May 21, 2008
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| (Photo by Neil Brake) |
CLICK FOR MORE COVERAGE: Vanderbilt 7 Florida 3
Postgame Column by Rod Williamson
Swagger.
Coming into today’s game, some thought Vanderbilt had lost its swagger. Others said the Commodores were looking to regain it.
What the heck is swagger and is it an important part of a ball game?
And how do you get it and how is it lost?
Vanderbilt had entered today’s Southeastern Conference Tournament game on a rare five-game losing skid. Its opponent was Florida, who less than a week ago was responsible for hanging three of those L’s on the Commodores.
But today was a new day and it certainly was a new game. The Black and Gold jumped out to a quick lead and didn’t look back, advancing into tomorrow’s winner’s bracket game against LSU.
Back to swagger. Did they find it, if indeed they ever lost it?
Swagger is, by my homespun definition, a combination of successful experiences and good preparation forming an air of unmistakable confidence. You just know despite the odds that you are going to win.
Swagger is the memorable victory against Ole Miss late in last year’s tournament here – going down three runs in the top of the tenth only to score four runs without making so much as one out in the bottom of the inning.
Swagger was LSU today, on a 16-game winning streak but down 4-zip to South Carolina in the ninth, tying the game and winning in the tenth today.
Swagger is not a lapel pin you decide to wear on game day. It is earned over time.
“We’ve won a lot of games here,” says Coach Tim Corbin of his defending champions. “Our kids feel comfortable. Regions Park is a bigger park and you don’t feel as though you have to be as perfect with the extra room.”
Indeed, a guy like Dominic de la Osa has now participated in nine SEC Tournament wins against just three loses over his career and Vandy has won here a dozen times during the Corbin era. That breeds confidence.
To some degree, the Commodores have been so successful over recent years that the public’s bar of expectation – and their own – has been raised to a rarified level. We didn’t always have swagger.
Remember the exuberance we all felt in 2003 just to make this eight-team field? Grown men cried. Now we come in as a sixth-seed and hardcore fans are having problems sleeping.
Baseball is a wonderful but sinister game. A foot this way and it’s a foul, six inches that way and the pitcher is a bum. It can drive a Mormon to drink.
Florida Coach Kevin O’Sullivan said the difference today was that Vanderbilt’s pitchers were able to make the inning ending pitches that just eluded them in Gainesville.
Coach Corbin’s post-game theme was one of a confident and talented team that was able to relax and have fun playing once again.
Some might suggest the swagger is back.