I know the UK-Vandy game was this past weekend, but you can stow this stuff away as ammo for when UK travels to Nashville to take on the ‘Dores February 17.

Vandy catches a lot of flak from around the SEC for being a nerdy school.  Being a Vandy grad, I have always defended Vandy against these charges.  You can call it a preppy school all you want, because, to a large degree, it is.  You can call it a rich kid school, because, to a large degree, it is.  You can call it a fratty school, because, to a large degree, it is.  However, I will always describe Vandy as a school where kids are looking to have fun, just like any other school, it’s just that the kids are a little smarter on average.

Former Vanderbilt Chancellor/current huge nerd, Gordon Gee

Fight as I may for Vandy’s reputation as a non-nerdy school, Vandy basketball sure is not helping the cause with their “Memorial Madness 2009″, a promotion for Vandy’s upcoming SEC opener against Georgia.  I still get emails from Vandy Athletics about upcoming games and promotions, and today I received this email:

vandyathletics: Announcements for Vanderbilt Varsity Sports

From: vandyathletics@list.vanderbilt.edu
Memorial Madness 2009

VSG and Vandy Fanatics’ signature basketball extravaganza kicking off the SEC basketball season featuring Buster Olney and Will Perdue!

500 retro AJ Ogilvy jerseys!
Half court shot for a new Jeep Wrangler!
Free textbooks for craziest dressed Vandy fan!

Wednesday, January 14
Memorial Gym
Doors Open 4:15
Event Starts 5:00

Show up early and wear your black & gold!

I have no words for this photo other than "wow"

REALLY?!?!  Will Perdue and Buster Olney, that’s the best you could come up with?  I realize Vandy does not have the richest athletic tradition, but surely you can do better than that.  Will Perdue is probably the nerdiest player to ever lace ‘em up in the NBA and I swear I’ve seen Buster Olney wear a pocket protector on Baseball Tonight.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud to have these two guys as Vandy alums, but give Jay Cutler a call for Christ’s sake.  We all know he’s hanging out in Nashville and doesn’t have anything else going on. 

How about David Price instead of Buster Olney?  Price was just one of the stories of the MLB postseason, closed out game 7 of the ALCS, and is the top pitching prospect in baseball.

Finally, what about that giveaway.  The half court shot for a Jeep is cool enough, but free textbooks for the craziest dressed fan is the second best prize you got?  Apparently they think that’s the best way to get a Vandy student to really let loose and dress crazy.

These kind of things make me realize why the rest of the SEC gives Vandy so much crap.