Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2014, No.01 – BBVA Compass Bowl Victory!

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THE BVD COMPASS BOWL VICTORY!

The Bucko Factor:  Thursday evening, I got a call from my best friend 

FRANK J. BILLER, saying he'd be unable to attend, due to him catching the flu.  I advised him to stop seeing his regular doctor . . .

Dr. Quaso al bin Filguud, M.D., and to get a real doctor.

The Curse of Cullman:  So, Ann and I are cruising down I-65, pumped to attend the Pre-game party in Birmingham.  We are rolling through Cullman, reminiscing about

J.D. Strickland, the ATO who took 10 years to complete his undergrad degree, who – to this day – lives with his mother in Cullman, Alabama, and who stubbornly refuses to own a computer, or have an e-mail address, or use the internet – out of some misplaced loyalty to the 20^th Century. 

So, right as we hit Cullman, the “Engine Overheated – stop vehicle immediately – wait until engine cools” light comes on.  I did so, and fortunately we were only 1 mile from the next exit.  I bought some Coolant, added it, and we drove a few miles and BAM – on comes the light.  Ann used her I-pad to find a BMW Mechanic – open on Saturday – in Birmingham, so we got it towed there.  Ann was a real sport, she did not complain once about us missing the Pre-Game party.

But why Cullman?  Then, it hit me, The Curse of Cullman.  I pictured J.D., hunched over a crystal ball, with his hands powering it – watching ATO Vandy fans driving south, and putting a hex on them – similar to how the

Witch of the West manipulated and sabotaged the journey of Dorothy and friends on their way to the Emerald City. 

This theory was corroborated by the fact that we did not see J.D. at the game.  (Of course, it is also highly probable that J.D. only showed up for the game, and was too cheap to spring for a ticket to the Tailgate).

The VU Tailgate Party:

Ann and I have been to all three Bowls, the Liberty Bowl, the Music City Bowl, and the BVD Compass Bowl.  This tailgate party was . . . well, different.   

The “tent was too small.”  This is a true fact.  A Vanderbilt representative was outside the tent, apologizing for the long lines.  It was a half-ass-corporate-style apology, the fellow said “the tent company assured us the tent would hold 15,000 people, it was the biggest they had.  We are sorry you had to wait in line.”  Translation:  “It’s the tent company’s fault, sorry.”   So, if you wanted food, the line was long enough to spend half your time waiting.  Then, to the booze line, which was longer, to spend the other half.  Good thing we had breakfast at the hotel.

Redeeming factor: while we were in line, I spotted a few ATO friends.

The Holy "C"

 

I ran into His Holiness, The Holy "C" . . . ATO Brother CLARK THOMAS.  Clark has earned this nick-name, and I have biblical authority here, because the Bible says:

  “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”  

Clark is the brother who fulfills this biblical prophecy, because his first name is a last name, and his last name is a first name.  AM I RIGHT?  

  


Clark is an outstanding professional photographer of the first order. 

 Back in the day, Clark was a “mystery-man” - meaning we rarely saw him at the House  -  his excuse was always that he had to “work.” 

He revealed years later that Chancellor Heard had “hired” him to wander the campus, taking “candid” pictures of student life.  

In hindsight, it now makes perfect sense why Clark spent so much time at sorority houses gawking at girls (he was getting paid to do it).  A dream job for any red-blooded boy.  Way to go, Thomas . . . I mean Clark.

  
So, we shook hands, Clark is a man of few words (which is the other reason he rarely hung out at the ATO House – he had nothing to say). 

I asked Ann to take our picture, and pulled out my Olympus Camera (a cheap point-and-shoot camera for dummies). 

Clark looked at my "device", and his head turned slightly to the side (similar to how Terminator’s head turned when he was digitally sizing up his next kill).  Blank look in his eyes.  Then, he uttered the words . . . . 

“What’s that?”

Those were the only two words uttered by . . . . . The Holy "C".

The Boss.












Also present was JOHN STEIN.   John’s wife Beth was also unable to attend due to the flu.  Always willing to exchange ideas, John promptly told me a thing or two. Oddly, it felt similar to back in the day, when John was Treasurer of the Active Chapter, we'd go to him to ask for money for some social adventure, and we'd come away empty handed, feeling as though we should never have asked.  Ah . . . the good old days. 

Then spontaneously, John broke into song . . . . that old ATO favorite “OUR JEWELS." 

I only wish Frank Biller had been there to join in. Buck, get well soon my brother.

The BBVA Compass Bowl:

Vanderbilt absolutely PACKED our half of Legion Stadium. 

Houston had a smattering of fans.

Then, there were those ridiculous six “Cowboys” dressed in authentic “cowboy full-length duster coats.”  They were probably also packing six-guns.  They were very careful not to actually move (which would not be cowboy-cool) except to raise their right arms, and go “rah-rah” ever so smoothly, then spit tobacco). That is all they did, except when Houston scored, they carried the Houston Flag.  I mean, “cowboy” cheer leaders? Please. At least they could have worn tights and done “western” dance moves (sort of like the cowboy-guy in VILLAGE PEOPLE).   HAA!

Mind you, I did not complain myself.  But sitting in the stands, as you might imagine, I overheard several negative comments, which it is my duty to here report:

“The rows aren’t numbered.”  True fact, any numbering had been long WORN AWAY. Everyone was climbing up, looking, then asking “Is this Row 55?”

“This place sucks.”

“This Stadium is like early 20^th Century.”  One knowledgeable attendee confirmed that Legion Stadium was built in 1926.  HAAA!

We watched a great play, and the guy in front of us said:  




“Now we can watch the replay on the Etch-a-Sketch.”

“Oh, you mean the “Tiny-tron!”  (upper right corner).

 “Yeah, the “mini-tron.”

 So, the Dores were up 24-0 at the Half.  Playing great, our Band was great.

The Score Board was “pre-digital” – the numbers were lit up by 100 Watt Bulbs.  This was state of the art in 1926, shortly after Manual Score Boards (the kind where a guy walks on a scaffold and actually changes the number cards every time score changes) went electric.

Third Quarter, Houston racked up 24 unanswered points to tie, and Fourth Quarter our Mighty Dores trounced Houston, ahead to win 41-24.

 It was an awesome win.  We had a great time.

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ACTIVE CHAPTER UPDATE:

In December,  Mike McCarty and I have been in discussions with Mr. Wynn  Smiley, CEO of ATO National CEO of ATO National, in an effort to turn around the suspension.  Here is the compromise Wynn Smiley worked out with Dean Bandas:  The Chapter remains suspended, but here is what is new:  this Spring 2014, ATO National will be working with the Sophomores to reorganize new leadership, and Mr. Smiley said if they can demonstrate “an ability to operate effectively” (which is corporate-speak for what?) in the eyes of Dean Bandas, then, the suspension might be lifted to allow them to recruit for a Spring Pledge Class in 2014.  That is WAY better than the flat suspension, which would have meant NO new pledge class in 2014, period.  There might be some justice after all, but that remains to be seen.  Thanks to Mike McCarty and Mr. Smiley for their efforts.

As to our de-gifting campaign.  We spoke out, and we were heard.  My gut feeling is that our campaign to "communicate" our displeasure to Vanderbilt needs to continue, for the time being, to see if the Active Chapter is reinstated this Spring.  Vanderbilt needs to know that we have the backs of the Active Chapter.


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BETA PI BLOG ROSTER STATS:   As of January 6, 2014, there are 37 Blog Website Members; there are 115 ATO’s on the blog list, plus 16 ATO Gal-Pals.  And, there are 6 Brothers who do not have e-mail, led by J.D. Strickland who refuses to get a computer. 

VTL,

Larry Simons

Beta Pi, 72