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Commodore Notebook – October 3 10/3/2006 Commodore Notebook Football fills our present weekends and basketball is just around the corner but one of my most interesting meetings last week involved baseball. We weren’t discussing the Major League play-offs. Our topic was the marketing and promotion of the Vanderbilt Commodores. There is something invigorating when you get to spend some time in Tim Corbin’s universe. Ideas seem exciting when you know in your heart that the product is solid gold. I need not recap what Corbin has accomplished here in four brief years, nor do I need to remind you of the star-laden squad we will put on the diamond next February. While it is too early to be talking specifically about new plans, it is safe to give you an early peek into the future. We want Hawkins Field to be full for every game. If Coach Corbin can say flatly that his goal is to win the College World Series, then we’ll say we want 100% capacity. We are making progress but we’ve got a ways to go. There are challenges. While our attendance has grown to where we have already enlarged a relatively new Hawkins Field and now seat about 2,000, changing our fans’ springtime habits takes time. Years of an inadequate stadium and so-so records took their toll. Many of you played golf, mowed the lawn, watched soccer games and took weekend naps. Attending our baseball games was not on your radar. We believe we have the No. 1 collegiate baseball coach in America and right now we might have the top two Major League collegiate prospects. The worm has turned. We have some exciting ideas that should encourage tailgating as well as a way to safely entertain young children while you enjoy the game. We are going to expand the number of games we broadcast over the radio airwaves and Joe Fisher will be calling more games. Joe does a terrific job with all of our sports but for my money he is the best with baseball. We are also working to get Coach Corbin more visibility in the Nashville market. There are other thoughts but you get the picture. At a certain point, the tried and true Commodore fan is going to have to step up to the plate, so to speak. Especially when the weather turns ideal and those Southeastern Conference powers start rolling into Music City, our team wants to see a full house and feel the electricity that comes with a great crowd. It should not be that hard to fill The Hawk. Those who typically attend one game out of a three game series need to improve that ratio. Those fans happy to read about our success must come out to the park and experience the national pastime first-hand. And those of you longing to identify with a great program need to become active participants with this one. This is a program going places and we want you going with us! Wouldn’t it be something if those 2,000 seats are still not enough? Mark Hindy Memorial Golf Coming Soon On Friday, Oct. 20, Vanderbilt Legends Club of Tennessee will play host to the fourth annual golf tournament honoring former Vanderbilt baseball player Mark Hindy. A 1995 Peabody College graduate and Commodore pitcher, Hindy pursued a financial career in New York City after a short stint in the Pioneer Baseball League. While working for Cantor Fitzgerald, Mark’s life came to a tragic end with the attacks of Sept. 11. Join former student-athletes, alumni and friends as we remember Mark and all the victims of Sept. 11. Check-in will coincide with a continental breakfast at 7 a.m., and we tee off at 8 a.m. To register, call John Erck at 615/322-7922 or Robin Langlois at 615/343-7145. |