March 3, 2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt Head Coach Bobby Johnson and former Commodore basketball standout Shan Foster were among the top recipients at the 11th annual O’Charley’s Dinner of Champions held Monday at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.
Johnson was named Nashville’s 2008 Sports Person of the Year after guiding the Commodore football team to its first bowl victory in 53 years. Foster, Vanderbilt’s all-time leading career scorer, was honored as Amateur Athlete of the Year in the city.
Johnson’s Commodore football team also received a top prize, claiming Nashville’s “Top Sports Moment” honor.
The accomplishments of Kevin Stallings’ 2007-08 Commodore basketball squad, paced by Foster, also drew recognition in the “Top Sports Moment” category, as did the pitching heroics of former Commodore and current Tampa Bay Rays hurler David Price.
Vanderbilt All-America bowler Josie Earnest and All-American defensive D.J. Moore also drew consideration with Foster for Amateur Athlete of the Year.
The recognition of Johnson, his football team and Foster came before a large crowd attending Nashville’s premier sports award show honoring outstanding achievement at the high school, college and professional levels.
Johnson said receiving the Sports Person of the Year honor was “very, very special.”
“I’m extremely honored to be nominated as the Sports Person of the Year. To be named that person is truly humbling because there are many people worthy for this award in our city,” Johnson said. “I’d like to accept these awards on behalf of our entire football program, our players and coaches, administrators, and especially our great fans who were there every game cheering us on to victory.”
Johnson’s football squad, which ended with a winning record for the first time in 28 years, likely captured the “Top Sports Moment” recognition on the final day of the year. Playing in the sports council-sponsored Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl on New Year Eve, the Commodores came from behind to capture a 16-14 upset over No. 24 ranked Boston College. Vanderbilt’s game-winning points came on a field goal kicked by Nashville native Bryant Hahnfeldt.
The Commodores were recognized for both the Music City Bowl victory, and a midseason upset of Auburn with ESPN College GameDay making its first appearance on the Nashville campus.
“Our win over Auburn was wonderful, and our victory over Boston College in the Music City Bowl was very special, capped out a winning record, and just did so much for our football program,” Johnson said.
Foster, a native of Kenner, La., finished his career as one of the finest players in Commodore basketball history and its leading scorer with 2,011 points. As a senior, he averaged 20.3 points and was named the consensus Southeastern Conference Player of the Year and a second team All-American.
Foster also distinguished himself away from the gymnasium, becoming a mentor to numerous children, and a frequent speaker at local schools and churches. Foster’s excellence both on and off the court allowed him to become the first Vanderbilt receipt of the prestigious Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award.
Foster’s contribution to Vanderbilt’s successful basketball season that ended with a berth in the 2008 NCAA Tournament also was recognized by the Nashville Sports Council. The team was honored collectively for three key late-season victories in Memorial Gym: a convincing 93-52 win over Kentucky, a 72-69 triumph over No. 1 ranked Tennessee and a 86-85 Senior Night thriller over Mississippi State when Foster torched the Bulldogs for 42 points.
Earnest, a junior from Vandalia, Ill., was named the Division I “Player of the Year” following a superb sophomore year as Vanderbilt’s top bowler. One year after leading the Commodores to the NCAA team title, the first team All-American became the first female student-athlete in school history to earn national Player of the Year honors.
Moore, a junior from Spartanburg, S.C., topped the Commodores with six interceptions while becoming a consensus All-SEC performer. He was also one of the nation’s most versatile players, seeing action as a defensive back, running back, wide receiver, kickoff returner and punt returner.
Price, a native of Murfreesboro who became a No. 1 draft pick of Major League Baseball, made a huge national splash after getting a late-season call to join the Tampa Bay Rays after going 12-1 in the minors.
Price delivered big time for the Rays when called upon in the American League Championship Series, ending a Boston bases-loaded threat in the eighth inning of Game 7 with a strikeout, then eliminating the Red Sox with a dominating ninth inning to give Tampa Bay its first World Series appearance in franchise history.