’ DORES SPAN THE GLOBE December 2008
table of contents 2 Connecting With The Web 4 National Commodore Club 6 In My Words Patrick Benoist
7 Commodores Cubed Know your Commodores
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8 Point of View Alex Hilliard
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9 Bowled Over Vanderbilt earns coveted sixth win
10 Team Has International Flavor MBB team hails from across the world
13 It’s My Turn — Rod Williamson The Year That Was
15 The Final 4 Jared Hawkins
16 Overcoming Obstacles Swimmer Austin Langley
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19 Vanderbilt’s Top FB Wins: 1-5 View the top wins of the modern era
20 Quick Hits A look at Vanderbilt’s sports teams
23 Crosland Finds Unlikely Path Former `Dore makes her mark off the course
24 The Last Look
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Connect with
VUCOMMODORES.COM Editorial Publisher: Vanderbilt University Editor-in-Chief: Ryan Schulz Director of External Relations: Rod Williamson Designers: Jeremy Teaford Ryan Schulz
Digital Image Specialist: Julie Luckett Turner Photographers: Daniel Dubois
It’s Good To Be Gold
Photo Store
Steve Green
Videos for Vanderbilt’s spring sports were recently added to VU’s newest online addition — www.itsgoodtobegold.com. The site gives fans an inside look at what the studentathletes are like off the field.
Decorate your home or workplace with the purchase of exclusive Vanderbilt photos. The photos range from images of Vanderbilt’s campus and athletic venues to action shots from Vanderbilt’s sporting events.
Mason Hensley Stan Jones Paul J. Levy John Russell
Contributors: Andy Boggs John Erck Alex Hilliard Larry Leathers Thomas Samuel Chris Weinman
Administrative Chancellor: Nicholas S. Zeppos Vice Chancellor for University Affairs: David Williams II Interim Vice Chancellor
for Public Affairs: Beth Fortune
Podcasts Download archived audio files to your computer or media device. Audio files available for download include postgame interviews, weekly news conferences, Joe Fisher’s daily updates and weekly radio interviews.
Joe Fisher’s Daily Update Listen to what the Voice of the Commodores has to say about Vanderbilt on a daily basis. Fisher’s Vanderbilt updates on Nashville’s 104.5 The Zone are archived daily.
Building Consistency I have been most impressed by the continued development of the football program under Bobby Johnson. I have been a lifetime supporter of Vanderbilt, and I can’t remember a season I have been more wrapped up in than this year. Heidi, Memphis, Tenn.
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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.
Letters Reaching for a Higher Goal Matt Long’s rise through the ranks as a triathlete is proof that hard work can take someone a long way. I know every Commodore will be pulling for Matt as he takes aim at his Olympic dream. Jim, Nashville, Tenn.
Vanderbilt University’s Mission, Goals and Values
ON THE COVER: Basketball globe (Illustration by Jeremy Teaford; Photos by John Russell)
The Man Behind the Voice I enjoyed reading the recent story on Joe Fisher. As someone who no longer lives in Nashville, Joe has been my eyes and ears to Vanderbilt games for a number of years. Some of his calls will be entrenched in my mind forever. It was great to learn more about the person who keeps me close to Vanderbilt even when I’m a far away. John, Chicago, Ill. To submit a letter, email CN at: commodorenation@gmail.com. Letters should include the writer’s name and address and may be edited for clarity and space.
POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to National Commodore Club, 2601 Jess Neely Drive, Nashville, TN 37212. SUBSCRIPTION: To subscribe to Commodore Nation, please contact the National Commodore Club at 615/322-4114. ADVERTISEMENT: To advertise with Commodore Nation, please contact Vanderbilt ISP Sports. Jeff Miller, General Manager 615/322-4468 jmiller@ispsports.com
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C O M M O D O R E C LU B
COR N E R PHONE: 615/322-4114 vucommodores.com OCT. 25 DUKE GAME
Former receiver Earl Bennett waves to the crowd in the Homecoming Parade. Bennett now plays for the Chicago Bears.
Former Commodores Jay Cutler (left), Chris Williams (center) and Steven Bright return to campus for Homecoming.
DONOR ADVISED FUNDS/ DECLINING BENEFITS Gifts to the NCC from foundation donoradvised funds REQUIRE the donor to decline benefits due to tax laws that govern use of those funds. Under no circumstances will benefits be given to donors who have made their NCC gift via funds subject to the laws governing those funds. Any donor can give to NCC and decline benefits. Vanderbilt will issue a receipt that allows 100% deductibility of the gift. However, if you attempt to secure tickets and parking, the NCC will be unable to fulfill that request. If the need for tickets/parking persists, you will be required to write a letter indicating the desire to change your intention from decline to accept benefits.
JOIN THE BLACK AND GOLD ENDOWMENT SOCIETY Vanderbilt Athletics and the National Commodore Club endeavor to endow all athletics scholarships. To help in that task, the NCC has created an endowment level called the Black and Gold Society. Black and Gold Society members create an opportunity for a student-athlete while receiving full benefits of the Dudley Society with a five-year, $100,000 commitment. For more information on the Black and Gold Society and Athletic Scholarship Endowments, please contact John Erck at: john.erck@vanderbilt.edu or 615/322-7922.
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OCT. 4 AUBURN GAME
Richard Patton (left) and John Ingram celebrate the Auburn victory with Coach Bobby Johnson's wife, Catherine.
Carolyn Baker (left) is recognized at the Auburn game by Lucy Jones of the NCC for the commitment she made to Vanderbilt Athletics.
2020 SOCIETY
JOIN THE NCC OR RENEW TODAY!
The 2020 Society comprises members of the National Commodore Club, age 40 and younger, who contribute at least $100 annually. If you have been giving to the NCC at this level and are younger than 41, you automatically are in the 2020 Society. The society is a creation of the 2020 Advisory Committee, a group of young alumni committed to increasing young membership in the National Commodore Club and promoting VU Athletics. If you are a non-alumni member of the NCC and qualify for the 2020 Society but have not been notified, please contact Cal Cook at: cal.cook@vanderbilt.edu or 615/343-4878.
You recently should have received your membership renewal for the National Commodore Club. Please mail it in, call 615/3224114, click vucommodores.com or stop by the office in the McGugin Center to make your gift. Every gift is allocated toward the goal of funding student-athlete scholarships. This year’s membership deadline is May 30 (Vanderbilt’s fiscal year ends June 30). Thank you for your continued support of Vanderbilt Athletics. Your Membership Matters!
ATHLETIC RENOVATIONS
OCT. 11 MISSISSIPPI STATE GAME
An early drawing of the addition to the McGugin Center. This addition will add a third floor the McGugin Center and house the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame. Please contact the National Commodore Club at 615/322.4114 to learn how you can contribute to the project.
Barry Heywood, Jack Whiteaker and Winston Caine spend time with Catherine Johnson, on the field before the game at Mississippi State.
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In My Words
P
atrick Benoist knows that he’s not the biggest, strongest or most athletic linebacker in the SEC, but what he lacks physically he more than makes up for with intelligence. Listed at 6’0”, 222 pounds, Benoist has turned into one of the SEC’s top linebackers, ranking among the league leaders in tackles. His play also has earned him multiple honors throughout the season. Against South Carolina, the junior earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week and FWAA National Defensive Player of the Week accolades after registering 15 tackles and one sack. He was also named SEC Defensive Player of the Week following a 13-tackle, onesack performance against Auburn. His knack for having some of his biggest games when the spotlight shines the brightest is nothing new to Benoist, who helped Southlake (Texas) Carroll High School to consecutive Texas 5A states title in 2004 and 2005.
Patrick
Benoist
On earning multiple player of the week honors this season It’s been great to receive the honors, but it is even better when the team wins, so luckily all the awards have come after victories.
On being selected as one of nine members of the Leadership Council I’m very honored to be a part of it, and it is just a huge honor to be on the Leadership Council. I feel blessed that my teammates put me in that position, and I just hope to fulfill it. On being undersized at the position There are advantages to being small. I get to fit into some of the cracks in the line that some of the big guys can’t. I just have to use my brain a little bit more instead of having to rely on athletic ability.
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JOHN RUSSELL
On seeing the improvement of the program since he’s been here It is great to get the respect from the outside, but we’ve always known that we had the talent to do it. It’s been an exciting process that will hopefully continue into the future.
On how he is able to overcome his size to make so many tackles It takes great play from the guys up front, and the defensive linemen have done a great job all year. It just comes down to having a knack for the ball, studying hard throughout the week and then just getting out there and flying to the ball.
On his collection of autographed NFL jerseys Every Christmas since eighth grade, my dad has given me an NFL signed and framed jersey. Last year I got Ray Lewis. My favorite one is between Lawrence Taylor and Barry Sanders. Growing up I was a huge Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith guy, and I think every linebacker in the world loves Lawrence Taylor.
On playing at Southlake Carroll HS It was fun to be that team that everyone wanted to beat. We won (Texas 5A) state titles in 2004 and 2005. It was great to receive the awards and recognition. On playing high school football in Texas There is nothing like Texas high school football. One of the advantages I had when I was getting recruited was that the coaches said that I had played in front of a lot of fans and I was kind of already experienced playing in big game situations. It’s a lot different when you play in front of 100,000 fans in the SEC, but I was kind of already use to the stage. Texas high school football is awesome. The whole town kind of surrounds your team. On how frustrating injuries have been in his career It has been a little frustrating, but this year I haven’t had to miss a game yet, so that is all that matters to me. The past couple of years, I’ve had to miss a few games, and that is always frustrating when you have to sit on the sideline. I was actually injury-free all throughout high school, so it has been a new thing for me to be injured. On how he would describe Vanderbilt’s defense I would describe us as a fast defense. We just swarm to the ball, have a lot of intensity and fun out there and just try to make plays. We are just getting to the ball, and everyone is just having fun. ■
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Commodores Cubed
Talent I’d most like to have
Favorite mascot
jjustin ti WHEELER
joe DUFFY
megan EDDINGS
suzanne s anne WETZ
Football
Basketball
Soccer
Swimming
I’d like to be able to act
I’d like to be able to be a musician
Be able to teleport
Singing
Mr. Commodore
Mr. Commodore
T.D. of the Phillie Phanatic Miami Dolphins
Favorite holiday
Christmas
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Christmas
On the walls of my room are
Posters of Tupac and Jay-Z
Posters of classic rock bands
Pictures of all my friends and family
Photos
Breakfast, lunch or dinner
Dinner
Lunch
Dinner
Dinner
Funniest teammate
D.J. Moore, Alex Washington or Brent Trice
Andre Walker
Katie Dean
Christina Chao
I refuse to eat ________
Chit'lin's
Goat cheese
Coconut
Peppers
I spend way too much money on ___________
Sneakers
Gas
Food
Gas
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Point of View
Balancing Act By Alex Hilliard Editor’s Note: Each month “Commodore Nation” will ask a varsity athlete to sound off on a point of personal interest. Hilliard is a sophomore outfielder on the baseball team, who is one of two student-athletes (Austin Langley) enrolled in Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music. ver since I was a child I have been enamored with the idea of playing college baseball, but never in my wildest imagination did I dream of accomplishing this while pursuing a dream of music as well. Growing up with an already conceived passion for the game of baseball, I found another passion in the art of music. I progressed with these two skills, working diligently to become the student-athlete or “baseball playing tuba player” I am today. As many people are aware, varsity athletics at the college level require a large amount of time and commitment, especially when competing in a conference like the Southeastern Conference. What many do not know is that music, at any level, takes the same amount of drive and determination. The balancing of both music and baseball has been an ongoing and diffi cult process ever since I started high school. Both fi elds require extra work outside that of just a regular music rehearsal or a regular baseball practice. I can specifi cally remember many extra hours, before and after practice in the cages working on my swing. I can also remember those nights leaving Hawkins Field drained and tired only to find myself trekking to the school of music in order to put in the extra work needed to become a profi cient musician. So, as is shown, the most challenging part of my situation has been to find the time for both areas. This is where I have been extremely fortunate in coming to Vanderbilt. My ability to do both baseball and music was seen as a commodity by Coach Corbin and Dean Sagen of the Blair School. I would be hard pressed to find another university that would be willing to work with me as well as Coach Corbin, Dean Cyrus and Katie Feyes (academic counselor) have done. Each faction has been completely committed to making sure my childhood dreams become a reality, and because of their understanding and patience in this matter, I am granted the opportunity. As with any college baseball player, my career goals are geared towards playing major league baseball, although I would still like to continue on my music education track. Once my baseball career is done, I would like to get my doctorate of musical arts in conducting and teach at the college level. I have often been asked if I had to choose baseball or music, which one would it be, and invariably my answer has been and will always be, “both.” ■
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Bowled Over
By The
anderbilt had been close a number of years, posting five wins in two of the last three seasons, including 2007, but the sixth win had eluded them time and time again. Since the team’s last bowl appearance in 1982, Vanderbilt had lost 17 straight games when it had the opportunity to win its sixth game.
STAN JONES
V
That all changed on Nov. 15, when Vanderbilt ended a 26-year bowl drought with a 31-24 win at Kentucky. The win was Vanderbilt’s sixth of the season and locked up the school's fourth-ever bowl bid. “Honestly, I don't think that I can describe it right now,” quarterback Chris Nickson said following the game. “It's an unbelievable feeling, and the best way to describe it right now would be ‘wow.’ That's the best thing I can say. Maybe in a couple of days it will all hit home exactly what happened tonight, but tonight I am in a wow-like emotional state. It's unbelievable.” With its win at Kentucky, Vanderbilt ended what was the third-longest active bowl drought in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Only New Mexico State (1960), Kent State (1972) and Temple (1979) had waited longer than Vanderbilt fans. Vanderbilt’s offense flourished behind the play of Nickson, who returned to the starting
lineup for the first time since Oct. 11 at Mississippi State. The Commodores racked up a season-high 368 yards of total offense, while Nickson set season highs in completions (15), yards (155) and touchdowns (three) through the air. He also accounted for 118 yards on the ground, giving him 273 yards of total offense. In addition to Nickson’s play, do-it-all-junior D.J. Moore had what was arguably the best game of his Vanderbilt career. Filling in for injured wide receiver Jamie Graham, Moore caught the first two touchdown passes of his career and also picked off two Kentucky passes. The Commodores built a 24-7 lead in the game, but Kentucky never went away. Trailing by seven with 4:59 to play in the game, the Wildcats marched 54 yards down the field to Vanderbilt’s 23-yard line before Moore intercepted Randall Cobb’s fourth-down pass at Vanderbilt’s 17-yard line. As Moore rolled to the ground with the ball, the excitement that had been bottled up for 26 years erupted throughout Commodore Nation. The roar of Vanderbilt fans was likely heard as far away as Lexington. “It feels so good to get out and get our sixth win,” Moore said after the game. “We have been waiting awhile to get here after starting the season 5-0. Since then we had gone 0-4 and it feels like a ton of bricks has been taken off our back after this game.” Besides the fans, no group of individuals may have had a larger weight lifted off their backs then Head Coach Bobby Johnson and his coaching staff. Johnson endured three consecutive two-win seasons to begin his campaign at Vanderbilt and had never won more than three SEC games until 2008. “I'm not going to lie to you; there is elation in the locker room right now and within our coaching staff,” Johnson said. “We've worked hard, and I'm proud of them for doing that and we went into a slide a little bit, but we came out of it and played well tonight." ■
NUMBERS 1
The projected SEC finish of Vanderbilt’s women’s basketball team by the league’s media members and head coaches.
20'9"
The distance of the three-point line in men’s college basketball this season — an increase of one foot from previous years.
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National television appearances by Vanderbilt’s football team during the 2008 regular season, the most in school history, surpassing the four appearances in 2005.
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Vanderbilt’s rank among the top places to work in academia according to the November issue of The Scientist magazine.
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Vanderbilt's all-time record on ESPN2 before its 31-24 win at Kentucky on Nov. 15.
COMPLIANCE
COR NER Q: A:
A local TV reporter asks a Vanderbilt football coach about Smash Mouth, a recruit who has verbally committed to the program. The coach tells the TV reporter that Smash is very athletic and will be a great addition to the program next year. Is this permissible? No. NCAA Bylaw 13.10.2 states that before the signing of a prospective student-athlete to a National Letter of Intent or an institution’s written offer of admission and/or financial aid, a member institution may comment publicly only to the extent of confirming its recruitment of the prospective student-athlete. The institution may not comment generally about the prospective student-athlete’s ability or the contribution that the prospective student-athlete might make to the institution’s team; further, the institution is precluded from commenting in any manner as to the likelihood of the prospective student-athlete’s signing with that institution.
Compliance questions? Please contact: Candice Storey Director of Compliance 615/322-7992 candice.storey@vanderbilt.edu
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George Midgett Compliance Coordinator 615/322-2083 george.d.midgett@vanderbilt.edu
John Peach Compliance Coordinator 615/343-1060 john.w.peach@vanderbilt.edu
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Vanderbilt has former student-athletes represented in seven different leagues that compete at the highest level of their respective sport.
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Schools in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision had a longer bowl drought than Vanderbilt — New Mexico State, Kent State and Temple.
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Hoops Team Has An International Flavor
Tchiengang Ezeli
Ogilvy
ince the Dream Team stormed Barcelona in 1992, basketball has grown internationally unlike any other sport. To see how much the game has grown, college basketball fans need look no further than Vanderbilt’s men’s basketball team. Of the players on the team, four were born and raised outside of the United States, including sophomore A.J. Ogilvy (Sydney, Australia), redshirt freshman Festus Ezeli (Benin City, Nigeria), and freshmen Jeffery Taylor (Norrkoping, Sweden) and Steve Tchiengang (Douala, Cameroon). Including the players from the U.S., Vanderbilt’s roster is comprised of players from five countries, giving the Commodores an international flavor that is almost unseen anywhere else in college basketball. There are 341 NCAA Division I teams, but just eight have players from fi ve countries. Of those teams, the only other that plays in a BCS conference besides Vanderbilt is Northwestern, which also has players from five countries. The most diverse team is Florida International, which has players from eight countries. Having players with international ties is nothing new to Kevin Stallings, who is in his 10th season at Vanderbilt. Including the current players on the roster, Stallings has had seven players with international ties on his teams since his arrival in Nashville. Stallings admits that he doesn’t necessarily focus on recruiting international players, but he acknowledges that the university’s history of having a diverse campus makes Vanderbilt an easier sell for players outside the U.S. “We are out to recruit the best student-athletes that we can find — and we’ve got a university that strongly urges diversity — and it’s got nothing to do with why we do it, but I think the kids that come from other countries feel welcome here and supported here.” The other international players to play under Stallings at Vanderbilt were Alan Metcalfe (St. Helens, England), Dawid Przybyszewski (Torun, Poland) and Martin Schnedlitz (Leoben, Austria). Przybyszewski lettered from 2002 to 2005, while Schnedlitz lettered from 200204 and Metcalfe lettered from 2005 to 2008. However, of those seven players only two, Ogilvy and Przybyszewski, did not play basketball in the U.S. before signing with the Commodores. Of the international players on the roster now, Ezeli and Tchiengang
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Taylor
moved to the U.S. in 2004, and Taylor moved to the country in 2006. Although the four international players on Vanderbilt’s roster admit that they didn’t know much about Vanderbilt before the recruiting process began, they all were impressed with the university and the track record Stallings had with international players once they began to learn more about the program. “I didn’t really know too much about any program or their ties to international players,” Ogilvy said. “It was more a learning process for me more than anything, but once I learned Vanderbilt had a couple of international players, I knew it would be a super place to come.” No player may have been more influenced by Vanderbilt’s ties to international players more so than Tchiengang. It wasn’t until Tchiengang met with former Commodore Davis Nwankwo, whose parents are from Nigeria, that he realized Vanderbilt would be a perfect place for him. “(Davis) talked to me about how much he enjoyed his time at Vanderbilt, and that kind of influenced my decision,” Tchiengang said. “The whole idea that the school had a background of having international players was really meaningful in me making a decision.” Stallings and his staff have also made Vanderbilt even more appealing to international students by allowing the players to play for their national teams in the offseason. For example, Ogilvy spent the majority of this past summer in Australia training with and trying out for the 2008 Olympic team. Although Ogilvy was one of the final players cut, it proved to others that Vanderbilt would let players pursue their dreams of representing their home country while in school. “(Having foreign players) showed that they were used to dealing with international players and them playing with their international teams,” Taylor said. “That showed me a lot.” While Vanderbilt’s roster has more international players than most, Stallings believes that more rosters will begin to look more and more like Vanderbilt’s over time because of how much the game has grown. “The world of basketball has gotten smaller relative to the NBA Draft, and it’s smaller relative to college basketball, and now it’s getting even smaller in high school,” Stallings said. “I just think the basketball world has gotten smaller.”
Taylor believes that Vanderbilt’s roster is evidence to Stallings claim of how much the game has grown internationally. “It shows a lot that you have different players from everywhere on earth on one team,” Taylor said. “It shows a lot of diversity and how much the sport has grown.” Ogilvy, who has more experience playing on the international stage than anyone else on the team, agrees with Taylor. “I think a team like this definitely shows the diversity of the game of basketball. Even until the last Olympics, America hadn’t won (the gold medal) for eight years, so that shows just how strong the game is worldwide now.” One concern with having a team comprised of players from different backgrounds could be communication. However, communication has not been a problem at all according to Tchiengang, who points out that no matter your native country, basketball always will just be basketball. “I believe that the game of basketball has one language, and no matter where you come from, it is always going to be the same.” The goal may still be to get the ball in the basket no matter where you play, but having players from all different backgrounds has helped other international players make the transition to Vanderbilt much more smoothly. “It’s been nice because I know there are guys out there that are in the same shoes that I’m in,” Ezeli said. “It definitely makes me feel more comfortable.” The game of basketball will undoubtedly continue to expand globally, and as long as there are talented players to be had, Stallings has proven that he will bring the best players possible to Nashville — no matter where they are from. “The bottom line for us is that we need to find 13 guys that are good enough to play basketball at Vanderbilt and they are good enough students to go to school here and succeed,” Stallings said. ■
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It’s My Turn By Rod Williamson
The Year That Was hat are your best memories from the 2008 Commodore year? Here are mine. Few of us will forget our amazing basketball seasons. An extremely young women’s team won 25 games and somehow found a way to climb back into the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16—a feat that gave Melanie Balcomb my vote for our Coach of the Year. Then there was the trio of remarkable men’s games, part of a perfect home season that rattled the rafters of historic Memorial Gymnasium. The Commodores delivered an early Valentine’s present—better than a box of chocolates—to Kevin Stallings by running Kentucky out of the gym on national television. The final score was 93-52 but it wasn’t that close. Some said that game alone was worth the price of a season ticket. Nothing, or so we believed, could match the thrill of beating No. 1 Tennessee in a wild and woolly battle just two weeks later. How sweet it was! Beating the Orange seemed tops until Senior Night when SEC West leader Mississippi State paid a visit. Early in the first half, I recall thinking it was a shame that Shan Foster was struggling in his final home game. What is the saying? Ninety percent of our worries are wasted effort? Nine three-point bombs in a row, some launched from West End with one at the buzzer, and Vanderbilt had incredibly edged the Bulldogs. Shan had a tidy 42 points, and we all were flabbergasted. Foster would later become the SEC Player of the Year and win the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, a national honor for athletic prowess, community service and citizenship. He has legend status around here. All of us will remember the anticipation and ecstasy of our GameDay experience. College football’s icon pundits came to town and brought their cameras, just in time to let America see one of our signature victories. More than 400 of us were on hand as a dozen men and women— stars, visionaries, trail blazers—made history as our first Hall of Fame Class last September. I’ll remember the eloquence of Roy Kramer, the grace of Perry Wallace, the modesty of Clyde Lee, the courage of Bill Wade, the humbleness of everyone and the pride of wearing black and gold on this night of nostalgia. These recollections come from Dynamite’s Main Street, but another is off the beaten path and didn’t produce a victory. Last April, I watched one of the great rivalries in the Southeastern Conference—the women’s tennis match between Vanderbilt and Georgia. Both are national powers, and this one came down to the No. 3 singles. Vanderbilt senior Taka Bertrand carried an 11-match winning streak into battle against the Bulldog’s Monika Dancevic. For two hours and 21 minutes they furiously pounded that fuzzy ball back and forth. Advantage Vanderbilt. Advantage Georgia. Bertrand, an honor student wearing a gold, sweat-stained shirt that read “Fight Dores” would finish her career as our career singles victories leader and a first-team all-SEC pick, but on this day she fell just short in a memorable tie-breaker. None of us in the capacity crowd wondered how she felt as she slumped on the courtside bench, comforted by Coach Geoff Macdonald, quietly sobbing for a moment. True champions are hardwired for victory in everything they do. It may seem peculiar that a “losing” result makes my highlights. This wasn’t about losing; it was a remarkable demonstration of sheer determination and desire—exactly what you would expect from someone who left a well-rounded legacy of winning and success. I choose to remember that. ■
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The Final
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JARED HAWKINS • Football • Junior • Running Back Although he stands just 5-foot-10, 202 pounds, junior running back Jared Hawkins, has developed a reputation as one of the most punishing rushers in the SEC. What was your welcome to the SEC moment? The first game I really played in was against Arkansas my redshirt freshman year (in 2006). I was fortunate to have a good game against them—76 yards on three carries—so that really made me say "wow," and I ended up going on to do well that season. What do you consider to be your biggest strength at running back? Probably my vision and my ability to find holes. I just feel like it is something that God blessed me with, and I just try to take advantage of it. I’ve never been the biggest guy on the field, but I’ve always been able to find holes and get to them. What was the best part about playing high school football in Texas? I think it was just the atmosphere. I also grew up in Florida and in Pennsylvania. I have an older brother and sister, so I was able to go to high school games in those places. When I got to Texas, the atmosphere was completely different. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? It is probably something my dad (Jeff) always told me about anything in life, but it always comes back to football: "The cream will rise to the top." Every offseason I’ve always tried to worker harder than anybody on my team or anyone else around me because no matter what, there is always going to be someone better out there and someone gunning for your position. My dad has always instilled in me that whenever you are working on something, just do it to the best of your ability.
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STEVE GREEN
Langley Overcomes Obstacles
ustin Langley is used to challenges. She’s challenged daily in Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music and as a member of Vanderbilt’s swimming team. However, none of those challenges stack up to a relatively unknown challenge that Langley has faced her entire life. Since birth, Langley has had to deal with a severe low-tone hearing loss — something that makes her enrollment in the Blair School that much more remarkable. While most individuals with hearing loss struggle to hear high tones, such as whistling, the Vanderbilt sophomore is just the opposite. “As you get older, most people naturally lose their high tones because they are unprotected,” Langley said. “I don’t have any low tones or conversational tones and the protective part is gone and they don’t really know why. It is really kind of uncommon to have it reversed like that.” Langley’s hearing loss is hereditary on her father’s side of the family, with her father and grandfather also having low-tone hearing loss. "Low-frequency hearing loss is typically seen in individuals with hereditary factors or middle ear pathologies," said Meredith Moss, a clinical audiologist at Vanderbilt. "High-fre-
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quency hearing loss is much more common as it is seen in most individuals with agerelated hearing loss and noise exposure." Although she’s had hearing loss since birth, it wasn’t discovered until first grade when Langley was failing all of her spelling tests. It was then that her father taught her about another way to compensate for her loss of hearing. “That is when my dad explained to me that if I watch what someone is saying, you might be able to figure out what letter they are saying,” Langley commented. Since then, Langley has combined her ability to read lips with what she has been able to hear, to understand people. “I hear every fifth or sixth syllable, so I pair that with what I see to understand what someone is saying,” Langley said. “It is variable depending on the situation, but in general that is the way it works.” While the process would seem unnatural to most, it is completely natural for Langley and others in her family who have the same condition. “You kind of just grow up reading lips when you need to,” Langley said. “My dad reads lips really well, and so does my grandfather. My grandfather almost needs no sound at all
to understand what you are saying. My dad probably hears every seventh or eighth syllable and he is pairing that with what he is seeing to help him figure out what is being said.” As natural as the process has become for Langley, there still are times when she has trouble understanding what others are saying. One example of this is in the classroom when a professor will talk softly or talk with his or her back to her. Even sitting in the front of the room, as she does in all of her classes, is useless in those situations. Instances such as that have been new challenges for Langley since she arrived at Vanderbilt. Before college, Langley could always get by with just teaching herself, reading the book or asking classmates questions about what the teacher explained in class. “In high school (my hearing loss) wasn’t really an issue in class,” Langley said. “I knew it was there, but it didn’t really affect anything. When I got to college, let me tell you, my professors don’t talk loud enough.” The class where Langley was most affected was her calculus class the first semester of her freshman year. “My professor’s shoes squeaked louder than his voice,” Langley said. “He’d always face the board, so I couldn’t lip read or do anything to help myself. I didn’t know what to do. As a result, I did not do well on the first two tests at all.” Feeling helpless and realizing that the class was getting away from her, Langley turned to her academic adviser, Katie Berglund, for assistance. In turn, the athletic department was able to purchase an FM Listening System for Langley. What the system does for Langley is magnify the sound of the teacher’s voice. For the system to work, Langley has the professor wear a device that looks like a lapel microphone, while she wears an earpiece. Since beginning to use the device, Langley has seen a tremendous spike in her performance in the classroom. “After I got an FM System, the first test I did well on. It’s made a huge difference and has been very helpful.” The improvement Langley had in the classroom with the FM Listening System may make it seem logical for Langley to wear a hearing aid, but it isn’t that easy according to her. “Nowadays they can pick frequencies to be amplified on hearing aids, but they are still going to amplify the high tones, which is a problem for me,” Langley said. “They can turn them down. The only other problem is that, if I can hear the high tones, I don’t want to listen to it through a microphone because it has a different sound. If you turn the hearing aid completely off, it works as an earplug so it makes it worse. They are trying to find a way to overcome that situation and once they get that, then I might be interested in hearing aids.” Moss believes that time may not be too far away.
"With the advent of digital, multi-channel, nonlinear hearing aids that offer greater flexibility of adjustment, it is possible for audiologists to fit this type of hearing loss more successfully," Moss said. Some people may let their hearing loss keep them from doing what they love, but not Langley. The best example of this may be her love of music, which is why she is enrolled in the Blair School as a saxophone player. Since the saxophone emits high tones, Langley is able to hear her own music fine. It is the music of other instruments, particularly those that play bass, that she is unable to hear. “I guess in high school I always just played my instrument because it is in a range that I can hear,” Langley said. “I never really bothered with listening for other instruments and balance. I just kind of followed the director, and in private lessons I could hear my instruments.” However, Langley quickly realized how much of a challenge it would be for her to excel in certain classes within her major because of her inability to hear bass. “Last year, I had to hear and write out chords in my music theory class and that was the hardest thing for me because I couldn’t hear the bass unless I sat there and really focused,” Langley said. “I got speakers in my room with a subwoofer and I would put my feet on the subwoofer and turn up the bass as loud as it could go so I could feel it. That’s how I’d get my homework done. I couldn’t do it with regular headphones because with regular headphones, I couldn’t hear the bass at all.”
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Although swimming isn’t necessarily a sport where you would think communication would be key, there are definitely times that present challenges for Langley, who specializes in the backstroke and 200 IM. “Yes, it is a challenge,” Langley said. “Sometimes I can’t hear the set, and I get really frustrated because I didn’t hear the set and you have 30 seconds before you have to go. Especially if I’m going first that day and I don’t know what’s going on, it is really bad and I get really frustrated.” It is obvious that Langley’s hearing loss hasn’t stopped her from achieving her goals, and she doesn’t plan on letting it slow her down anytime soon. “It is very impressive for Austin to balance swimming and the Blair School,” swimming Coach Jeremy Organ said. “There are not enough hours in the day for Austin to get everything done. Her time management skills are put to the test each and every day. I think that music and swimming are very similar in that they both require practicing perfection every day, and that daily practice all leads up to a concert or a competition where your success is gauged by your performance.” Langley’s ability to balance so many things at once, while overcoming her hearing loss, has led to her teammates respecting Langley even more. “I think that everyone on the team respects Austin that much more because of all she does and has to deal with on a daily basis,” Organ said.
Even though she still is just a sophomore, Langley already has more than just the next two years of her life mapped out. This past summer, Langley found her true calling when she was in Norway with 4-H. During that time, she worked at a dairy farm. “I’ve always really enjoyed being around animals, and this summer I decided that I really want to work around animals for my career,” Langley said. “I decided that I wanted to be a veterinarian and that I’m going to pursue the pre-vet track here. It’s going to be kind of difficult though because I’m a little behind, and I haven’t had science since high school.” Langley’s interest in pursuing a career as a veterinarian also led to her question whether she should return to Vanderbilt before the start of this year. After all, the university does not offer the necessary classes to directly enter vet school, and she would have a lot of catching up to do. “I decided that I really shouldn’t leave Vanderbilt because there was so much here for me between swimming and music,” Langley said. Because she lacks the classes that would be necessary for her to get directly into vet school following graduation, Langley already has her eyes set on attending graduate school before “hopefully” returning to North Carolina to attend vet school at N.C. State. The journey to become a vet may look long and winding for most students, but for someone like Langley, it would be hard to believe she would want it to be any other way. ■
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Ranking Vanderbilt’s Top Five Wins n the November issue of Commodore Nation, we revealed the bottom half of Vanderbilt’s top 10 football wins of the modern era (1936-present), as voted on vucommodores.com. In this issue of Commodore Nation, we reveal the fi ve games that received the most votes. There were a total of 15 games in the poll, each of which received at least one fi rst-place vote. Please note that none of the games from the 2008 season were included in this poll. To calculate the results, points were rewarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. First-place votes are in parenthesis.
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Oct. 20, 2007 • Vanderbilt 17, #6 South Carolina 6 • Columbia, S.C. Vanderbilt’s 17-6 win at No. 6 South Carolina tied for the highest-ranked opponent Vanderbilt has ever defeated. It also was VU’s first win over Steve Spurrier in 15 tries and its first road win over a top 10 team. VU’s defense keyed the win by holding South Carolina to 26 yards rushing and tied a school record with seven sacks. Cornerback D.J. Moore, a South Carolina native, had two interceptions and eight tackles. On offense, quarterback Mackenzi Adams had two touchdown passes and rushed for 84 yards in his first-career start.
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Oct. 9, 1982 • Vanderbilt 31, #14 Florida 29 • Nashville Leading 24-21 in the fourth quarter, Vanderbilt’s All-SEC offensive tackle Rob Monaco recovered a Vanderbilt fumble in the end zone for a game-clinching touchdown in Vanderbilt’s 31-29 win over No. 14 Florida. The win was Vanderbilt’s first conference victory at home in seven years and spurred VU to the Hall of Fame Bowl. Few gave Vanderbilt a chance going into the game, especially after losing the team’s leading rusher, Ernie Goolsby, for the season after VU’s win the previous week against Tulane. However, Vanderbilt Head
3.
1,762 points (29)
Thanks in part to outstanding field position, the Commodores built a 17-0 lead in the first quarter and then held the Gamecocks to two field goals the rest of the game. The win was extra sweet for Head Coach Bobby Johnson, a Columbia native. "I’m sure that people thought we’d fold in the second half here,” Johnson said. “But we didn’t. We came back and played great, maybe better than in the first half. That’s a misconception about Vanderbilt. They do everything they possibly can to try and win.”
1,985 points(14)
Coach George MacIntyre had other plans. Vanderbilt took a 21-14 lead into the locker room and then led 24-21 before Monaco’s touchdown. Monaco’s touchdown occurred when an errant throw caromed off the shoulder pads of Jim Popp and landed in the arms of Phil Roach. As Roach tried to avoid a tackler, the ball sprang free and Monaco pounced on it just inches from the end line. Whit Taylor completed 30 of 47 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 64 yards.
Dec. 31, 1955 • Vanderbilt 25, #8 Auburn 13 • Gator Bowl Playing in the first bowl game in school history, Vanderbilt pulled one of the biggest upsets of the bowl season when it knocked off No. 8 Auburn, 25-13, in a game that aired nationally on CBS and remains Vanderbilt’s only bowl win. Vanderbilt entered the game as a 7-point underdog and was the only unranked team in a major bowl. Little chance was given to VU, which was not only coming off a regular season loss to Tennessee, but also was entering the game with much uncertainty at quarterback after Don Orr dislocated his elbow in the loss to the Vols. Because of the uncertainty, VU practiced as if Orr would not play. It wasn’t until just
1.
Games Voted 6-10: (Nov. Issue)
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Quarterback Whit Taylor
3,657 points (228)
three touchdowns. Bennett had 14 catches for 167 yards. Linebacker Moses Osemwegie led the defense with a career-high 16 tackles. Vanderbilt was ahead 21-7 in the second quarter, but the Vols rallied and took a 24-21 lead with 8:25 to play. The teams exchanged punts several times during the final minutes before Cutler connected with Bennett on all three plays of the game-winning 63-yard drive. “To turn the corner, you’ve got to believe, and I’m not saying we’ve turned the corner, but our guys are starting to believe,” Bobby Johnson said.
10. 1937 - Vanderbilt 7, #6 LSU 6; 7. 1975 - Vanderbilt 17, Tennessee 14;
Head Coach Art Guepe (right)
2,101 points (51)
6-0 mark at home. The win was Vanderbilt’s first home win against the Vols since 1964 and remained the last home win over Tennessee heading into the 2008 season. “Before the game, I told our guys that they were the best team in college football,” Head Coach George MacIntyre said. “Today they proved to everyone what they are made of. I’ve never been prouder of a group of young men.” Later that season, MacIntyre was named National Coach of the Year by The Sporting News.
Nov. 19, 2005 • Vanderbilt 28, Tennessee 24 • Knoxville, Tenn. Jay Cutler’s final pass as a Commodore will be remembered forever. With 1:11 to play at Tennessee, Cutler hit wide receiver Earl Bennett from five yards out to cement a 28-24 win. The win snapped a 14-game skid at Tennessee and assured that the Vols wouldn’t go to a bowl game for the first time since 1988. The win also ended what was the secondlongest losing streak between major teams in the FBS. “You see grown men crying and you realize how long it’s been since we’ve won,” Cutler said. “It tells us how much it means to this program.” Cutler finished 27-of-39 for 315 yards and
Offensive Tackle Rob Monaco
2,028 points (48)
before kickoff that Head Coach Art Guepe made the decision that he would start Orr, and the Miami native didn’t make him regret it. Orr was selected as the Gator Bowl MVP after rushing for two touchdowns and passing for another. “I knew I was completely well,” Orr said, “and throughout the time we were getting ready I kept praying my arm would hold up. It did, and naturally this is the biggest thriller of my life.” Vanderbilt also capitalized on five fumble recoveries and built a 25-7 lead with 14:55 to play. “I thought Vanderbilt was the best team we played all season,” Auburn Head Coach Shug Jordan said.
2. Nov. 27, 1982 • Vanderbilt 28, Tennessee 21 • Nashville, Tenn. Dubbed the “Super Bowl of Tennessee,” the game lived up to its billing as the lead changed hands throughout the game with neither team able to establish more than a sevenpoint lead. After Whit Taylor connected with Phil Roach for 65 yards, Taylor perfectly executed a fake to fullback Keith Edwards and strolled around right end to give VU the gameclinching lead with 3:00 left in a 28-21 win over Tennessee. The win was the Commodores’ fifth straight and sent the team to the Hall of Fame Bowl with an 8-3 record and
Cornerback D.J. Moore
9. 1984 - Vanderbilt 30, Alabama 21; 6. 2006 - Vanderbilt 24, #16 Georgia 22
Quarterback Jay Cutler
8. 1969 - Vanderbilt 14, #13 Alabama 10;
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Quick Hits MEN’S SPORTS Baseball • The Gold team won the
clinching game Black and Gold Series on Oct. 26 by a score of 10-6. • Former Commodore David Price was honored during the coin toss at the Florida football game.
Tim Corbin
• Kevin Stallings announced
the signing of John Jenkins (Gallatin, Tenn.) to a National Letter of Intent on Nov. 12. • Sophomore A.J. Ogilvy was Kevin a first-team All-SEC preStallings season selection by the league’s media members and coaches. • The team was picked to finish fourth in the SEC East.
Cross Country • Vanderbilt finished 13th at the
NCAA South Regional Championship on Nov. 15. • Thomas Davis and Rob WhitSteve ing guided Vanderbilt by placKeith ing 65th and 66th, respectively, at the championship. • Davis also led the Commodores at the SEC Championships in Starkville, Miss., with a time of 25:25:33. • The team finished 11th at the SEC Championships with 292 points.
Football • Vanderbilt became bowl eli-
gible for the first time since 1982. • D.J. Moore earned National Defensive Player of the Week Bobby honors from the Walter Camp Johnson Foundation on Nov. 16. • Patrick Benoist was selected to the first team Academic All-District IV Team, while John Stokes earned second team honors. • Moore was named a semifinalist for the 2008 Jim Thorpe Award on Nov. 4. • Junior Brett Upson was named SEC Specialist of the Week for the second time this year after his performance at Georgia, averaging 44.6 yards on seven punts. • Vanderbilt made its school-record fifth appearance on an ESPN network on Nov. 15 at Kentucky.
• Tom Shaw announced the
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• Vanderbilt placed seventh at the
• Ian Duvenhage announced the signing of Ryan Lipman (Nashville) and Sam Wells (Boca Raton, Fla.) to National Letters of Intent on Ian Nov. 13. Duvenhage • Sophomore Alex Zotov won the singles title at the Crimson Tide Fall Championships on Oct. 26. Zotov defeated Alabama’s Michael Jung on the final day 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. • Adam Baker and Zotov advanced to the semifinals in doubles competition at the Crimson Tide Fall Championships. • Also advancing to the singles final of their draw were Alex DiValerio and James Moye.
WOMEN’S SPORTS Basketball • Melanie Balcomb announced the signing of Elan Brown (Atlanta), Tiffany Clarke (Duluth, Ga.), Stephanie Holzer (Newtown Square, Pa.) and Gabby Melanie Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio) to Balcomb National Letters of Intent on Nov. 13. • Vanderbilt was predicted to win the 2009 SEC women’s basketball championship by the coaches and the media. • Senior Christina Wirth was named preseason SEC Co-Player of the Year by the league’s media. • Wirth also earned preseason first team AllSEC honors from the coaches and the media. • Junior Jennifer Risper was a preseason second-team All-SEC selection by the coaches. • The team was ranked 12th in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll and Associated Press Poll.
Bowling • The Commodores captured the team championship at the FDU Fright Knight Invite on Nov. 2. • Vanderbilt opened the sea-
Tom Shaw
NCAA South Regional Championship on Nov. 15. • Sophomore Rita Jorgensen Steve was named to the USTFCCCA Keith All-Region Team after placing 14th at the championship. • Jorgensen also led the Commodores at the SEC Championships on Nov. 3 by finishing in the top 20. • Sophomore Kristabel Doebel-Hickok placed 22nd overall at the SEC Championships with a time of 21:38.89. • The team finished eighth for a second year in a row with 177 points.
Golf • Vanderbilt advanced to the
finals of the consolation bracket at the NGCA Match Play Championship, before falling to Kent State. • The Commodores will open spring competition March 2-3 at the Pinehurst Challenge.
Greg Allen
Soccer • Sophomore
Molly Kinsella and freshman Candace West earned All-SEC honors Nov. 4. • Kinsella earned first-team AllSEC accolades, while West Ronnie was selected to the All-Fresh- Coveleskie man team. • Kinsella also earned second team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV accolades. • Senior Taylor Ryer was selected to the SEC Soccer Community Service Team. • The Commodores finished the season with a 9-8-2 overall record.
Swimming • Vanderbilt was honored for its
academics by being selected as an Academic All-America Team by the College Swimming Coaches Association of Jeremy America. Organ • Vanderbilt’s team GPA of 3.535 ranked fifth nationally among NCAA Division I women’s swimming programs. • Allie Voss, Jennifer Molchan and Laura Dillon posted personal bests at the Phil Hansel Duals.
Tennis • Keilly Ulery, Catherine NewJohn
son rated No. 2 in the country Williamson after a vote by members of the National Ten Pin Coaches Association.
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Cross Country
honors at the Hummingbird Intercollegiate on Nov. 4. • During the final round, Johnson carded a hole-in-one on the par-3 16th hole, which helped him overcome a four-stroke deficit with four holes to play. • Senior Jon Curran tied for ninth at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate on Oct. 26. • The Commodores will start the spring season Feb. 23-24 in Orlando at the Western Carolina Intercollegiate Tournament.
Tennis
Basketball
signing of Ryan Thornton (Chattanooga) and Will Snipes (Dalton, Ga.) to National Letters of Intent on Nov. 13.
• Junior Hudson Johnson earned medalist
man, and Jackie Wu advanced to the quarterfinals of the main singles draw at the ITA Southeast Regionals in Geoff Macdonald Winston-Salem, N.C. • Chelsea Preeg and Hannah Blatt posted 3-0 singles records at the SEC Fall Coaches Classic.
The Month Ahead
Men’s Sports Basketball 12/3 12/6 12/10 12/16 12/20 12/22 12/31
Illinois-Chicago at Georgia Tech Alabama A&M South Florida (Sommet Center) Tennessee Tech Furman Saint Francis, Pa.
7pm 1pm 7pm 6pm 5pm 8pm 12pm
Women’s Sports Basketball 12/2 12/4 12/6 12/19 12/21 12/22 12/30
Radford at Cal State Fullerton at UC Riverside Tennessee State Tennessee-Martin Liberty Notre Dame
7pm 9pm 6pm 7pm 2pm 2pm 7pm
Bowling 12/6-7
at Jeanette Lee Invitational (Lawrenceville, Va.) All Day
Jermaine Beal
Jennifer Risper
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2008 Bowling Team
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Crosland’s Career Path Returns Her To Golf ow does someone who majors in economics and minors in math end up working in broadcasting? That’s the question that former Vanderbilt women’s golfer Mallory Crosland even wonders at times. Now the senior producer of broadcasting for PGA of America, Crosland’s career path has taken her somewhere she least would have expected during her tenure at Vanderbilt, where she Crosland with the Ryder Cup. graduated in 1999 after becoming the first golfer, men’s or women’s, to advance to the NCAA Championship. “I steered away from all the writing classes (in college) because I just fi gured I was going to become a consultant or an investment banker,” Crosland said. “I’m really glad I didn’t right now. I took a couple of communications classes, but I never really thought this was the path I was going to go down.” However, during the summer before her senior year at Vanderbilt, Crosland’s career interests changed following an internship. A native of Washington, D.C., Crosland returned home and interned with the sports department at the local NBC affiliate (WRC-TV). At the station, Crosland worked under the infamous George Michael, who hosted the "George Michael Sports Machine" from 1980-2007. “Growing up in Washington, D.C., I was a huge Redskins fan, so one of the lures that summer was that you got to go out and help with coverage of Redskins training camp,” Crosland recalled.
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“I also helped at what used to be called the Kemper Open on the PGA Tour, and that’s what really opened my eyes and made me realize that it was pretty cool.” Even with her interest level piqued, Crosland knew it would be a reach to land a job in television with such little experience or the necessary coursework. Instead, Crosland landed a job with Lloyd’s of London in England after tossing around the idea of giving it a run on the LPGA Futures Tour. Little did she know, her big break would come across the Atlantic Ocean. “When I was over there, (George Michael) came over on a vacation, and he and his wife took me to dinner and asked me what I was doing next,” Crosland said. “He said one woman on his staff was pregnant and announced she wasn’t coming back, so he wanted to know if I was interested. I didn’t even have to worry about interviewing or anything, so the timing just worked out.” For the next six years, Crosland worked for Michael’s on the "Sports Machine," which aired nationally every Sunday night. Crosland also produced a Redskins show. Crosland made the move to her current position with the PGA of America in 2007 after the "Sports Machine" aired for the final time in March of 2007. Now at her current job in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Crosland oversees different video productions with the PGA of America. Just this past September, she oversaw the production of the Ryder Cup gala night in Louisville, Ky. Crosland also helps produce various award shows for presentations such as the PGA First Lady of Golf Award and the Distinguished Service Award. Among the other notable events the PGA of America is responsible for are the PGA Championship and the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. “I always knew that I’d be happiest if golf was somehow involved in my career,” Crosland said. “I don’t know if it is a job to get rich off of, but you get to wake up every day and be excited to go to work.” ■
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The Last Look
PANORAMIC VIEW
DANIEL DUBOIS
The sun sets in Nashville as 38,773 look on during Vanderbilt’s 14-13 win over Auburn. This photo and dozens more are available for purchase by visiting the photo store on vucommodores.com.
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