Commodore Banter (8/25)

It's the first day of class here at Vanderbilt and the football season starts in three days. It doesn't get much better than that.

I'll be on hand for the Commodores' first weekly press conference today at noon and will have plenty of interviews up for you guys later on this afternoon so make sure to check back throughout the day.

In the meantime, here's a few links on this glorious, albeit rainy, Monday morning...

Bobby Johnson isn't going to name a starter at quarterback before the season opener Thursday at Miami of Ohio, but Mo Patton of The Tennessean wonders if that's a good thing.

The article raises a number of compelling points:

1) Competition in practice could take away from the preparation process for whoever is eventually named the starter.

"Getting (the starter) ready, he needs about 85 or 90 percent of the reps," said former VU quarterback Kurt Page. "You really need to get those reps in practice — get your pre-snap reads, your checks, your audibles. The best players get better by doing it over and over. By splitting the reps, neither one of them are ready. they're both half-ready."

2) The starter might not be as confident, constantly looking over his shoulder, wondering whether he'll be pulled after making a mistake.

At the same time, Johnson wants to be sure that his decision is the correct one.

"I just want to make sure we pick the right one," Johnson said. "They're working awfully hard right now. They all want to win it. That's what you want in practice. You want them working hard, trying to make the plays they're supposed to make in practice — not saying, 'I'll make that one in the game.' "

Also, Brett Hait of The Nashville City Paper poses the question we all want to ask: Can Johnson push the Commodores over the proverbial “hump?”

One stat that really jumped out at me: "From the final two games of 1995 to 2005, the Commodores won only six of 73 SEC games." Think about that for a second, and then try to diminish the job Johnson has done with this program.

“I know how this close this team is," said former VU safety Corey Chavous. "I just want them to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Everything is in place for them to do it now. They will get over the hump, and that’s how we have to think.”

Also, from Sunday's paper, Patton has Vanderbilt's game-by-game outlook.

Finally, props to the women's soccer team for edging Belmont 1-0 in double OT.

I'm off to McGugin for the press conference, but be sure to check back this afternoon for all the press conference highlights.