I got close enough to Nashville to pick up the sports radio station that covers VU athletics right before 8 EST, when the pre-game show started, and I could hear our student section underneath Joe Fisher's voice. And I knew right then, as I was trying my darndest to get through the snow and into Nashville, that we would have a good game tonight. My doubts melted away faster than the snow hitting the interstate.
Of course, once I got into Memorial, the doubts crept back. They really only went away when Keegan Bell got fouled with 1.8 seconds left. I wish he would have made one of the FTs just so he would have gotten points to go with his amazing performance, but I knew we had clinched it. Someone asked me if it was the most exciting game I had been to. I said no because the result was in doubt much longer than the UF game last year. And the end was less exciting than the last second shot we got off against the Vols last year. And part of it is probably that I'm not sitting in the student section anymore. But, still, this game made all that I've spent this year on tickets and gas worth it.
I'm trying to get to sleep since I have to get up early to drive back to southern Indiana and work (and, yes, I plan on wearing my Vandy hoodie again, plus it just feels so good to wear it in Kentucky after what happened 2 weeks ago, I'm not going to lie). But I'm still just so pumped. My friend I went with looked shocked when I started yelling out 'V-A-N-D-Y, Vandy, Vandy, oh hell yeah!' the first time they played 'Dynamite' after the game was over. And then again the second time. The third time, well, I wasn't as loud then, but I don't recall Dynamite ever being played 3 times in a row after a game. And I somehow remembered all the words to the alma mater.
I'm proud of my university. I'm proud that even though we don't have an athletic department, we produce teams that can compete and beat the best in the country. I'm proud of our involvement in the Nashville community. I'm proud of Perry Wallace because of the fortitude he showed as the first African-American basketball player in the SEC, his successes on the court, and his successful carer after graduation. I'm proud of James Lawson's work to in the Civil Rights movement in Nashville, and I'm thankful that the university has made amends after his expulsion in 1960, welcoming him back as a visiting professor and telling his story on the LED boards in Memorial tonight. I'm proud that students in our business, divinity, and law schools have come together to work together to work in the fight against global poverty. I'm proud of Muhammad Yunus and his work with the Grammen Bank in Bangladesh.
And I'm proud that the woman who leads the invocation before UT's football games is a Vanderbilt Divinity School graduate.
I'm proud to be a Commodore.
Comments
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Reputation: 97
Level: Superstar Since: Dec 20, 2006 
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Posted on: February 27, 2008 7:12 am
Well, Vandy did it.Araker: Well said! You may recall I called the point spread in this game (3 pts.) as well as the winner (Vanderbilt). Please hold any and all applause to the end ... With respect to the great game Tennessee played, I honestly saw this one coming. Within 72 hrs. Tennessee faced two road games against tough in-state rivals. I just don't believe the Vols had it in the tank to compete at 100% over 40 minutes last night. Having said that, I thought Chris Lofton played a remarkable game ... just that Shan Foster played an otherworldly one. Vanderbilt's also did really well on the offensive boards ... particularly in the first half. Vanderbilt has to have one of the most underrated and under-chronicled home court advantages in the nation. After the game last night, I saw a history of some of their home upsets, of which there have been MANY over the last 20 years. Last night was no exception - they've defended their home court well all season, and I truly believe ANY top ranked team going into Memorial immediately has its hands full. I'm proud of my university. I'm proud that even though we don't have an athletic department, we produce teams that can compete and beat the best in the country. I'm proud of our involvement in the Nashville community. I'm proud of Perry Wallace because of the fortitude he showed as the first African-American basketball player in the SEC, his successes on the court, and his successful carer after graduation. I'm proud of James Lawson's work to in the Civil Rights movement in Nashville, and I'm thankful that the university has made amends after his expulsion in 1960, welcoming him back as a visiting professor and telling his story on the LED boards in Memorial tonight. I'm proud that students in our business, divinity, and law schools have come together to work together to work in the fight against global poverty. I'm proud of Muhammad Yunus and his work with the Grammen Bank in Bangladesh. Well said, Araker. You should be proud of your university - for so many reasons. The ones you mention above are the TRUE calling of a world-class university. Vanderbilt can definitely claim membership in the relatively small, select group of academies that truly understand and value what a university stands for over -- what it accomplishes on the playing field. What it does on the court or the field is just a nice bonus to other remarkable accomplishments. Araker, we stayed in NYC in the past month (drove down to the Metropolitan Opera a few Saturdays ago) and stayed at a midtown Manhattan hotel. Well ... the bartender was a native of Bangladesh. We wound up talking at length about Muhammad Yunus, his Nobel Prize, and his work to lend Bangladeshis money to start and maintain new businesses. I'm interested and heartened to know he has a connection to Vanderbilt. Again, Araker, good for you. I'm glad for you, your university, and the entire Vanderbilt community. |
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Reputation: 99
Level: Superstar Since: Feb 19, 2007
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Posted on: February 27, 2008 8:08 am
Well, Vandy did it.Araker, we stayed in NYC in the past month (drove down to the Metropolitan Opera a few Saturdays ago) and stayed at a midtown Manhattan hotel. Well ... the bartender was a native of Bangladesh. We wound up talking at length about Muhammad Yunus, his Nobel Prize, and his work to lend Bangladeshis money to start and maintain new businesses. I'm interested and heartened to know he has a connection to Vanderbilt. |
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Reputation: 97
Level: Superstar Since: Jan 24, 2007
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Posted on: February 27, 2008 8:39 am
Well, Vandy did it.Congrats araker! It may not have been the most exciting game you've been to, but man was it a huge win! Awesome! Looks like Vandy is going to be a force come tourney time (but then, we knew that before last night). |
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Reputation: 95
Level: Superstar Since: Jan 5, 2008
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Posted on: February 27, 2008 8:47 am
Well, Vandy did it.Congrats Araker, good game. |
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Reputation: 98
Level: Superstar Since: Mar 5, 2007
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Posted on: February 27, 2008 9:01 am
Well, Vandy did it.Congratulations Vandy. Glad to hear of your pride in Vanderbilt Araker as it is certainly not misplaced. Never doubted your pride for a moment. Memorial Gym being built for a stage the sound really resonates there and it was for sure rocking last night. Was quite the drive for you ,Skuchas, from Vermont. Couldn't resist. Hope you reached home safely.
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Reputation: 99
Level: Superstar Since: Dec 23, 2007
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Posted on: February 27, 2008 9:23 am
Well, Vandy did it.Congrats.... Vandy played better than the #1 team and deserved the win... Iverall, I feel that Vandy may go farther in the tourney than the Vols and it has to do with the coaching. While the Vols have more athletic players they will not play 40 minutes of defense or team play.. They will get beat... |
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Reputation: 99
Level: Superstar Since: Feb 19, 2007
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Posted on: February 27, 2008 12:35 pm
Well, Vandy did it.Iverall, I feel that Vandy may go farther in the tourney than the Vols and it has to do with the coaching. While the Vols have more athletic players they will not play 40 minutes of defense or team play.. They will get beat... |
Reputation: 91
Level: All-Star Since: Sep 4, 2006
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Posted on: February 27, 2008 12:38 pm
Well, Vandy did it.As much as I wanted us to win. . .I had a horrible feeling about last night. That place is just too dang tough to play. And you have a great coach, not the personality of a Pearl, but a great in-game coach. Is he going to be on Indiana's short list? I heard Dan Patrick say on the radio that my Vols are going to spend less time at #1 than the macarena. . .ouch. . .and all thanks to your Doors. Good game, kinda hope we see you in the SEC tourney semis, if we can get past round 1 :)
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Reputation: 99
Level: Superstar Since: Feb 19, 2007
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Posted on: February 27, 2008 12:48 pm
Well, Vandy did it.Is he going to be on Indiana's short list?
I've heard that, but he went to and was an assistant at Purdue. I think that takes him out of contention. Good game, kinda hope we see you in the SEC tourney semis, if we can get past round 1 :)
Ditto for us 
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Reputation: 89
Level: All-Star Since: Feb 26, 2008
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Posted on: February 27, 2008 9:41 pm
Well, Vandy did it.Was there myself. I ditto ALL of your comments. Yes, I TOO am proud to be a COMMODORE! Who ya with?! VU! |
Good for you to see that game. One of the five best of the season, IMO.
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