June 2010
THE
YEAR IN
PHOTOS
table of contents
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2 Compliance Corner 4 National Commodore Club 6 In My Words
Hannah Blatt
7 Renovations Inside McGugin
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’Dores assist with flood relief efforts
8 Coulibaly Focuses on Others Former ’Dore dedicates self to community 9 What it Takes to Pole Vault
A decade of partnership
13 It’s My Turn—Rod Williamson
Lending a Helping Hand
14 The Year in Photos
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Lasting images from the year
16 From Walk-on to All-SEC Brian Harris travels unlikely path 17 2010 VU Summer Camps 20 Quick Hits
A look at Vanderbilt’s sports teams
22 Backfield Duo Backs The Other Warren Norman and Zac Stacy 23 Commodore Flashback The month ahead
Connect with
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Articles from Around the Web
Podcasts
Letters Jenkins, Tate form Friendship I watched John (Jenkins) and Wesley (Tate) throughout their high school careers, and it was great when they both decided on Vanderbilt. The way they dominated their respective sports in high school and how they have carried themselves off the field or court gave everyone in Sumner County something to be proud of. People in the community are very supportive of those two and are happy they can call them their own. I look forward to watching the two of them don the Black and Gold the next few years. Tony, Hendersonville, Tenn.
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Giobbi Quarterbacks Commodores I’ve enjoyed following Andrew (Giobbi) throughout his career. I view him as being a key piece of the foundation for this program. As it was highlighted in the story, he is a valuable leader to his teammates and is someone that represents Vanderbilt’s baseball program well. I hope he gets a shot at coaching at the college level because it seems like he would be a natural. David, New York
Lieberman Looks for a Cure What Scott (Lieberman) has done by starting such a great organization (Advantage Love) is an incredible way to honor his late mother, while trying to find a cure for colon cancer. Each month in Commodore Nation, I read a story that reminds me of why I support Vanderbilt, and this is just another reason why. Susan, Smyrna, Tenn. To submit a letter, e-mail CN at: commodorenation@vanderbilt.edu. Letters should include the writer’s name and address and may be edited for clarity and space.
C O M M O D O R E N AT I O N
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COMPLIANCE
COR NER Q: A:
Buck Dollar, a representative of athletic interest, is a member of a big social networking site. Buck noticed that Sweet Shot, a well-known prospect was also a member and posted a message on his wall to consider Vanderbilt as his top choice of school.
Editor-in-Chief: Ryan Schulz
Is this permissible?
Director of External Relations: Rod Williamson
Designers: Jeremy Teaford
No. Only coaches and athletics department staff members are permitted to be involved in the recruiting process. Alumni, friends and “other representatives of athletic interest” who are not employed by the university are not permitted to contact a prospect (or members of the prospect’s family) by letter, telephone or in-person (on or off campus) for the purpose of soliciting their participation in the athletics program. University faculty members are permitted to have contact with prospects, but only while on campus.
Editorial Publisher: Vanderbilt University
Ryan Schulz
Digital Image Specialist: Julie Luckett Turner Photographers: Neil Brake
Daniel Dubois Steve Green Jimmy Jones Jenny Mandeville
Compliance questions? Please contact: Candice Lee Director of Compliance 615/322-7992 candice.lee@vanderbilt.edu
George Midgett Compliance Coordinator 615/322-2083 george.d.midgett@vanderbilt.edu
John Russell
John Peach Compliance Coordinator 615/343-1060 john.w.peach@vanderbilt.edu
Marion Walding
Contributors: Maya Benayoun
Andy Boggs Sterling Frierson Larry Leathers Thomas Samuel Chris Weinman Travis Young
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: Photos of the Year POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to National Commodore Club, 2601 Jess Neely Drive, Nashville, TN 37212. SUBSCRIPTION: To subscribe to Commodore Nation, please contact Ryan Schulz by phone at 615/343-4396 or by e-mail at commodorenation@vanderbilt.edu ADVERTISEMENT: To advertise with Commodore Nation, please contact Vanderbilt ISP Sports. Jeff Miller, general manager 615/322-4468 jmiller@ispsports.com
Commodore Nation is printed using recycled paper.
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C O M M O D O R E C LU B
COR N E R
PHONE: 615/322-4114 • ONLINE: vanderbilt.edu/ncc SUBMIT YOUR SNAPSHOTS Show us your Commodore spirit. Have you attended a recent Vanderbilt sporting event at home or on the road? Have you decked yourself out in Black and Gold to watch the big game? Have you had your photo taken wearing Vanderbilt gear on a vacation? Have you spotted someone else wearing Vanderbilt gear in a tropical locale? If you have, Commodore Nation would love to see your photos. If you are interested in having any of your photos appear in a future issue of Commodore Nation, please e-mail your images to commodorenation@vanderbilt.edu.
IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO RENEW YOUR NCC MEMBERSHIP National Commodore Club members truly make a difference in the lives of our student-athletes. This year, the National Commodore Club’s goal is $3 million which, in large part, is committed to supporting scholarship needs which will total approximately $12.3 million in 2010-11. If you have not already, please consider renewing your gift today by calling 615/322-4114 or click Vanderbilt.edu/ncc. Thank you for your continued support of Vanderbilt student-athletes. Your Membership Matters!
PAVE THE WAY Bricks can be ordered by calling the NCC at 615/322-4114 or online through vanderbilt.edu/ncc.
SEC MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT • MARCH 12, 2010
NCC member Carlton Tarkington (’59) and Chancellor Nick Zeppos.
Football Head Coach Bobby Johnson with NCC member Mike Barrett.
WELCOME APRIL NCC MEMBERS Below are the names of NCC members who joined in April. We welcome you and look forward to seeing you along the Commodore trail! Encourage your friends and family to join the NCC if they have not already. Mark Bloom Nashville Evelyn and Donald Bonds Hendersonville, Tenn. Marvin Bubis Nashville Terry Compton White Bluff, Tenn. Franklin Crigger Lewisburg, Tenn. James Deeken Dallas, Tex. Benjamin Ernst Nashville Jeffrey Fecht Zionsville, Ind. Charles Howell Nashville Pamela King Nashville Thomas McCloskey Greenwich, Conn. Stephen Monahan Charlotte, N.C.
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Karen Nelson Nashville Donald Orr Nashville Brandyn Payne Nashville Alexandra and Jeremy Payne Brentwood, Tenn. Oliver Robbins Nashville, Tenn. Gary Sturgill Lebanon, Tenn. J. Mark Traylor Opelika, Ala. Mary Varallo Nashville Steve Walsh Nashville Brad Winkler Brentwood, Tenn. John Yosaitis Great Falls, Va. Carrie and Thomas Zupancic Indianapolis, Ind.
ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP RECEPTION • MARCH 24, 2010
Left to right: Wide receiver John Cole with Dr. Winston P. Caine Jr. (’59) and Priscilla Caine.
Frank Gordon with Vice Chancellor David Williams.
Left to right: Allison Bass, Frank Bass and Caroline Webb with former cornerback Myron Lewis (’09), recipient of the James A. Webb Jr. Scholarship.
Craig Parrish, center, with Nathan Craig Scholarship recipients Josie Earnest (bowling), Catherine Newman (tennis), Megan Eddings (soccer) and Meghan Murphy (track).
LACROSSE SENIOR DAY • APRIL 10, 2010
Carter Foote and her mom, Jane, were all smiles after the lacrosse team’s 19-8 win over Ohio State.
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The Gibson Family enjoyed seeing Megan, center, take the field on Senior Day.
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In My Words
Hannah
JOHN RUSSELL
Blatt
A
lready an ace in the community and a standout in
On finishing 9-1 in the SEC
the classroom, the only element that appeared to be
I had two tough matches against Notre Dame and Georgia Tech. After the Georgia Tech match I was really fired up that I lost that one because it came down to me and the team lost 4-3. I think it just got me really motivated, and from there I just made it a goal to win every match in the SEC.
missing from Hannah Blatt’s sterling resume entering
her senior season was on the tennis court itself. After notching 20 career wins over three seasons, the Nashville native has filled that void on the court this season by more than doubling her career win total and finishing with a team-best 9-1 record in SEC play. In April Blatt was awarded for her outstanding efforts in the community when she was selected to the SEC Women’s Tennis Community Service Team. Having already earned her undergraduate degree in human and organizational development last December, Blatt will graduate next May with a master’s in organizational leadership. On her strong senior season A lot of my success probably has to do with my maturity, confidence level and match toughness. Also, I wasn’t always playing all the time before this year, and I was able to get into a groove by playing match after match. On how much that consistency of being in the lineup helped her I think that was huge. It was just kind of tough never knowing if one bad match could knock me out of the lineup. Coach believed in me and the girls believed in me, and I started believing in myself more.
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On being a part of a team that has made the NCAA Tournament each of her years at Vanderbilt I’ve been very fortunate to be here and to be playing for such a good school. When you are part of such a good program you do feel a responsibility of making sure the program remains successful. On attending Father Ryan High School and Vanderbilt University At first I was a little unsure about going to college in the same city I went to high school just because I always had the idea that I would go away to college like everyone thinks about. Now I look at it as the best move I ever made. It has been a great experience for me, and I love Vanderbilt. On what she would like to do after finishing her master’s degree next May Last summer I interned with the San Francisco Giants and had a great experience. I think I want to do something with sports or something with a non profit. I think doing community relations for a sports team would be a good fit for me. n
By The
Commodores Cubed Favorite vacation destination
colt NICHTER
Maui, Hawaii
Football
akeem DUNHAM Football
Bahamas
My last road trip was to ...
Biggest fear
Favorite summer sport
Injuries
Detroit
Losing the ones I love the most and not being successful
Sand volleyball
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AAU summer basketball
Renovations Taking Place Inside McGugin
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verted into coaches’ offices and meeting areas, and the press level houses support staff, including Vanderbilt’s video staff. The other renovation taking place inside the McGugin Center is the academic support area of the building. At the end of April, the academic staff moved to various offices throughout the building as renovations began. Both projects are scheduled to be completed before the 2010-11 academic year begins. Also of note was the resurfacing of Vanderbilt’s track this past year. The resurfacing was completed in time for Vanderbilt to host two spring meets. The home meets were the first for the Commodores since 2008. n
’Dores Assist with Flood Relief Effort
F
ollowng the devastating floods that inundated Middle Tennessee during the first weekend in May, Vanderbilt athletics assisted in the relief and recovery efforts by staging a Red Cross Benefit Game on May 11 against Louisville. Admission to the baseball game was free and monetary donations were accepted at the gate for the Nashville Red Cross. Also, collection centers were on site for people to donate nonperishable foods for the Second Harvest Food Bank, as well as clothing and everyday necessities for the Hands On Nashville organization. In total more than $21,000 was collected in donations. “Vanderbilt athletics has been a vital part of the social fabric of Nashville for well over a century,” Vice Chancellor David Williams said. “Our athletic department wants
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Commodores were selected in the 2010 NFL Draft—Myron Lewis (Tampa Bay) and Thomas Welch (New England).
Never taken one
n continuing with the facilities upgrade plan announced by Vice Chancellor David Williams in May 2008, Vanderbilt athletics is in the process of facility renovations this summer. After completing projects at Hawkins Field, Memorial Gym and Vanderbilt Stadium, construction has moved indoors to the McGugin Center—home of Vanderbilt’s athletics offices—this summer. Since spring began, Vanderbilt’s football coaching staff has been displaced to the press box at the football stadium as the second floor of the football wing inside the McGugin Center is being renovated. The coaching staff has turned the second and third levels of the press box into a fully functional office. The suite level has been con-
NUMBERS
to contribute as it can to the city’s recovery. We are all on the same team against this opponent.” In addition to donations being accepted throughout the game, Vanderbilt’s concessionaire, Sodexho Sports and Leisure, donated 100 percent of its profits from the Louisville baseball game to the Red Cross. During the difficult time, Williams also made available VU’s soccer and track facilities for local high schools that were affected by the flood. n
The number of players that have been drafted under Head Coach Bobby Johnson—the most by a Vanderbilt coach since George MacIntyre had 16 players drafted from 1979-1985.
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Runs scored in consecutive SEC games against Georgia and LSU, topping the 31 total runs scored in VU’s previous six SEC games.
21,600
$
collected in donations to the Red Cross at Vanderbilt’s game against Louisville on May 11—a number that has since grown larger.
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freshman in school history who has earned SEC Men’s Tennis Freshman of the Year honors—Ryan Lipman.
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Vanderbilt teams placed in the top 10 percent of their sport in the most recent multiyear Academic Progress Rates.
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The national rank of Vanderbilt’s Peabody College of education and human development graduate program by U.S. News & World Report.
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Coulibaly focuses on helping others
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nstead of wondering what he could do for himself, Darius Coulibaly would rather ask what he could do for others. At 7'1", the former Vanderbilt center has not just stood out because of his height, he has also stood out because of his generosity. Raised in poverty in the Ivory Coast, Coulibaly grew up with very little. He had no electricity and was without running water. He witnessed people dying at a young age because of the spread of disease and the lack of health care. At age 12, Coulibaly lost a friend who fell ill after eating a mango. Seeing this, he vowed to do something about the struggles of everyday life of those around him. “I thought about being a doctor, but as I got older I thought about if there is a different way,” Coulibaly said. “I really wanted to help poor people.” For Coulibaly, there was a different way. In December 2005, Coulibaly founded Empowering the Poor Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization based in Fredericksburg, Va., with a mission to empower poor communities. Instead of giving handouts, the focus of Empowering the Poor is to empower poor communities to self-reliance through education, health care and micro-loan programs. The organization works with villages in subSaharan Africa as well as citizens in the U.S. “I knew from day one that giving handouts was not the solution,” Coulibaly said. “I know how much money Africa receives in foreign aid, but yet we can’t get clean water for the people. The poor must realize that they are the solution and they have to do it themselves, and they have to do it through knowledge. They do not need to rely on handouts because handouts don’t solve poverty.” Among the main areas Empowering the Poor focuses on assisting the less fortunate are by enhancing literacy and academic abilities and providing disease education to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Through disease education, Coulibaly hopes to equip poor communities with prevention
This photo was taken in March 19, 2010, during Darius’ 10-day trip to Haiti.
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Darius Coulibaly, right, presents a delivery of 250 bed nets to the village of Princes Town, Ghana, in 2007.
and treatment methods to combat diseases such as AIDS and malaria. Furthermore, the organization helps build local health centers, distributes bed nets and delivers medical supplies to those in need. Coulibaly came to the U.S. at age 17 and graduated from Greensboro Day High School in Greensboro, N.C. before coming to Vanderbilt. At Vanderbilt, Coulibaly was a four-year letterwinner and averaged a shade under 10 minutes per game over his career. Coulibaly left Vanderbilt with a master’s degree in economics. Coulibaly credits his time at Vanderbilt for helping to get the organization up and running. “My time at Vanderbilt was a tremendous resource,” Coulibaly said. “I didn’t have to have a lawyer to do all the paperwork when I was setting up the organization. The knowledge I gained in graduate school was great. You learn so many skills in college, and my time at Vanderbilt was huge.” Coulibaly’s passion for bettering the community carries over to his career, where he is a high school special education teacher in Fredericksburg, Va. “Teaching gives me a lot of flexibility,” Coulibaly said. “In the summer times that is when I go to Africa. It’s not a lot of money, but it gives me the flexibility to do what I like to do which is empowering poor people. To me, I will never change that.” As an economics major, teaching was not what Coulibaly was thinking about after graduation. Instead, he had his eye on finding a job with a non profit organization. After having no luck in Nashville, he moved to the Washington, D.C., area and worked at a medical center, working specifically with drug
Darius sits in a bed sheet-tent in Haiti to talk with Henry, whose house collapsed during the earthquake.
rehabilitation and emotional and behavioral disorders, before going into teaching. Even when Coulibaly isn’t working directly with Empowering the Poor or teaching, he can’t keep himself from helping others in need. After the earthquake in Haiti, Coulibaly and his wife, Sophonie Beauvais, who was born in Haiti, spent 10 days in the country helping the natives get back on their feet. The two hope to raise enough money to bring 500 tents to Haiti. Some people are driven by money and some are driven by their careers. Coulibaly is driven by neither. Instead, he is driven to help others. He has projects lined up to assist others for years to come, but no matter how large the project, there has never been one too large to conquer for Coulibaly. “When I was young, I told myself that when I grow up, I’m going to do something about it,” Coulibaly said. n
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SP Sports, the exclusive multimedia rightsholder for Commodore athletics, entered its 10th year of a successful and beneficial partnership with Vanderbilt University in 2010. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C., ISP | America’s Home for College Sports is partnered with more than 60 major college athletic programs, conferences, bowl games and venues. Also included in the ISP family are fellow SEC members, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, and South Carolina. ISP produces and markets a variety of sponsorship opportunities surrounding Commodore athletics. Those opportunities include radio play-by-play, advertising in various athletic department publications and on the official athletic department web site, signage in university athletic facilities, and at event promotions. Leading the ISP staff at Vanderbilt is assistant vice president and general manager, Jeff Miller, who came to the Nashville office in February of 2008 following two years at ISP’s Baylor property. Miller returned to ISP after serving as the vice president and tournament director at the Constellation Energy Classic golf tournament in Baltimore. Before his time in Baltimore, Miller worked for ISP as the sales manager at the Marconi Pennsylvania Classic in Pittsburgh. Miller earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Wake Forest University, and in 2008, was runner-up for the ISP Chairman’s Cup in the General Managers Division. Assisting Miller in the Nashville office is associate general manager, Craig Turman, who joined ISP’s Vanderbilt staff in October of 2005 after serving as associate general manager of the ISP Huntington office. Prior to that, he served in a management and sales role for the Marshall and Ohio ISP properties. Before coming to ISP, Turman spent two years as a sales executive for the Georgia Dome. Turman is a graduate of Bridgewater (Va.) College where he was a four-year letterman and team captain of the basketball team. He earned a master’s in business administration at Lynchburg College, and is a three-time ISP Chairman’s Cup Winner, capturing the title in 2006, 2007, 2008 for the Seller’s Division. Joining the Vanderbilt ISP Sports team in May as a marketing assistant was Jane DeWitt. DeWitt recently graduated from Marshall University with her master’s degree in sports administration. Jane did her undergraduate work at Murray State where she graduated cum laude in marketing. She was also an instrumental player on the soccer team during her four years at Murray. To contact the Vanderbilt ISP Sports office, call 615/322-4468. n
COM MODOR E
T I DB I T S • The Met Golfer, a publication serving metropolitan New York, has a story on Robert Grober, a former Vanderbilt golfer (1980-1983). A professor of applied physics and physics at Yale, Grober is the inventor of Sonic Golf. The article can be found at: www.metgolfer.org. • Seven Vanderbilt teams were honored for ranking among the top 10 percent in their respective sports based on the most recent multiyear Academic Progress Rates. The sports were: baseball, men’s cross country, men’s tennis, bowling, women’s golf, soccer and swimming. • Vanderbilt had 11 of its 16 teams compete in NCAA postseason competition.
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What it Takes to Pole Vault Junior Katherine Hendricks set the school record in the pole vault when she cleared 12-00.50 at the Sooner Invitational on April 25. A former gymnast, Hendricks discusses how she became a pole vaulter and provides insight about the event.
I
grew up competing in gymnastics since I was three years old, and I thought it would be the sport I would always do. My mom read about gymnasts turning into pole vaulters and getting scholarships and wanted me to give it a try. At the time, I was in seventh grade and I was kind of weary of trying because I was still interested in doing gymnastics. In eighth grade I got hurt and couldn’t compete in gymnastics, so as a freshman (in high school) I figured I might as well try it out. My mom signed me up for a pole vault camp that she heard of in Arkansas that former Olympian Earl Bell runs. My parents took me to it a couple of weekends each month to learn. Surprisingly, pole vaulting came somewhat naturally to me. The first time I attempted to pole vault wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I was kind of nervous, but the camp I went to is for beginners so he eases everyone into it. After that first jump, it wasn’t bad at all. Being a former gymnast has helped me immensely in the sport. Having the strength and body awareness from gymnastics has been a big benefit. I would compare the elements of the bars in gymnastics to pole vaulting. Your footwork is a lot of what makes a vault successful. If your takeoff is messed up, you probably aren’t going to have a good top half of the vault. In high school, most people run from 10 to 12 total steps. When I came here, Coach (Clark) Humphreys had me start running 14 steps. I’ve been told that the number of steps you take is supposed to be about as high as you can jump. I probably won’t move back until I jump 13 feet (Hendricks set the school record with a vault of 12-00.50 on April 25). Although two steps do not seem like a big difference, it is. You have to maintain your speed and you have to stay on your mark because if you are under or out whenever you plant the pole, it is going to mess up your whole vault. The pole that you use depends on your strength and speed. I’m currently using a 13'6" pole that is rated at 165 pounds. When you are attempting a vault, you want to go over the bar face first so you can round over it and land on your back. If you try to land standing up, you could break your ankles. Each competitor has three opportunities to clear each height. If you make a height on your third attempt, you still get three more shots at your next height. The most challenging part of pole vaulting for me is just changing habits and making adjustments to things you have been consistently doing over time. n – As told to Ryan Schulz
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JOHN RUSSELL
A Decade of Partnership
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It’s My Turn By Rod Williamson
Lending a Helping Hand
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f a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? Earlier this spring a local sports writer remarked that he was sure Vanderbilt Athletics was active in the community but he didn’t remember hearing much about it. It was an off-handed remark, not intended as a fair critique of our efforts, but since we place a high value on service it was one that stayed with me. Those of us who can remember when the mayor called Vanderbilt a “600 pound gorilla” still cringe when anyone suggests we are aloof. Over the past 15 years, the university has spent more time detailing some of its numerous community efforts. This is based on the theory that if we are contributing but the public perception is that we are closeted behind the Magnolia Curtain we are not accomplishing all that we want. However, many of us are still hesitant to toot our own horns. (A side note: local media has more of an appetite to publicize the community efforts of our professional athletes.) Aren’t we called upon to look out for our brothers and sisters? Are not those blessed with special gifts obligated to share with those needing inspiration or a friendly hand? That is the right thing to do; having a press agent is not part of the Golden Rule. We’ve been out there. Since the end of the basketball season, representatives of our men’s team have made several appearances. Four ’Dores went to Apollo Middle School to inspire and entertain with the highlight being Jeffrey Taylor’s dunk over a faculty member. A few weeks later, John Jenkins thrilled the kids at a Smyrna elementary school, where he read books, spoke and signed autographs for the students, their teachers and even a few parents. Our Student Athletic Advisory Committee annually hosts a spring field day for area grammar school children. It’s the same group that hosts a holiday party in December, with a hefty lineman as Santa Claus to hand out gifts purchased by the Commodores. When Middle Tennessee was devastated by flood waters, Vanderbilt Athletics responded by making its next home event a benefit for the Nashville Red Cross and other charities. The majority of our head coaches volunteered that night. The few coaches that couldn’t make it chose other ways to help. These are a few recent examples of Commodores in the Community. We’ve realized that our best student-athlete volunteers are often the most quiet about their work. Often times we will have a general idea that they are involved outside the campus walls, yet when asked to detail their efforts they are at first bewildered why anyone would want to know and then often unable to quantify their full efforts since they don’t keep score. They volunteer for all the right reasons. A few years ago we found out about one of our football players who was mentoring some kids at a community center twice a week. He didn’t own a car but that didn’t stop him; he just walked the couple of miles to get there and never made a fuss about it. These examples came to mind as we saw Middle Tennesseans putting their lives back together after the tragic flood. In most neighborhoods there were no television cameras, no bright lights or marching bands to offer salutes. It was neighbor helping neighbor and friend helping friend. Our flood recovery is Exhibit A of our resolve to work through, not whine at, our fortunes. It is a tangible example of one of the intangible reasons we enjoy life in Music City. n
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The Year in Photos
Vanderbilt’s Aaron Westlake nears home plate after hitting a walk-off home run against Auburn on April 18.
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Jackie Wu hits a forehand return in Vanderbilt’s win over Arkansas on April 9.
ESPN’s Dick Vitale plays to the student section before Vanderbilt’s game against Kentucky on Feb. 20.
JOHN RUSSELL STEVE GREEN
JOHN RUSSELL
Chelsea Stewart outleaps a Tennessee player in Vanderbilt’s 1-0 overtime win.
JOHN RUSSELL
Katherine Denkler on the attack against Johns Hopkins.
ZAC HARDY
Charlie Jones readies for a backhand return in Vanderbilt’s match against Florida.
JIMMY JONES
Freshman running backs Zac Stacy (21) and Warren Norman celebrate a touchdown.
JOHN RUSSELL
The baseball team donned patriotic jerseys in a game to raise money for flood relief efforts.
STEVE GREEN
The 2009-10 school year was one to remember for Commodore fans. From the success of the men’s basketball and baseball teams to the SEC women’s golf title by Marina Alex, the year was once again filled with excitement. Just as Commodore Nation has in the past few years, we have once again gathered some memorable images from what was a special year in Vanderbilt athletics.
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Left to right: Bowlers Brittany Garcia, Jessica Earnest, Josie Earnest and Brittni Hamilton collected hardware at the NCAA Championships.
Steve Tchiengang, left, and Jermaine Beal congratulate one another.
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JOHN RUSSELL ROD WILLIAMSON
MARION WALDING
Merideth Marsh looks for space in Vanderbilt’s game against Alabama on Jan. 28.
JOHN RUSSELL
Linebacker DeAndre Jones goes airborne to try and block a punt against Western Carolina.
JOHN RUSSELL
Mallory Hitt clears the bar at the Vanderbilt Invitational. The Commodores hosted two home meets this year.
JOHN RUSSELL
Marina Alex poses with Craig Maddox from the SEC after being honored for winning the SEC Championship.
JOHN RUSSELL
Brian Harris: From Walk-on to All-SEC
Nashville native Brian Harris has made the improbable rise from being a walk-on to an All-SEC selection.
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s a four-year starter at Montgomery Bell Academy, just a few miles from Vanderbilt’s campus, Brian Harris did everything you could have asked a high school player to do. He led his team to a state championship, and he earned allstate honors. But at 5’8”, 160 pounds, Harris wasn’t given much of a chance to succeed on the diamond at the college level. While recruitment letters came flocking in to other all-state performers across the state, the postal employee who delivered the mail to Harris’ home saw no additional workload. At his height, he drew little notice beyond that of a few junior colleges. He contacted schools including Samford and Belmont, but interest was not reciprocated. Instead, he decided to make the short trip down West End Avenue as a walk-on at Vanderbilt, where his father, Robert lettered from 1976-79. “(Vanderbilt assistant coach) Derek Johnson called me and told me they had a spot for me, and that was all I really needed to hear,” said Harris, whose childhood dream was to suit up for the Black and Gold. “Initially, I just wanted to be a part of the program and try to work my way up.” Harris would be joined in his freshman class by the likes of Pedro Alvarez and Ryan Flaherty. He would redshirt his first year with Andrew Giobbi, who shares the role with Harris of being the only two fifth-year seniors on the roster.
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Harris has come a long way since being overlooked by so many schools. As a junior, the shortstop earned All-SEC accolades. “I just think he has put a lot of time into the game,” Head Coach Tim Corbin said. “His younger brother (Andrew, a redshirt freshman on the team) follows the same type of plan, having a workman-like approach to every day. He has never in his mind thought that he is not an SEC player or SEC starter.” Harris credits his redshirt season as being vital to his overall growth as a player and as a person. For one, he spent a lot of time in the weight room and for the first time, he learned about proper nutrition. He has gained more than 20 pounds to his frame since he arrived on campus. “Once I actually put on the weight, I saw a dramatic difference in how I actually played baseball,” Harris said. “I think a lot of people look at redshirting as a bad thing, but for me I looked at it as a good opportunity for me to get better so I could contribute.” One of the quickest ways Harris knew he could contribute was on defense. In an era of home runs, Harris is the type of throwback player who would rather make a diving stop than hit a line shot. “I’ve just always taken pride in defense,” Harris said. “It is something I feel like I’m good at. I felt like that was the main way I could contribute to the team.” His defensive prowess has enabled him to
play third, second and short at Vanderbilt. He has settled in at shortstop and last year was part of the league’s All-Defense team. “From the get-go he’s had very good confidence in his hands, and it is probably his biggest tool,” Corbin said. “If he had to play third base, he’d be our best third baseman. (Jason) Esposito is a heck of a player, but his hands are of that of a goaltender. He is really quick, very reactive. “I just think he’s got tremendous reflexes to the ball with his hands. He’s spent a lot of time on that, and that’s the part of the game where he has shown the most confidence.” It’s a confidence that Corbin has seen in Harris since his redshirt season. “When we redshirted him, he would tell me he has the best hands on the team,” Corbin said. “I would tell him, ‘You think you do?’ And he would tell me ‘I know I do.’ You could laugh that off, but there was some believability in what he was thinking. He just took that believability and made himself a very good player.” Harris’ defensive game was always there, but his offense took time to develop. He hit .283 in 46 at bats as a freshman, dropped to .268 in more regular time as a sophomore and batted .299 as a junior. This season, his average has consistently been over .300. Even more impressive than his average has been his on-base percentage. Harris gets on base more than 50 percent of the time he steps to the plate.
His high on-base percentage has not come easily … or pain-free. He has been hit by more pitches than any player in the SEC the last two years and has led the nation in the category throughout the 2010 season. “You have to realize how difficult it is to stand in the batter’s box and wear baseballs on a continual manner and not get hurt,” Corbin said. “There is a skill set to that, too.” Vanderbilt has had many solid players at the top of the lineup, but Corbin believes Harris may be the best plate-setter he’s coached at Vanderbilt. “He’s as good of a leadoff hitter as we’ve had here in terms of numbers and in terms of getting on base,” Corbin said. “He just takes on a leadership role of a leadoff hitter as it should be played out. He’s just someone who gets deep into the count and is not fearful of hitting with two strikes.” His rise at the plate can be credited to the countless blisters and stingers he’s received from hours spent in the batting cage. It can also be credited to his maturity and experience. “When I was a freshman or sophomore, I didn’t really have a good approach at the plate,” Harris said. “The older I got, I developed that approach. It was working, and I just tried to stick with it. I would go to the cages every day and work on it.”
Developing the same approach has led to an unprecedented level of consistency from Harris. “You get very few days when he doesn’t do well,” Corbin said. “He is very consistent in what he does. He brings the same approach to the ballpark every day. He has a very good energy for the game every day. We lean on him hard. I just think he has been a sponge the last few years where he has picked up on the opponent and understands what it takes to be successful in this league.” The drive Harris has shown to get better stems from when he arrived on campus as a walk-on and was surrounded by a core of future professionals such as David Price, Casey Weathers and Pedro Alvarez. As a walk-on, Harris took it upon himself to prove to others that he belonged at this level. “I just needed to prove I belong,” Harris said. “Anytime you are in that walk-on situation, you kind of want to prove that you think you can play with these guys and compete in the SEC. The goal that you constantly have as a younger player, especially as a walk-on, is to prove you can compete.” Corbin noticed Harris’ work ethic from the onset. The extra ground balls, the extra rounds in the cage and the extra time studying the game has paid off. But even when Harris began to get more time in the lineup
and eventually became a starter in 2009, he never let off the gas. “He is just one of those kids that is never satisfied,” Corbin said. “That’s probably the thing that drives him most is that he is never satisfied in how he is doing. Sometimes I talk to him about that and how he can beat himself up. I also know that is a strength because that is what motivates him to be better.” The never-satisfied approach that Harris brings to the ballpark every day is something that is ingrained in his personality. “I think just being a perfectionist at heart is kind of the foundation of that attitude,” Harris said. “I think that when I was younger, I wasn’t as much of a perfectionist because I knew I had to work my way up and I was going to fail more than I succeeded. When I started to succeed, I just wanted to keep on getting better and better. Just competing is not enough, I want to excel at the highest level I possibly can.” Harris has excelled in college and has wiped away all those doubters from high school. He’s done it with hard work, a positive attitude and a belief in himself. “I always believed that I could contribute to this program,” Harris said. “I just had the mindset that I could contribute eventually in my time here at Vanderbilt. That vision and motivation kept me going to get better.” n
Baseball
Girl’s Basketball
Football
SWIMMING
Contact: Graham Manning Phone: 615/322-3716
Contact: Vicki Spina Phone: 615/343-8482
Contact: Michael Hazel Phone: 615/322-2251
Contact: Krysten Nemecek Phone: 615/829-9784
Youth Camp I & II
Team Challenge Day Camp
Senior Elite I & II
Butterfly Clinic
6/11-13
6/6 & 6/13 Grade: 12th only
“Mini” Ballers
Future Star Camp
Backstroke Clinic
6/14-16 • Grades: K-2
6/7-10 • Grades: Rising 6-8
5/30
Offensive Improvement Camp
Kicking Camp
6/22-25 • 6/29-7/2 Grades: 1-8
H.S. Prospect Camp (Overnight/Commuter) 7/11-15 • Grades: 9-12
Boy’s Basketball Contact: Meredith Schakel Phone: 615/322-6530 Junior Day Camp 6/7-10 • Grades: K-3
Day Camp I & II 6/7-10 • 6/28-7/1 Grades: 3-10
Games Camp 6/21-24 • Grades: 3-10
6/14-17 • Grades: 3-12
Elite Camp 6/18-19 • Grades: 8-12
Lacrosse
Breaststroke Clinic
6/11 • Grades: Rising 11-12
6/6
Junior Mini-Camp I & II 6/18 & 7/23 • Grades: Rising 11-12
Music City Classic (7-on-7 Camp)
Freestyle Clinic 6/13
Swim Camp
Contact: Cathy Swezey Phone: 615/343-8526
7/16-17 • High school teams only
5/31-6/3
Rising Star Camp 7/18 • Grades: 11-12
Tennis
Elite Overnight Camp 7/9-11 • Ages: 14-18
Soccer
Complete Skills Camp
Contact: Ronnie Woodard Phone: 615/343-8099
7/12-15 • Ages: 6-18
For additional information or to register, please visit
VUCOMMODORES.com vucommodores.com
5/23
Contact: Meggie Butzow Phone: 615/322-4193
Day Camp (Boys and Girls) 6/7-11 & 6/14-18 • Ages: 5-15
Sessions I-IV Ages: 7-17 5/31-6/4 • 6/7-11 • 6/14-18 • 6/21-25
Residential (Girls) 6/27-30 • Ages: 12-18
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Quick Hits • Former Commodores Bradley Vierling • Vanderbilt held a Red Cross Benefit
Game against Louisville on May 11 to help with recovery efforts after the devastating floods. • Vanderbilt had free admission to the game and accepted monetary donations for the Red Cross, as well as nonperishable food items for Second Harvest Foodbank and clothing and everyday necessities for the Hands On Nashville organization. • S ophomore Joe Loftus was named SEC Player of the Week on May 10. • Vanderbilt won its third straight regular season series against LSU by taking the final two games of its series with the Tigers.
(center) and Ryan Hamilton (safety) signed as undrafted free agents with NFL teams. Vierling signed with Pittsburgh, and Hamilton signed with New Orleans. • Bobby Johnson and former VU basketball player Will Perdue tied for sixth at the Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge.
• Vanderbilt was selected to compete in
the NCAA Regional Championships for the third time in four years. • Hudson Johnson earned second team All-SEC honors on April 27. • Head Coach Tom Shaw announced the signing of Mills Rendell (Winnetka, Ill.) to a National Letter of Intent on April 28.
• Freshman Ryan Lipman was named SEC
Co-Freshman of the Year, becoming the first Commodore to earn the honor. • Lipman also took home first team AllSEC accolades and was selected to the All-SEC Freshman team. • Vanderbilt was selected to participate in the NCAA Tournament for the ninth time and third time in four seasons. • Senior Scott Lieberman was selected to the SEC Men’s Tennis Community Service team. • Lipman was selected to participate in the NCAA Singles Championships. He was the first player selected for the championships since Ryan Preston in 2008. • Lipman was named ITA Ohio Valley Rookie of the Year.
• Senior Thomas Davis was selected to
give the speech at the Athletics Commencement Banquet. • Davis closed his speech by referencing Joe Paterno’s famous quote about the difference between success and excellence.
• Vanderbilt had five players named to
• Selected as captains for the 2010 season
• Five members of the bowling team were
were center Joey Bailey, defensive tackles T.J. Greenstone and Adam Smotherman and linebacker Chris Marve. • Vanderbilt had two players selected in the 2010 NFL Draft. Cornerback Myron Lewis was selected in the third round by Tampa Bay, and offensive tackle Thomas Welch was selected in the seventh round by New England. • Former Commodore standout Corey Chavous was on set for the NFL Network’s coverage of the draft. Men’s Sports Women’s Sports
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trip to the NCAA Tournament. • Vanderbilt had five players receive All-
American Lacrosse Conference honors. • Seniors Sarah Downing and Alex Mundy
and sophomore Ally Carey earned ALC First Team honors. • Senior Carter Foote and sophomore Nat-
• Vanderbilt had five players selected
to the Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll. Named were Elliot Cole, Joe Duffy, Chris Meriwether, Aaron Noll and Jordan Smart. • Four members of Vanderbilt’s basketball team, Festus Ezeli, Aaron Noll, Jeffery Taylor and Steve Tchiengang, visited Apollo Middle School in Antioch, Tenn., on April 15 to participate in their Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program Celebration. • J ohn Jenkins visited Stewartsboro Elementary School in Smyrna, Tenn., on April 22 to read to a group of students and sign autographs. • V U announced the signing of James Siakam (Carbondale, Ill.) on May 17.
• Vanderbilt earned its fourth consecutive
the Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll. Selected were Ashlee Bridge, Merideth Marsh, Jessica Mooney, Jence Rhoads and Rebecca Silinski.
on the SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll. Making the list were Ashley Belden, Josie Earnest, Brittany Garcia, Amanda Halter and Brittni Hamilton.
alie Wills received second team All-ALC honors. • Vanderbilt advanced to the American Lacrosse Conference championship game. • Ally Carey was named as one of 25 nominees for the 2010 Tewaaraton Award, which is given annually to the nation’s top player. • Natalie Wills was named ALC Defensive Player of the Week on April 20. The same week, Womenslacrosse.com named Wills to its Division I weekly Honor Roll.
• Vanderbilt had six swimmers selected
to the Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll. Making the list were Jessica Cohen, Laura Dillon, Anna Fargo, Jennifer Molchan, Allie Voss and Nicole Woodworth.
• C atherine Newman received the Ar-
thur Ashe Award and Aleke Tsoubanos was named Assistant Coach of the Year in the Ohio Valley Region • N ewman and Chelsea Preeg earned All-SEC honors. Newman was selected first team All-SEC, and Preeg was tabbed second team All-SEC. • Hannah Blatt was selected to the SEC Women’s Tennis Community Service Team. • Vanderbilt was selected to play in its 16th straight NCAA Tournament. • Catherine Newman and Jackie Wu were selected to participate in the NCAA Singles Championships. VU’s doubles team of Chelsea Preeg and Wu was selected as alternates for the doubles championships.
• Buky Bamigboye tied Ryan Tolbert’s • Sophomore Marina Alex was named
SEC Golfer of the Year, becoming the first Commodore to earn the honor since May Wood in 2004. • The Commodores finished fifth in the NCAA East Regional to advance to the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2007 and fifth time in school history.
school record in the long jump by leaping 19-10.25 at the Tennessee Invitational. • Katherine Hendricks set the school record in the pole vault at the Sooner Invitational on April 25 with a vault of 12-00.50. • Louise Hannallah finished a seasonbest time of 16:59.24 in the 5000 meters at the 2010 Penn Relays.
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Backfield Duo Backs One Another
“...A lot of people ask us if it was a competition between us...” “A lot of people ask us if it was a competition between us,” Stacy said. “It really wasn’t. We knew coming into fall camp last year that one of us had to play. We pushed each other on the field and will continue to.” The relationship between the two began their junior years of high school at a Nike football camp in Alabama. From there the two visited Vanderbilt during the 2008 Auburn game where they were put together as roommates. When both signed with the Commodores, Stacy reached out to Nor-
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JOHN RUSSELL
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anderbilt has had just three players top 1,000 yards rushing in a season, and none since 1995 when Jermaine Johnson rushed for 1,072 yards. It’s a statistic that speaks to the lean years of the program, but also is a statistic that could easily change in the next few years. Never has Vanderbilt had as talented a backfield as it does entering the 2010 season. At the head of the class are rising sophomores Warren Norman and Zac Stacy. The two arrived on campus with fellow running back Wesley Tate, who redshirted, and immediately turned heads as the duo ran through, around and past would-be defenders en route to combining for more yards on the ground (1,261) than any other freshman tandem in school history. Norman, a Stone Mountain, Ga., native carried the torch for Vanderbilt and all SEC freshmen last season when he was named SEC Freshman of the Year. Norman finished the year with 783 yards rushing and an SEC freshman record of 1,941 all-purpose yards. Stacy, who hails from Centreville, Ala., finished with 478 yards rushing despite missing two games due to injury. Pretty good production for a guy who grew up thinking he would more likely end up at an SEC school on a baseball scholarship than a football one. “Baseball was my first love,” Stacy said. “I’ve been playing baseball since I was 6 years old. I always thought I was going to be a baseball player growing up, but I strapped on some pads and began playing football and fell in love with it.” In a sports landscape where many stars that play the same position fail to coexist comfortably, Norman and Stacy’s relationship has only grown closer.
Rising sophomore running backs Zac Stacy and Warren Norman are looking to take the next step in their careers after strong freshman seasons.
man to see if he’d be interested in rooming together as freshmen. “He’s been great as a roommate,” Norman said. “He has helped me a lot on the field, and I help him a lot. When (running backs) Coach (Des) Kitchings is on our backs about mental mistakes, we try to help each other out.” Although both players are immensely talented, the time spent together on and off the field has benefited both of them. Norman credits Stacy for making him a better blocker, and Stacy gives Norman credit for helping him with adjusting his running style to fit the speed of the SEC, as well as his overall flexibility. “With me getting hurt last season, he got a couple more snaps and a lot more experience than I got throughout the season,” Stacy said. “There were times when I would ask him what I did wrong or what I need to work on. I learned a lot from him.” The two not only helped each other on the field, but also off it. “We were on each other this year to make sure the other was on top of things,” Stacy said. “If we needed to meet with a professor or someone else, we would remind each other to make sure everything got done … there was kind of a brotherly thing going on between us.” Although the two are friends, they understand they are still gunning for the same thing. “Coming in we knew exactly what we were going to get into,” Norman said. “Fortunately for us Coach Kitchings does a great job of splitting carries among us no matter
who the starter is. Regardless, we both go hard on the practice field and try to win that starting spot.” Competing against someone as talented as the other for the starting spot has only pushed each harder to improve. “I definitely think we push each other,” Norman said. “We may not say it, but we kind of feel it. There is a friendly rivalry. He makes a good play, I feel pumped up to go make a big play and I’m sure he feels the same way.” Both players expect to make a lot of big plays during their sophomore campaigns. “It is always good to get your feet wet, especially in the SEC,” said Stacy. “Last year we got a lot of experience throughout the season. I think it is important. From my standpoint, with me getting hurt, I just want to come into this season and just stay healthy. I feel like if everyone is healthy, then we will be successful.” Improvement will be even harder for Norman, who shattered virtually every freshman record last season, but in 2010, he will have something going for him for the first time since before high school—consistency in the coaching ranks. Last season was Norman’s fifth coach in five years. Being able to work with the same staff for two years is a scary proposition to SEC defenders. “It is very important for me to improve on last year,” Norman said. “I’m going to come in and do the best that I can. Everybody tells me I have big expectations this year. I’m working just as hard as I did last year, and I expect to be better.” n
Commodore Flashback: 40 Years Wessel Strikes Out 23
H
ow many pitchers can say they’ve struck out more than 20 batters in a game, and it wasn’t even their best game? Not many. Former Vanderbilt hurler Doug Wessel is one of the few who can. Forty years ago (April 21, 1970), Wessel recorded 23 of the game’s 27 outs by strikeout in a 16-0 win against UT-Chattanooga. The 23 strikeouts remain a school record and are the second-most in Southeastern Conference history. Even more impressive than Wessel’s record-setting strikeout performance was what he accomplished the following season in 1971. That year, Wessel tossed not one, but two no-hitters. He first accomplished the feat against Louisville and then Belmont. Wessel’s no-no against Belmont stood as Vanderbilt’s most recent no hitter until 2003. Also in 1971, Wessel struck out 22 batters in 11 innings of work against Kentucky. The 22 strikeouts remain the third most in SEC history. Wessel went on to be drafted No. 7 overall in the first round of the 1973 Major League Baseball Draft by the Baltimore Orioles. He played three years in the minors but never played in the majors. n
The Month Ahead
Men’s Sports Baseball 6/4 6/5 6/6 6/7 6/11 6/12 6/13 6/14 6/19 6/20 6/21 6/22 6/23 6/24 6/25 6/26 6/27 6/28 6/29 6/30
Golf 6/2 6/3 6/4 6/5
NCAA Tournament Regionals NCAA Tournament Regionals NCAA Tournament Regionals NCAA Tournament Regionals NCAA Tournament Super Regionals NCAA Tournament Super Regionals NCAA Tournament Super Regionals NCAA Tournament Super Regionals College World Series (Omaha, Neb.) College World Series (Omaha, Neb.) College World Series (Omaha, Neb.) College World Series (Omaha, Neb.) College World Series (Omaha, Neb.) College World Series (Omaha, Neb.) College World Series (Omaha, Neb.) College World Series (Omaha, Neb.) College World Series (Omaha, Neb.) College World Series (Omaha, Neb.) College World Series (Omaha, Neb.) College World Series (Omaha, Neb.)
TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA
NCAA National Championship (Chattanooga) NCAA National Championship (Chattanooga) NCAA National Championship (Chattanooga) NCAA National Championship (Chattanooga)
TBA TBA TBA TBA
Women’s Sports Track & Field 6/9 6/10 6/11 6/12
NCAA Outdoor Championships (Eugene, Ore.) NCAA Outdoor Championships (Eugene, Ore.) NCAA Outdoor Championships (Eugene, Ore.) NCAA Outdoor Championships (Eugene, Ore.)
TBA TBA TBA TBA
What to Watch For June 7-9 • MLB Draft See which Vanderbilt players and signees get their first shot at professional baseball when the Major League Baseball Draft is held June 7-9. The last three years, Vanderbilt has had a player selected in the first round. June 24 • NBA Draft Will A.J. Ogilvy be drafted in the 2010 NBA Draft? Find out on June 24, when the NBA holds its annual draft. Vanderbilt’s last draft selection came in 2008 when Shan Foster was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks. August 25 • 2010 Fall Semester Begins After a summer off, Vanderbilt’s students will return to campus when the fall semester begins on August 25.
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