OT: Video of Vandy walk-on FB being told he got full scholarship
Someone better than I will quickly embed, I'd imagine.
Incredible video of Vandy watching film together and the coach pointing out FB Marc Panu's exploits, only to then tell the 3rd year walk-on he would be getting a full scholarship this year:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/jpmoore/college-football-walk-on-is-surprised-w…
August 14th, 2012 at 10:02 AM ^
August 14th, 2012 at 10:45 AM ^
Same. That was incredible.
August 14th, 2012 at 10:03 AM ^
Here's the embed:
August 14th, 2012 at 10:04 AM ^
Thanks Moleskyn.
August 14th, 2012 at 10:05 AM ^
Franklin is such a good dude. And a damn good football coach.
August 14th, 2012 at 10:07 AM ^
Couldn't agree more. Since Vandy is my second alma mater, I am glad they got him. Of course, I expect him to wind up in a bigger job someday.
August 14th, 2012 at 10:05 PM ^
...that Franklin gets overlooked at Maryland? He's doing a great job at Vandy. If he passes on the inevitable "big time" offers and hangs around Nashville there is a good chance Vandy can be the the southern version of Stanford. I would LOVE to see the day Franklin beats up on Saban or Miles.
August 14th, 2012 at 10:08 AM ^
Best recruiting video ever. Great stuff. I can see why they're starting to snag some top level skill...great coach and great academics in the SEC? Unreal.
August 14th, 2012 at 10:23 AM ^
August 14th, 2012 at 10:28 AM ^
August 14th, 2012 at 10:43 AM ^
August 14th, 2012 at 10:33 AM ^
August 14th, 2012 at 10:34 AM ^
August 14th, 2012 at 10:36 AM ^
August 14th, 2012 at 10:41 AM ^
August 14th, 2012 at 10:47 AM ^
Pure awesomeness.
August 14th, 2012 at 11:07 AM ^
Just another reason why Vandy is my favorite SEC school.
August 14th, 2012 at 11:21 AM ^
That just gave me the chills. Hard work paying off right there, great for the guy.
August 14th, 2012 at 11:22 AM ^
August 14th, 2012 at 11:36 AM ^
SEC schools can be awfully hard to support, but this is just awesome. Congratulations to him, and great of Vandy to do something like this. He will never forget it. I'll be keeping a closer eye on Vandy this season.
August 14th, 2012 at 11:49 AM ^
August 14th, 2012 at 11:58 AM ^
August 14th, 2012 at 12:09 PM ^
That's a great reward for that kid and to see the reaction of the team was awesome. Also, given the cost of Vanderbilt (about $60k), its no small financial benefit.
Clearly, Franklin is doing a great job down there.
My wife went to Vandy so we've been there a couple of times for games and it's easy to see that it's difficult to win there. It's very much like Northwestern-- their academic standards are very high, their stadium is way behind the other SEC palaces and fan support isn't great (always a ton of opposing fans-- like when Michigan plays NU in Evanston). Its tougher for Vandy, in that their conference opponents have much much lower academic standards than the Big 10.
Franklin made them competitive last season and has dramatically improved their recruiting. Also, the administration seems more committed to putting the resources needed for them to be competitive in the SEC. If Franklin stays there, it's not difficult to see them getting to where Northwestern is right now-- with the potential to get to the Stanford level if they can become the preferred location for serious student athletes from the south.
Also, not following Maryland football closely, is there a tremendous amount of schadenfreude among their fans for going with Randy Edsell over Franklin?
August 14th, 2012 at 12:25 PM ^
He only wants assistants with ot wives and walk-ons that want to earn a scholarship.
August 14th, 2012 at 12:26 PM ^
August 14th, 2012 at 1:08 PM ^
I love that they Vandy star is on the side of the milk jugs each player has too. Milk and cookies for film review? Mike Barwis approves.
August 14th, 2012 at 1:29 PM ^
So happy for the kid. This is one of the reasons I don't like the scholarship limit set to 85.
Big time programs and ones with wealthy alums like Vandy should be able to give out as many as they would like. If the NCAA wants to cap it, cap it at like 110 or 120. All the limit does is decrease the amount of opportunities that are available for student athletes. If schools want to participate in the BCS the minimun should be 85 but they can have as many as 110 or 120 IF the program can afford it.
August 14th, 2012 at 3:58 PM ^
But, but, but that would destroy the competitive balance. We need to retain caps and not give players cost of living stipdends (depsite the millions they earn the school) so the Indiana States of the world can be competitive with us.
I keep hoping we get Indiana State and those schools that blocked the stipdend thing on out of conference schedule. Then we whip their ass to the tune of triple digits on national TV and see what they have to say about balance then.
August 14th, 2012 at 5:59 PM ^
The old limit used to be much higher, schools like OSU, Michigan, Oklahoma,...etc. stockpiled good kids. Teams would have talent backed up by more talent. The small schools never stood much chance. I don't mind the limits as is.
August 14th, 2012 at 1:49 PM ^
i hope every high profile recruit watches this video and sees what hard work really means! good for him!
August 14th, 2012 at 1:53 PM ^
If only things like this happened more often - I loved how he broached the scholarship with showing highlights of how Panu was a solid contributor and enjoyed being where he was as well. An extremely classy move by James Franklin and Vanderbilt, and what a wonderful surprise for Marc Panu, I am sure.
August 14th, 2012 at 1:59 PM ^
Thanks for the post -- congratulations to Panu and the Vandy program for a nice story.
August 14th, 2012 at 2:08 PM ^
Amazing stuff. Good for him. Shows the value of working hard and contributing even if you are not a "star."
August 14th, 2012 at 2:51 PM ^
Very cool and very moving. Here's hoping that James Franklin continues to build that program.
With the right coach and enough time, I think Vandy has the potential to be very solid.
August 14th, 2012 at 4:17 PM ^
Saw this a few days ago and as a Vandy alum was thinking about posting, but thought I would catch too much heat for it. Glad Vandy is getting the appreciation I have seen thus far on the Board. Go Dores.
August 14th, 2012 at 4:21 PM ^
what a great way to inform him. very inspiring.
August 14th, 2012 at 7:28 PM ^
How much milk are those dudes drinking? Holy cow.
August 14th, 2012 at 8:13 PM ^
...what tears?