Vanderbilt Would Rather Run from Ponies Than Play

Questions numerous over SMU probably finding out when SEC schedule released

DALLAS — Apparently things have gotten so desperate for wins over Vanderbilt the Commodores are simply running away from SMU. They also didn't bother with the usual courtesy of at least sending a text message to negotiate in advance from everything that's been pieced together today.

The Commodores' schedule release Wednesday night didn't list the Mustangs' game, scheduled for Sept. 14 in Nashville next year. Apparently, that was a surprise to SMU athletics director Rick Hart and everybody else from the way a statement e-mailed Thursday read.

"Yesterday evening, Vanderbilt formally notified us that they were cancelling our football series," Hart said in a statement. "We were looking forward to traveling to Nashville this fall and are disappointed for our team and our fans that these games will no longer take place as scheduled. We are exploring options for the 2024 season and hope to announce an opponent soon."

Translating that, it's about as close as a professional administrator gets to being downright ticked-off about something. Whether Vanderbilt e-mailed or even texted any sort of heads-up to SMU in advance, it's a classless move. For a program that once prided itself on professionalism, it actually looks like a desperation move to avoid playing the Mustangs.

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Instead of a home game against the Mustangs, the Commodores are taking a road trip to Georgia State. There's your indicator of desperation. Vandy gave up a home game for a short road trip against a lower-level team. If that's not a team just looking for a win, I'm not really sure what is.

Apparently, in a conversation with allPonies.com editor Kent Smith, Vanderbilt assistant athletics director Brian Fremund seemed caught off guard at the call and perturbed at being asked about the situation.

"No," he told Smith when asked if there was an official statement or comment. He then said football does it's own non-conference part of the schedule so nothing had been communicated to him. Then, when asked if there was anyone else who might have a comment, statement or at least an explanation for the change, the answer, again, was a curt, "No."

Now SMU has a problem finding an opponent with short notice. There's also the matter of the payout the Mustangs would have received. Houston and Rice have open dates, which would be a convenient way to plug the game, but might involve a road trip down I-45. Those two play each other on the Sept. 14 date, but both have open dates the next weekend and could just move the dates, but one of them would still have the option of finding somebody to play.

Outside of genuine fear, there just doesn't seem to be any sense to the Commodores cancelling a game this late in the process. Apparently, it was convenient for everybody involved unless Vanderbilt's entire athletic department is so confused now it's scheduling multiple football games on the same date. After all, there was a lot of last minute movement in Vandy's schedule. 

In that event, they would be covering ineptness with a lack of class. SEC schools don't operate that way.

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