![]() ![]() Despite having four fouls, Lee scored 28 points and grabbed 20 rebounds. In the previous season (1964-65) the Commodores, as SEC champions, advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, narrowly missing the Final Four and losing to Michigan and Cazzie Russell, 87-85. They were sold in season tickets before the Commodores ever started playing last December.” All these seats will be occupied this afternoon for the regionally telecast game (Channel 4). “He is 6-9 Clyde Lee, a consensus All-American, three-time member of the All-SEC team and the fellow who, last season, led Vanderbilt to national recognition and is the man most responsible for the decision to expand Memorial Gymnasium’s seating capacity to 9,213. Four Vanderbilt seniors, who have played on teams compiling a cumulative record of 65-13, are winding up their careers, standing tallest among them is a man who has triggered more basketball excitement in this state than any other Commodore in history. ![]() “Southeastern Conference foes Vanderbilt and Mississippi State tangle at Memorial Gymnasium at 1:15 p.m., today in a game which marks the end of an era in Commodore basketball. John Bibb of the Tennessean wrote on the day of “Clyde Lee Day.” He had the potential to be and certainly developed into an outstanding player.” At that time it wasn’t that big because he wasn’t that good. ![]() Of course, I worked as hard as I could at it and ended up winning. It was a little difficult because so many schools were interested in him. He was an excellent student and qualified. Vanderbilt Coach Roy Skinner said in a 2007 interview, “It was not difficult as far as the grades to recruit Clyde. If you stay with us, you will be a big fish in our little pond.” Lee became a big fish in a big pond. The Lipscomb coach told Lee, “If you go to Vanderbilt you’ll just be a little fish in a big pond. The basketball coach at David Lipscomb College tried to convince Lee to stay on campus and play for the Bisons. The sell-out crowds forced the university to add balconies to the gymnasium dubbed, “The Balconies that Clyde Built.” Record crowds poured into Memorial Gym to witness Lee’s exploits and Commodore basketball popularity took off. The youngster from Nashville’s David Lipscomb High School graduated from Vanderbilt as the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder and remains the top rebounder today. On March 5, 1966, Vanderbilt University and the city of Nashville showed their appreciation by supporting “Clyde Lee Day.” But one special athlete that played basketball for Vanderbilt had such a day. It is not often that an athlete has a special day dedicated to his accomplishments during their college career. NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete Prospective student-athlete questionnaire Student-athlete mental health and performance Vanderbilt University Athletics - Official Athletics Website Open Menu ![]()
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