Vandy's Track Coach

"It is time to take our track program in a different direction," Williams said. "We will begin that process immediately, with the intent of building a program that can compete more successfully at the SEC and national level."

the vandy officials are living in a dream world. What sports do they have that compete successfully in the SEC? While Vandy's track program will always struggle in the SEC, their cc program should/could be very good. But if the folks at Vandy really think they can match stuff with Tennessee/Arkansas/LSU, etc. they are living the dream.

Umm . . . basketball and baseball ring any bells?

dream world wrote:

the vandy officials are living in a dream world. What sports do they have that compete successfully in the SEC? While Vandy's track program will always struggle in the SEC, their cc program should/could be very good. But if the folks at Vandy really think they can match stuff with Tennessee/Arkansas/LSU, etc. they are living the dream.

So what is likely to happen there? Are they likely to promote the new cross country coach to head cross country and track coach? Isn't their distance program totally independent from the track program right now? Strange situation.

dream world wrote:

the vandy officials are living in a dream world. What sports do they have that compete successfully in the SEC? While Vandy's track program will always struggle in the SEC, their cc program should/could be very good. But if the folks at Vandy really think they can match stuff with Tennessee/Arkansas/LSU, etc. they are living the dream.

Actually, baseball and basketball (men and women) come to mind.

Remember that they only have women's track, which might be a little easier to become competitive in. But strong support of any sport that doesn't end in "ball" is not exactly a Vanderbilt tradition. They'd rather pour money into football than any of the Olympic sports. Speaking as an alum, that is. Maybe this time they really mean to change.

It will be interesting to see where/how the newest coach, Keith, fits into this.

I've been coaching Vandy for the marathon. He's running Grandma's. Not sure who his track coach is.

idealist wrote:

It will be interesting to see where/how the newest coach, Keith, fits into this.

Keith will either remain the Cross Country and Distance coach or will be promoted to Head Coach of the whole thing. He hasn't done a bad job, so they aren't getting rid of him. The question is whether they feel he can lead the whole program or not. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

idealist wrote:

But strong support of any sport that doesn't end in "ball" is not exactly a Vanderbilt tradition.

Their womens bowling team won the national championship this year.

Okay, so you named two sports (out of all they offer) that has been competitive. But how often. Do the administrators at Vandy really believe that Vandy can do well against

Tennessee

LSU

Arkansas

Georgia

Florida

Auburn

Alabama

That leaves Kentucky, Mississippi, Miss State to fight it out with.

There are not many cheap points in the SEC and where will Vandy ever come up with them.

Incredible admissions standards, high pressure once you are there, and not a lot of support. Unless the coach was doing something wrong the folks at Vandy should have a drug test for being on something.

So Vandy won something in Bowling. Great. Maybe they should focus on being a Bowling power in the SEC. Oh thats right. No one else in the SEC care about bowling.

Sad situation for the coaches at Vandy.

Stanford, Notre Dame, Duke, and the Ivys (as well as many others) all maintain high standards and manage to be athletically sucessful as well.

lets get real wrote:

Okay, so you named two sports (out of all they offer) that has been competitive. But how often. Do the administrators at Vandy really believe that Vandy can do well against

Tennessee

LSU

Arkansas

Georgia

Florida

Auburn

Alabama

That leaves Kentucky, Mississippi, Miss State to fight it out with.

There are not many cheap points in the SEC and where will Vandy ever come up with them.

Incredible admissions standards, high pressure once you are there, and not a lot of support. Unless the coach was doing something wrong the folks at Vandy should have a drug test for being on something.

So Vandy won something in Bowling. Great. Maybe they should focus on being a Bowling power in the SEC. Oh thats right. No one else in the SEC care about bowling.

Sad situation for the coaches at Vandy.

dream world wrote:

the vandy officials are living in a dream world. What sports do they have that compete successfully in the SEC? While Vandy's track program will always struggle in the SEC, their cc program should/could be very good. But if the folks at Vandy really think they can match stuff with Tennessee/Arkansas/LSU, etc. they are living the dream.

Do you honestly think that's the real reason? Track coaches don't get fired for losing, but it is a convenient excuse to tell the general public that no one will question.

I don't have any inside info, but my guess is that there's more to this than just an unsuccessful program.

Jim Spivey did well. My daughter looked at Vandy because of him, did not go because of Shepherd. Great school.

outside 2 wrote:

Jim Spivey did well. My daughter looked at Vandy because of him, did not go because of Shepherd. Great school.

I have nothing against Spivey, but I don't think he did that well at Vanderbilt.

what happens to steve keith?

dream world wrote:

the vandy officials are living in a dream world. What sports do they have that compete successfully in the SEC? While Vandy's track program will always struggle in the SEC, their cc program should/could be very good. But if the folks at Vandy really think they can match stuff with Tennessee/Arkansas/LSU, etc. they are living the dream.

hahaha! their baseball team is ranked no. 1 in the country and just secured the SEC regular season championship...their basketball team just made the Sweet 16 (and shouldve gone further, but officials blew the traveling call)...their tennis team won the SEC tournament a few years ago...their women's XC program has always been pretty strong (i know they had a girl win the SEC 5k in 2004)...hell, even their football team was a play or two away from going to a Bowl in 2005 -- taking Florida to double overtime at the Swamp -- and producing Jay Cutler who went what like 10th in the NFL draft....Brandt Snedeker is probably the best young golfer (2004 vanderbilt grad) and recently got 3rd at the buick invitational, a couple strokes behind tiger woods...this is all in the toughest conference in the country, at a school with some of the toughest admissions standards around....what more do you want? i think it's you who's in the dream world...or just dont know what the hell youre talking about

yea but Vandy is in the SEC. Academics are on the back burner at all schools except Vandy and Miss. State.

T.C wrote:

and Miss. State.

huh?

yes Mississippi State. Check their athletic graduation rate along with their athletic retention numbers... this all fact!

TC - with all due respect - Mississippi State may be one of the worst large public universities in the country. It likely edges out LSU in the SEC in that category (although not by much). Now, can one really work hard and get a decent education at MSU? Yes. But it is light years away from Vandy - the admissions standards alone bear no resemblance to each other.