Wearing out your welcome

Let's rattle off a list of impressive things Bobby Johnson did while coaching at Vanderbilt:

In 2006, he won at Georgia (and came darn close to beating the Bulldogs again the next year in Nashville).

In 2007, his team went to Columbia and smacked a South Carolina team that was ranked No. 6 nationally.

In 2008, the Commodores started the season 5-0 with wins over South Carolina (again), Auburn and Mississippi. They later went on the road to defeat Kentucky and secure bowl eligibility. They closed the season in glorious fashion with a win over Boston College in their hometown Music City Bowl.

Last season was a 2-10 downer, and Johnson's SEC record at Vanderbilt was 12-52.

But it's not about records at a place like Vanderbilt. When you're in the ring against heavyweights and fighting with one hand tied behind your back, it's about how many magic moments of formidability you can cobble together. It's about putting something together that people can no longer laugh at.

Bobby Johnson, a Clemson guy, did those things in Nashville. And that's why it's disheartening to learn that his departure might've been a preemptive move against a firing that might've come after another bad season.

This column, by longtime Nashville columnist Joe Biddle, seems to tell the truth behind yesterday's shocking news.

Vanderbilt football claimed another victim Wednesday.

It matters little if Bobby Johnson called it quits on his terms, as was portrayed across the board at his news conference, or if he was nudged by others.

When the changes Johnson made to his offensive staff after last season turned out to be cosmetic, it chapped some of the program's most prominent donors. If Johnson suffered a similar season this year, it could have led to a coaching change. No one at Vanderbilt will ever admit this publicly. It doesn't matter now because Bobby Johnson took them off the hook by retiring.

I'm not certain this side of it is true. But I'm a heck of a lot more inclined to believe this version over the version that says he simply felt the retirement itch.

In mid-July? Seriously?

My first reaction upon hearing this news late yesterday morning was that either a) Johnson has health problems (God forbid), or b) he's in a spat with his administration.

You just don't hear of coaches leaving two weeks before the start of August camp. Something had to have happened, and Biddle's column supports that view.

Bobby Johnson lost 27 games by a touchdown or less at Vanderbilt. At some places -- say, Clemson -- such a trend is something to be regretted. At Vanderbilt, it's an accomplishment.

Amazing. Never thought I'd see the headline: "Vandy eats its own."

Best of luck to Johnson in his retirement.

Interesting sidebar to his departure:

Robbie Caldwell is the interim guy, and over the past few years a lot of folks have wondered why he never took an OL job elsewhere.

Did some asking around after the 2008 season and heard from some plugged-in folks who claimed Caldwell had a quiet coach-in-waiting agreement at Vandy.

Not certain it was true, but it does provide an interesting twist in light of yesterday's bombshell.

So the upcoming SEC and ACC media days are designed to give the media an opportunity to preview the upcoming football season.

Now the events -- at least the SEC's event -- is such a circus that media outlets are previewing the event itself.

Spent five years covering the SEC for The Augusta Chronicle and thus went to the SEC deal every summer. It was a circus then, but it's a circus on steroids now. So glad I don't have to go back.

Doc Saturday's ACC Week continues with today's look at Maryland.

I have a feeling the Terps show substantial improvement this season and finish around .500.

Doc doesn't have that same feeling.

Unless junior Jamarr Robinson or one of the younger quarterbacks on the depth chart is a revelation, there's nothing in this lineup that suggests a turnaround for the moribund offense. And the outlook for the defense – dead last in the ACC last year in scoring D and next-to-last in yards allowed – is even bleaker still.

Auburn beat writer Jay Tate gives us a look at Auburn's new basketball arena. Pretty darn nice, if you ask me.

Ron Green Jr. reflects on yesterday's frigid conditions in St. Andrews.

There's something depressing in the revelation that Starbucks has permeated even that old-world town.

And Maureen Dowd has a must-read column on George Steinbrenner.

Sussman conveyed Seinfeld’s apology and told Steinbrenner that “this is an innocuous script that doesn’t involve you.” He explained that Danny and Buck were appearing on the show.

The owner retorted, “I’ll be the judge of that. Let me see the script.”

Noticing the sign-off on the cover letter, Steinbrenner, sensitive even to imagined breaches of loyalty, needled his lawyer: “Oh, I can see you and Jerry are becoming close friends.”

After reading less than a page, Steinbrenner angrily threw down the script. “I thought you said this doesn’t involve me?” he bellowed.

Sussman tried over and over to reassure him that this script contained no cameo for the owner.

“Then,” Steinbrenner demanded, “what are all of these references to ‘George’ in the script?”


LW

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