Clark knows. Candice knows. Chancellor Diermeier knows. Diego knows. Seddy knows. Eli knows. Junior knows. Q Skinn knows. Cole knows. Miles knows. CJ knows. Langston knows. Randon knows. Martel knows. We all know.

We have all been through pain and heartbreak through the years, but we Finally got the result we deserved so much on Saturday, and it couldn’t have been any more spectacular. Our head coach, our assistants and our players all made us SO proud Saturday afternoon before a packed house at FirstBank Stadium with the upset of the decade, maybe the centrury, although the players didn’t think so. They expected it. A 40-35 victory over No.1 and seemingly unbeatable Alabama couldn’t have been more inspiring.

It was beyond special. It was magical, magnificent, surreal, profound and a brilliant performance by Clark, Offensive coordinator Tim Beck, Senior Offensive Coach Jerry Kill, offensive line coach Chris Klenakis and, Clark mentioned this postgame, Director of Sports Performance, or Strength Coach, Robert Stiner, and a spectacular group of football players, led be an other worldly performance by our quarterback, Diego Pavia, who were NOT going to be denied on Saturday afternoon. I told Beth this last night also. Our offensive line of Chase Mitchell, Steven Hubbard, Gunnar Hansen, Delfin Xavier Castillo and Steven Losoya was heroic. Seddy Alexander was heroic. Eli Stowers, a hero. Randon Fontenette, Junior Sherrill, and Likes Capers were heroes. It was a courageous and heroic effort by a group of coaches and football players who were simply NOT going to lose. As they said in the great TV show, Friday Night Lights, “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose!” That’s who we were on Saturday in FirstBank.

Our crowd? I think Nick Saban might want to walk back his comments on our crowd not having an impact during games. There was no doubt our students and fans were electric. The atmosphere was riveting, sublime.

What a day to be a Vanderbilt Commodore. Vanderbilt University has always been one of the best institutions in the country. It was a top flight university when I attended back in the early 1980’s, and it’s gotten even stronger and stronger through the years. With the leadership of Chancellor Diermeier, it will continue to be an elite university for the for-seeable future. The great doctors, lawyers, many of whom I know here in Birmingham, two who are very close friends and advisers to me, businessmen, several who I’m close with, and people of all professions.

There are stellar sportswriters who are Vanderbilt grads. The late great Grantland Rice, who once wrote, “For when the One Great Scorer comes to write against your name, He marks-not that you won or lost-but how you played the game.” The great Skip Bayless, the great Buster Olney, the great Dan Wolken. These are legendary writers and sports personalities, and they are straight out of our University. Many superb authors have matriculated from Vanderbilt University. And talk about baseball players. David Price, Sonny Gray, Dansby Swanson, Mike “Yaz” Yastrzemski, Tony Kemp, Mike Minor and Pedro Alvarez among others. Tim Corbin has built a dynasty and legacy at Vanderbilt. And there’s more to come from our baseball program. JMatt and Anfernee Orji are pretty good football players, too. We’ve had our share of stellar NFL players. Basketball looks compelling with our first year coach Mark Byington bringing a ton of energy to the program. Another excellent hire by Candice Storey Lee, our great athletics director. Scott Limbaugh has taken our Men’s Golf program to great heights with so much excitement ahead for the program under our great coach, who’s a Vanderbilt man to the core. With Gordon Sargent, Jackson Van Paris and a talented roster, this could be our year. We’ve definitely got a shot.

And Clark, Diego and the team put on a performance for the ages. Want to enjoy this a little longer today, at least for the Vandy faithful, but the team has to turn its attention to a very good Kentucky team on Saturday at 6:45 PM CT in Lexington on the SEC Network. Kentucky went to Ole Miss a week and a half ago and upset the Rebels, so our hands are full. We are a 13 1/2 point underdog, but I like that. It keeps us very motivated. I firmly believe the guys will be ready.

I’m happy for all my friends and my family, too. I’m happy for Kirby, Richard, Bo, my sister, Lisa, happy birthday by the way-you got an amazing gift on Saturday!, Jake, Jake III, Kirk, Tate. And I want to thank my beautiful wife, Beth, who stuck with me through all the frustration through the years. She wasn’t happy with the result, she’s an Alabama undergrad and business school grad, summa cum laude, Valedictorian, all that, but she was a tremendous sport about it. And my in-laws, all Alabama people, were terrific as well. I appreciate my wife so much and love her deeply. My daughters, Isabelle and Fairbanks, have felt my heartbreak at times, and have been incredible daughters. I love them so much.

And I don’t want to forget my amazing twitter brethren. Mark, Vandy Sixty Two, Christi, Christopher, Mike H., Clay, Marshall, Auric, Vandy Meg. Thank you guys for your support of my work and for your unwavering support of Vanderbilt University.

This means more than I can express. I’m just so happy for all of us. Matt Stahl of Al.com in Birmingham, Mobile and Huntsville, kept writing “Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt?” in questioning how the Crimson Tide could lose to us.

My response to that is: Vanderbilt? You’re damn right, Vanderbilt.

Have a great week, and I’ll be in touch. Let’s go take care of business Saturday in Lexington. Seems like we have to shock the world every time out. I believe Clark, Diego and the team can do just that. I love you guys and Anchor Down. I’ll be in touch.