of Miami until 1959 and died in Gainesville at age 82 in 1965. Tigert was inducted into the Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as an “Honorary Letter Winner,” and the main administration building on campus is Tigert Hall. The National College Football Hall of Fame added Tigert to its honorees in 1970. Blake was born in Cuero, Texas, in 1885 and was Vanderbilt’s first athlete to earn 16 letters in the short history of the university. After leaving Vanderbilt, he won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford. In 1910, Blake was awarded a law degree and returned to Vanderbilt for one season as an assistant football coach for Dan McGugin.
After his admission to the Tennessee Bar, Blake practiced insurance law in Nashville until 1919 whereupon he moved to St. Louis to operate a wholesale silk company until he became general counsel for International Shoe Co. in 1921. He held a position as a board of directors until his return to private practice in 1950. Blake was founder and first president of the St. Louis Crime Commission, chairman of the 1947 St. Louis Citizens’ Tax Commission and head of the Governmental Research Institute. In 1906 Bob had two brothers, Dan and Vaughn, who were his Commodore teammates. Legendary sports writer and Vanderbilt graduate Grantland Rice once said about Bob Blake, “He was the only halfback who never lost a yard around right end.” Blake died in 1962. n
Historian Bill Traughber’s new book is now available at historypress.net, amazon.com and Nashville-area bookstores.
C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N
21
22
OCTOBER 2011
2011-12 WOMen’s Basketball SCHEDULE November 5 (Sat.)
Clayton St. exhibition Nashville
11 (Fri.)
Alabama A&M Nashville
TBA
14 (Mon.)
Western Illinois Nashville
7 p.m.
16 (Wed.)
USC Upstate Nashville
7 p.m.
22 (Tues.) Sam Houston State Nashville
7 p.m.
TBA
25 (Fri.)
Lipscomb % Nashville
TBA
26 (Sat.)
Liberty/Oklahoma % Nashville
TBA
30 (Wed.)
at Austin Peay
TBA
Clarksville
December 2 (Fri.)
Denver Nashville
7 p.m.
4 (Sun.)
High Point Nashville
2 p.m.
7 (Wed.)
at Tennessee-Martin
Jackson
7 p.m.
18 (Sun.)
at N.C. State
Raleigh, N.C.
TBA
22 (Thurs.)
Florida State Nashville
7 p.m.
29 (Thurs.)
Western Carolina Nashville
7 p.m.
January 5 (Thurs.)
at South Carolina *
Columbia, S.C.
6 p.m.
8 (Sun.)
Ole Miss * Nashville
2 p.m.
12 (Thurs.)
Auburn * Nashville
CSS
8 p.m.
15 (Sun.)
at Tennessee *
Knoxville
SECN
1 p.m.
19 (Thurs.)
at Arkansas *
Fayetteville, Ark.
22 (Sun.) South Carolina * Nashville ESPNU
7 p.m. 12:30 p.m.
26 (Thurs.)
Georgia * Nashville
29 (Sun.)
LSU * Nashville
CSS
2 p.m.
8 p.m.
2 (Thurs.)
at Auburn *
Auburn, Ala.
6 p.m.
5 (Sun.)
at Mississippi State *
Starkville, Miss.
2 p.m.
February
9 (Thurs.)
Tennessee * Nashville
CSS
12 (Sun.)
at Georgia *
SECN
1 p.m.
16 (Thurs.)
Florida * Nashville
FSN
8 p.m.
20 (Mon.)
at Kentucky *
Lexington, Ky.
ESPN2
8 p.m.
23 (Thurs.)
at LSU *
Baton Rouge, La.
FSN
8 p.m.
26 (Sun.)
Alabama * Nashville
CSS
3 p.m.
Athens, Ga.
The 2012 Southeastern Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament will return to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, March 1-4. This is the fifth time the SEC Tournament has been held in Nashville. The event was previously in the Music City in 2002, 2004, 2008 and 2011. In the four previous SEC Tournaments played in Nashville, Vanderbilt holds a 9-2 record. The Commodores have won championships in 2002 and 2004, while advancing to the semifinals in 2008 and 2011. Games on Thursday and Friday are scheduled to begin at noon CT, with Saturday’s semifinal matchups starting at 3 p.m. and Sunday’s championship game tipping off at 5 p.m. The first two days will be televised by FSN, with coverage shifting to ESPNU for the semifinals and ending up on ESPN2 for the championship. The winner of the 11-game tournament will receive the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
8 p.m.
SEC Tournament 1 (Thurs.)
SEC First Round
Nashville
FSN
TBA
2 (Fri.)
SEC Quarterfinals
Nashville
FSN
TBA
3 (Sat.)
SEC Semifinals
Nashville
ESPNU
TBA
4 (Sun.)
SEC Championship
Nashville
ESPN2
TBA
NCAA Tournament 17/18 NCAA First Round Nashville ESPN/2/U
TBA
19/20 NCAA Second Round Nashville ESPN/2/U
TBA
All game times are central (CT) and subject to change HOME GAMES played in Memorial Gymnasium % denotes Vanderbilt Thanksgiving Tournament * denotes Southeastern Conference game
VUCOMMODORES.COM vucommodores.com
Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gymnasium will play host to the first and second rounds of the 2012 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. Dates for the games will be either March 17 and 19 or March 18 and 20. This is the 11th time Vanderbilt will have hosted March Madness at Memorial Gym, and the first time since 2006. Vanderbilt is 15-1 all-time in NCAA Tournament games played at Memorial Gym. If the Commodores are selected to play in the field of 64, they will be guaranteed to play at home. Des Moines, Iowa, Fresno, Calif., Kingston, R.I., and Raleigh, N.C., will serve as regional sites leading up to the 2012 Final Four in Denver, Colo.
C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N
23
JOE HOWELL / VU PHOTOGRAPHY
last shots F
or the first time since the 1990 season, the Vanderbilt football team donned black helmets on Saturday, Sept. 10 against Connecticut. The new hats were paired with black jerseys and pants to complete the “Black Out” look, which the 32,000 fans in attendance also had been encouraged to wear. Commodore players—who were told about the new helmets just days before the game—wore their regular gold helmets during warmups, unveiling the black helmets minutes before kickoff with the Huskies. In the 24-21 win, VU did not allow the defending Big East champs to score an offensive TD.
24
OCTOBER 2011