Oct. 28, 2009
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Joe Fisher’s Mailbag Submit Your Question | View Archive Wondering about a player, a past game or another topic involving the Commodores? The Voice of the Commodores Joe Fisher will answer a variety of email questions from fans during the season on VUcommodores.com. |
Joe, what’s with all the Fishers (Fischers) in Nashville? There’s Jeff Fisher, Joe Fisher, Kyle Fischer, and one of the radio sponsors is Fisher’s Bologna. What’s up with that? — Mitch
Mitch – Thanks for including our fine sponsor on your list. Hard to believe, none of us are related either!
Joe, why is Coach Johnson so adamant about sticking with Larry Smith at QB? There were a number of reasons for the loss to Army, but the QB has to provide the leadership and his play has been abysmal. Unfortunately, it carries over to the rest of the team. Losing to Army was bad enough, but the manner in which we lost is totally inexcusable (and I’m not referring to Warren Norman’s fumble in OT, as heartbreaking as it was). Making a QB change immediately will at least generate fan rejuvenation because fan morale is probably at an all time low. I grew up in Nashville and have been a lifelong fan sticking with them through thick and thin. But I am embarrassed to call myself a fan now because expectations are higher now for this team. I can’t imagine what Coach Johnson is thinking. Saying “we gotta get it fixed” is just coach speak and simply won’t cut it. — Ed
Ed – Thanks for your email. Of course, I defer to the coaches on personnel decisions. I don’t believe that Coach Johnson or the staff think all of the offensive woes lie at the feet of the quarterback. There have been issues with protection all season, and even as you saw in the South Carolina game, there were a number of good passes that should have been caught and weren’t. I’m confident if the coaches felt one personnel move would change things, it would be done.
I appreciate you being a lifelong fan. I don’t think you have any reason to be embarrassed about being a Vanderbilt fan. This program has made great strides under Coach Johnson and his staff. The fact that fans like yourself are so frustrated just shows how expectations have risen, and that’s a good thing.