Anchor Drop, August 31, 2021: 4 Days to Kickoff

Good morning.

Optional Musical Accompaniment

We are 4 days away from Vanderbilt football’s season opener against East Tennessee State. 4 for the Commodores is defensive back Chase Lloyd. The 6’2”, 203-pound sophomore from Atlanta played in seven games as a true freshman, starting the South Carolina game, and had nine tackles on the season.

And with this being the Tuesday before the game, you know what that means: Clark Lea will have his first press conference of the season today at 11:30 AM. As we’ve done in the past, we will have a recap of the press conference after it’s finished. I am also expecting Vanderbilt to release the season-opening depth chart this morning, which will also merit a post of its own.

On the other side, ETSU coach Randy Sanders thinks they can beat Vanderbilt.

In other news, Isaiah Thomas has departed the baseball program and... I’m just gonna leave it there.

The Hustler’s Andrew Wilf previewed the men’s golf team ahead of their season-opening tournament this weekend.

The SEC has released its policy for cancellations due to COVID this season, and if you, like me, ever wondered if Tennessee and Florida could both lose when they play each other, you’re in luck:

“Both teams shall be deemed to have forfeited the game, with a loss assigned to both teams and applied to the conference standings,” according to the SEC news release circulated Monday. “Both teams will be deemed to have played and completed the contest for purpose of the conference standings. The commissioner retains discretion to declare a ‘no contest’ for any event if extraordinary circumstances warrant.”

That’s right: if neither team can play due to COVID, they both lose.

Sports on TV

All times Central.

• 10:50 AM: FIBA AfroBasket: Kenya v. South Sudan (ESPN+)
• 11:00 AM: Tennis: U.S. Open, First Round (ESPN)
• 5:40 PM: MLB: Cardinals at Reds (MLB.tv free game/MLB Network)
• 6:10 PM: MLB: Red Sox at Rays (ESPN+)
• 6:10 PM: MLB: Marlins at Mets (MLB Network)
• 8:45 PM: MLB: Brewers at Giants (FS1)

Scoreboard

MLB: Twins 3, Tigers 2 ... Cardinals 3, Reds 1 ... Phillies 7, Nationals 4 ... Blue Jays 7, Orioles 3 ... Rays 6, Red Sox 1 ... Rangers 4, Rockies 3 ... Angels 8, Yankees 7 ... Padres 7, Diamondbacks 5 ... Brewers 3, Giants 1 ... Dodgers 5, Braves 3 ... Astros 4, Mariners 3.