Aug. 26, 2011
Quick Slant is an array of brief insights and occasionally opinionated overviews of collegiate athletics in general and the Vanderbilt Commodores in particular.
The recent hub-bub about possible Southeastern Conference expansion should serve as a reminder that sometimes so-called informed sources are not always spot-on with the facts. A few weeks ago, sources out of Texas were absolutely certain that the SEC was going to extend Texas A&M an invitation for league membership and that speculation quickly led to rumors that Florida State, Clemson, Missouri or others might follow.
We’ve been skeptical of the publicized plot lines from the first time we heard about it. Why? The few SEC administrators that would actually be in the know about the possibilities or even actual interest in expansion do not talk about it outside the board room. It is possible there is fire where there is smoke but some of us will wait until the final chapter has been read.
If you have the slightest doubt if the trappings surrounding Vanderbilt football are going to be different, be in the stands for the entire pre-game at next Saturday’s Elon game. You will be surprised.
Nashville sports historian Bill Traughber has enlightened Vanderbilt fans over the years with his thoughtful essays on Commodore history. The award-winning author has recently written another book, Commodore Football: Tales of Commodore Gridiron History. We have seen an advance copy and it is a delightful walk down Memory Lane. The 160-page paperback book includes 55 photos and can be preordered on www.historypress.net for $19.99. It will be in Nashville area bookstores the week of September 5 and we hope to have Bill signing copies in Vandyville sometime next month.
NAME DROPPING – Vanderbilt bowling star Brittni Hamilton made history when the national magazine Bowlers Journal named the Commodore senior to its 5-woman, first-team All-American squad. Hamilton joined four professionals that included Kelly Kulick – who won a men’s PBA event – and is the first collegiate bowler to ever make this elite team…long-time Vanderbilt insider and Athlon’s collegiate football expert Mitch Light will have a regular segment on all Commodore home football pre-game shows. Few know the college scene better than Mitch so this is certain to quickly become popular with our listeners.