Commodore Nation - June 2009 by Vanderbilt Commodores

June 2009

THE YEAR IN PHOTOS

table of contents 8

2 Connecting With The Web 4 National Commodore Club 6 In My Words

Andrew Giobbi

7 Commodores Cubed Lacrosse travels to Europe

8 An Artist’s Touch VU runner wins prestigious art award 10 Gone, But Never Forgotten

Memory of his father stays with Sonny Gray

13 It’s My Turn—Rod Williamson

A dandy dozen

15 Summer Camps

See what camps are being held

16 The Year in Photos

View the memorable photos of the year

18 Graduating Commodores

VU hosts special graduation ceremony

19 Where Are They Now?

Josh Paul

20 Quick Hits A look at Vanderbilt’s sports teams 23 Fans Enjoy Outfield Seats Bleachers provide different view

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

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: Neil Brake

Twitter

Podcasts

Daniel Dubois

Receive instant updates on Vanderbilt’s athletic teams by following vucommodores on Twitter. Twitter enables fans to receive updates via text message and the Web. It is free to sign up for an account, and standard text message rates apply.

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.

Steve Green Jimmy Jones Stan Jones Mike Rapp John Russell Jamie Squire/Getty Images Mike Strasinger Todd Van Emst Rod Williamson

Contributors: Andy Boggs

John Erck Larry Leathers Thomas Samuel Chris Weinman

Administrative

Commodore Nation Online Every issue of Commodore Nation is archived for easy online viewing. Issues are available through an interactive viewer, which allows readers to view the publication much as they do a magazine.

Facebook Connect with Vanderbilt athletics through Facebook.com. The social-networking site enables fans to connect with other Commodore fans online. The site is continuously updated with content relating to the Commodores.

Letters

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.

Sportswriter U Really enjoyed your article on Vanderbilt sportwriters. I ended up at Vanderbilt (from Massachusetts) because of the Grantland Rice Scholarship. Even though I didn’t receive the 1978 award, I had to apply to the school in order to be eligible. In light of your article, I did want to mention Bob Lipman who was my Vanderbilt roommate and is my lifelong friend. Bob is one of the play-by-play voices of the New Hampshire FisherCats in Manchester. He also calls Dartmouth College football. He is a former New Hampshire Sportscaster of the Year. Bill, Taunton, Mass.

JUNE 2009

Broadening Horizons That Vanderbilt allows its football players and other student-athletes the opportunity to get away from their sport during the summer and study abroad is yet another reason why it is hard not to pull for Vanderbilt even as an alumnus of another SEC school. My only question is, can I go with them? Jane, Nashville

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.

ON THE COVER: A collection of the top photos of the year. ILLUSTRATION: Jeremy Teaford 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 N AT I O N

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

COR N E R

PHONE: 615/322-4114 vucommodores.com BLACK AND GOLD BANQUET • APRIL 13

Several NCC members and athletic donors had the opportunity to attend the Black and Gold Banquet, where many of Vanderbilt’s student-athletes are honored for their achievements.

Left to right: Joe Barrett, Chancellor Nick Zeppos, Harold Sutton.

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO RENEW YOUR NCC MEMBERSHP!

Coach Bobby Johnson with Jim and Ina Hitt.

NOTICE ON FUTURE OF PRINTED MEDIA GUIDES

You still have time to make your gift to the NCC in order to retain priority seating and parking benefits for the 2009 football and 2009-10 basketball seasons. Please make your gift by the end of Vanderbilt’s fiscal year, June 30. Call 615/3224114, click vucommodores.com or come by the office in the McGugin Center to make your gift. Every gift is allocated toward the goal of funding student-athlete scholarships. Thank you for your continued support of Vanderbilt Athletics. Your Membership Matters!

In dealing with difficult economic times, the NCAA is looking into cost-cutting measures. One of the measures the NCAA is exploring is the elimination of printed media guides. Nothing has been determined for the upcoming 2009-10 academic year, but there is a possibility the legislation could be passed this summer by the NCAA. If the NCAA moves forward on this, Vanderbilt would no longer be allowed to produce printed media guides to provide to donors or use in other public relations endeavors. The information in media guides would still be available online. As of this date we are planning to print media guides as usual in 2009-10.

DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS/ DECLINING BENEFITS

2010 SEC MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT IN NASHVILLE

Gifts to the NCC from foundation donor-advised 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.

If you haven’t renewed your NCC membership, there is still time to do so. Being a member of the NCC will be even more beneficial this year with the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Sommet Center in Nashville. Not only is renewing important for football and basketball tickets, but for ticket priority to the tournament. Make your gift today to ensure you get your NCC priority!

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.

JUNE 2009

ATHLETIC RENOVATIONS • MAY 8 If you went to Hawkins Field for a baseball game this season, you’ve seen the renovations to the athletic facilities. Whether it is the addition of outfield bleachers at Hawkins Field or the improvements to the exterior of Dudley Field, the facility improvements are another indication of the progress of Vanderbilt Athletics. To find out more about how you can contribute and be involved in the projects, contact the National Commodore Club at: 615/322-4114.

Vanderbilt Stadium gets a new façade all the way around the stadium. The renovations will expand and enhance the concourse.

The brick and wrought-iron finish continues down Natchez Trace.

Gate 2: Compare this picture to a similar angle in the April issue of Commodore Nation – progress!

PAVE THE WAY Vanderbilt alumni and friends can become a permanent part of Vanderbilt Stadium with the “Pave the Way” program, which allows fans the opportunity to purchase commemorative bricks that will be the centerpiece of VU’s new walkways outside the stadium. One location for the bricks will be in the plaza area outside of Gate 3 (right). Bricks are available to purchase at a cost of $200 through June 1, 2009. After June 1, the cost will be $250. Bricks can be ordered through vucommodores.com or by calling the NCC at 615/322-4114.

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Gate 3: The main gate that most Commodore fans use for football games

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

In My Words

Andrew

Giobbi

ew players are as versatile as Vanderbilt junior Andrew Giobbi. First base, catcher, outfield, cleanup hitter or leadoff hitter, Giobbi has filled each of those needs and many others during

his career at Vanderbilt. Giobbi is not just multitalented, he also is one of Vanderbilt’s most consistent players. However, having success on the diamond has not come without many challenges being thrown his way in the last year. During the summer of 2008 Giobbi had six facial bones shattered when he was drilled by a pitch. In 2009, he missed 16 games after breaking his hand. A native of Portland, Maine, Giobbi graduated high school with former Commodore shortstop Ryan Flaherty. The duo has helped put Vanderbilt on the map for the residents of Portland. On how frustrating it was to miss part of the season due to a broken hand Unbelievably. It was terrible just watching the games, especially getting the chance to catch this year. Having that taken away from you, you realize how much it means to you when it is gone. On if he felt like he was a coach during the time he missed I especially did when Aaron Westlake was catching because he was brand new to the position. It was a different perspective to be coaching the game. In essence, I did learn a lot from it though. On using what he learned from being a backup catcher his sophomore and freshman years to coach Westlake It was interesting because Shea Robin was the same way as Aaron Westlake in that he also picked up the position when he got here. He had to learn the position from scratch just like Westlake did. I picked up on stuff, subconsciously, not knowing what was going to happen, but I used that in terms of teaching Westlake how to catch and manage the game. I was teaching him more so about managing the baseball game. On whether former teammate and fellow Portland, Maine, native Ryan Flaherty or he committed to Vanderbilt first It was a few weeks apart, but I actually did. We met the coaches at the same time. He came down on his visit first, and he kind of held off on making a decision. I came a week later, and I committed on the visit. He committed a few weeks after that. We talked about it and swapped a few notes. There was no doubt that it was the best place to play. On if his commitment put pressure on Flaherty to commit I don’t think so. It was a win-win situation. We both had our options, but like I said, it was far and away the best place in terms of academics and athletics.

You see a few more hats and shirts up there, and that was unheard of before we came here. Even when Vanderbilt first recruited me, it was like, “Where is that?” It was kind of a learning situation for me, as well. You hear a lot of talk about it now.

JUNE 2009

JOHN RUSSELL

On the popularity of Vanderbilt in Portland, Maine

On how the weather affects high school baseball in Maine

Commodores Cubed

I talked to some of the kids on the team from Florida, and it’s funny because they played 40 or 50 games in high school and we played 16. We only had a month span that we could actually get outside and play games before school ended.

kellen ST. LUCE Baseball

jenner KIZER

Cross Country

kellianne KLEEMAN Track & Field

Track & Field

I really need to give up ____________

Peanut M&M’s

M&M’s

Cookie dough

On sleeping

____________ should be on American Idol

Caleb Cotham

My dad, Jay Kizer

My little brother, Scott

My teammate, Carolyn Bell

On how he became such a versatile player It all stemmed from having a good work ethic. I’d like to think that my athleticism has improved over the past couple of years. It is nice, not even for the professional ranks, but just for college because it gives coaches flexibility with me. I had the injury this last summer and it forced me to play outfield. That helped me a lot. On getting hit in the face by a pitch last summer I broke six different bones. It was kind of like when (Alex) Feinberg got hit in the jaw (last season), but I got hit more in the cheek area. I got lucky it didn’t touch anything near the eye. On how difficult it was to get back in the box It really was difficult. My friend, Joe Sanders, at Auburn broke his jaw just like Feinberg did, and I told him, “You are going to be flinching at some of those fastballs, especially ones that are going to be closer to your body.” It just got better with the more at bats I had. It took a couple of weeks. In those first couple of at bats, some of the 90 mph fastballs looked a lot faster. n

Summer plans

Summer baseball and internship

I wish I knew how to _____

Fly a plane

Taking the Hanging with MCAT, applyfriends, playing ing to medical with my dog, school and running and teaching swimgetting a job ming lessons

Have more patience

Surf

haley KOLFF

Find a job or travel

Fly a plane

Lacrosse Travels to Europe

NEIL BRAKE

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when Swezey and her squad went to England, Wales and Ireland. “I think the cultural experience will be important,” Swezey said. “Vanderbilt is really supportive of international travel, and they think it is important for the student body experience. Certainly, we are going to play, but as much as anything, it is for the bonding and the cultural experience.” A trip like this usually would be used to bring a team closer together heading into next season, but that may be hard to do for a group that already is so close. “If we could get closer any more than we already are, it would be pretty impressive,” Swezey said. “We have been very fortunate to have a really close-knit group of kids. I have been here for 12 years, and this has been one of my favorite years as a coach with this group of girls.” n JOHN RUSSELL

he NCAA lacrosse season may have concluded with the tournament championship on May 24, but the 2009 season is not over for Vanderbilt. While every other team is parting ways for the summer, the Commodores will be departing Nashville together. From May 29 to June 7, Vanderbilt’s 2009 team will be competing against teams in Europe, while making stops in Prague, Vienna, Munich and Salzburg. Among the teams the Commodores will face will be the Czech Republic National Team. “It is good because I think we will get some good competition on top of the cultural experience the team will get,” Head Coach Cathy Swezey said. “I think the National Team will be looking for good competition prior to the World Cup.” The trip, which was funded by money raised by the lacrosse program, will be the team’s first outside the U.S. since 2003,

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

JOHN RUSSELL

Vanderbilt Runner has an Artist’s Touch

s an art major at Vanderbilt, there is no award that is more coveted than the Margaret Stonewall Wooldridge Hamblet Award. The recipient receives $25,000, the means for travel and independent art activity for one year and a solo art exhibition at the Fine Arts Gallery. The award has been handed out every year since 1984 to a graduating senior art major. People have won the award with paintings, photography, pottery, etc., but never had anyone won with video art. That was until this year when Carmen Mims, a member of the track and cross country teams, won the prestigious honor with a 10-minute video that she produced. “I was completely in shock,” Mims said of the honor. “It was the first video I’ve ever done, so that was really exciting to show that my initiative to learn the program and try something new was valued by the judges.” For years, running and art have been the hobbies Mims has been most passionate about. Because of her love for the two, she has tried to express her running through her artwork, but she was unable to get the results she desired until creating the winning video, which, fittingly, focuses on the obsession people have with running. “I’ve been trying to express the highs and lows of running for the past few years, but I hadn’t found that right medium,” Mims said. “Finally with video, I was able to get across how running is really an obsession for me and

JUNE 2009

how others could relate their compulsions with running to mine. Running has been a huge factor in my art.” Vanderbilt art professor Libby Rowe has seen Mims’ work throughout college and has watched Mims try to blend her passion for running with that of art for the past few years. “Running has been a constant theme in her work,” Rowe said. “I think that finally with the video piece, she found a really successful way to express the feelings that are involved in something that is so important to her life and is so very different in many ways than art. She found a way to bring those two things together, and I think that is what ultimately helped her be successful in the competition.” Ask any runner and they will tell you running is one of the best times to think. Mims is no different. Some of her best ideas and suggestions for her artwork have come while pounding the pavement as a Vanderbilt student-athlete. “Running alone has really helped me have that time to myself,” Mims said. “Bouncing ideas off my teammates has been a huge help too. They have probably gotten sick of hearing about all the crazy things I’ve wanted to do, but they are so honest with me. Having a nonart perspective and an honest perspective has been very helpful. Running is definitely a great time for me to get focused and excited about doing my art.” Before this past January, Mims had focused most of her attention on printmaking and

painting. She had entered two other art competitions and wasn’t very successful in either. When she finally picked up a video camera for the first time, she felt an instant connection. “I had been pretty hooked on printmaking and painting the last two years and then finally I picked up a video camera for the first time and felt I was much more suited for that,” Mims said. Her ability to pick up video from scratch did not come as a surprise to Rowe, who has seen Mims quickly learn many new things in art over the years. “She has grown quite a bit,” said Rowe, who taught Mims in photography and digital imaging. “Because the classes I’ve had her in are beginning-level classes, I’ve really seen her start with a new technique or a new process and apply her ideas to that process, which she does really well with, and I think that her video is a good example of that. Just being able to do a very technically proficient project with a new medium is something she is good at.” Despite Mims’ keen ability to pick things up and instant connection with video art, she had concerns along the way. No concern was larger than that she was putting everything into a form of art she had never done. “I knew I wanted to do video art, and I was really hoping it would work out because I wasn’t working on much of anything else besides the assignments for the classes,” Mims said. “I really put everything into that video hoping that something wouldn’t go wrong at the last minute.” With the help of her boyfriend and former Vanderbilt cross country runner, Chris Noll, who did the filming, and her parents who gave her ideas, Mims was able to produce the video through self-taught editing techniques. And instead of something going wrong, it is safe to say everything went better than Mims had expected. “I think this video was significant in that it really allowed me to express myself visually, and that is why I really like art,” Mims said. Even though she is leaving the classroom at Vanderbilt after graduating in May with a degree in art and a minor in economics, Mims will enter another classroom in August. The Louisville, Ky., native was accepted to the Teach for America program and will spend the next two years teaching in the Nashville Public School System. On top of her work in the classroom, Mims will continue to focus on studying ways to improve video art in preparation for the solo art show she will have in Feb. 2011 at the E. Bronson Ingram Studio Art Center. “I do have a passion for teaching, and I don’t know right now if I’m going to pursue art, education or both,” Mims said. “This will be a great way for me to be doing both and see what I really want to do at the end of two years.” Mims may not know what direction she wants to go, but right now she has 25,000 reasons to give art a try. n

By The

NUMBERS 12

The number of Vanderbilt teams with APR scores of 1,000.

Vanderbilt studentathletes received their degrees on May 8.

1,239

people are friends with Vanderbilt athletics on Facebook as of May 19.

Freshman Marina Alex became the first Vanderbilt player to make the NCAA Championships as an individual.

COMPLIANCE

COR NER

Q: A:

Johnny Touchdown is a prospective student-athlete getting ready to begin his senior year of high school. The football coaches at Big Time University would like to send Johnny a text message wishing him good luck in the upcoming season. Is this permissible? No. NCAA Bylaw 13.4.1.2 states that electronically transmitted correspondence that may be sent to a prospective student-athlete is limited to electronic mail and facsimiles. (See Bylaw 13.1.7.2.) All other forms of electronically transmitted correspondence (e.g., Instant Messenger, text messaging) are prohibited. Color attachments may be included with electronic mail correspondence sent to a prospective student-athlete, provided the attachment only includes information that is not created for recruiting purposes, except for items that are specifically permitted as printed recruiting materials (e.g., questionnaires). In addition, attachments shall not include any animation, audio or video clips, and there shall be no cost (e.g., subscription fee) associated with sending the item attached to the electronic mail correspondence. (Adopted: 4/28/05 effective 8/1/05 for publications prepared for the 2005-06 academic year and after, Revised: 12/12/06, 4/26/07 effective 8/1/07)

Compliance questions? Please contact: Candice Storey Lee 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

The number of SEC schools with at least five players on the same NFL roster as of May 5 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Florida (DEN), Vanderbilt (CHI), LSU (KC) and Tennessee (MIA).

$109

The cost for a season ticket to watch the 2009 Vanderbilt football team.

The national rank of Vanderbiltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Peabody College of education and human development in the 2009 U.S. News & World Report rankings.

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

Gone, But Never Forgotten

JUNE 2009

JOHN RUSSELL

e is reminded of him every morning he wakes up and again every time he puts on his hat before a game. It has almost been five years since his father, Jesse, was killed in a car crash, but it seems like just yesterday to Vanderbilt pitcher Sonny Gray. Each morning when Sonny rises in his dorm room he sees his father’s name on a plaque Smyrna High School gave to him upon graduation. In each of the hats he wears on the baseball field, he has inscribed “DAD” under the bill. His father’s spirit lives on with Sonny. Sonny was a freshman at Smyrna High School, 25 miles southeast of Vanderbilt’s campus, at the time of the crash. His father was coming home late from work one evening when the car he was driving was hit by another driver. Jesse was rushed to the hospital, but there was nothing that could be done. “It was something completely unexpected, and it just happened,” Sonny said. “It was the longest day of my life.” When Sonny, his two sisters (Jessica and Katie) and his mom, Cindy, arrived at the hospital they called friends and relatives, who joined them. One of those friends was Shawn Middleton, an assistant baseball and football coach at Smyrna High School. “He called me up at 6 a.m. the morning of a freshman football game and said ‘My dad had a car wreck and I need you to come down to the hospital,’” Middleton said. “At the time, I didn’t think it was too serious, but when we got to the hospital we realized it was really bad. He is more mature about handling the situation than I am.” The experience Sonny went through is something Middleton couldn’t imagine going through as a 14-year-old boy. “He basically took his two sisters and his mom under his wing and handled it,” Middleton said. “I’ll never forget that right before Jesse died, he said, ‘Coach, come back here and see him. I just want you to see what I had to see.’ He cried a little bit, but it was amazing how he handled it.” Because of the tragedy, Middleton had already written off and forgotten about the freshman football game he was supposed to coach against Lebanon later that night. He needed to spend time with Sonny and his family, but Sonny didn’t want to sulk. “I had already called the school and called the assistant coaches and told them I was going to stay with Sonny and talk about some things and get through them together,” Middleton said. “Sonny looked at me and said, ‘Coach, we are going to the game. We are going to be there, and that is what my dad would want me to do.’” For Sonny, the decision was easy. “I just told everyone that that is what my dad would want me to do,” he said. “You

Freshman Sonny Gray takes the memory of his father with him every time he takes the mound.

have to face adversity head on, and that is what we tried to do…not just myself, but my whole family.” What ensued was one of the most magical nights of Sonny’s athletic career. He threw four touchdowns in the team’s 28-6 win, but none was more special than the first one. “I had him call the first play of the game, and of course it was a pass play and it went for 75 yards,” Middleton said. “It was almost like a Brett Favre moment. I was out on the field and I was hugging the kid, while getting a 15-yard penalty at the same time. Of course, who cares at that point, it is just one of those moments that you will never forget.” With the loss of his father tearing him up inside, Sonny needed an outlet to take his mind off the tragedy. Sports immediately became that outlet. “After my father passed away, I had to find somewhere to go. I chose to run to sports,” Sonny said. “It allowed me to take my mind off of everything. There were a lot of friends that surrounded me, and I had a lot of family to lean on. I just tried to run to sports and use it as an outlet.” Each time he turned to sports, he saw more success. On the football field he quarterbacked Smyrna to back-to-back state championships. On the baseball diamond, he was ranked as the No. 52 draft prospect by Baseball America as a senior. Despite his success on the football field, he always knew baseball was where he had the brightest future. Part of the reason was his height (a generous 5-foot-11), another part of it was his arm (he was throwing in the 90s as a sophomore in high school). The biggest reason was his love for the game. “Baseball has always been my favorite sport,” Sonny said. “I loved football and I considered playing in college, but didn’t pursue it nearly as much as I did baseball. I always knew I had a brighter future in baseball unless I grew about six inches.” Sonny received offers to play football in college, and Middleton believes he absolutely could have been successful at it, but he knows baseball provided him with the best opportunity. “Everyone we talked to about him playing Division I football was concerned about his size,” Middleton said. “The thing that I saw about Sonny was that he found throwing lanes even though he was smaller. He found a way to get the ball where it needed to be, and he read defenses so well that it didn’t even matter. He was going to find a way to get it where it needed to be. “There was no doubt baseball was his sport, though. From the very get go he was so superior on the mound in baseball. He came in as a freshman throwing 88. His sophomore year he was in the low 90s.” Eventually, people outside Smyrna began to notice his prowess on the mound. Soon there were scouts from all 30 Major League teams watching Sonny pitch. “We would go down to the bullpen, and we would have 30 grown men down there

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from different teams,” Middleton said. “It was a special moment, and I wish his dad would have been around to see all the attention he got.” Instead, Middleton was there to see it. With his father gone, Middleton did his best to fill the void in his life of a father figure. “At the point Jesse died, I was the immediate fill in just because I was here, and I was the closest thing to a father to him,” Middleton said. “Jesse and I would talk till two in the morning about football and baseball because he knew Sonny was special, too. He said, ‘Make sure you don’t give

“(Coach Corbin) does such a good job with the kids,” Middleton said. “He comes to their games when possible and what he does differently from a lot of coaches is he contacted us, too. He got to know him as a person more than just a player, and that sold Sonny from the get-go.” Just as Corbin was selling him on Vanderbilt, Sonny was selling himself to Corbin in even more ways beyond baseball. Away from athletics, Sonny proved he was more than just an athlete with his acting ability on stage, which included playing Troy in “High School Musical” as a senior.

“ You have to face adversity head on, and that is what

we tried to do…not just myself, but my whole family.”

him anything.’ I would get all over (Sonny), and I think that is what he wanted. He didn’t want anyone to give him anything. Sonny wanted you to be just as tough on him or tougher, like his dad was, and that is what I did. I think that is why we bonded at the very beginning.” As more scouts began to notice Sonny, the more they liked him, and even though he had already committed to Vanderbilt, there was uncertainty in the air up until a week before the draft when Sonny wrote a letter to every MLB team thanking them for their interest and notifying them of his intent to go to Vanderbilt. Despite the letter, he was still drafted in the 27th round by the Cubs. “It was a big concern,” said Vanderbilt Head Coach Tim Corbin about Sonny turning pro. “There was a time there that I thought we’d lose him, but he hurt his ankle and what happened then was some of the teams drew away from him a little bit because of the injury. Plus, he had the desire to go to Vanderbilt and be here, so it wasn’t like he was a kid who had an unbelievable desire to play professional baseball. He wanted to play, but at the same time we developed a close relationship with him and his family, so it would have been tough for him to walk away.” Playing a large role in Sonny’s decision to come to Vanderbilt was the desire of his mom, stepdad (Barry) and coaches, who urged him to go to college. But during the decision process, Sonny also thought of his dad and what he would want him to do. “I know he would have wanted me to go to college even though he never got to see me play high school baseball,” Sonny said of his dad. “He’d always talk about going to college and getting an education and doing stuff that he didn’t. That is one thing I remember. He had an opportunity to go to college (Austin Peay), but he got kicked off the team and made some wrong choices.” Along with Sonny’s desire to get his education, Middleton believes part of why he ended up at Vanderbilt was because of the relationship he had with Corbin.

“When we were recruiting him, the first thing that stood out was his competitiveness,” Corbin said. “He was a real competitor in everything he did. I saw him play football numerous times, saw him play baseball and went to his high school play. His high school play was such that he texted me from the stage when he was in this play and I just thought, ‘This kid is going to be different.’ He’s just got a uniqueness about him you don’t see with a lot of kids.” That uniqueness was on full display on May 8 when Sonny made his first collegiate start in front of a sold-out crowd at Georgia. He worked six innings, surrendering just three hits and one earned run, while striking out seven batters to lead Vanderbilt to a 10-2 victory. This summer, Sonny hopes to have much of the same success when he tries out for the U.S. National Team. He is one of just five freshmen and one of only seven pitchers invited to try out for a spot on the team. If he makes it, it will be the first time he will have an opportunity to travel outside the country. “That is something I’m getting a great opportunity to do,” Sonny said. “It is a great honor and will be a good experience. Being drafted out of high school, winning state titles in football, starting as a freshman in the SEC and being invited to tryout for the national team are all things most athletes never get to experience, but the one thing he knows he can’t get by pitching well is the thing he would like the most — his father. He wishes his father could watch him in college or could have seen him throw a single pitch in high school, but more than anything it is the simpler things in life that Sonny misses most about his father. “Just throwing out in the backyard is something you do with your dad, and I miss that,” Sonny said. “That is something we would do as a father and a son.” Even though his dad is not there to play catch with him in the backyard or watch him pitch, he’s always with Sonny as he takes the mound, in spirit and inscribed on the bill of his cap. n

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

Bricks Ad:Bricks Campaign Ad

JUNE 2009

3/4/09

1:19 PM

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It’s My Turn By Rod Williamson

A Dandy Dozen

n early May, the NCAA released its Academic Progress Report scores. The APR is a standardized grade that measures the academic progress and retention of studentathletes in Division I member institutions. Like many formulas, it is complicated to explain, but in essence it serves as a measuring stick to measure the retention and academic progress of student-athletes at each Division I NCAA member school. This score was put into play earlier this decade in response to embarrassing practices at some schools where non-productive athletes were run off to make room for better players. The minimum passing score is 925 out of a possible 1,000. Since the media typically only focus on the programs that fall below the 925 threshold and are penalized, as a public service I will inform you of one school’s results that you didn’t read on the front page of your newspaper—Vanderbilt! We have 16 programs, and 12 of them achieved perfect 1,000 APR marks! That’s right—80% of our programs rated as NCAA perfect when grading academic progress, retention (if student-athletes leave, they leave in academic good standing) and graduation. We nearly had 13: our football program scored a spectacular 997, a truly impressive grade for a revenue sport with a large roster. The other three teams were well above 925. There are many factors that must combine for an excellent APR score, and to be fair, some of it simply is good luck. A team can have much good work but its best intentions imploded if several student-athletes encounter personal problems. So we don’t want to act too holy. On the other hand, for the many Commodore coaches and administrators that come to work every day with student-athletes’ best interests in mind, it is fair to say they have earned our admiration for an important job well done. This is Vanderbilt calling A few weeks ago we used an automated phone message to remind our loyal season ticket holders that we were past the renewal deadline and were opening sales to the general public. Those automated calls were very helpful in marketing bowl game tickets last December when we used accurate alumni lists, but we realize that a number of our season ticket holder phone numbers are out of date. We will be working to update contact information in the months ahead; if you have moved, changed phone numbers or e-mail addresses be sure to let our ticket office and/or National Commodore Club know how to find you quickly should the need arise. In the black The Vanderbilt football team accomplished more than a victory at the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl on Dec. 31, 2008. That victory also added sizeable bowl-related revenue to the university’s operating coffers. While overspending a bowl budget is a common reality for many universities, Vanderbilt Athletics officials proudly point out that nary a penny of the university’s finances was spent on the Music City Bowl. “We made the decision the moment we accepted the bowl’s invitation that we were not going to lose money doing so,” said David Williams, vice chancellor for university affairs and athletics. “With careful planning and excellent cooperation from our team and staff, we were able to give our student-athletes a memorable experience, our university and football program national attention, and be a good Nashville neighbor by helping make a major city event successful.” For their bowl victory, the Commodores defeated Boston College 16-14 before a crowd of 54,000, the vast majority of which was cheering for the Black and Gold. n

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

JUNE 2009

Baseball

Girls Basketball

Football

Soccer

Contact: Maggie Corbin Phone: 615/385-3370

Contact: Vicki Spina Phone: 615/343-8482

Contact: Michael Hazel Phone: 615/322-2251

Contact: Cristin Czubik Phone: 615/343-8095

Day Camp I

Team Challenge Day Camp

Senior Elite

6/12-14

6/7 • Grade: 12th only

Day Camp (Boys and Girls) 6/1-5 & 6/8-12 • Ages: 5-15

6/16-19 • Grades: 1-8

Day Camp II 6/23-26 • Grades: 1-8

H.S. Prospect Camp (Commuter) 7/12-16 • Grades: 9-12

H.S. Prospect Camp (Overnight) 7/12-16 • Grades: 9-12

Boys Basketball Contact: Meredith Schakel Phone: 615/322-6530

Future Star Camp

Elite Residential (Girls)

6/15-18 • Grades: 3-12

6/8-11 • Grades: 6-8

6/28-7/1 • Ages: 12-18

“Mini” Ballers

Kicking Camp

Goalkeeper Elite Camp

Offensive Improvement Camp

6/15-17 • Grades: K-2

Elite Camp 6/19-20 • Grades: 8-12

Lacrosse

6/13 • Grades: 11-12

6/28-7/1 • Ages: 12-18

Rising Star Camp 6/14 • Grades: 11-2

Tennis

Senior Elite II

Contact: Meggie Butzow Phone: 615/322-4193

6/20 • Grade: 12th only

Music City Classic (7-on-7 Camp) 7/17-18 • Grades: HS teams only

Junior Day Camp

Web site: USSportsCamps.com/lacrosse Director: Cathy Swezey

6/8-11 • Grades: K-3

Overnight Camp

7/19 • Grades: 12th only

Day Camp

7/10-12 • Ages: 14-18

6/8-11 • Grades: 3-10

Day Camp

Games Camp

7/13-16 • Ages: All

6/22-25 • Grades: 3-10

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Senior Elite III

Sessions I-IV Ages: 7-17 6/1-5 • 6/8-12 • 6/15-19 • 6/22-26

For additional information or to register, please visit

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

The Year In Photos

JUNE 2009

Alex Priddy scores one of her two goals in VU’s 18-11 win over No. 9 Notre Dame.

Broderick Stewart (right) delivers a crushing blow to Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis that dislodges the ball, and his helmet.

MIKE STRASINGER JOHN RUSSELL

Head Coach Greg Allen and freshman Marina Alex share a laugh on the tee box.

JOHN RUSSELL

Jon Curran blasts a sand shot out of the bunker at the Mason Rudolph Championship.

JOHN RUSSELL

Bobby Johnson talks with Lee Corso (center) and Chris Fowler of ESPN College Gameday after Vanderbilt’s win over Auburn.

ROD WILLIAMSON

Bowling All-Americans Josie Earnest (left), Brittni Hamilton and Michelle Peloquin (right).

MIKE RAPP

Casey Howards (left) sprints to the finish line at the Commodore Classic.

MIKE STRASINGER

From the football team winning the Music City Bowl to the women’s basketball team claiming the SEC Tournament, the 2008-09 season will be one that won’t be forgotten for many years. As Commodore Nation has in the past few years, we have once again gathered some lasting images from what was a special year in Vanderbilt athletics.

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JOHN RUSSELL

Elizabeth Brunk sees her reflection in the water as she pushes toward the finish line at the SEC Championships.

Captains Reshard Langford (left), George Smith (center) and Bradley Vierling hoist the Music City Bowl trophy.

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

TODD VAN EMST

JOHN RUSSELL

Vijay Paul takes aim at the ball during Vanderbilt’s match against Georgia.

JOHN RUSSELL

Vanderbilt celebrates its 2009 SEC Tournament title.

JOHN RUSSELL

Catherine Newman squares to hit the ball at the June Stewart Invitational.

TODD VAN EMST

A.J. Ogilvy works hard to score a basket over the outstretched arm of a South Florida defender in Vanderbilt’s game at the Sommet Center.

here are certain things in life that you want to be a part of, and graduation is one of them. Unfortunately for studentathletes, attending traditional commencement ceremonies is not always an option, especially for those who play spring sports. Such was the case for graduating members of Vanderbilt’s baseball, women’s golf and women’s tennis teams in 2009. The baseball team was on the road at Georgia, while the golf and tennis teams were competing at NCAA postseason competitions. Vanderbilt easily could have just mailed the diplomas to the student-athletes who missed the occasion, but instead, Chancellor Nick Zeppos and Vice Chancellor David Williams wanted to make the student-athletes’ graduation something they would remember forever. So on May 11, three days after Vanderbilt’s traditional graduation ceremonies, Zeppos and Williams held a special commencement ceremony at Kirkland Hall for the five student-athletes who missed Vanderbilt’s graduation due to competition. Earning degrees at the ceremony were Nick Christiani (baseball), Jacqui Concolino (women’s golf), Brian Harris (baseball), Courtney Ulery (women’s tennis) and Jonathan White (baseball). They were among 55 Vanderbilt student-athletes who graduated this spring. “I think what any student-athlete does here to compete at the highest level academically

and athletically is simply remarkable,” Zeppos said at the ceremony. “What you have achieved is unlike anyone else on campus, and you have set the standard for studentathletes at Vanderbilt and nationally.” Joining the graduates at the small gathering were friends and family, along with the head coaches from all three teams and members of Vanderbilt’s athletic staff. The ceremony was some- Jacqui Concolino (left) and Courtney Ulery with Vanderbilt thing new for wom- Vice Chancellor David Williams. en’s tennis Coach Geoff Macdonald, whose squad had hosted they need to do it. This is also really special the first- and second-round matches of the for the families when you think about all the NCAA Tournament for the past 10 years and, commitments they have made, as well. It is therefore, had been in town for regular gradu- just a great thing overall.” For Williams, the ceremony couldn’t have ation ceremonies. This year, the team played been for more deserving individuals. its first round NCAA match at Illinois. “This occasion is for thanking the student“It is an incredible ceremony Chancellor Zeppos and David Williams puts on because athletes and what they have done.” Williams student-athletes work so hard to get to this said. “All three of these teams are traditionally point, and they come to Vanderbilt to get an in the postseason and traditionally among our education,” Macdonald said. “The gradua- top academic teams. Having a graduation tion ceremony is a special part, and I think ceremony is something they deserve.” n

What to Watch For

The Month Ahead

Men’s Sports

June 9-10 • MLB Draft

Baseball 6/1 6/5 6/6 6/7 6/8 6/13 6/14 6/15 6/16 6/17 6/18 6/19 6/20 6/21 6/22 6/23 6/24

NCAA Regionals NCAA Super Regionals NCAA Super Regionals NCAA Super Regionals NCAA Super Regionals College World Series College World Series College World Series College World Series College World Series College World Series College World Series College World Series College World Series College World Series College World Series College World Series

TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA

See which Vanderbilt players and signees come one step closer to realizing their childhood dreams when the annual Major League Baseball Draft is held June 9-10. David Price was drafted No. 1 in 2007, and Pedro Alvarez was picked No. 2 in 2008.

TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA

August 16 • Dore Jam

Women’s Sports Track and Field 6/11 6/12 6/13 6/14 6/24 6/25 6/26 6/27 6/28

NCAA Outdoor Championships NCAA Outdoor Championships NCAA Outdoor Championships NCAA Outdoor Championships USATF Championships USATF Championships USATF Championships USATF Championships USATF Championships

JUNE 2009

June 22-July 5 • Wimbledon Former Commodores Julie Ditty and Bobby Reynolds will compete at the Wimbledon Championships beginning June 22. In 2008, Reynolds advanced further than any other American when he reached the third round. August 7 • Football Practice Begins Hoping to build off last year’s success, Vanderbilt’s football team will kick off the 2009 season with the start of fall practice on Aug. 7.

Fans will have their first opportunity to see the 2009 Commodores in person when Vanderbilt hosts the annual Dore Jam from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug. 16. As always, fans will be able to meet the players and coaches, get autographs and register for prizes.

STEVE GREEN

Vanderbilt Holds Additional Graduation Ceremony for Student-Athletes

Where Are They Now?

With Josh Paul

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JAMIE SQUIRE/GETTY IMAGES

ough, strong communicators, team leaders and baseball strategists. All terms are used to describe catchers. And although baseball people call the catcher’s gear “the tools of ignorance,” which suggests they are not bright enough to play anywhere else, no position posses the qualities teams look for in a manager quite like the catching position does. Just look at Major League Baseball. On opening day, 13 of 30 Major League managers were catchers at some point during their big league or minor league careers. The percentage may seem high, but it is justified by the recent success catchers have had as managers. Since 2006, five of the six American League and National League Coaches of the Year have been former catchers. Former Commodore Josh Paul hopes to be the next former catcher to make his mark in the managerial ranks this summer when he begins his first season as the manager with the Staten Island Yankees, a single-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. A three-year letterwinner at Vanderbilt, 1994-96, Paul was drafted in the second round of the 1996 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox and went on to play nine seasons in the majors with four organizations, including the Tampa Bay Rays, whom he concluded his career with in 2007. “I think it is a natural transition for me to move into coaching,” Paul said. “I know it is for me as a catcher just from working with other players during my career. It is definitely something I thought about doing after I finished playing.” When teams post job descriptions for managerial positions they don’t include requirements that the applicant must have caught, but time after time after time, catchers possess the qualities teams look for in a coach. They are respected leaders, good communicators and see the game unlike any position in the field.

Paul is beginning his first year as the manager of the Staten Island Yankees. “As a catcher, you are kind of thinking through the game much like a manager does already,” Paul said. “We are running the game already, and we are already thinking ahead and looking at the overall picture.” Being able to call a game certainly is important, but Paul believes what makes catchers stand out above other position players is their ability to communicate effectively with teammates, specifically pitchers. “As a catcher, your main job is your defense, and that has to do with tactical things such as calling pitches and spontaneous reactions to runners. Most importantly catchers have to know how to deal with people,” Paul said. “Similarly, the biggest part of being a manager is dealing with people and getting everyone going in the same direction, and keeping everybody on track. It is also what you do as a catcher with your pitchers.” Although Paul will begin his first season in Staten Island on June 19 at the Brooklyn Cyclones, it could very well be his last, and it wouldn’t be because of failure. Like minor league players who advance through an organization’s system, so do managers. In the 11-year history of the Staten Island Yankees, Paul is the team’s ninth manager. Only one manager coached the team consecutively for two years. “I hope to progress through the system, so I don’t really plan on staying in Staten Island every year,” Paul said. “I’m very happy with the organization. They gave me an opportunity, so you always want to do well for someone who gives you a chance.”

To help him as a manager, Paul will lean on more than just what he learned as a player, but also what he learned from coaches he played under such as Dusty Baker, Mike Scioscia and Joe Maddon. He also will use what he didn’t learn from others to help manage his players. “I think you learn from anybody that you work under, and I played for some good ones,” Paul said. “I also learned a lot about what I want to do from managers that did things the way I wouldn’t. You see the way some people do things, and you say to yourself, ‘If I ever have that position, I’m going to do it totally the opposite.’ ” One of the biggest challenges Paul believes he will face will be changing his mindset with the players from that of a teammate to that of a manager. “Before as a player, you were playing with your teammates and trying to get on the same page, where as a manager, you have to evaluate whether or not a guy is good enough to progress and do certain things,” Paul said. Something that won’t be hard for Paul to face as a manger will be the reality that his playing days are behind him. While some players waffle with the decision to retire and may be tempted to return to the game, Paul is not one of them. He is completely content that his stint on the diamond is over. “I’m satisfied, and I’ve taken my hacks,” Paul said. “I don’t really have the, for a lack of a better term, Brett Favre fever. My playing days are over, and I’ve accepted that and I’m fine with it. To be honest, coaching does not hurt as much as catching does. I don’t come home from the ballpark every day in pain.” n

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

Quick Hits

• Junior shortstop Brian Harris was

• Junior Chris Rockwell was selected to

• Vanderbilt had four players earn all-con-

named First Team All-SEC, while sophomore outfielder Steven Liddle earned Second Team All-SEC honors. • Second baseman Riley Reynolds and designated hitter Aaron Westlake earned SEC All-Freshman honors. • Vanderbilt qualified for the SEC Tournament for the fourth straight year. • Freshman Aaron Westlake was named SEC Player of the Week on May 11. Westlake went 10-for-17 (.588) for the week, including going 7-for-11 (.636) against Georgia. • Junior Brian Harris was named SEC Player of the Week on April 27. Harris went 10for-22 with three doubles, two homers, seven RBIs in helping Vanderbilt to a 4-1 record during the week. • Freshman pitcher Sonny Gray was invited to the USA National Team Trials June 15-24. Gray was one of five freshmen invited to the tryout and one of just seven pitchers nationally. • D ating back to Ryan Mullins in 2004, Vanderbilt has had a representative on the USA National Team the last five years. If selected to the team, Gray would be the seventh Vanderbilt player selected to the team since 2004.

the 2009 SEC Men’s Golf Community Service Team on April 23. • Vanderbilt finished 10th at the NCAA Central Regional, while Jon Curran tied for third at the tournament. • Vanderbilt finished 10th at the SEC Championships. Curran led the team by tying for 27th at five-over par.

ference honors. Earning first team plaudits were Cara Giordano, Sarah Downing and Alex Mundy. Freshman Ally Carey was recognized as a second-team AllALC performer. • Vanderbilt was selected to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year. • The Commodores were defeated by Notre Dame, 19-13, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

• Rising redshirt senior George Drake

earned his undergraduate degree on May 8. • Head Coach Kevin Stallings was appointed to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Ethics Coalition. • Stallings is one of 14 members of the newly-formed coalition. • T hree members of the men’s basketball team were selected to the SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll.

• D.J. Moore was selected in the fourth

round (No. 119) by the Chicago Bears. He became the first Vanderbilt cornerback taken in the NFL Draft in eight years. • S afety Reshard Langford signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles. Wide receiver George Smith was invited to a mini-camp tryout with the Chicago Bears. • H ead Coach Bobby Johnson teamed with former Commodore Will Perdue at the annual Chick-fil-A-Bowl Challenge golf tournament. It was the first time Vanderbilt was represented at the tournament.

Men’s Sports Women’s Sports

JUNE 2009

• Junior Vijay Paul was selected to the SEC

Men’s Tennis Community Service Team. • A dam Baker and Alex Zotov were

selected as alternates for the NCAA Doubles Championship.

• Head Coach Melanie Balcomb an-

nounced on April 27 that Angela Puleo, a two-year starter at Georgia, has transferred to Vanderbilt. She will be eligible to play during the 2010-11 season. • T he Tennessee General Assembly honored the 2008-09 team on April 23 at the Tennessee State Capitol. Senator Douglas Henry sponsored a joint resolution to congratulate the team for winning the SEC Tournament. • Seven members of the women’s basketball team were selected to the SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll.

• Nine members of the bowling team were

selected to the SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll. • Rising sophomore All-American Brittni Hamilton was featured in the “Faces in the Crowd” section of the May 11 issue of Sports Illustrated.

• Freshman Marina Alex advanced to

the NCAA Championships as an individual after tying for fifth at the NCAA East Regional. • Alex is the first Commodore to qualify for the championships as an individual. • T he team finished 11th at the NCAA East Regional. • A lex was named to the All-SEC Second Team and the All-SEC Freshman Team on April 23. Alex was one of five freshmen to earn All-SEC honors. • S enior Amber Lundskog was named to the 2009 SEC Women’s Golf Community Service Team on April 23. • Vanderbilt finished 10th at the SEC Championships. Marina Alex paced the Commodores by tying for 17th.

• Vanderbilt competed in the NCAA Tour-

nament for the 15th consecutive year. It was the first time the Commodores didn’t host the first or second rounds since the ’90s. • Vanderbilt fell, 4-3, at Illinois in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. • Catherine Newman and Jackie Wu were two of 12 players selected to the All-SEC Second Team on April 21. • T he All-SEC honor is the third of Newman’s career after earning first-team honors as a freshman and secondteam honors last year. • Senior Courtney Ulery was selected to the SEC Women’s Tennis Community Service Team. • J ackie Wu was selected to play in the NCAA Singles Championship, while Catherine Newman was tabbed as an alternate. • VU’s No. 1 doubles team of Heather Steinbauer and Wu were named alternates for the NCAA Doubles Championship.

• Mindy Skelton was named to the SEC

Track and Field Community Service Team. • Mallory Hitt (high jump, 100-meter hurdles), Teegan Hill (400 meters), Katherine Hendricks (pole vault) and Meagan Martin (pole vault) earned first-place finishes at the Tennessee Invitational on May 9. • Rita Jorgensen recorded an NCAA regional qualifying mark in the 800 meters at the Mississippi Open on May 2. • Katherine Hendricks vaulted into the school’s record book by clearing the 11’7.75 mark in the pole vault at the War Eagle Invitational on April 18. The vault ranks second in school history. • Jorgensen posted a regional qualifying time of 4:24.32 in the 1500 meters at the War Eagle Invitational on April 17. The time was a personal best for Jorgensen and was the third-fastest time in school history.

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

JUNE 2009

here have been a handful of renovations to Vanderbilt’s athletic facilities in the past few years, but none has been as recognizable as the addition of the outfield bleachers at Hawkins Field. Divided into two right field sections and a leftfield section, the outfield bleachers brought the capacity of Hawkins Field to 3,700 for the 2009 season. With a very affordable price of $7, the seats became an attractive option for a wide variety of fans.

“ This is the first time I’ve ever sat in the outfield, but it won’t be the last,” —Bobby Smith Unless you’ve been to a Major League Baseball game, chances are you’ve never watched a game from the outfield. What may seem like a bad seat from the infield is actually a better vantage point than most would think. Instead of having foul balls go over your head, there are home runs, instead of hearing the umpire call strikes, you hear the outfielders giving each other directions and instead of wondering how an outfielder can miss a fly ball, you realize how difficult it can be to track a ball off of a bat.

“I’ve been a baseball usher for three years,” Joe Barry said. “I’ve worked in about every section in the (infield) bowl and after working out here (in the bleachers), I’d rather have this seat than the others.” Bobby Smith has been coming to Vanderbilt games since he was 8 and continues to make the drive from Huntsville, Ala., to watch the Commodores play. Smith was hesitant at first to try the seats in the outifield, but once he did, he was pleasantly surprised. “This is the first time I’ve ever sat in the outfield, but it won’t be the last,” Smith said. “These are excellent seats. I’ve sat behind home plate before, and I could really tell balls from strikes, but I can see them even better from the outfield. I would certainly recommend these seats to anyone.” One of the first things fans notice about the bleachers, besides that it is one of the best places to catch some afternoon rays, is how laid back the area is. Instead of being assigned to a seat, the outfield bleachers are general admission, and fans can move freely. “What else I like about these seats is that it is a much more laid back atmosphere out here,” Smith said. “I’ve got my shoes off, and I’m able to walk around more as opposed to being assigned to a seat.” Sitting in the bleachers, you will find the same amenities as in the rest of the stadium, minus a drink holder or a backrest. There are

JOHN RUSSELL

Fans Enjoy First Year of Outfield Bleachers

vendors that stop by, and concession and restroom facilities are a short walk inside Memorial Gymnasium. In addition to the positive response from fans, the players also enjoyed the added atmosphere the seats brought to games. “The biggest change has been the environment,” sophomore outfielder Steven Liddle said. “It is a different atmosphere. We have guys out there cheering us on and even letting us know how close we are to the wall on a certain play. It is just a good atmosphere and environment to be out there.” That added atmosphere has also made it easier for players to stay focused at all times in the outfield. “It definitely makes us concentrate more and it is a lot more fun to play in the outfield,” Liddle said. n

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JUNE 2009

Why can't I slide into first base? How long does the concession stand stay open? Is coach signaling for a bunt or swatting a fly? Why am I so tired after chemo? Kids should worry about kid stuff, not cancer.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to support the Vanderbilt Childhood Cancer Program in its search for a cure. Whether you contribute your time, talents, or charitable donation, every gift makes a difference. To learn how you can help, visit VanderbiltChildrens.com/cancer or call 800-824-6055.