For those of you who aren’t avid college football fans, let me clue you in on the biggest news to hit our campus in a while: Head Coach James Franklin left Vanderbilt. To coach at Penn State. Ouch.
Our beloved bald-headed coach, who led us to 9 consecutive wins this season and to an exciting victory at the BBVA Compass Bowl, bid adieu to the South and embraced his new position in the frigid area known as University Park in State College, Pennsylvania. Coach Franklin will be sorely missed, as he helped Vanderbilt appear to be a legitimate SEC school. Although Vanderbilt may be known as the most prestigious academic school in the Southeastern Conference, we are also unfortunately known as one of the least athletic schools in the conference. Coach Franklin changed that reputation- at least in regards to football.
Well, what does his departure mean for the average Vanderbilt student? Probably nothing, as most students choose not to attend the games. However, for those of us who do care about our school’s football team, Coach Franklin’s exit likely means less exciting games and less frequent victories. Don’t worry though; the tailgating will still be just as prominent, just as fun, and just as great of an excuse for not attending the football games. So don’t throw your cowboy boots away just yet, because although we may have a new coach for this football season, we certainly don’t need a new way to tailgate.