Vandy finishes at 2-10. Not pretty at all – the last time they were this bad was 2002, Bobby Johnson’s first year as coach – and at least then they had the potential of a freshman named Jay Cutler to hang their hopes on. This year, the injuries were just too much, and whatever idiot scheduled 12 straight weeks with no byes should be shot.
But Warren Norman wrote his name into the SEC record books, smashing Herschel Walker’s 30-year-old conference record for all-purpose yards by a freshman. The future has some promise.
More importantly, the Dores are shifting gears to basketball. And I was there Friday night, in beautiful Moraga, California, on the campus of St Mary’s College. Where the Gaels – West Coast Conference stalwarts and NCAA tournament threats – had only lost twice in the last three years. At first glance, you might dismiss their 3500-seat gym as a high school bandbox. But it’s LOUD and rowdy and the students are right on top of everything, and they’ll make you eat your assumptions. And you can run out to a 14-point lead in the second half, but you’ll escape with a 72-70 win and be happy to get away with it.
That’s a QUALITY victory when tournament time comes around. And with AJ Ogilvy and Brad Tinsley combining for 5 points, it’s good to know that guys like Jeffery “The 44 Killer” Taylor can fill it up. Also great was the fact that I attended with a LOT of Vandy alumni. Who knew that the Vanderbilt-Cal pairing was so common in this part of the world? A good time was had by all, if I do say so myself.
It was my first Vandy game in 12 years, and only my second or third college hoops game in as long. And I forgot how absolutely intoxicating it is – the roar of the crowd, the wail of the band, the indefatigable energy of the student section. I’ve said it over and over, but it bears repeating: football is for the alums. Basketball is for the students. And it’s AWESOME.
On to Maui!! WHO YA WIT!!!