Flip It: Friday's Quarterfinal Send-off

By Weinman

Band and cheer met the Commodores at their hotel Friday to send the team off to its quarterfinal game against LSU at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. Thanks to Heather Casteel, the team's student trainer, for capturing this video.

Cheer for 12 months of the year

by Barca Blog - Commodore fans... have you started thinking about gift ideas for the holiday season? Well, look no further than the official 2009-10 Vanderbilt Cheerleading calendar.

You can purchase this item online (click here) for only $10 plus $2 for shipping. Or just ask a cheerleader for a calendar the next time you're at a Vanderbilt sporting event. Part of the proceeds will support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

(Photography by Rory Hamilton)

Videos: Cheer for Vandy

by Barca Blog - More videos to get you ready for game day. J-Sil captured these clips during last night's cheer practice in Memorial Gym.

Band and Cheer take over downtown

(Picture courtesy of Steve Green)

Several thousand people converged on 2nd Avenue Tuesday night to see the annual Battle of the Bands between the spirit squads from Vanderbilt and Boston College.

And bowl fever filled the air from the get-go.

"Vanderbilt fans were rowdy,” said cheer coach Pam Pearson. “It was crazy from the moment we got off the bus.”

With spectators lined up on both sides of the street, each school began marching from opposite directions before meeting at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Commerce for a pep showdown. Each band belted out six songs in a back-and-forth format with interactive cheers mixed in. Both teams were awarded a special guitar for their efforts (although no winner was announced).

And the night wasn't over just yet.

Vanderbilt then took its parade to an alumni gathering at B.B. King's Blues Club highlighted by the crowd rising from their seats to sing the Alma mater.

Follow that up with more impromptu stops at a few downtown establishments and it was a special evening for Commodore fans still soaking in the excitement of the football team’s first bowl appearance since 1982.

"The whole night was amazing,” Pearson said. “I've been here seven years and it was the best pep rally we've ever had. It was just outstanding."