Anchor Drop, August 31, 2018: 1 Day

Good morning.

We’re now just one day away from Vanderbilt’s season opener against Middle Tennessee. There’s no #1 on the roster. #1 was informally retired by Vanderbilt in memory of former RB Kwane Doster, who set Vanderbilt’s freshman rushing record in 2002 (later surpassed by Ralph Webb in 2014) and was shot to death in 2004. It was briefly un-retired during James Franklin’s three-year tenure and given to Kenny Ladler (pictured above), but no player has worn #1 since Derek Mason became head coach.

Football may not kick off its season until tomorrow, but two Vanderbilt programs open their seasons today. Men’s golf opens the season in the eight-team Carmel Cup at Pebble Beach Golf Links, teeing off today at 9 AM CT, while cross country will compete in the Belmont Opener at 5 PM CT at Percy Warner Park.

In addition, women’s soccer, which is 3-1 on the season and has won three in a row since dropping its season opener to Florida State, will host St. Louis at 7:00 PM CT tonight on SEC Network+.

The Hustler says that the football team isn’t dwelling on 2017, which is good.

Tweet of the Day

Off the West End

Ralph Webb had a solid night in the Patriots’ final preseason game, with 12 carries for 41 yards, and 4 catches for 30 yards and a touchdown. Now we wait for final cutdowns.

Trent Sherfield, too, is fighting for a roster spot with the Arizona Cardinals.

Oh, and there was college football last night, and it was good. Northwestern won a wild one, 31-27 over Purdue, while Wake Forest and Tulane had a very on-brand performance that featured 15 punts and ended with a 23-17 Demon Deacons victory in overtime. The lone SEC team playing, Texas A&M, beat Northwestern State handily in Jimbo Fisher’s debut.