Commodore Banter (9/2)

Can't believe we're just two days away from Vanderbilt's home opener and Erin Andrews' arrival in Nashville...

First, congrats to Chris Nickson, who was just named SEC Offensive Player of the Week.

Two lessons we learned about the Dores after week one: A winning record is not an impossible dream. And too bad, they're not in the ACC. Mike Lopresti of The USA Today writes that Vanderbilt does SEC proud on, off field.

As we discussed here in yesterday's football notebook, VU coach Bobby Johnson has no problem with quarterback Chris Nickson carrying the ball as often as he did against Miami (OH), writes Brett Hait of The Nashville City Paper.

“Whatever wins,” Nickson said. “I’m a very effective runner and feel like I can make big plays with my running ability. If in any way the game plan sees fit that I run 30 times, I’m down for it as long as we’re winning.”

"I'm very comfortable with running the ball if I have to — whatever the game presents," Nickson told The Tennessean's Mo Patton. "All in all, I just want to win. If I have to take 40 hits, I'm OK with that."

In another piece, Hait notes that Johnson is concerned about his team's lack of depth at wide receiver. As he points out, "redshirt freshmen Jamie Graham and Udom Umoh will be asked to grow up quickly."

As for South Carolina, Steve Spurrier announced that quarterback Chris Smelley will start on Thursday after Tommy Beecher got the nod in the opener.

“He played well, and he deserves to start probably if Tommy wasn’t injured. But Tommy is injured, so we don’t have to worry about this, that or the other,” Spurrier said. “So it appears Chris is going to be our starter right now unless something happens between now and Thursday night.”

Vanderbilt fans would love the hard-hitting but soft-spoken safety Emanuel Cook from South Carolina.

Finally, make sure to check out ESPN tonight at 6 p.m. as former VU pitcher David Price will appear on the program "E:60."