Dec 12, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores athletic director Candice Storey Lee before the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Thursday, the 11-seed Vanderbilt Commodores erased a 15-point second-half deficit to upset the 6-seed Alabama Crimson Tide 82-76 in the SEC Tournament and advance to the quarterfinals to take on the 3-seed Kentucky Wildcats on Friday.

It was the kind of win that brings everyone in the Vandy community together, including former players and current athletics department staff. And we mean that literally based on a Twitter interaction between former Commodore player Julian Terrell and current AD Candice Storey Lee.

Terrell, who played for Vandy between 2002 and 2006, announced Friday morning that he was hosting a watch party at his house for anyone who wanted to root on the Dores.

His only stipulation? You have to wear black and/or gold and there are “no exceptions. Fair enough!

That’s a pretty cool offer for any Vandy basketball fans looking for a fun way to root for their favorite team. But then, Vandy’s athletic director chimed in on Twitter to raise the stakes and let everyone know just how committed she and the school are to bringing the Commodores community together.

“I’m in Tampa, but please know that your good and drinks are on me tonight,” said Storey Lee.

Not the kind of message you get from a Power 5 conference AD very often and plenty of Vandy fans and college basketball folks took notice of the kind gesture.

The Commodores have their work cut out for them on Friday evening if they hope to continue on in the SEC Tournament and potentially make a magical run towards the NCAA Tournament. Win or lose, however, it looks like the school, alumni, and fans are pretty united in the cause.

[Candice Story Lee]

About Sean Keeley

Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Editorial Strategy Director for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.