I have written some of this elsewhere, but have added to my earlier comments after doing a little research a few minutes ago. I started a new discussion so the previous comments and the new information would not fall between the cracks.
When one is going to try to analyze a business case, for example, and begin to solve the problems in the case, the causes of the problems need to be understood. I think that Vanderbilt fans and Administration should be aware of what happened in the past that has directly influenced the trajectory of Vanderbilt athletics. Apparently one chancellor's opinion that was apparently agreed with by the majority of the decision makers had an important part to play in getting us into this fix. It appears if one reads the document that some of the VU approach was designed to promote racial integration and discourage less than stellar academic performance. I personally can resonate with the integration motives. I think I'll have to disagree with the concept that athletics necessarily damages the academics of an institution like Vanderbilt. You may want to take a deeper dive into this era during Harvie Branscomb's administration.
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(earlier post)
This is almost as old as I am (the attitudes of some Vanderbilt thought leaders re: athletics). I found a document several years ago on the Internet from 1951. Our chancellor, Harvie Branscomb, was trying to get the SEC presidents at the other schools to de-emphasize football. We were very competitive in the conference in those days. We know what eventually happened. VU went ahead and self-righteously disarmed. The rest of the SEC continued and even accelerated their arms race. Sad really. I was contemplating possibly adding what for me would be more serious donations at some point. I now don’t want to feed this losing mentality. VU could have excellence in athletics and academics at the same time. Why won’t these guys wake up?!
(addendum)
Here is one of the places you can find evidence of the above comments:
Despite the growing popularity of college sport spectatorship, Vanderbilt Chancellor Harvie Branscomb disliked the cultural obsession with student-athletes because of its negative effect on students’ scholarship.21 Consequently, he attempted to minimize the dominant football culture on campus through a 1951 six-part de-escalation plan that entailed fewer scholarships, restrictions on light course-loads for athletes, and rules against heavy outside funding for football.22 This plan also had the effect of reducing sports spectatorship and extensive public awareness of the university more broadly, allowing for the hushed admittance of African American graduate students in the early 1950s.
https://historicalreview.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/3.pdf (page 60)
When one is going to try to analyze a business case, for example, and begin to solve the problems in the case, the causes of the problems need to be understood. I think that Vanderbilt fans and Administration should be aware of what happened in the past that has directly influenced the trajectory of Vanderbilt athletics. Apparently one chancellor's opinion that was apparently agreed with by the majority of the decision makers had an important part to play in getting us into this fix. It appears if one reads the document that some of the VU approach was designed to promote racial integration and discourage less than stellar academic performance. I personally can resonate with the integration motives. I think I'll have to disagree with the concept that athletics necessarily damages the academics of an institution like Vanderbilt. You may want to take a deeper dive into this era during Harvie Branscomb's administration.
======================================================================================
(earlier post)
This is almost as old as I am (the attitudes of some Vanderbilt thought leaders re: athletics). I found a document several years ago on the Internet from 1951. Our chancellor, Harvie Branscomb, was trying to get the SEC presidents at the other schools to de-emphasize football. We were very competitive in the conference in those days. We know what eventually happened. VU went ahead and self-righteously disarmed. The rest of the SEC continued and even accelerated their arms race. Sad really. I was contemplating possibly adding what for me would be more serious donations at some point. I now don’t want to feed this losing mentality. VU could have excellence in athletics and academics at the same time. Why won’t these guys wake up?!
(addendum)
Here is one of the places you can find evidence of the above comments:
Despite the growing popularity of college sport spectatorship, Vanderbilt Chancellor Harvie Branscomb disliked the cultural obsession with student-athletes because of its negative effect on students’ scholarship.21 Consequently, he attempted to minimize the dominant football culture on campus through a 1951 six-part de-escalation plan that entailed fewer scholarships, restrictions on light course-loads for athletes, and rules against heavy outside funding for football.22 This plan also had the effect of reducing sports spectatorship and extensive public awareness of the university more broadly, allowing for the hushed admittance of African American graduate students in the early 1950s.
https://historicalreview.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/3.pdf (page 60)
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