Notebook: Bulldog Classic

Commodores to compete at Dallas tournament hosted by Louisiana Tech

by Rod Williamson

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt bowling team is scheduled to resume its spring schedule Friday through Sunday at the Bulldog Classic at the All-American Lanes in Dallas. It has been more than a month since the Commodores last competed while navigating COVID-19 protocols.

Here is more about this weekend’s event:

Bulldog Classic facts: Hosted by Louisiana Tech, the Bulldog Classic will be held in a spacious and well-known Texas venue that allows for ample distancing. There are 10 teams in the field with Friday’s 5-Game Bakers starting at 9:35 a.m. Saturday’s action will start at 9:25 a.m. with one position round match followed by four traditional games so it is possible to play the same opponent twice. Sunday has the best-of-seven Bakers starting at 8:25 a.m.

Tournament field: Arkansas State, Central Missouri, Grambling, Louisiana Tech, Prairie View, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, Texas Southern, Tulane and Vanderbilt.

Competing in the bubble: If it seems that the list of teams is nearly the same from tournament to tournament, that’s because it is. Many of the eastern NCAA teams are in states that require a travel quarantine so bowling’s answer is to keep in its regional bubbles. Normally Vanderbilt would mix its competition between regions.

Practices interrupted: Three Vandy bowlers and both coaches were temporarily sidelined in recent weeks due to close-contact COVID-19 requirements. The six unaffected Dores were able to practice on their own until the entire squad was able to regroup.

Livestreaming the event: Vanderbilt will use its YouTube channel to stream all of its matches.

New rankings: Vanderbilt held its No. 2 national rank in the latest NTCA poll which has an uneven and unusual look due to the unusual scheduling situation and last-minute tournament withdrawals around the bowling community. The Commodores, for example, have only competed in three events in the 2020-21 season, about half as many as would be standard.