Beta Pi:
IS BETA PI
BLOG WITHOUT ANY REDEEMING SOCIAL OR ARTISTIC MERIT?:
YEA
. .
. . or
NAY?
Beta Pi
Blog’s purpose: to bring ATO, Beta Pi Chapter Brothers and ATO Gal-Pals
together. The blog is not to be taken
seriously - it is meant for fun.
The
Beta Pi Blog is non-political. It
includes
pictures,
links, Archives of previous issues,
and
other time-wasters.
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HONORING ALEXANDER WILSON
You
might have heard, SAE’s in Oklahoma have a racist problem. The problems the SAE's are having got me to thinking about one of our greatest Brothers, Aleander Wilson. As I read this story, I sort of sighed with relief, that it was another fraternity, and not ATO, after all we went through last year. Here is the link:
I
believe very strongly in the issue of racial equality in our fraternity. This is not a political issue, it is a
moral issue.
I am
proud to say, when I was an ATO, from 1972 to 1975, our Beta Pi Chapter was the
first Chapter at Vanderbilt, and the first ATO Chapter nationally, to induct a
Black member. His name is Alexander
Wilson.
He and his wife Laura were our
Cooks for years, and we loved Alex and Laura very much.
Alex
taught us about brotherly Christian love in a way no one else could, by example. And we all felt so strongly about inducting him
that we voted overwhelmingly to do it.
The important thing is – we did it out of love. We were aware there was a principle of equality
involved, but we made him an ATO Brother out of love.
There
were some Alumni brothers who traveled several hundred miles to be there for
the ceremony.
That
night, we “road tripped” Alex, and he was so delighted! We “blind-folded” Alex, guys were helping him
to make sure he didn’t stumble.
We drove
him out to some field with a Gazebo, and made him tell us stories, including
the Tale of Lowenstein. It was the only
road trip I can remember where we did not leave the guy stranded. Several of us were moved to tears. Alex’s legacy to us is the ATO Prayer,
inscribed on a Bronze Plaque at the House:
“Lord
of Mankind, Master Divine,
Keep us
pure in heart and mind,
And so
that we may know Thee,
Thy
presence show,
Guard
and guide us, ATO.”
When I read the sordid story of Oklahoma SAE’s, I felt thankful to be an ATO. I hope the Active Brothers read this and feel some gratitude that ATO at Vanderbilt was privileged to induct one of the finest humans on the planet, Alexander Wilson, and that racial inequality should never be an issue at Beta Pi.
BILLER SPORTS PAGE:
Your intrepid ATO Blog sports reporter Buck Biller has trolled the web daily
looking for light at the end of the tunnel for VU Football. It took me a
while to come out of the coma induced by last year’s version of our Black &
Gold worthies. The firing of Dorrel as OC gave me a spark of
hope and I have been building momentum ever since then. I am
actually optimistic about 2015. Now, I am going crazy waiting for
football to start again. I thought I would share some thoughts as Spring
Practice is right around the corner and the 2015 recruiting class is on
board.
Quarterback- Patton Robinette is not now, never has been and never will be an SEC caliber QB. He is a backup at best. Johnny McCrary is our diamond in the rough and deserves the opportunity to work in a system that showcases his abilities. I love this kid and I think he can be a major force. Kyle Shurmur is touted as our best QB prospect ever recruited. That's high praise considering that guy from Santa Claus, Indiana that wore the Black and Gold a few years back. I pray that Mason red shirts Kyle and let's Johnny Mac Football work under center this year. If they do that, in 2016 we have McCrary as a veteran Junior and a great redshirt freshman named Kyle Shurmur in a true QB wrasslin' match to win the job. That is the position we need to be in with depth across our team!
Defense- I feel we will see a return to the dominance of the Abernathy/Tomlinson era again this year. We picked up a couple of impact players that will bolster the linebacker corps and the secondary right away.
Our D line is arguably the best unit from last year. I love that guy Azubike and those crazy eyes! Sack the snot out them wussies from that school out east!
Running back- All the pundits say we need to get some help for Ralphie Webb. What we need to do is just give the man the rock. I love Ralphie and I think the new OC guy from Wisconsin is going to go Ralphie's way 20+ times per game. I also like Dallas Rivers as a changeup. Both of these cats can run between the tackles. We did not get much in the Pledge class. Maybe Eddie George's kid can carry the rock for us. I also believe that we need to utilize Johnny Mac Football with some read option stuff instead of that insane Pro style crap the old OC ran. And then there is Mr. All SEC Tight End Steven Scheu....
Receivers- Old Joke "When I went into prison I was a Tight End. When I got out I was a Wide Receiver". I always loved that one. And I love our tight end Steve Scheu! He is our Gronk and I think our new OC Andy Ludwig is going to saddle him and Ralphie Webb up and ride them both all day long. He's a fool if he doesn't. As good as Scheu is, the rest of the receiver corps looks like they should be playing IM flag football with Patton Robinette. I am optimistic about Pinkney from Norcross. He has that big frame like Alshon Jeffrey. Hopefully he is our new Jordan Mathews. CJ Duncan could still develop as an over the top guy for us.
O-Line- Mason said when he got here that we are going to get big and run downhill. He has recruited to his word. We got some young V-Hogs on that O-Line. If half of them pan out, we can have a chance to dominate the schools we are supposed to beat and stay in the game with the Georgia's and Florida's by keeping their offenses on the sidelines while Webb/Rivers grind out yards and first downs between the tackles behind the V-Hogs.
Kicking Game- I have little to no opinion on them. Although, our punter should be the 1st team All American since he got so much game time work in last year. The poor kid will need a leg transplant by the time he graduates.
Latest lines (courtesy Dick's Halfway Inn Drive Thru Sports Book and Live Bait shop, Davenport, IA)
Over/Under on 2015 Dore Wins-
Johnny Mac Football starts 6.5 wins;
Patton
Robinette starts 2.5 wins.
Bowl Game- Yes +220; No -190
The Game (VU vs. That School put East)- Vandy+3.5;
Bowl Game- Yes +220; No -190
The Game (VU vs. That School put East)- Vandy+3.5;
Moneyline Vandy
-120 to win; Over/Under 51.5
Exotic prop- Will Bob Dudley Smith go nuts and run naked across the field at Homecoming? Yes Bet 1 to win 40. No Lay 45 to win 1.
I would love get your thoughts, especially from the old Football guys (Heme, Aber, Cheeks, Stubby, et.al.). I am just a lame ass "never played the game" guy. What do you Veterans think???
Exotic prop- Will Bob Dudley Smith go nuts and run naked across the field at Homecoming? Yes Bet 1 to win 40. No Lay 45 to win 1.
I would love get your thoughts, especially from the old Football guys (Heme, Aber, Cheeks, Stubby, et.al.). I am just a lame ass "never played the game" guy. What do you Veterans think???
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KEEPING TABS:
Here is
a reminder of the Brothers we have lost.
In case you did not get the news.
If you
have never explored the “Archives” in this Blog – it is toward the top of the
latest “blog issue”, on the right. You
access it by clicking on the Month and Year, and it will drop down with
choices. For example, if you click on
December, 2006, it will drop down and list all issues that were published that
month. If you want Issue No. 68, you
click on that, and it takes you to that issue.
You can then post a comment to that issue. It’s never too late to post a comment,
right?
DAVID HOWE, died 11/30/2006.
Beta Pi
Blog, Vol.2006, No.68, Archive: December, 2006.
Beta Pi
Blog, Vol.2007, No.30, Archive: May, 2007
MILES WALSH, died 07/2013.
Beta Pi
Blog, Vol.2013, No.05, Comments Section (over 50 comments), Archive: Aug.2013
J. NEAL CRENSHAW, died 11/12/2014.
Beta Pi
Blog, Vol.2014, No.08, Archive: Nov. 2014
Beta Pi
Blog, Vol.2014, No.10, Archive: Dec. 2014
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BETA PI BLOG ROSTER STATS: As of March
9, 2015, there are 37 Blog Website Members; there are 116 ATO’s on the
blog list, plus 17 ATO Gal-Pals. And, there
are 6 Brothers who do not have e-mail.
VTL,
Larry
Simons
Beta
Pi, 72
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