Tennessee Columnist Proposes Funding Vanderbilt Softball to Beat Them

John Adams suggests Tennessee fans start a GoFundMe to help Vanderbilt add a softball program.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 10:40pm

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A fractured, geometric painting in vibrant orange, blue, and white hues, capturing the intensity of the Tennessee-Vanderbilt rivalry through a deconstructed, multi-angled perspective of a softball game.A cubist interpretation of the heated rivalry between Tennessee and Vanderbilt, with the absence of a Vanderbilt softball team fueling creative solutions from passionate fans.Memphis Today

A Tennessee sports columnist has proposed an unusual solution to help the University of Tennessee beat Vanderbilt in sports: start a GoFundMe to fund Vanderbilt's addition of a softball program. The columnist argues that since Vanderbilt is the only SEC school without a softball team, Tennessee fans should donate money to help Vanderbilt establish one, in order to give the Volunteers a chance to finally beat their in-state rivals.

Why it matters

The lack of a Vanderbilt softball team has given the Commodores an advantage over Tennessee in recent years, as the Volunteers have struggled to beat their rivals across multiple sports. This proposal highlights the intense rivalry between the two schools and the lengths some fans are willing to go to try to gain an edge.

The details

In a column for the Knoxville News Sentinel, John Adams suggested that Tennessee fans start a GoFundMe account to help Vanderbilt establish a softball program. Adams argues that until Vanderbilt has a softball team, Tennessee cannot truly consider itself a serious athletics program. The columnist was responding to an email from a Tennessee fan who was embarrassed by the Volunteers' recent losses to Vanderbilt across various sports.

  • Vanderbilt is the only school in the Southeastern Conference that doesn't sponsor softball.
  • Vanderbilt is coming off a historic year in 2025-26, with the football team nearly making the College Football Playoff.

The players

John Adams

A senior sports columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel who proposed the idea of Tennessee fans starting a GoFundMe to help Vanderbilt establish a softball program.

Eddie

A Tennessee fan who emailed Adams about skipping the Big Orange Caravan stop in Nashville due to Vanderbilt's recent dominance over the Volunteers in various sports.

Clark Lea

The head coach of the Vanderbilt football team, who turned the program around from a 2-10 record in 2023 to a 10-3 team in 2025 that nearly made the College Football Playoff.

Diego Pavia

The Vanderbilt quarterback who won the 2025 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award.

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What they’re saying

“Tennessee should start a GoFundMe account for Vanderbilt softball. If that means donating enough money to buy land for a softball stadium, so be it.”

— John Adams, Senior Sports Columnist

“In light of the fact that the Vols were mauled by Vandy in football, lost three of four basketball games to the Commodores, lost the baseball series - not to mention the Illinois basketball game at Bridgestone Arena and the Music City Bowl - maybe it would be a good idea to skip the Big Orange caravan stop in Nashville. We've been embarrassed enough. Maybe switch to Memphis, which no longer is on the caravan trail. Memphis would probably be more appreciative.”

— Eddie, Tennessee Fan

What’s next

Vanderbilt is reportedly exploring the addition of a softball program, according to reports. If the school does decide to add the sport, it could provide Tennessee fans with a new opportunity to compete against their in-state rivals.

The takeaway

This proposal highlights the intense rivalry between Tennessee and Vanderbilt, and the lengths some fans are willing to go to try to gain an edge over their opponents. While the idea of Tennessee fans funding a Vanderbilt program is unconventional, it speaks to the desire for the Volunteers to finally beat the Commodores, who have enjoyed recent success across multiple sports.