On one unforgettable night, years of investment helped us celebrate a victory for the ages.
What happens next is up to us, Commodore Nation. Are we ready to do the work, together, to ensure that our breakthrough is only beginning?
None of us will forget Oct. 5 at FirstBank Stadium. Now, as October ends, our coaches and student-athletes are focused on new opponents and the next opportunities. That’s as it should be—and as it must be in the nation’s preeminent athletic conference. But we are allowed to savor the memories of our historic win over Alabama. Those memories make athletics great, the giddy jubilation and bursting pride shared with our friends, our family and our city.
We remember that night because, frankly, it was a heck of a lot of fun. But we should also remember that it demonstrates what is possible when we invest in ourselves.
Some are saying that Vanderbilt shocked the world, and some of you may share that sentiment. We’re happy to lean into the label—we’ve even given away thousands of “Shock the World” T-shirts to our students and fans. We don’t mind surprising people, and we don’t mind when critics write us off beforehand. But we are laser-focused on making sure they remember us afterward.
When you drill down into it, though, that narrative is wrong. Nothing about the Alabama win, like subsequent victories at Kentucky or against Ball State, came about overnight. The student-athletes who woke up early to lift weights and sweat through summer practices will tell you that. The season ticket holders who have watched the program grow under head coach Clark Lea will tell you that. As athletic director, I will tell you that.
For that matter, all of us who regularly navigate campus construction can attest that this didn’t happen overnight. 40-35 took time. It took everyone investing.
That’s how progress happens.
It’s also important to be transparent about the lessons of Oct. 5. Those nights have been too few and far between at FirstBank Stadium. Changing that permanently requires more time and even greater, consistent investment. Vandy United and our continuing facility upgrades are a necessary part of our journey as we enter a new era of college athletics—but they should be viewed as just one of the essential aspects of our transformation. Vanderbilt Athletics, like every aspect of our university today, is daring to grow. And we cannot reach our potential without a commitment to NIL.
Everybody has a role to play in changing the narrative and shaping our new reality. Competitive NIL opportunities are consistent with our desire to support our student-athletes at the highest level across our entire portfolio and to attract and retain the best of the best.
In accordance with regulations and state law, Vanderbilt’s collective Anchor Impact operates independently of Vanderbilt University, but we support them to the extent possible.
There are numerous ways for individuals and businesses to get involved with NIL. As a fan, it can be as simple as making a one-time contribution to support Anchor Impact’s efforts in a designated sport or across all sports.
Commodore Nation, we ask for your support often, and I appreciate you more than I can express: Everything we aspire to do is possible because you are part of the Vanderbilt community.
Together, we showed the world a glimpse of what we’re capable of achieving. It’s time double down now, when others think we’ve had our moment—so that our future will be full of nights to remember.
Anchor Down!
Candice Storey Lee
Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletic Director
