Over the next month, The Vanderbilt Hustler will run "Who's Now?," a series in which fans and InsideVandy.com users will determine precisely that - which Commodore athlete is most now? It's a 32-athlete, single-elimination tournament in the same format as March Madness.
Defining "now" is kind of tricky, so we've come up with a list of criteria that should make it easier to decide who you believe is Vanderbilt's biggest star. For starters, you have to consider both on-field success and off-field buzz. Then, you have to take a look at the athletes' individual accolades, team success, national exposure, fan appeal and, of course, their "it" factor.
The tournament will ontinue until the Feb. 8 championship round and the winner will be revealed on the front page of the Feb. 11 edition of The Vanderbilt Hustler. Who's it going to be?
DERRICK BYARS REGIONAL: !
See analysis of the matchups here.
1. Shan Foster, Senior, Basketball
8. Josie Earnest, Sophomore, Bowling
4. Mikie Minor, Sophomore, Baseball
5. Chris Williams, Senior, Football
2. Ryan Flaherty, Junior, Baseball
7. Rita Jorgensen, Freshman, Cross country
3. Mackenzi Adams, Junior, Football
6. Jen Risper, Junior, Basketball
JAY CUTLER REGIONAL
1. Earl Bennett, Junior, Football
8. Leigh-Ann Axt, Freshman, Swimming
4. Ross Neltner, Senior, Basketball
5. Sarah Dennis, Senior, Soccer
2. A.J. Ogilvy, Freshman, Basketball
7. Margie Curran, Senior, Lacrosse
3. Jacqui Concolino, Junior, Golf
6. Ryan Preston, Senior, Tennis
DAVID PRICE REGIONAL
1. Pedro Alvarez, Junior, Baseball
8. Jon Curran, Junior, Golf
4. Mr. C, Traditional Mascot
5. Big C, Inflatable Mascot
2. Alex Gordon, Senior, Basketball
7. Vijay Paul, Sophomore, Tennis
3. D.J. Moore, Sophomore, Football
6. Katie Schulz, Junior, Soccer
DEE DAVIS REGIONAL
1. Liz Sherwood, Senior, Basketball
8. Austin Williamson, Junior, Cross country
4. Dominic de la Osa, Senior, Baseball
5. Christina Wirth, Junior, Basketball
2. Jonathan Goff, Senior, Football
7. Karen Grygiel, Junior, Bowling
3. Jermaine Beal, Sophomore, Basketball
6. Catherine Newman, Sophomore, Tennis
VOTING SCHEDULE
First Round
1/11: Derrick Byars Regional
1/14: Jay Cutler Regional
1/16: David Price Regional
1/18: Dee Davis Regional
Second Round
1/21: Byars Regional
1/23: Cutler Regional
1/25: Price Regional
1/28: Davis Regional
Quarterfinals
1/30: Byars and Cutler Regionals
2/1: Price and Davis Regionals
Semifinals
2/4: Byars Winner vs. Davis Winner
2/6: Cutler Winner vs. Price Winner Finals
2/8: Byars/Davis Winner vs. Cutler/Price Winner
Reveal Champion
2/11
Make sure to consider the following criteria when casting your vote:
- Individual accolades
How big is your trophy room? Have you broken any school records, earned All-SEC honors or taken home any big-time awards?
- Team success
You may be talented, but remember the name on the front of the
jersey is more important than the one on the back. Have you led your
team to the Big Dance or won an SEC title?
- National exposure
You may be a hero in Nashville, but do people around the country even know you exist? Have you earned All-American
status or appeared on Mel Kiper's Draft Board?
- Fan appeal
You may be big-time, but when you walk around campus, can fans even
recognize you? Do they wear your jersey, cheer for you at games and
friend (maybe even poke) you on Facebook?
- "It" factor
It's hard to quantify, but do you have the intangibles every star needs?
