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RESPECT FOR VANDERBILT

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with The Leo Windham Agency

I watched the entire Vanderbilt vs University of South Carolina football game this past Thursday and was impressed with the way that Vandy beat (upset) the Gamecocks.  The next day in the local media, it was all about how Carolina had given the game to Vanderbilt.  I felt the need to e-mail my friend, Ken Burger, who is the Sports Editor for The Post and Courier newspaper in Charleston, SC.  He knows that coach Bobby Johnson of Vanderbilt and I are good friends.  This is what I sent him.

Hi Ken,

I just moved back to Charleston from Columbia (home of Gamecock Mania) and man is it great to be back.  I hope everything is well for you and the news is always good about your health.
I just wanted to express my disappointment in SC press coverage of the SC vs Vanderbilt games for the past two years.  As you know,Bobby Johnson is a good friend, so naturally I’m probably over sensitive to the coverage, but it would be nice to see and read some recognition of accomplishment by Bobby and the Vandi team. All the reporting and the headlines talk about is how the Gamecocks lost the game. Could it be that Vanderbilt just outplayed the Gamecocks and South Carolina, with their abundance of talented players, were just out coached. Shouldn’t the coverage just simply state that Vanderbilt beat and upset nationally ranked SC?
I understand the past record and “Doormat of the SEC” label for Vandi.  Bobby is in his 7th season and I’ve watched a slow but certain turn around in the program. It’s amazing what he and his loyal staff have done.  I think he has now earned  and deserves more respect from the media.  Real followers of SEC football know, but the general public should be made aware also.
I just wanted to vent.  Let’s play golf.

Not a real person
San Diego, CA

I don't think I've ever seen an upset in any sport. Rather, the favored player/team always seems to give the game away. How sad that we raise our children like this, to give the game away. :( LOL

Sep 06, 2008 03:46 AM
Charlie Harden
Columbia, SC

Leo, we watched the game at our house, and the Commodores looked like a determined team to us.  With wins two years in a row against South Carolina, they must have figured something out.  A quote from Steve Spurrier in The State, "They just beat us."

Please include me in that golf game with Ken Burger!  I've had the Charleston Post and Courier sports page book-marked for years on my computer and always enjoy his columns.

Have a great week, and Go Tigers!  (I hope NCSU plays like they did against South Carolina two weeks ago against us this week!)

Sep 08, 2008 01:31 AM