Vanderbilt Commodores
Encyclopedia
The Vanderbilt Commodores are the NCAA athletic teams of Vanderbilt University
, located in Nashville
, Tennessee
. The university fields 16 varsity teams (6 men's teams and 10 women's teams), 14 of which compete in the Southeastern Conference
. Vanderbilt is also a member of the American Lacrosse Conference
.
who formerly coached the Nashville Vols
(1917, 1924-40, 1952) helped bring Vanderbilt to national prominence. Under his reign he led the Commodores to a 155-112-1 record which still ranks third all-time in victories at Vanderbilt. Under the direction of Larry Schmittou
(1968-1978) the Commodores found even more success as the 1971 team began a four year streak as SEC Eastern Divisional Champs with a 34-19 record. He also guided Vanderbilt to back-to-back SEC conference titles in 1973 and 1974 while being awarded Coach-of-the-Year honors. Schmittou currently ranks second all-time in Vanderbilt wins (306-252-1) and has coached 20 All-SEC players, 14 of which were drafted in the MLB draft
.
Tim Corbin
(2003-present) has led Vanderbilt baseball into national prominence with players like Jeremy Sowers
, David Price
, Casey Weathers
, Jensen Lewis
and Pedro Alvarez. Vanderbilt's baseball team has enjoyed a great deal of success under his reign. The team qualified for the NCAA Super Regionals
in 2004, had the nation's top recruiting class in 2005 according to Baseball America
made the NCAA field again in 2006, and won the 2007
SEC regular-season and SEC tournament crowns. The Commodores were ranked first in most polls for a large portion of the 2007 season and earned the #1 national seed for the 2007 NCAA tournament
. In 2011 the team was ranked as high as #1 for a good part of the season and won the SEC regular-season title. That year the team entered the NCAA Regionals with a #6 national seed and finally accomplished something that they had not done before by going undefeated through Regionals and Super Regionals to enter the College World Series
for the first time. That year Vanderbilt also broke a SEC record of most players drafted in the MLB with 12 players, breaking Auburn’s record of 11.
in the NCAA tournament with the help of center and SEC Player of the Year Will Perdue
. Newton was a two-time SEC Coach of the Year and was able to coach other greats such as Phil Cox, Jeff Turner
, and Frank Kornet
. In 1990, coach Eddie Fogler
(1990-93) led Vanderbilt to the NIT
championship which still remains to be Vanderbilt’s’ only national tournament title. In 1992 the Commodores (28-6) managed to win its third and last SEC title and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen with the help of Duke transfer Billy McCaffrey
. Presently, Kevin Stallings
is in his eighth season leading the Commodores. Under his guidance Vanderbilt has appeared in two NIT's and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. In 2004 Matt Freije became the Commodores all-time leading scorer with 1,891 points. Since the 2000’s Vanderbilt has been able to produce several important players including Greg LaPointe, Russell Lakey, Scott Hundley, Corey Smith, Mario Moore, Julian Terrell, Shan Foster and Derrick Byars
(2007 SEC Player of the Year).
The Vanderbilt men have an overall record entering the 2007-08 season of 1,378-995. Their home record in Memorial Gymnasium is an astonishing 650-184. They have made nine NCAA Tournament appearances including four in the Sweet Sixteen
and one Elite Eight
. The Commodores have made 11 NIT (18-10) appearances with one championship (1990) and one Runner-up (1994. The men's basketball program is one of three Division I programs to hit at least one 3-pointer in every game since the 3-point line was implemented in the 1986-1987 season. Princeton University
and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
are the other two.
. The Vanderbilt women captured the WNIT
championship in 1984 and later made their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament
in 1986 while finishing the season ranked No. 20. The Vanderbilt women soon became one of the top SEC teams and were consistently ranked nationally. Coach Jim Foster
(1992-2002) brought the Vanderbilt women to new heights and national prominence with his hiring. Vanderbilt advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament in eight of his 11 seasons. In 1993, the Commodores were able to advance to the Final Four
before falling to eventual champion Texas Tech
. Vanderbilt managed to receive a No.1 ranking in the poll taken before the tournament. Foster's teams also won three SEC Tournaments in 1993, 1995, and 2002. Melanie Balcomb
became Vanderbilt's fourth coach in May 2002. She has taken the Commodores to the NCAA Tournament in each of her six seasons and added SEC Tournament titles in 2004 and 2007.
The Commodores have an overall record of 623-307 record entering the 2007-08 season. Their Memorial Gymnasium all-time mark is 344-81. The Commodores have appeared in 20 NCAA tournaments (third most in the SEC) and have 12 Sweet Sixteen appearances.
. Four years later, Vanderbilt became one of the seven founding members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
. During those years, Vanderbilt was often a major player in southern football dominating many teams. In 1932, Vandy became a founding member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The original teams of the SEC consisted of Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Mississippi State, LSU, Auburn, Sewanee, Tulane, and Georgia Tech. Vanderbilt's primary rivalries constist of the Tennessee Volunteers
and the Ole Miss Rebels
.
In Vanderbilt Commodores football history, there have been several coaches who have been honored with College Football Hall of Fame honors. Some of those coaches often returned to the school to continue the success they found there. This list includes Dan McGugin
, who coached from 1904-1917 and 1919-1934; Ray Morrison
, who not only played for the Commodores but also coached for the Commodores from 1936-1939; and Red Sanders, who led the Commodores from 1940-1942 and 1946-1948. Over the years, Vanderbilt has sent a numerous players to the NFL. One of the most notable football players is Jay Cutler
, who served as quarterback and offensive captain for the Commodores. He was selected as the 11th overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft and went on to play for the Denver Broncos
. While at Vanderbilt, he started more than 40 consecutive games and set school records in touchdowns and rushing yards.
, the next smallest, has nearly twice as many undergraduate students. Vanderbilt fields fewer teams than any of its rivals and sometimes lacks the national prominence enjoyed by schools such as the University of Florida
or the University of Kentucky
. Men's and women's tennis
and men's and women's basketball
are traditionally Vanderbilt's strongest sports, with the more recently founded women's lacrosse
and bowling
programs as well as the long-standing men's baseball
program experiencing moderate national success. After enjoying success in the first half of the 20th century, the football program
struggled through the beginning of the 21st century. In the 2008–09 season, however, the Vanderbilt football team posted a winning season and won its first bowl game
in 53 years.
cited a need to reform college athletics, returning the emphasis to the student half of student-athletes.
s, in honor of the nickname given to Cornelius Vanderbilt
, who made his fortune in shipping. Fans often refer to Vanderbilt athletic teams as "Dores" or use the cheer "Go Dores!"
The term commodore was used by the Navy during the mid- to late nineteenth century. A commodore was the commanding officer of a task force of ships, and therefore higher in rank than a captain
but lower in rank than an admiral
. It was the highest rank in the United States Navy until the Civil War
. The closest parallel to this now-defunct rank is rear admiral lower-half
. (In the Royal Navy, the designation of commodore was applied to the commanding officer of a convoy in the Second World War.)
Since the term was used most during the late nineteenth century—and because it was then that Cornelius received his nickname—Vanderbilt's mascot is always portrayed as a naval officer from the 1880s, complete with chop
s, cutlass, and nineteenth-century naval regalia.
and gold
. Opinions vary as to the reason for selecting black and gold as the colors for Vanderbilt's teams. Some say the original colors were orange and black, given to the university by Judge W.L. Granbery of Princeton
. Others say that Commodore Vanderbilt's legacy was called upon to develop school colors for the university that bears his name: black for the magnate's control of coal and gold for his money.
When questioned about the subject in the 1930s, the few remaining members of the school's first football squad from 1890 did not recall why they suddenly began appearing in black and gold. Whatever the source of the colors, by 1892, the Commodores were known by the colors that Vanderbilt fans still wear today.
Vanderbilt's primary rival in almost every sport is the University of Tennessee
. There is also a budding rivalry with the University of Kentucky
in basketball. In addition, the Commodores' second-oldest rivalry
is with Ole Miss
, and the two schools play each other every year as SEC cross-division "permanent opponents."
V-U hand sign
Formed by extending the thumb, index, and middle fingers of the hand (similar to the Serbian three-finger salute
), the resulting shape forms a "V" and "U". This is a relatively recent development compared to other Vanderbilt traditions.
Football gameday traditions
Vanderbilt has a number of football traditions: the "Commodore Creed" in the football locker room; the "Corridor of Captains" that honors Vanderbilt's athletics history; the "Star Walk" with fans, cheerleaders, and the Spirit of Gold Marching Band
; the "Star V," an on-field formation by the marching band; the "Touchdown Foghorn" from a U.S. Navy battleship that sounds when Vanderbilt scores; "Mr. Commodore," the mascot; "Freshman Walk" by first-year students rushing the football field before kickoff of each season's home open; the "Victory Flag" that is raised over Dudley Field after home wins; and the singing of the "Alma Mater" at the conclusion of a game (in most sports) - win or lose.
Fight song
The Vanderbilt fight song, "Dynamite," was written by student Francis Craig in 1924. The song references the vigor with which Vanderbilt plays and the enthusiasm of the university's fans, who cheer regardless of the outcome of the game.
Chant
Students have adopted the chant "Who ya wit?" as the battle cry of the Commodores. This is usually shouted by one person, with the rest of people yelling in response, "V! U!"
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
, located in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. The university fields 16 varsity teams (6 men's teams and 10 women's teams), 14 of which compete in the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
. Vanderbilt is also a member of the American Lacrosse Conference
American Lacrosse Conference
The American Lacrosse Conference is a NCAA Division I women's lacrosse-only college athletic conference whose members are located in the Midwest, on the East Coast, and increasingly in the Southeastern states from Illinois to Florida....
.
Teams
The university's varsity teams include:
Men's sports
- baseball
Vanderbilt Commodores baseballThe Vanderbilt Commodores baseball team represents Vanderbilt University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team participates in the Eastern division of the Southeastern Conference...- basketball
- cross country
- football
Vanderbilt Commodores footballThe Vanderbilt Commodores football program is a college football team that represents Vanderbilt University. The team currently competes in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Southeastern Conference...- golf
- tennis
Women's sports
- basketball
Vanderbilt Commodores women's basketballThe Vanderbilt Commodores women's basketball team represents Vanderbilt University in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference . The Commodores have won four SEC tournament titles . Melanie Balcomb is the current head coach of the Commodores.-Memorial Gymnasium:The Commodores play their...- bowling*
- cross country
- golf
- indoor track
- lacrosse**
- outdoor track
- soccer
- swimming and diving
- tennis
* No conference affiliation** Affiliated with the American Lacrosse Conference
Baseball
Baseball has been a part of Vanderbilt athletics since its official debut in 1886. The sport started out as a two-game schedule which featured a draw between Vanderbilt and then conference rival Sewanee. As the number of games increased the game became more and more popular especially in 1921 when Vanderbilt (20-8) first reached twenty wins in a season and won the Southern Conference baseball championship. Manager Bill SchwartzBill Schwartz
Bill Schwartz may refer to:* Bill Schwartz , 19th century baseball catcher* Bill Schwartz , 20th century baseball first baseman...
who formerly coached the Nashville Vols
Nashville Vols
The Nashville Vols were a minor league baseball team based in Nashville, Tennessee from 1901 to 1963; the team was inactive in 1962. Known as the Nashville Baseball Club during their first seven seasons, they were officially named the Nashville Volunteers in 1908 for the state's nickname, The...
(1917, 1924-40, 1952) helped bring Vanderbilt to national prominence. Under his reign he led the Commodores to a 155-112-1 record which still ranks third all-time in victories at Vanderbilt. Under the direction of Larry Schmittou
Larry Schmittou
Larry Schmittou is an American entrepreneur. He currently owns a S&S Family Entertainment LLC, which operates a chain of bowling centers. He is a former coach of the Vanderbilt University baseball team. From the late 1970s to the mid 1990s, he was the owner of several minor league baseball teams...
(1968-1978) the Commodores found even more success as the 1971 team began a four year streak as SEC Eastern Divisional Champs with a 34-19 record. He also guided Vanderbilt to back-to-back SEC conference titles in 1973 and 1974 while being awarded Coach-of-the-Year honors. Schmittou currently ranks second all-time in Vanderbilt wins (306-252-1) and has coached 20 All-SEC players, 14 of which were drafted in the MLB draft
MLB Draft
The First-Year Player Draft, also known as the Rule 4 Draft, is Major League Baseball's primary mechanism for assigning amateur baseball players, from high schools, colleges, and other amateur baseball clubs, to its teams. The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings, with...
.
Tim Corbin
Tim Corbin
Tim Corbin is the head baseball coach at Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, Tennessee.In his nine years at Vanderbilt, Corbin has taken the Commodores from the perennial Southeastern Conference doormat to the number one ranked team in the country. In his first five years, Corbin amassed...
(2003-present) has led Vanderbilt baseball into national prominence with players like Jeremy Sowers
Jeremy Sowers
Jeremy Bryan Sowers is an American professional baseball pitcher. Sowers grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, where he attended Ballard High School...
, David Price
David Price
-Military:*David Price , East India Company officer and orientalist*David Price , British Rear Admiral at the Siege of Petropavlovsk- Politics :...
, Casey Weathers
Casey Weathers
Casey Weathers is a minor league baseball pitcher who was drafted by the Colorado Rockies 8th overall in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. He played in college for the Vanderbilt Commodores.-Biography:...
, Jensen Lewis
Jensen Lewis
Jensen Daniel Lewis is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball. Jensen stands at 6'3" and weighs 220 pounds. Jensen was selected 102nd overall at the 2005 MLB Draft...
and Pedro Alvarez. Vanderbilt's baseball team has enjoyed a great deal of success under his reign. The team qualified for the NCAA Super Regionals
2004 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament
The 2004 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament was held from June 4 through June 27, . 64 NCAA Division I college baseball teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament, to play in the NCAA Tournament...
in 2004, had the nation's top recruiting class in 2005 according to Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
made the NCAA field again in 2006, and won the 2007
2007 SEC Baseball Tournament
The 2007 SEC Baseball Tournament was held at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Birmingham, AL from May 23rd through May 27th. After being ranked #1 nationally for most of the season and taking the regular-season SEC crown, Vanderbilt won the tournament and earned the Southeastern Conference's...
SEC regular-season and SEC tournament crowns. The Commodores were ranked first in most polls for a large portion of the 2007 season and earned the #1 national seed for the 2007 NCAA tournament
2007 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament
The 2007 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament was held from June 1-24, . Sixty four NCAA Division I college baseball teams advanced to the post season tournament after having played through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament....
. In 2011 the team was ranked as high as #1 for a good part of the season and won the SEC regular-season title. That year the team entered the NCAA Regionals with a #6 national seed and finally accomplished something that they had not done before by going undefeated through Regionals and Super Regionals to enter the College World Series
2011 College World Series
The 2011 College World Series began on June 18, 2011 and concluded on June 28 with the University of South Carolina defeating the University of Florida by a score of 5-2 in Omaha, Nebraska at TD Ameritrade Park. TD Ameritrade Park replaced Rosenblatt Stadium, which hosted the CWS from 1950–2010...
for the first time. That year Vanderbilt also broke a SEC record of most players drafted in the MLB with 12 players, breaking Auburn’s record of 11.
Men's basketball
Vanderbilt basketball began in 1893 with a 9-6 victory over the Nashville YMCA. It would take several years for the Commodores to make an impact in the game starting in December 1900 when the school first produced a formal basketball team coached by W.D. Weatherford. The first actual schedule for Vanderbilt consisted of three games against the Nashville YMCA and one against the Nashville Athletic Club. That year the Commodores lost their first meeting against the YMCA but managed to finish their season 2-2. The first modern and successful basketball team began with the hiring of Bob Polk (1948-58, 1960-61) as the school’s first full-time basketball coach. During that time Polk was able to recruit Vanderbilt’s first scholarship player Billy Joe Adcock who would later become Vanderbilt’s first All-American. From 1982-1989 Vanderbilt found success under the coaching of C.M. Newton who was able to bring Vanderbilt to new heights. Newton’s “Bomb Squad” which consisted of Scott Draud, Barry Booker and Barry Goheen managed to light up scoreboards with their explosive offense. In 1988 Vanderbilt managed to make it to the Sweet SixteenSweet Sixteen
Sweet Sixteen may refer to:*Sweet sixteen , a party thrown in honor of a girl's or very rarely, a boy's, sixteenth birthday, primarily in the United States...
in the NCAA tournament with the help of center and SEC Player of the Year Will Perdue
Will Perdue
William Edward Perdue is a retired American NBA basketball player who won four NBA Championships. Perdue is now an ESPN basketball commentator and analyst.Perdue attended Merritt Island High School, Merritt Island, Florida...
. Newton was a two-time SEC Coach of the Year and was able to coach other greats such as Phil Cox, Jeff Turner
Jeff Turner
Jeffrey Steven Turner is a retired American professional basketball player and broadcasting announcer. Turner played ten NBA seasons , spending time with the New Jersey Nets as well as the Orlando Magic. He ended his NBA career with 3,697 career points. Turner was a 6' 9" forward/center...
, and Frank Kornet
Frank Kornet
Frank Kornet , is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2nd round of the 1989 NBA Draft. Kornet played two seasons in the NBA, both with the Bucks. In his NBA career, he appeared in a total of 89 games and averaged 1.9 ppg...
. In 1990, coach Eddie Fogler
Eddie Fogler
Eddie Fogler was a college basketball player from the University of North Carolina from 1967-1970 where he played as a point guard on two NCAA Final Four teams. Fogler was an All-City guard from Flushing High School in Flushing, New York....
(1990-93) led Vanderbilt to the NIT
1990 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Penn State 83, New Mexico 81...
championship which still remains to be Vanderbilt’s’ only national tournament title. In 1992 the Commodores (28-6) managed to win its third and last SEC title and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen with the help of Duke transfer Billy McCaffrey
Billy McCaffrey
Billy McCaffrey is a retired American professional basketball player and college basketball star. He is also former interim head coach at St. Bonaventure University....
. Presently, Kevin Stallings
Kevin Stallings
Kevin Stallings is currently in his 11th season as the head men’s basketball coach at Vanderbilt University. Previously, he served as head coach at Illinois State University and was an assistant coach at Purdue University and the University of Kansas.-High school & college:Stallings was born in...
is in his eighth season leading the Commodores. Under his guidance Vanderbilt has appeared in two NIT's and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. In 2004 Matt Freije became the Commodores all-time leading scorer with 1,891 points. Since the 2000’s Vanderbilt has been able to produce several important players including Greg LaPointe, Russell Lakey, Scott Hundley, Corey Smith, Mario Moore, Julian Terrell, Shan Foster and Derrick Byars
Derrick Byars
Derrick JaVaughn Byars is an American professional basketball player for the Pro A team Cholet Basket. Collegiality, he played for Virginia, and later for Vanderbilt...
(2007 SEC Player of the Year).
The Vanderbilt men have an overall record entering the 2007-08 season of 1,378-995. Their home record in Memorial Gymnasium is an astonishing 650-184. They have made nine NCAA Tournament appearances including four in the Sweet Sixteen
Sweet Sixteen
Sweet Sixteen may refer to:*Sweet sixteen , a party thrown in honor of a girl's or very rarely, a boy's, sixteenth birthday, primarily in the United States...
and one Elite Eight
Elite Eight
The term Elite Eight, or less commonly called "Great Eight", refers to the final eight teams in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship or the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship; and, thus, represents the national quarterfinals. In Division I, the Elite Eight consists of the...
. The Commodores have made 11 NIT (18-10) appearances with one championship (1990) and one Runner-up (1994. The men's basketball program is one of three Division I programs to hit at least one 3-pointer in every game since the 3-point line was implemented in the 1986-1987 season. Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of...
are the other two.
Women's basketball
The first Vanderbilt women’s basketball game was in March 1897. During that time their schedule consisted of five games which expanded as the game became more popular nationally. The Lady Commodores began their modern and successful period when Joe Pepper (1977-80) was named part-time coach. Phil Lee (1980-91) became the school’s first full-time coach in 1980 and helped lead the Lady Dores to their first 20 win season in 1981 and an appearance in the AIAW Women's Basketball TournamentAIAW Women's Basketball Tournament
-1973 tournament:The 1973 AIAW Women's Basketball Tournament was held on March 22–25, 1973. The host site was Queens College in Flushing, New York...
. The Vanderbilt women captured the WNIT
WNIT
WNIT is the PBS member television station for South Bend, Indiana. Its studios are located in South Bend. WNIT broadcasts on digital channel 35 ....
championship in 1984 and later made their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Tournament
NCAA tournament may refer to a number tournaments organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association:Men's sports*NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, the most common usage of this term*NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship...
in 1986 while finishing the season ranked No. 20. The Vanderbilt women soon became one of the top SEC teams and were consistently ranked nationally. Coach Jim Foster
Jim Foster
James F. Foster is the founder and first commissioner of the Arena Football League. He, along with two other partners, owns Gridiron Enterprises, which acts as the sanctioning body of the sport of arena football...
(1992-2002) brought the Vanderbilt women to new heights and national prominence with his hiring. Vanderbilt advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament in eight of his 11 seasons. In 1993, the Commodores were able to advance to the Final Four
1993 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
-Mideast Regional - Iowa City, IA:-Midwest Regional - Nacogdoches, TX:-West Regional - Missoula, MT:-Final Four - Atlanta, GA:...
before falling to eventual champion Texas Tech
Texas Tech Lady Raiders basketball
The Texas Tech Lady Raiders basketball team represents Texas Tech University and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I. The team is coached by Kristy Curry who is in her fourth season at the university.-History:...
. Vanderbilt managed to receive a No.1 ranking in the poll taken before the tournament. Foster's teams also won three SEC Tournaments in 1993, 1995, and 2002. Melanie Balcomb
Melanie Balcomb
Melanie Balcomb is the Head Women's Basketball Coach at Vanderbilt University.Balcomb attended Hightstown High School, in Hightstown, New Jersey, where she starred as a point guard for the girls' varsity basketball team from 1976 to 1980...
became Vanderbilt's fourth coach in May 2002. She has taken the Commodores to the NCAA Tournament in each of her six seasons and added SEC Tournament titles in 2004 and 2007.
The Commodores have an overall record of 623-307 record entering the 2007-08 season. Their Memorial Gymnasium all-time mark is 344-81. The Commodores have appeared in 20 NCAA tournaments (third most in the SEC) and have 12 Sweet Sixteen appearances.
Football
The first game in Vanderbilt Commodores football history was in 1890 when they met the University of NashvilleUniversity of Nashville
The University of Nashville was an educational institution that existed as a distinct entity from 1826 until 1909. During its history, it operated at various times a medical school, a four-year military college, a literary arts college, and a boys preparatory school...
. Four years later, Vanderbilt became one of the seven founding members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association was one of the first collegiate athletic conferences in the United States. Twenty-seven of the current Division I FBS football programs were members of this conference at some point, as were at least 19 other schools...
. During those years, Vanderbilt was often a major player in southern football dominating many teams. In 1932, Vandy became a founding member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The original teams of the SEC consisted of Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Mississippi State, LSU, Auburn, Sewanee, Tulane, and Georgia Tech. Vanderbilt's primary rivalries constist of the Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the National Collegiate Athletic Association college sports teams at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. Mike Hamilton is the most recent Men's Athletic Director, but resigned on June 7, 2011, and Joan Cronan is the current Women's...
and the Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss Rebels
University of Mississippi sports teams, originally known as the "Mississippi Flood" , were re-named the Rebels in 1936 and compete in the twelve-member Southeastern Conference of the NCAA's Division I. The school's colors are cardinal red and navy blue , purposely chosen to mirror the school...
.
In Vanderbilt Commodores football history, there have been several coaches who have been honored with College Football Hall of Fame honors. Some of those coaches often returned to the school to continue the success they found there. This list includes Dan McGugin
Dan McGugin
Daniel Earle McGugin was an American football player, coach, and lawyer. He served as the head football coach at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee from 1904 to 1917 and again from 1919 to 1934, compiling a record of 197–55–19. He played college football at the University...
, who coached from 1904-1917 and 1919-1934; Ray Morrison
Ray Morrison
J. Ray Morrison was an American football and baseball player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball in the United States...
, who not only played for the Commodores but also coached for the Commodores from 1936-1939; and Red Sanders, who led the Commodores from 1940-1942 and 1946-1948. Over the years, Vanderbilt has sent a numerous players to the NFL. One of the most notable football players is Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler (American football)
Jay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
, who served as quarterback and offensive captain for the Commodores. He was selected as the 11th overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft and went on to play for the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. While at Vanderbilt, he started more than 40 consecutive games and set school records in touchdowns and rushing yards.
History of Vanderbilt athletics
Vanderbilt is a charter member of the Southeastern Conference and is the conference's only private school. With approximately 6,400 undergraduates, the school is also the smallest in the conference; University of MississippiUniversity of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
, the next smallest, has nearly twice as many undergraduate students. Vanderbilt fields fewer teams than any of its rivals and sometimes lacks the national prominence enjoyed by schools such as the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
or the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
. Men's and women's tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
and men's and women's basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
are traditionally Vanderbilt's strongest sports, with the more recently founded women's lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
and bowling
Bowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
programs as well as the long-standing men's baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
program experiencing moderate national success. After enjoying success in the first half of the 20th century, the football program
Vanderbilt Commodores football
The Vanderbilt Commodores football program is a college football team that represents Vanderbilt University. The team currently competes in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Southeastern Conference...
struggled through the beginning of the 21st century. In the 2008–09 season, however, the Vanderbilt football team posted a winning season and won its first bowl game
2008 Music City Bowl
The 2008 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl was the eleventh edition of the college football bowl game played at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee. The game started at 2:30 pm US CST on Wednesday, December 31, 2008. The game, telecast on ESPN, pitted the Vanderbilt Commodores against the Boston...
in 53 years.
Lack of athletic department
In September 2003, Vanderbilt disbanded its athletic department. Intercollegiate athletics are now administered as a part of the university's Division of Student Life, which oversees all student organizations and activities. Vanderbilt is currently the only Division I school without a separate athletic department. In making this decision, Chancellor Gordon GeeGordon Gee
Elwood Gordon Gee is an American academic. He is in his second term as the president of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio; he was previously president from 1990 to 1998....
cited a need to reform college athletics, returning the emphasis to the student half of student-athletes.
Mascot history
Vanderbilt's intercollegiate athletics teams are nicknamed the CommodoreCommodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
s, in honor of the nickname given to Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt , also known by the sobriquet Commodore, was an American entrepreneur who built his wealth in shipping and railroads. He was also the patriarch of the Vanderbilt family and one of the richest Americans in history...
, who made his fortune in shipping. Fans often refer to Vanderbilt athletic teams as "Dores" or use the cheer "Go Dores!"
The term commodore was used by the Navy during the mid- to late nineteenth century. A commodore was the commanding officer of a task force of ships, and therefore higher in rank than a captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
but lower in rank than an admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
. It was the highest rank in the United States Navy until the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. The closest parallel to this now-defunct rank is rear admiral lower-half
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
. (In the Royal Navy, the designation of commodore was applied to the commanding officer of a convoy in the Second World War.)
Since the term was used most during the late nineteenth century—and because it was then that Cornelius received his nickname—Vanderbilt's mascot is always portrayed as a naval officer from the 1880s, complete with chop
Chop
Chop, CHOP, Chops, or CHOPS may refer to:-Music:*Embouchure, in music, a synonym for chops*CHOPS, Asian-American hip-hop producer, rapper and member of rap group Mountain Brothers*Chops , 2006...
s, cutlass, and nineteenth-century naval regalia.
School colors
The school colors are blackBlack
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
and gold
Old Gold
Old gold is a dark yellow, which varies from light olive or olive brown to deep or strong yellow. The widely-accepted color "Old gold" is on the darker rather than the lighter side of this range....
. Opinions vary as to the reason for selecting black and gold as the colors for Vanderbilt's teams. Some say the original colors were orange and black, given to the university by Judge W.L. Granbery of Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. Others say that Commodore Vanderbilt's legacy was called upon to develop school colors for the university that bears his name: black for the magnate's control of coal and gold for his money.
When questioned about the subject in the 1930s, the few remaining members of the school's first football squad from 1890 did not recall why they suddenly began appearing in black and gold. Whatever the source of the colors, by 1892, the Commodores were known by the colors that Vanderbilt fans still wear today.
Traditions and rivalries
RivalriesVanderbilt's primary rival in almost every sport is the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
. There is also a budding rivalry with the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
in basketball. In addition, the Commodores' second-oldest rivalry
Vanderbilt-Ole Miss rivalry
The Vanderbilt–Ole Miss football rivalry is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Vanderbilt Commodores football team of Vanderbilt University and the Ole Miss Rebels football team of the University of Mississippi...
is with Ole Miss
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
, and the two schools play each other every year as SEC cross-division "permanent opponents."
V-U hand sign
Formed by extending the thumb, index, and middle fingers of the hand (similar to the Serbian three-finger salute
Three-finger salute (Serbian)
The three-finger salute is a salute expressing Serbian ethnic nationalism, made by extending the thumb, index, and middle fingers of the right hand...
), the resulting shape forms a "V" and "U". This is a relatively recent development compared to other Vanderbilt traditions.
Football gameday traditions
Vanderbilt has a number of football traditions: the "Commodore Creed" in the football locker room; the "Corridor of Captains" that honors Vanderbilt's athletics history; the "Star Walk" with fans, cheerleaders, and the Spirit of Gold Marching Band
Spirit of Gold Marching Band
The Spirit of Gold Marching Band is the collegiate marching band organized by Vanderbilt University.-Membership:A unique feature of the Spirit of Gold is that membership in the marching band is open to all students enrolled at Vanderbilt or any students from colleges in the Nashville area...
; the "Star V," an on-field formation by the marching band; the "Touchdown Foghorn" from a U.S. Navy battleship that sounds when Vanderbilt scores; "Mr. Commodore," the mascot; "Freshman Walk" by first-year students rushing the football field before kickoff of each season's home open; the "Victory Flag" that is raised over Dudley Field after home wins; and the singing of the "Alma Mater" at the conclusion of a game (in most sports) - win or lose.
Fight song
The Vanderbilt fight song, "Dynamite," was written by student Francis Craig in 1924. The song references the vigor with which Vanderbilt plays and the enthusiasm of the university's fans, who cheer regardless of the outcome of the game.
Chant
Students have adopted the chant "Who ya wit?" as the battle cry of the Commodores. This is usually shouted by one person, with the rest of people yelling in response, "V! U!"
Recent success
Vanderbilt's athletics programs have seen more success in recent years, and 2006–2007 was one of the best in the school's athletic history. At one point, seven of Vanderbilt's 16 teams were ranked in the Top 25 of their respective sports. Women's bowling won the NCAA championship, bringing the university its first team championship since the advent of the NCAA.Facilities
Campus athletic facilities include:- Vanderbilt StadiumVanderbilt StadiumVanderbilt Stadium at Dudley Field is a football stadium located in Nashville, Tennessee. Completed in 1922 as the first stadium in the South to be used exclusively for college football, it is the home of the Vanderbilt University football team...
, seating capacity: 40,200 - Memorial GymnasiumMemorial Gymnasium (Vanderbilt University)Memorial Gymnasium is a multi-purpose facility located in Nashville, Tennessee. Usually called Memorial Gym or simply Memorial, the building is located on the western end of the Vanderbilt University campus. It was built in 1952 and currently has a seating capacity of 14,316...
, 14,168 - Hawkins FieldHawkins FieldHawkins Field is a baseball stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. It is the home field of the Vanderbilt Commodores college baseball team. The stadium opened in 2002 adjacent to Vanderbilt Stadium and Memorial Gymnasium and holds 3,700 people...
, 3,700 - Vanderbilt Soccer/Lacrosse Complex, 2,400
- Brownlee O. Currey, Jr. Tennis Center.
- Vanderbilt Legends Club of Tennessee (off-campus golf course)