Chopper moves air conditioner on McGugin Center roof

By Ryan Schulz

As anyone who has driven down Jess Neely Drive since April already knows, Vanderbilt’s McGugin Center is in the midst of a major renovation to the football offices and academic center. With the calendar about to turn to August, the renovations are nearing completion.

Around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, construction crews took another step toward completing the project when they brought in a helicopter to relocate a five-ton air conditioning unit from one side of the roof to another.

Lacey Ballard from our video staff captured the footage of the move.

Caldwell is talk of SEC Media Day

By Ryan Schulz

Wednesday night, Vanderbilt Interim Head Coach Robbie Caldwell was so unrecognizable among the public in Birmingham that he even received a tip from a restaurant patron when he held the door for them. After Caldwell's performance at Media Day on Thursday, his days of being mistaken for a doorman are likely over - at least by anyone who follows SEC football.

Making his debut in front of the national media, Caldwell left every room and hallway at the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, Ala., buzzing about the newly-minted coach of the Commodores. Showcasing his sense of humor and humility, Caldwell stole the show on Thursday — even receiving an ovation following his appearance in front of the print media.

Caldwell's memorable showing at SEC Media Day has led to an influx of media coverage from media outlets throughout the country. Here are a few of the many articles about Caldwell and the Commodores at SEC Media Day on Thursday.

Tennessean: Vanderbilt Coach lights up SEC media with humor
Tennessean: Caldwell will benefit from sense of humor
Tennessean: SEC Media Days notebook
City Paper: Caldwell gets laughs at SEC Media Day
CBS Sports: Caldwell has winning personality
USA Today: Caldwell talks turkey
Sporting News: Caldwell brings levity to SEC
ESPN: Caldwell’s comedy show
ESPN: ESPN interviews Warren Norman
AP: Vandy’s Caldwell entertains
Fan House: Robbie Caldwell, the SEC's Rudy
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Coach revels in unexpected opportunity
Birmingham News: Laughter is best medicine
Birmingham News: Caldwell makes impressive debut
Birmingham News: Caldwell arrives in Hoover armed with a funny bone
Mobile Press-Register: Caldwell wins press conference
Huntsville Times: Caldwell unknown but optimistic
Montgomery Advertiser: Vanderbilt coach steals show
Montgomery Advertiser: Caldwell a bright spot of event
The State (South Carolina): Caldwell is one of a kind
Memphis Commercial Appeal: Caldwell takes center stage
Memphis Commercial Appeal: Vandy players vow to fight against odds
Memphis Commercial Appeal: Marve dresses for success
Jackson Sun: Caldwell endears himself to SEC Media
Jackson Sun: Vandy off to good start
Shelbyville Times-Gazette: Caldwell delights
Times Daily: Caldwell’s one-liners break the ice
Lexington Herald-Leader: SEC Media Days has quote machine in Caldwell
Louisville Courier-Journal: Caldwell steals the show
Gadsden (Ala.) Times: Caldwell discusses turkey
St. Petersburg Times: Caldwell a hit
Florida Times-UnionCaldwell keeps them laughing
Gainesville Sun: Caldwell leaves media in stitches
Orlando Sentinel: Caldwell takes media day by storm
Florida Today (Brevard, Fla.): Caldwell a hit with news media
Pensacola News Journal: Country fried comedy comes to SEC
Jackson Clarion-Ledger: Caldwell regales media with humor
Biloxi-Gulfport Sun Herald: Caldwell good for plenty of grins
Baton Rouge AdvocateInterim Vanderbilt coach keeps it light
New Orleans Times Picayune: Caldwell wraps up SEC Media Day 2
Monroe News Star: Caldwell takes the stage
Athens Banner-Herald: Caldwell a charmer in first appearance
Dothan (Ala.) Eagle: New Vandy coach life of the party
WTVM Columbus, Ga.: Caldwell thrilled with opportunity
LSU Daily Reveille: Caldwell’s enthusiasm lights up media days

Greenstone breaks school record in hang clean

by Ryan Schulz

As a sequel to the workout video posted this morning of Chris Marve, Larry Smith, Sean Richardson and Warren Norman working out, here is a video from this afternoon's offseason workout where defensive tackle T.J. Greenstone set a new school record in the hang clean.

Greenstone topped his own school record of 405 lbs. in the lift by cleaning 410 lbs. this afternoon.

June issue of Commodore Nation

By Ryan Schulz

The June issue of Commodore Nation is now available online by clicking below.

Included in this issues is a collection of the 2009-10 images of the year. There are also stories on shortstop Brian Harris, running backs Warren Norman and Zac Stacy, the charitable work of former Commodore Darius Coulibaly, women's tennis player Hannah Blatt and much more.

To view more archived issues, click here.

Open publication - Free publishing - More vanderbilt

Vanderbilt’s NBA Draft history

By Ryan Schulz

With the 2010 NBA Draft taking place at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN tonight, let’s take a look back at Vanderbilt’s NBA Draft history.

Since 1950, Vanderbilt has had 33 players selected in the NBA Draft. Billy Joe Adcock was the first Commodore selected in 1950 by Fort Wayne and Shan Foster was the most recent player to hear his name called when he was selected in the second round of the 2008 draft by Dallas.

Will another Commodore hear his name called tonight? Jermaine Beal and A.J. Ogilvy certainly hope so. Either way, the two Commodores have professional careers ahead of them no matter what happens tonight.

The NBA Draft is comprised of two rounds and there are a total of 60 players selected. Three teams, Charlotte, Cleveland and Denver, are without draft picks.

Year Player - Team Round

2008 Shan Foster - Dallas 2nd

2007 Derrick Byars - Portland (Traded to Philadelphia) 2nd

2004 Matt Freije - Miami 2nd

2000 Dan Langhi - Dallas (Traded to Houston) 2nd

1989 Frank Kornet - Milwaukee 2nd

1988 Will Perdue - Chicago 1st (11th pick)

1987 Glen Clem - New York 5th

1984 Jeff Turner - New Jersey 1st (7th pick)

1981 Charles Davis - Washington 2nd

Mike Rhodes - San Antonio 5th

1980 Tommy Springer - Denver 7th

1976 Butch Feher - Phoenix 2nd

Jeff Fosnes - Golden State 4th

1974 Jan van Breda Kolff - Portland 2nd

Terry Compton - Kansas City-Omaha 4th

Bill Ligon - Detroit 10th

1973 Steve Turner - Boston 10th

Rod Freeman - Philadelphia 11th

1971 Thorpe Weber - Boston 6th

1970 Perry Wallace - Philadelphia 5th

1969 Tom Hagan - San Francisco 3rd

Bob Bundy - Atlanta 7th

1968 Bob Warren - Atlanta 4th

Bo Wyenandt - Cincinnati 10th

1967 Jerry Southwood - Baltimore 18th

1966 Clyde Lee - San Francisco 1st (3rd pick)

Keith Thomas - Los Angeles 6th

1961 Bill Depp - Boston 3rd

1959 Jim Henry - Minneapolis 6th

1957 Al Rochelle - St. Louis 5th

1954 Dan Finch - Minneapolis N/A

1951 George Kelley - Indianapolis N/A

1950 Billy Joe Adcock - Fort Wayne N/A

Coping with a cooker on the courts

By Ryan Schulz

With temperatures hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk and no immediate break in the heat in sight, Nashvillians have been forced to find ways to stay cool during these hot summer days.

Some have been fortunate to avoid the scorching temperatures by staying indoors, but others are forced to deal with the heat on a daily basis. Among the activities that have been affected by the extreme heat include Vanderbilt’s many camps that are taking place right now.

On Monday, Amanda Hara of News Channel 5 stopped by Vanderbilt’s tennis camp to visit with men’s tennis coach Ian Duvenhage and some campers to see how they are handling the heat.

Click here to view the video.

May issue of Commodore Nation

By Ryan Schulz

The May issue of Commodore Nation is now available online by clicking below.

Included are features on catcher Andrew Giobbi and tennis player Scott Lieberman. Also included is a story on brothers Kenny and Robert Diehl and how Vanderbilt baseball has impacted them. Much more is included inside.

To view more archived issues, click here.

April issue of Commodore Nation

By Ryan Schulz

The April issue of Commodore Nation is now available online by clicking below.

Included are features on men's basketball player Steve Tchiengang, former women's basketball player Dee Davisa and former football player Renford Reese. There is also a story on the life as a relief pitcher, a Q&A with Mallory Hitt from the track team and much more.

To view more archived issues, click here.

Mayor Dean delivers proclamation at Currey Tennis Center

by Ryan Schulz

Nashville mayor Karl Deal has spent a lot of time on Vanderbilt’s campus. He served as an adjunct professor of law at Vanderbilt and it’s where he met his wife, Anne Davis. On Wednesday, he was on campus again, and this time it was to bring recognition to the Music City Tennis Invitational — an event that has raised more than $1 million for the Monroe Carell Jr. Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.

Speaking at Vanderbilt’s Currey Tennis Center, Dean delivered a proclamation that the weekend of April 24 and 24 is Music City Tennis Invitational weekend in Nashville.

The tournament began in 1973 and is the longest-running music-related tennis tournament in the country. The annual tournament is open to everyone, beginners to pros, and also provides doubles team tennis for players of all levels. Among the original founders of the tournament was none other than Vanderbilt Hall of Famer Bill Wade.

The beneficiary of the tournament is the Center for Child Development at Vanderbilt’s Children’s Hospital. The tournament has raised more than $1 million for the center, which provides screening, evaluation and referral services for children who are developmentally delayed; who are experiencing a wide range of problems such as learning difficulties, autism, mental retardation, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, and delays in sitting, talking, waling and more.

For more information about the tournament, or to register, you can visit the tournament’s Web site by clicking here.

March issue of Commodore Nation

by Ryan Schulz

The March issue of Commodore Nation is now available online by clicking below.

Included are features on men's basketball player Festus Ezeli, bowlers Josie and Jessica Earnest and track and field athlete Buky Bamigboye. Also included is a Q&A with vice chancellor David Williams, who discusses the state of athletics at Vanderbilt.

To view more archived issues, click here.

Student-athletes spend time at local school

by Ryan Schulz

VIEW PHOTO GALLERY

One by one in alphabetical order students at Glendale Elementary School filed into the school’s library on Friday morning in usual fashion, but the basis for their visit to the library was anything but usual.

When the students walked in, they were greeted by groups of Vanderbilt student-athletes, who spoke to the children about the importance of education, answered questions from the children and read books to them.

For one-hour increments, three groups of Vanderbilt student-athletes interacted with students at Glendale Elementary School from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday.

The student-athletes introduced themselves to the children by telling them the sport they play and their hometown. They then interacted with the children by asking them questions ranging from what they wanted to be when they grew up to their favorite subject in school.

Following the opening questions, the first group of children selected Sergio Saves The Game as the book they wanted the student-athletes to read to them. The student-athletes in the first group, which included Jordan White and Erin McManus (track and field), Anna Fargo (swimming), Chris Johnson (football) and Gabby Smith (women’s basketball), spent the next few minutes taking turns reading the book to the children.

“I’m really glad I came to Glendale Elementary to do this for the kids,” McManus said. “The athletic department is really good about setting up different programs with schools in Nashville, and it is always really fun to see the kids get excited talking to athletes.”

After reading the book, the student-athletes had trivia question for the children, who received t-shirts and hats for their answers. To conclude the visit, the student-athletes answered questions from the children.

“It is an awesome experience because it gives them something to aim for when they are older,” added McManus.

Tinsley gaining confidence on injured knee

by Ryan Schulz

When sophomore guard Brad Tinsley fell to the floor grimacing in pain during the second half of Vanderbilt’s regular season finale against South Carolina, the air felt like it had been sucked out of Memorial Gym.

Could a key part of the rotation miss the rest of the season? Could a promising season be derailed by one injury? Although the patrons in the arena sat quietly, the questions were swirling in their heads.

After a short time on the floor, Tinsley limped off the court and would be diagnosed with a sprained left knee. An injury that appeared to be much worse and potentially season-ending would only limit Tinsley in practice during preparation for the team’s SEC Tournament game against Georgia just six days later.

With a heavily bandaged knee, Tinsley played just 12 minutes in Vanderbilt’s 78-66 win against Georgia as the coaching staff slowly eased him back onto the court. Tinsley hit one of two shots and finished the game with two points.

For Tinsley, the hardest part of returning to the court was the uncertainty he faced when he first checked into the game.

“Just getting into the game was the most difficult thing because I was kind of worried about twisting it,” Tinsley said. “It is always in your mind when you suffer an injury like that. I think the biggest thing was just getting out there and just trying to play through the pain.”

In Vanderbilt’s most recent game against Mississippi State, a more confident Tinsley logged 20 minutes and finished 3-of-4 from beyond the arc in a 62-52 loss.

When Vanderbilt takes the court on Thursday it will be 12 days since Tinsley’s injury. Although he says the knee is better than it was, he is still not 100 percent and will continue to wear a large brace.

“It is pretty sore right now and we’ve been doing a lot of treatment,” Tinsley said. “The trainer (Shannon Gordon) has been really good to me, just trying to get me ready for the games. It’s still pretty sore, so I’ve got it taped and bandaged up so it is pretty good and stabilized.”

The most difficult part for Tinsley remains the first few minutes of the game when his leg is stiff from sitting.

“It loosens up after you are out there for a little while,” Tinsley said. “Also the adrenaline gets going when you are out there and you don’t really pay attention to it unless you get up and tweak it like I did in one of the games.”

It would have taken a lot more than a knee sprain to prevent Tinsley from missing his first NCAA Tournament game. An Oregon City, Ore., native, Tinsley expects to have a good number of friends and family in the stands for his return to the West Coast, and he doesn’t plan on disappointing.

“Any time in the NCAA Tournament anyone can beat anybody,” Tinsley said. “It doesn’t matter who is seeded what. You’ve got to treat each game like it is your last and you have to stick to your game plan and just try to outplay and outwork other teams.”

Even less than 100 percent, Tinsley is expected to be a key component for the Commodores when they open the NCAA Tournament at 1:30 p.m. CT on Thursday against Murray State.

(photo by John Russell)

Beal on a mission

by Ryan Schulz

Senior point guard Jermaine Beal has seen both sides of the NCAA Tournament. He’s experienced the Cinderella story as part of Vanderbilt’s Sweet 16 team in 2007 and the heartbreak of the first-round upset in 2008. But for Beal, the memory that he can’t get out of his mind is the most recent one.

Playing in Tampa, the fourth-seeded Commodores were sent packing by a hot-shooting Siena team in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament. It was a game that Beal would just as well like to forget. The team lost and he had one of the worst games of his career, finishing 0-for-4 from the field without a point.

Just thinking back to the game stings Beal. That sting is part of what makes Thursday’s game against Murray State (1:30 p.m. CT) that much more personal to Beal.

“It is very important to get a win,” Beal said. “I don’t want to experience that feeling again.”

Beal, a first team All-SEC selection, has been the catalyst for the Commodores all season. As Beal goes, so do the Commodores on most occasions. Now on the eve of his final tournament, Beal is preparing to embark on a mission to erase the memory of his last trip to the Big Dance.

“There is that sense of urgency as a senior,” Beal said. “I’m taking this opportunity very seriously, but at the same time, trying to embrace it and trying to have fun with it. I’m just trying to stay focused because I know we have a great opportunity ahead of us.”

It’s an opportunity that Beal thinks this team is suited to take advantage of.

“I know this team is probably better than the other two teams I’ve been to the NCAA Tournament with,” Beal said. “I think we can make a deep run, but right now our main focus is just that first game.”

After all, the first game could just as well be the last game come tournament time. Besides Beal, only junior A.J. Ogilvy and redshirt sophomore Andre Walker played more than 10 minutes in the team’s game against Siena. The lack of NCAA Tournament experience on the roster makes Beal the team’s go-to expert on the tournament.

“I told the (guys on the team) about my freshman and sophomore experience,” Beal said. “And I told them everything we need to do this year to be prepared.”

Undoubtedly, one player who will be prepared come Thursday will be the Commodores’ lone senior who knows that there is no next year.

“Right now it is do or die,” Beal said. “In conference play, you can shake it off and get ready for the next game, but now every possession and every shot counts that much more. The stakes are so much higher.”

And the memories last so much longer.

(photo by John Russell)

Golden State homecoming

by Ryan Schulz

While Commodore fans looking to cheer on Vanderbilt in the NCAA Tournament would much rather have seen the Commodores sent to a location that is closer to Nashville such as Jacksonville or New Orleans, two members of Vanderbilt’s team couldn’t be happier with heading west.

For Vanderbilt junior Darshawn McClellan and sophomore Festus Ezeli, the team’s trip to San Jose is a homecoming. McClellan is a Fresno, Calif., native, while Ezeli lived in Yuba City, Calif., after moving to the U.S. in 2004 from Nigeria. Both cities are approximately 150 miles from San Jose, the site of Vanderbilt’s first and second round NCAA Tournament games.

When Vanderbilt takes on 13th-seeded Murray State at 1:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, it will mark the second time this season Vanderbilt has played in California after playing at St. Mary’s in November. If the Commodores have it their way, they will be playing two and not one more game in Golden State.

“It is real special,” McClellan said. “I rarely get to see my family but once or twice a year. For me this going to be a special time, especially being in the NCAA Tournament playing in front of so many friends and family.”

Just how many of McClellan’s friends and family will make the 2½-hour trek from Fresno? A better question might be, who won’t be making the trip?

“The number keeps growing by the hour,” McClellan said.

Ezeli returns to Calif., a much different player than he was before coming to Vanderbilt. After first picking up the game in 2004, Ezeli has developed leaps and bounds from where he was when he first arrived on Vanderbilt’s campus in 2007.

“People from high school who knew me when I didn’t make the (high school) team talk about how (much I’ve grown) from there to here and wonder what happened,” Ezeli said. It’s been a crazy transformation and I’m still growing. I guess I still have more to surprise them with.”

Like McClellan, the number of fans Ezeli will have in the stands is continually growing, which for the Commodores could be beneficial in more ways than just crowd support.

“I think when my family is there (watchng), I play better because I’m more comfortable,” Ezeli said.

Although both players will have large contingents to cheer them on in San Jose, the trip to California is more than just a trip home for Ezeli and McClellan.

“I’m going to try to get up early to make sure I get to see my family,” McClellan said. “I hope that I will get to spend some time with them, but we are there for business and they understand that.”

(photo by John Russell)

Jenkins steals the spotlight

by Ryan Schulz

The postseason is where upperclassmen are supposed to shine and it’s where freshmen are supposed to wilt under the bright lights and pressure. Just don’t tell that to Vanderbilt freshman sharpshooter John Jenkins.

On a night when the Commodores desperately needed a player to step up against an opponent that had given them fits all year, Jenkins did. The Hendersonville, Tenn., native single-handedly took the bite out of the Georgia Bulldogs on Friday in Vanderbilt’s 78-66 quarterfinal victory in the SEC Tournament.

The long-range marksman poured in a career best 25 points on 7-of-10 shooting, but what may have been more important was his timing. After building an eight-point lead at the half, Georgia went on a 6-0 run to pull within two, and it appeared the game would remain close throughout.

Jenkins had other plans.

With the Commodores holding a 47-42 lead following five straight points by Lance Goulbourne, Jenkins took over the game. Beginning with a three-pointer at the 11:35 mark, Jenkins would score 12 straight points for Vanderbilt, giving the Commodores their largest lead of the game (59-47) with 8:21 to play. Jenkins would add another four points to bury the Bulldogs, while extending Vanderbilt’s lead to 18, 69-61 with 5:30 to play.

“If he’s left open, he’s unstoppable,” Head Coach Kevin Stallings said. “And if we can get him open, he’s unstoppable because he’s got to make open shots.”

Jenkins’ shots were falling in the second half, but it was a different case in the first half for the freshman, who made just 1-of-4 three-point attempts.

“Coach (Stallings) was telling me to go out there and be more aggressive,” Jenkins said. “That’s what I did. In the first half I came out slow, trying to get myself into it. In the second half, I just really let loose.”

Jenkins ability to get loose for open shots keyed the demise of Georgia and overshadowed a 34-point game by the Bulldogs’ Travis Leslie.

Jenkins played a career-best 32 minutes and was on the court more than any other Commodore besides Jermaine Beal. His play against he Bulldogs may have earned him a few more minutes on Saturday when Vanderbilt takes on Mississippi State in the SEC semifinals.

And if Vanderbilt is going to get past Mississippi State, it may need another strong shooting performance from Jenkins to do so. Thankfully for Commodore fans, poor shooting and Jenkins go about as well together as oil and water.

“There just are not very many days during the week where you see him not have a good shooting day,” Stallings said. “His jumper is fundamentally flawless and he has a high level of belief in it … and so does his coach.”

(Photo by John Russell)

February issue of Commodore Nation

by Ryan Schulz

The February issue of Commodore Nation is now available online by clicking below.

Included are features on former basketball player Barry Booker, the initiative Joe Duffy of the men's basketball team is taking to prevent the spread of malaria in Africa and the experience Reshard Langford had in his first season in the NFL. Also included are stories on former NFL and Commodore football player Corey Chavous and a Q&A with women's basketball senior Jessica Mooney.

To view more archived issues, click here.

Early sights from Memorial Gym

By Ryan Schulz

The tip is still 30 minutes away, but there has already been a lot taking place inside Memorial Gym. Here are a few tidbits.

• By 3:30, the student section appeared to be completely full.

• 65 minutes before tip, former Vanderbilt great Shan Foster is announced to the crowd over the public address system. He makes his way through the adorning student section shaking hands and signing a few autographs.

• A little under one hour before tip, Dick Vitale's first appearance draws a roar from the student section. Like Foster, Vitale makes his way down the student section, while shaking hands.

January issue of Commodore Nation

by Ryan Schulz

The January issue of Commodore Nation is now available online by clicking below. You can toggle between pages by clicking the arrows or you can zoom into the document by clicking it.

Included are features on Jermaine Beal, the baseball team's trip to Japan, the work swimmer Jessica Cohen is doing for a village in Kenya and much more. Commodore Nation also catches up to former soccer player Katharine Carroll, who is now a professional cyclist.

To view more archived issues, click here.

December issue of Commodore Nation

by Ryan Schulz

The December issue of Commodore Nation is now available online by clicking below. You can toggle between pages by clicking the arrows or you can zoom into the document by clicking it.

Included among other items in this issue are stories on Memorial Gym, the work of football player Jamie Graham in the community and the transition Earl Bennett has made to the NFL. .

To view more archived issues, click here.

Catching up with Matt Freije

by Ryan Schulz

Note: This article appears in the December issue of Commodore Nation.

It’s been six seasons since former Commodore Matt Freije put Vanderbilt’s team on his back and helped lead the Commodores to the Sweet 16 in 2004. Since Freije finished his Vanderbilt career as the program’s all-time leading scorer, basketball has taken him many places across the globe.

In January, Freije will embark on his sixth professional season when he begins play with a team in Lebanon. Since being drafted 53rd overall in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat, Freije has spent time in Europe, Asia, Puerto Rico and even played 42 games in the NBA with New Orleans and Atlanta.

“It is good to be able to see the world and see how different people live,” said Freije who spends his offseasons in Nashville. “I’m not going to play until I can’t play, I’m just going to play until I feel like I’ve played long enough.”

Freije’s last stint in the NBA came during the 2006-07 season, but he narrowly missed earning a roster spot out of training camp with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2008. Freije’s narrow miss from making the team’s roster on opening day was similar to that of former Commodore Derrick Byars this year. Byars was cut by the Chicago Bulls a little more than 24 hours before the team’s opening game.

“Honestly, it is really, really tough,” Freije said. “It is hard to be told that they don’t need you. It’s hard, and I feel bad for Derrick. It’s especially tough in his situation because every night you go out, you’ve got to do well because you are being watched a whole lot more than the other guys. For guys that are going to be there and know they are going to be there, it’s not the end of the world. If you don’t know, it is always in the back of your head that if you don’t play well, maybe you will get cut tomorrow or the next day.”

Having coached Freije and Byars, it is always tough for Vanderbilt Coach Kevin Stallings to see his players get cut, but he knows it is a business and the two have the work ethic it takes to succeed in professional basketball.

“It is their profession at this point, so the first time someone tells you ‘no’ on a sale, you can’t stop working,” Stallings said. “Hopefully another team will pick him up and Derrick will have a nice long NBA career. He is certainly talented enough.”

Now in his late 20s, Freije knows his window for making the NBA is getting smaller, and he’s come to grips with the fact that the NBA may not be in his future again.

“The NBA currently is not a goal,” Freije said. “I’m 28 now, so it has kind of passed me by. I’m just playing while I can.”