June 29, 2010
Buy 2010 Season Tickets Starting at $125
Vanderbilt football exists as a single unit, with all players on the roster working together to get the best results. The closeness of the team is remarkable considering its wide variety of individuals, all unique people from an array of backgrounds that have worked tirelessly to reach this level of competition.
So while we celebrate the collective accomplishments of our football team, we also take time to celebrate the individual stories of our incredible student-athletes that have earned the honor and challenge of calling themselves Commodores. This year, we are focusing our marketing campaign on just that, giving fans insight into the lives of some of the players who will play key roles in the 2010 season, the players who are Vanderbilt football.
In three short television spots, we learn more about the adversity overcome by cornerback Jamie Graham, the teaching hopes of tight end Brandon Barden, and the close friendship of tailbacks Warren Norman and Zac Stacy. Vanderbilt’s marketing team paired with the university’s award-winning Creative Services department to produce these inspiring segments. They are narrated by Perry Wallace, a Commodore legend who was the first African American basketball player in the Southeastern Conference.
“We are very excited to have Perry involved and we feel that this campaign will help us to tell the story of what it really means to be a Commodore,” said Steve Walsh, Director of Sales and Marketing for Vanderbilt Athletics.
Graham lost his mother at a young age, but through that tragedy he has become an inspiration to the Nashville community through his example as a father figure for his younger brother. Graham has used his celebrity status to mentor local youth about overcoming adversity in their lives. He has also used his athleticism to play numerous positions at Vanderbilt on offense, defense and special teams.
Barden has established himself as one of the best tight ends in the conference in just two seasons at Vanderbilt. While Barden loves being a reliable target for his quarterbacks, he harbors an ambition of joining another line of work because of his family. He is working toward a degree in Special Education from Peabody College in hopes of becoming a teacher like his mother and sister.
Norman and Stacy are roommates and stellar tailbacks on the Commodore offense. Competitive by nature, the two are close friends who push each other hard to achieve on the football field. From the moment they stepped on Vanderbilt’s campus as freshmen last season, they made an impact on the offense that surpassed any expectations for such young players. The two were an outstanding duo, combining to average 113 rushing yards a game, and Norman was named the SEC Freshman of the Year.
“With this campaign, we are hoping to bring the connection between our student-athletes and our fans even closer,” Walsh said.
To see the Commodores in action this fall at Vanderbilt Stadium against teams like LSU, Florida and Tennessee, be sure to order season tickets online at vucommodores.com, by phone at 615-322-GOLD, or at the ticket office in McGugin Center, 2601 Jess Neely Drive.
Note: The first commercial spot featuring Jamie Graham is posted at the top of the story. Commercials with Brandon Barden, Warren Norman and Zac Stacy will be released on vucommodores.com later this summer.
