Nov. 16, 2007
Subscribe to Commodore Nation magazine / View Archived Issues
By Rod Williamson
The great ones have dazzled us with their artistry. They have brought us to our feet; they have taken our breath away. We have wished we could perform as they do. We’ve worn their replica jerseys and requested their autographs.
Since Vanderbilt sponsored a field day back in 1886, the fleet and the mighty have thrilled us with their athletic prowess. There were the gritty ones and the clutch; field generals and buzzer beaters, the tall and the agile, the cunning and the dominating. We have watched these special student-athletes for a century with wonder as they showcased their finely honed skills and natural gifts against the best competition college athletics could offer.
And now it is time for the Commodores to more formally recognize the best of our best with the creation of the Vanderbilt Athletic Hall of Fame. Vice Chancellor David Williams, who has led our athletic program the past four years, soon will be announcing the establishment of our new honor society. The charter class will be inducted next fall.
The criteria for induction will fall into three categories:
Commodore Great: Former student-athletes having displayed exceptional talent and experiencing extraordinary athletic success.
Distinguished Letterwinner: Former Commodores with exceptional post-Vanderbilt careers or who have contributed longtime service to the athletic program.
Lifetime Achievement: Coaches, staff members and others that could include faculty, donors and board members who have rendered outstanding service to intercollegiate athletics through many years of dedicated service.
Persons meeting any of the above requirements can be inducted posthumously. To be eligible for nomination, nominees must be at least six years removed from their collegiate participation.
The inaugural class is expected to be somewhat larger than subsequent classes. Can you imagine how difficult it will be to determine these first few classes? We can!
That is why the entire 13-member Athletic Administrative team, headed by Williams, will comprise the selection committee for the first year. In the future, it is expected that a Hall of Fame selection board will be established.
The general timeline for this exciting endeavor is scheduled to begin in January with the solicitation of nominees. The process culminates with the induction banquet Friday, September 5, 2008, the night after the Commodores’ first home football game against South Carolina (which is a Thursday night contest).
Sometime, just for fun, try picking your own Hall of Famers. Where would you begin? Who would be included in your Commodore Greats, Distinguished Letterwinners and Lifetime Achievement selections? That’s a pretty tough chore, but lots of fun and, oh, what memories! Keep in mind that not every deserving Commodore can be included in that first class.
Be watching for more information in a variety of places, especially our official web site, vucommodores.com, for more information.