July 19, 2012
Quick Slant is an array of brief insights and occasionally opinionated overviews of collegiate athletics in general and the Vanderbilt Commodores in particular.
Our National Commodore Club’s annual fund drive for this recently closed fiscal year generated the highest gift total since 1994 – 18 years! The $3.27 million represented an increase of more than $300,000 from our previous year. Thank you to the thousands of alumni and friends that contributed to this total.
Evidence of improved outside perception was evident everywhere at the recent SEC Football Media Day. While everyone realizes there is plenty still to be accomplished, the days of getting discouraging questions such as “do you think you belong in the SEC?” are history.
Dore Jam, football’s pre-season traditional event to meet and greet the public, is set for Sunday, August 5 from 4-6 p.m. on the practice field adjacent to Natchez Trace. There are middle aged season ticket holders who were first introduced to Commodore football by attending this event and many have photographs to prove it!
Our opening football game with South Carolina will be a BLACK OUT. That said, fans should start noticing in stores that our gold color is becoming more standardized, the result of over a year-long effort working with major commercial production companies. Yes, there still could be some inventory left-overs on a given shelf but by in large, the new licensed products have been carefully approved to have the same gold tone. It is next to impossible to get all the companies to manufacture the identical shade but fans should be happy and will look sharp and unified.
A quick tip of the hat to bowler Jessica Earnest, who was a member of the Gold Medal United States team at the World Youth Games in Thailand. Jessica, a senior-to-be and three-time All-American, was Uncle Sam’s top individual, coming in ninth.