Maybe we should have realized in 2003 that the eggheads at Vanderbilt knew something the rest of us didn't. Five years ago is when the University, led by then-VU President Gordon Gee decided to revamp the Commodores athletic department.
Gone was the Athletic Director and any semblance of a real Division I athletic department. The SEC's smallest and only private university was the laughingstock collegiate athletics.
Fast forward to 2008 and Gee is back at Ohio State as president (think he'll make this type of change in Columbus?) and Vandy is experiencing unprecedented on-field success in football--as well as in basketball and baseball. Heck, the Commodores won the 2007 NCAA bowling title.
Vandy's football team showed promise in 2007 after tallying five wins. Not impressed? Consider the Commodores had a losing record in every season for the past quarter-century. So now how does Vandy's 5-0 (and should be 6-0 after Saturday's game with Mississippi State) sound?
Coach Bobby Johnson should also be given plenty of praise for this reclamation project. Vanderbilt officials were ripped for hiring the former Furman coach following the 2001 season. Johnson led Furman to the Division I-A championship game, but lost to Montana and finished the season 12-3.
But college football elitists felt it was a reach and an embarrassment to bring him into the SEC, even at a doormat like Vandy. That hire should be hailed today. After three consecutive two-win seasons, the Commodores have gone 5-6 (2005), 4-8 (2006), 5-7 (2007). Now Vandy could be bowl eligible after Saturday. VU's last bowl appearance came in the 1982 Hall of Fame Bowl--a 36-28 loss to Air Force.
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1 comment:
Gee has already stated he wouldn't do this at Ohio State.
He's not dumb.
I think the biggest difference between Vandy and a major state school is funding. Most big-time football schools have athletic departments that are self-sustaining. Vandy wasn't exactly rolling in the cash.
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