The Vanderbilt Vendidad

I get the occasional email or tweet asking me where I’ve gone. But I have received zero (0) tweets or emails inquiring as to how a fan might donate money to the Vendidad.

Entitlement.

I thought I would ramble a few thoughts off regarding tonight’s sung hero, John Jenkins (unsung: Steve Tchiengang, for being able to draw fouls and hang onto rebounds).

Jenkins was unquestionably the most highly anticipated recruit in Vanderbilt history, the bonus check on last year’s “experience” salary. Jenkins hasn’t matched his High School numbers (40+ points/game), but that’s been a good thing.

Vanderbilt has never been a “stop by on your way to the NBA school,” and I would never want us to be. Let’s consider our neighbors to the North, an admittedly good basketball team with an oft-overlooked university attached.

Jenkins has proven himself a team-player with star potential, and not the other way around, and while he could explode into the NBA any season, I look forward to having him here at least another year.

But here’s the awesome thing about John Jenkins:

The guy is as big of a Vanderbilt fan as me.

When Vanderbilt was rallying against Georgia, Jenkins looked too amped-up to focus on the game. He always takes more time to greet the rest of the students after the game. He goes insane when things are going well, and while this could be said of almost any college player, there’s a very visible insanity behind his eyes.

It’s not a celebration of “Hooray, our hard work and team bonding is paying off!”

It’s a celebration of “COME, YE COSMOS! COME AND TRY TO CRUSH WHAT WE HAVE BUILT!”

It’s the savvy, gut-wrenching, paranoid, angry, near-schizoid celebration of a Vanderbilt fan.

Jenkins: We know you love Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt loves you.

Great game tonight.

Spirit animal: MONGOOSE