Here’s a little thing I wrote up to recognize The Day After Bobby Johnson…

Here we are, a day after Bobby Johnson’s leaving. I check my site stats and see the highest number OpenDores has ever seen. Yet, I can’t be happy with it because it’s all amidst the retirement of one of the greatest coaches Vandy has ever had on their side of the field: Bobby Johnson.

The ‘Ole Coach meant more to our team than you think, especially considering the fact that he started in a hole to begin with. Bobby Johnson stepped into a 2-win school in an overpowering conference. Yet, after the years of building up solid players, he brought Vandy within an inch of a bowl game, as well as getting a victory over the University of Tennessee, in 2005

Coach Johnson continued to work hard on bringing this team to a place they hadn’t seen in 5 decades, a bowl game, and in the two years following the win over UT, he had a 9 wins. And all of you should now what happened the following season.

In ’08, Johnson had finally met his goal. Vandy was selected into the Music City Bowl where they triumphed over Boston College. Bobby Johnson had done it. That day was the happiest day of my life, as I watched the game from a third row, 50-yard line seat with my dad by my side.

Sadly, Coach did have to leave off a bad note. The 2-10 season wasn’t quite the greatest year to step away, but let’s think about the better days rather than last season.

We should also point out that some of the greatest ‘Dores in history played under Bobby Johnson. Guys like Jay Cutler, Earl Bennett, Chris Williams, and DJ Moore were All-Stars of their day.

To put it simple, Bobby Johnson did wonders for Vanderbilt Football, and we should thanking him for all that he did for us. I can honestly say that I’m really going to miss the old guy.

PS: Best of luck to intern coach Robbie Caldwell or whoever else may step into the shoes of Bobby Johnson.