Anchor Drop, August 24, 2023: 2 Days to Kickoff

Good morning.

Optional Musical Accompaniment

We are now 2 days away from Vanderbilt football’s season opener against Hawaii. 2 for the Commodores is worn by two players: defensive back De’Rickey Wright, a 6’4”, 217-pound senior from Gadsden, Alabama, started ten games last season, had 55 tackles, 10 pass breakups, and three interceptions. Quarterback Walter Taylor, a 6’7”, 235-pound redshirt freshman from Jackson, Alabama, did not play in 2023.

Vanderbilt soccer goes on the road for the first time this season, playing Kansas tonight at 8 PM CT on ESPN+. In the middle of a heat wave, Lawrence is forecast to have a heat index of 100 degrees even at 8 PM. So, that will be fun.

The Hustler’s sports section is back with the Week Zero SEC Power Rankings, and ranking Vanderbilt 14th in the conference is more consistent with bearing the scars of multiple decades of Vanderbilt fandom than a couple of juniors in college.

Sports on TV

All times Central.

• 10:15 AM: PGA Tour: The TOUR Championship, First Round (ESPN+)
• 12:00 PM: PGA Tour: The TOUR Championship, First Round (Golf Channel)
• 12:05 PM: MLB: Nationals at Yankees (ESPN+)
• 1:00 PM: MLB: Red Sox at Astros or Dodgers at Guardians (MLB Network)
• 6:00 PM: MLB: Rangers at Twins or Blue Jays at Orioles (MLB Network)
• 8:40 PM: MLB: Reds at Diamondbacks (FS1)
• 3:00 AM: FIBA World Cup: Angola v. Italy (ESPN+)
• 3:00 AM: FIBA World Cup: Finland v. Australia (ESPN+)
• 3:45 AM: FIBA World Cup: Mexico v. Montenegro (ESPN+)
• 4:15 AM: FIBA World Cup: Latvia v. Lebanon (ESPN+)

Scoreboard

MLB: Cardinals 6, Pirates 4 ... Cubs 6, Tigers 4 ... Brewers 8, Twins 7 ... White Sox 5, Mariners 4 ... Royals 4, A’s 0 ... Giants 8, Phillies 6 ... Reds 9, Angels 4 (Game 1) ... Padres 4, Marlins 0 ... Rays 6, Rockies 5 ... Orioles 7, Blue Jays 0 ... Yankees 9, Nationals 1 ... Braves 7, Mets 0 ... Red Sox 7, Astros 5 ... Reds 7, Angels 3 (Game 2.)