"Commodores In the Community II" Announced

“Commodores In the Community II” Announced

5/23/2005

Fans Can Meet Coaches, Players at Five Local Events

Nashville, Tenn. – For the second consecutive year, fans of Vanderbilt athletics will have several opportunities in the coming weeks to meet Commodore Football Head Coach Bobby Johnson and the team’s top players while having a chance to win signed jerseys and other memorabilia as part of “Commodores in the Community II,” an awareness program announced by the department today.

Among the events scheduled are an evening of free putt putt in west Nashville, appearances by important Commodore coaches and players at a north Nashville restaurant, an upcoming Nashville Sounds game, and a cookout for Vanderbilt faculty and staff.

The “Commodores in the Community II” schedule includes:
? “Putt Putt With the Commodores” – Saturday, June 4, Europa Golf and Games, Bellevue, 5-7 p.m.
? “Up Close with the Commodores – Hendersonville/Madison” – Monday, June 6, Chick-fil-A, Gallatin Rd., 6-7:30 p.m.
? “Commodore Cookout for Faculty & Staff” – Monday, June 13, 11:30-1 p.m.
? “Commodore Sounds’ Night” – Saturday, June 18, Greer Stadium, 4-5:30 p.m.

Each event will include autographs, free posters and drawings for signed memorabilia and individual game tickets. Schedule updates will be available at vucommodores.com. The summer activities for fans of Commodore athletics start June 4 with a round of Putt Putt with your favorite Commodore sports personality.

The athletic-oriented events conclude Monday, June 20 when the National Commodore Club and Vanderbilt men’s and women’s basketball staffs host “Behind the ‘Dores – An Insider’s Look at Vanderbilt Basketball Programs” from 5:15-8:45 p.m.

“Commodores in the Community II” is intended to strengthen fan interest and build awareness of season ticket plans, according to Director of Marketing Eric Nichols.

“We’re looking forward to building on the excitement when we started this effort last summer. We’re at our best promoting Vanderbilt athletics when we get our coaches and student-athletes in front of the public,” Nichols said.

Johnson, entering his fourth year as the Commodore head coach, is looking forward to the team’s community effort. “I had a great time last year at the various activities. The response to our team at the Rivergate Mall Chick-fil-A was outstanding and the “Behind the ‘Dores” event was an entertaining and unique way of showing off our program. I’m a big supporter of this effort and hope to see lots of Commodore fans at the various events,” Johnson said.

A brief discussion of each activity follows:

“Putt Putt With the Commodores”
Saturday, June 4, Europa Golf and Games, Bellevue, 5-7 p.m.
Coach Johnson will join an array of Commodores from several different sports as co-hosts of a free mini golf outing. Europa Golf and Games, located behind Sam’s Club in Bellevue, will offer free mini golf from 5-7 p.m. Every hole will feature a different Commodore sports personality signing autographs and playing with participants.

“Upclose with the Commodores – Hendersonville/Madison”
Monday, June 6, Chick-fil-A, Gallatin Rd., 6-7:30 p.m.
A well-attended activity on the Commodore Caravan last summer, this event features an array of kids attractions at the Chick-fil-A restaurant located outside Rivergate Mall on Gallatin Road. Youngsters can enjoy face painters, clowns and artists while getting autographs from Coach Johnson and several top Commodore players. Posters and schedule cards will be provided.

“Commodore Cookout with Vanderbilt Faculty & Staff”
Monday, June 13, 11:30-1 p.m.
Coach Johnson and his staff will host a free cookout for Vanderbilt faculty and staff at Bishop Commons, located near the Vanderbilt Law School. The head coach and staff will promote the Faculty-Staff Season Ticket Plan – an all-sports ticket offered for the second consecutive year to university employees. The plan includes a ticket ($19 per month) to all Vanderbilt varsity sporting events on campus, including football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and baseball games. Free hot dogs and refreshments will be available. Posters and signed memorabilia also will be available.

“A Commodore Sounds’ Night”
Saturday, June 18, Greer Stadium, 4-5:30 p.m.
Coach Johnson and several members of the Commodore football student-athletes will be on hand to meet and greet fans attend the Nashville Sounds baseball game. The outing also features a post-game fireworks show staged by the Sounds. The purchase of an admission ticket is required for this event.

“Behind The ‘Dores – An Insider’s Look at Commodore Basketball”
Monday, June 20, 5:15-8:45 p.m.
For the second consecutive year, the National Commodore Club will host a behind-the-scenes look at one Vanderbilt athletic program. After a highly successful tour of Vanderbilt football facilities last summer, men’s and women’s coaches and student-athletes in the hoops programs will guide an insider’s tour of their teams this summer. To register for this event, call 322-4114.

The Vanderbilt football team opens its 2005 season at Wake Forest on Thursday, Sept. 1. Season tickets for Vanderbilt’s six home games are the least expensive in the SEC, starting at $65 per person. The Commodores host Ole Miss on Sept. 17, Richmond on Sept. 24, Middle Tennessee on Oct. 1, LSU on Oct. 8, Georgia on Oct. 15 and Kentucky on Nov. 12.