May 11, 2012
Quick Slant is an array of brief insights and occasionally opinionated overviews of collegiate athletics in general and the Vanderbilt Commodores in particular.
The Illinois State connection: There must be a magnetic force between Redbird Arena on Illinois States’ campus and our Memorial Gymnasium. How else can one account for the many coaching connections?
First there was Kevin Stallings, the ISU head coach until coming to Vanderbilt. At that point Tom Richardson took over at State until he rejoined forces with Stallings in Nashville. After a short hiatus, former Vanderbilt assistant Tim Jankovich became the Redbird head coach and when he left a few weeks ago, it was our assistant Dan Muller – a former ISU star – that just landed their position.
Among the celebrities spotted at Vanderbilt’s annual Golf Partners Day this week were 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist and four-time world champion skater Scott Hamilton, 1975 United States Open champion Lou Graham and country music’s Larry Gatlin among many other participants. Golf Partners Day promotes the Commodore men’s and women’s golf teams to the public while raising money to enhance both programs.
James Franklin’s frenetic work pace continues, even during his so-called offseason. Among the items on his schedule are speaking events booked months ago. In the past few days his appearances included an event with Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam to promote heart health, the previously mentioned Vanderbilt Golf Partners Day as the keynote and before members of Vanderbilt’s entire Public Affairs Division, where his message included pride in promoting black and gold, not just as colors worn to sporting events but as branding strategy that should permeate most university events. He is also partnering with Vanderbilt Medical Center to promote men’s health in Tennessee later this summer.
(Photo Credit: Illinois State Athletics/GoRedbirds.com)