Jan. 28, 2011
Video: Fans React to Football Retreat | Submit Comments to Suggestion Box
Thirteen randomly selected Vanderbilt fans, including two student leaders, participated in a special half-day retreat Thursday designed by athletic department officials to gain perspectives and ideas that will improve Vanderbilt’s football game day experience.
Also attending the retreat as listeners were 11 members of the Vanderbilt athletic staff, including football’s administrative director Kevin Colon and Coach James Franklin’s new Chief of Staff Jemal Griffin, along with managers from development, marketing, ticketing, communications and game operations.
“I believe everyone in attendance thought this was a big success,” said Director of Communications Rod Williamson. “The group quickly gained a very constructive chemistry and as a result, we heard tremendous feedback. We recorded pages of notes and ideas. Two people cared enough to fly in from out-of-state and others drove from Middle Tennessee communities to share their passion. It was a great morning.”
Several of the participants were chosen from among approximately 250 people who have submitted entries to the department’s Suggestion Box, located on its official website. Nametags were necessary because very few in the room of 24 had any prior relationship with each other. The group jelled quickly.
Nick Coles, a self-described “sidewalk fan” from Murfreesboro said “I thought it was very productive. I didn’t know what to expect but everyone was in tune. I felt as though we just shared a tailgate together when we were finished.”
Kailey Hand, a relatively recent Vanderbilt graduate, echoed those comments.
“It was an outstanding morning,” Hand said. “It was nice to have my voice heard and appreciated. I am proud of my school and I was proud of the passion inside the room. Now we need to go outside and put these ideas and feelings into action. This is a critical time for Vanderbilt football.”
Trey McPherson, who came to campus from Orlando, summed up many feelings when he said “we want our football experience and our team to be every bit as special as the university as a whole.”
The fans zeroed in on parking, tailgating, in-stadium atmosphere and even rest room improvement — areas of widespread interest and the session concluded with an open forum where a wide variety of topics were introduced.
“We learned so much during these four hours,” Williamson said. “Our staff will take this information and apply it to our fall playbook. This group was so effective together that we are already thinking of ways that we can continue to interact. We will also keep communicating with the public in a variety of ways because we want to keep our finger on the pulse.”