Jan. 2, 2008
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Williamson led Vanderbilt’s bowling team to the school’s first national championship last season. The national title also led to the Commodores becoming the first Vanderbilt team invited to the White House.
How much has winning the national championship last season changed the team’s expectations this season? The expectation level hasn’t changed because we still have the same goal. There is a little bit more believability that we can win a national championship versus last year at this time. The excitement around the program has been a positive impact following the championship.
For you personally, what was the most exciting part about winning the national championship? The part that I liked the most was the process of going through the season and the build up to actually winning (the national championship). Winning it was exciting, but working toward it is what I enjoyed most.
With few states sponsoring high school bowling, how is the recruiting process different from other sports? I think it is fairly parallel to golf or tennis where they have major national youth tournaments that the premier players go to. Our emphasis is more on the national tournaments as opposed to high school competition.
You played football at Ole Miss under Tommy Tuberville, how much different is it working with bowlers as compared to football players? You have to be more in touch with the philosophy of things coaching bowling. It is definitely more mental and psychological than it is physical or X’s and O’s.
What is the best advice a coach ever gave you? “The players don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
– Geoff Macdonald, Vanderbilt women’s tennis coach.
