Turner on Friday dismissed the notion that he had a clear-cut plan to solve Vandy's issuesVANDERBILT
Friday was new Vanderbilt AD Malcolm Turner's first day on the job, and figuring out what to do with the school's football stadium is a "high priority," according to Adam Sparks of the Nashville TENNESSEAN. Turner said, "I want to understand all options (on a stadium project), even some options that have been raised before. I need to get my arms around how they've been framed." Sparks noted Vanderbilt in recent years has "considered building a new stadium at the site of the current facility, renovating the stadium or moving to the off-campus soccer stadium that will house an MLS expansion franchise." On his first day, Turner "did not tip his hand" and was "quick to dismiss the notion that he arrived with a clear-cut plan to solve the problem." Turner "prefers the term 'initial ideas,' which will turn into a plan once he takes what he calls a 'listening tour' among fans, athletes, coaches, donors and university administrators." Turner said, "I've started to think about things we could do here. But I think it would be even a little generous to frame that as a plan, so to speak, at this early juncture on day one." Vanderbilt Chancellor Nicholas Seppo wrote during the search for a new AD that the new hire will "undertake the development of the Athletics Strategic Plan," which will then "drive all decision-making, including a capital campaign for athletics." Turner referenced that plan Friday, though the school has "not made a formal announcement on the parameters of its athletics capital campaign." Turner: "We will be rolling that out" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 2/3).
