AROUND CAMPUS: August 18, 2008

With less than two weeks before the football season opener against Miami in Oxford, Ohio, the Vanderbilt campus is waking up. Over the weekend, freshmen moved into their dorms, the football team hosted Dore Jam, and the Phase 1 improvements to the football stadium approached completion.

Saturday was "Move In" day for all Vanderbilt freshmen. Move In Day was special this year before it marked the official opening of "The Commons", a residential college on the Peabody campus. The Commons includes 10 all-freshman dorms, each with a Vanderbilt faculty member in residence in the dorm.

Although the move to the Commons was a major change for Move In Day, one thing that didn't change was the "Move Crew", a volunteer group of hundreds of students, helping the freshmen and their families unpack the cars and move into the dorms.




Vanderbilt Head Baseball Coach Tim Corbin stopped by the Commons on Saturday morning to greet the freshmen on the baseball team. Left to right: Coach Corbin, RHP Navery Moore (Nashville, TN), Assistant Coach Erik Bakick, LHP Corey Williams (Huntsville, AL), 3B/SS Jason Esposito (Bethany, CT), and Assistant Coach Derek Johnson. (Click photo to view a larger image.)




Meanwhile, on the opposite side of campus, there was evidence of the continued work on upgrades to the athletics facilities. The baseball scoreboard is now in its new location over the left field wall.




The Vanderbilt name and logo have been added to the press tower on the West End side of Vanderbilt Stadium.




As the Phase 1 improvements to the stadium approach completion, some of the chain link fencing has been removed, allowing a better view of the exterior faade along Jess Neely Drive.




One of the lastest additions is black iron fencing between the columns of the faade. The back of the new Vanderbilt Bookstore permanent booth can be seen to the right of this photo.




Another decorative addition are stylized sails on both sides of the tunnel entrance.




Here's a closer look at the sails atop the faade.




On Sunday, the gates to the football practice field were open for the team's annual Dore Jam.




The pleasant weather brought many fans to the event. Head Coach Bobby Johnson greeted fans, signed autographs and posed for photos.




Dore Jam is a great opportunity for fans to get "up close and personal" with their favorite players. In this photo, redshirt senior wide receiver George Smith poses with fans.




Sophomore cornerback Myron Lewis with fans


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Photos copyright 2008 by Whitney D. for VandyMania.com