Jan. 31, 2013
ESPN.com’s Teddy Mitrosilis spoke with Commodores’ head coach Tim Corbin earlier this week for an article on Vanderbilt’s rise to a nationally elite program. The Dores will open the 2013 season ranked 2nd in the nation according to Baseball America. Vanderbilt is scheduled to open the season at home against Long Beach State February 15 at 4 p.m.
Mitrosilis writes: There’s something stark and brutal about the line that keeps the peasants from the elites in college athletics. It’s never unclear on which side of the barricade you stand.
Tim Corbin moved to Nashville in June 2002 to run the Vanderbilt baseball program, and there were no mixed messages for him, either. The Commodores had never been to the College World Series and hadn’t seen the NCAA tournament since 1980. Corbin came from Clemson, where he was an assistant coach for nine seasons, four of which ended in Omaha. This wasn’t that.
In his introductory press conference, Corbin said, “I like the idea of selling Ivy League education with Southeastern Conference baseball.” He put on his selling shoes, but the challenge became clear immediately: In the SEC, winning sells.
“Right after I took the job I had a conversation with a recruit’s dad,” says Corbin, now in his 11th season at Vanderbilt. “He said, ‘Vanderbilt isn’t even a blip on the college baseball screen. You guys have a good school, but my kid isn’t going there.’ And I thought, ‘Wow, we have a long way to go.'”
To read the full ESPN.com article click here.
The team will sign autographs at half time of the men’s basketball game against Alabama on Saturday. The annual Baseball Banquet will be held on February 9 at the Student Life Center with a team autograph session from 6-7 p.m. and dinner to follow. For banquet or season ticket info call 615.322.GOLD or click here.
