Dec. 8, 2017
The latest buzz on the web surrounding the Vanderbilt Commodores:
VUCommodores.com: Former Vanderbilt basketball player Perry Wallace, who became the SEC’s first African-American varsity basketball player, died last Friday. He was 69. A Nashville native, Wallace authored an All-SEC career with the Commodores and went on to be inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. Vanderbilt retired his No. 25 jersey in 2004 and inducted Wallace into Vanderbilt’s inaugural athletics Hall of Fame in 2008. On the day of Wallace’s passing, he and former Commodore Godfrey Dillard were honored with the Michael L. Slive Distinguished Service Award.
VUCommodores.com: Andrew Maraniss, is a Visiting Author at Vanderbilt and the author of STRONG INSIDE, the biography of Perry Wallace, reflects on Wallace’s legacy.
The Tennessean: Joe Rexrode writes from the premiere of “Triumph,” a documentary about Perry Wallace that premiered last week. “It’s the gritty details of Wallace’s Vanderbilt journey that explain why he should be hailed for more than breaking the SEC color barrier,” Rexrode writes.
SEC: Vanderbilt defensive standout Charles Wright was named to The Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference team on Monday. Wright, a junior outside linebacker from Irvine, Calif., earned second-team All-SEC honors. Wright enjoyed a banner campaign this year as a 12-game starter. He ranked second in the conference with nine quarterback sacks, the highest total by a Vanderbilt defender since Alan Young set a school record with 12 sacks in 1993.
AFCA: Vanderbilt inside linebackers coach Chris Marve was recognized on the American Football Coaches Association’s “35 Under 35” list. Congrats to Chris!
Congratulations to @Coach_Marve from @VandyFootball on being selected to the 2018 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute pic.twitter.com/kFuf970Ry1
 AFCA (@WeAreAFCA) December 7, 2017
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Gabriel Burns spotlights former Vanderbilt pitcher Kyle Wright, who could make a quick impact with the Atlanta Braves. “Wright’s repertoire gives reason to believe he’s an emerging ace,” Burns writes. “He has an easy, comfortable delivery by the estimation of most scouts.”
Los Angeles Chargers: Former Vanderbilt football standout Casey Hayward has been nominated for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award by the Los Angeles Chargers. Presented by Nationwide, the award recognizes a player’s excellence on and off the field.
Anchor Down Productions: Take a peek inside Vanderbilt Baseball’s Omaha Challenge.