VANDERBILT

BY DAN MILLER
(originally posted 11-21-2005)

It might actually be a good thing that Vanderbilt won't be going to a bowl this year.

For Vandy fans -- and I suspect for the players and coaches -- there's simply no way to top what happened Saturday in Knoxville.

While no one likes to admit it, the Vandy - UT game is always sort of a Pseudo Bowl for the Commodores, and this year they won that bowl in poetic, heart-stopping fashion.

Now, don't get me wrong.
I'm always proud of the University of Tennessee and their dependable success on the gridiron year after year, and the sports spotlight that shines on our state because of their success.
One of my daughters even graduated from UT.

But when it's Vanderbilt versus the Vols, my heart is always with Vandy.

For the majority of the 36 seasons that have come and gone since 1969 when I first moved to Nashville, I have been a season ticket holder for Vanderbilt football games.
Even while I was living in California, I kept my tickets for one season.

I was there at Dudley Field in 1982, the last time Vandy had defeated UT.
And the taste of that one victory stayed with the Vanderbilt faithful for 23 years, as we all craved another piece of the pie.

Congratulations to coach Bobby Johnson, his staff, and an inspiring group of players.
It was a great start, and a great finish....
And a sweet tasting piece of the pie.

____________________________________________