Vanderbilt Football

Maryland offensive coordinator James Franklin, who had previously been the "Coach-in-Waiting" for the Terrapins, is leaving College Park to take the helm of the Vanderbilt Commodores football program in Nashville. Franklin will replace Robbie Caldwell, who was forced out after a 2-10 season. 

Franklin brings a resume with him that includes NFL experience with Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers, and at age 38, he is considered one of the nation's top young coaches.

He was in his third season as Maryland's assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. A former record-setting quarterback at East Stroudsburg University in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania himself, he was also in charge of tutoring the Maryland quarterbacks.

Franklin is known as a tireless and renowned recruiter with a creative offensive mind. He was named the eventual successor to Maryland Head Coach Ralph Friedgen in February of last year.

He had two of his former pupils taken in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft, as Darrius Heyward-Bey was selected seventh overall by the Oakland Raiders, and Josh Freeman was chosen 17th by Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was also selected as one of the 25 best recruiters in the nation by Rivals.com in the spring of 2009.

Franklin was in his second stint at Maryland, after having left for awhile to put together a successful tenure running Kansas State's offense earlier this decade. Vanderbilt should be able to recruit minority players more readily under his leadership.

Franklin will be only the third black head coach in football in SEC history and the second current one. Since Vanderbilt recruits nationwide, his experience all over the USA should help the program get better athletes to compete in the tough Southeastern Conference. He is also the first black coach in any major sport in Vanderbilt history.

He was a leading candidate for the opening at Pittsburgh before agreeing to take the Vanderbilt job, which was turned down by Auburn Offensive Coordinator Gus Malzahn earlier this week. He should be a good fit for the Commodores.

While Vanderbilt's administration refuses to confirm or deny these reports, we have confirmed from multiple sources that Franklin has told friends and associates that he has accepted the job offer. Expect an official announcement to come imminently.

According to the Washington Post, InsideVandy.com and USA Today, former Auburn Tigers offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn has accepted an offer to become the next head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Malzahn had been mentioned as a potential candidate for the offensive coordinator opening at Texas, among other places. It had become a foregone conclusion in recent days that Malzahn would not be returning to Auburn for the 2011-12 season. These rumors gained even more steam with Cam Newton's selection as the 2010-11 Heisman Trophy winner while under Malzahn's leadership.

Malzahn's move to Vanderbilt creates an even more unstable environment among the collegiate coaching ranks, and is sure to escalate some of the existing rumors of movement among the elite coaches.

Could it be possible that Gene Chizik might try to lure Major Applewhite to Auburn to be the next offensive coordinator? Could Auburn have interest in Boise State offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin? Is there another coach that isn't yet on the radar that will be Chizik's next right-hand man? 

None of these questions have easy answers, especially given the fresh announcement of Malzahn's departure to Nashville.

Vanderbilt has staged a major coup by bringing in Malzahn to take the reins of the Commodore offense. His ability to make the most of the talent he had to work with at Auburn and turn that talent into the nation's most explosive offense was impressive to watch.

While the talent may be somewhat limited at Vanderbilt, it is still an SEC opportunity for the new head coach. And, as we've seen over the past 24 hours with Will Muschamp's decision to take the Florida job, SEC head coaching opportunities are just too good to pass on.

Meet Mr. C, the Vanderbilt Commodore

Never will you have a more well-mannered, prim and proper leader than Mr. Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt. Here, here.

As a military man, Mr. C makes sure to protect his Vanderbilt faithful from all wrongdoers. Never will you catch Mr. C without his naval officer uniform complete with chops, cutlass, and 19^th century naval regalia. He is a truly an officer and a gentleman..

Though he follows a strict code of behavior as a military man, Mr. C still sees himself as a man of the people. He loves shaking hands as he patrols the sidelines, making sure all Vanderbilt followers are up and cheering.

Mr. C’s Experience

There is nothing these 20^th century mascots can try that Mr. C hasn’t seen.  A vote for Mr. C is a vote for experience.

Mr. C remembers when the United States was only 38 states, but even with his old age, Mr. C manages to be wise beyond his years.

Mr. C’s Leadership Abilities

Mr. C salutes and respects everyone, but he is a born leader. Watch him as he leads the Vanderbilt team to victory. Who better than a Commodore to lead you? And for those who don’t know, a Commodore outranks a Captain in the military, so Mr. C isn’t one to be taken lightly.

What Sets Mr. C Apart From the Rest?

Contrary to rumor, Mr. C was never part of a soul group in the 1970s, and he doesn’t even know Lionel Richie. If anything sets him apart from the other mascots, it’s his black and gold smooth attire.  It was classic in the 1880’s, and it’s still in today—timeless fashion for a timeless mascot.

Mr. C's Campaign Promise

Mr. C promises to teach proper etiquette to anyone who needs it. From saluting properly to which fork to use to eat your salad, Mr. C knows it all.

Mr. C: A hearty handshake and proper salute for every vote.

A big part of defeating favored Connecticut this Saturday will be starting fast, something Vanderbilt has been woeful at the past two years.

Even with Robbie Caldwell's first career victory as a head coach two weeks back, Vanderbilt has only won five of its past 23 games dating back to 2008.

In every victory since then, the Commodores scored first; they're 5-1 during this stretch when they draw first blood and 0-17 when they don't.

No, that's not really a coincidence. Getting off to a quick start for an early game on Saturday is hugely important for Vanderbilt to win, and a victory is absolutely vital if the Commodores want to even sniff a winning record this year.

After this game, the next two weeks are against winless Eastern Michigan and SEC East cellar dweller Georgia. And you read that correctly; Georgia's 0-3 in the SEC and reeling after an ugly loss at Mississippi State.

The Commodores have a legitimate shot at entering that showdown in Athens with a 3-2 record, but the Huskies stand in the way.

However, Vanderbilt's feeling the positive effects of its first open date in nearly two years, with a fully loaded backfield and several other key players nursed almost to full health.

Even more important is that the Commodores have been able to savor a victory over the past two weeks. It had certainly been awhile.

The Huskies are 7.5 point favorites going in, but that shouldn't faze anyone in Nashville. Remember, the Commodores were 12-point underdogs in Oxford. Ole Miss should have been a 12-point dog in that one two weeks ago, and even then Vanderbilt would have covered in a 28-14 win.

Not that Connecticut doesn't deserve the credit. The Huskies have a terrific offensive line and a tough running game to boot led by Jordan Todman, who looks to be healed from his recent injury. Like the Commodores, they're no stranger to instability at the quarterback position, but this is still a tough offense to stop.

This game will be won or lost in the trenches.

Vanderbilt can exploit them in the running game. The Huskies are 74th in the nation in rush defense, allowing 160 yards per game, so, led by Warren Norman and Zac Stacy, and with support from a near fully-healthy Wesley Tate, the Commodores need to be able to move the ball on the ground, eat up clock and take pressure off their defense.

The run-heavy Huskies would have a tougher time rallying from an early deficit, especially with a new starting quarterback, Cody Endres, taking over the offense after he impressed in the second half of a rout of Buffalo last Saturday.

Again, striking quickly and early will be key to quieting the home crowd (not a big stadium at Rentschler Field, but as we know at Vanderbilt, small doesn't necessarily mean quiet) and moving the Commodores back to .500.

A win over an SEC opponent did wonders for Vanderbilt's confidence and has the Commodores hungry for even more.

The last time the opposition struck first and Vanderbilt rallied was the "GameDay" win against Auburn, in October of 2008. That was also the last time the team notched consecutive wins.

But in that one, the Commodores were fresh and optimistic, coming off a road win at Ole Miss and an open date.

That sounds familiar.

Robbie Caldwell called Vanderbilt's game against Ole Miss a business trip.

The Commodores left from Nashville on a bus the morning of the game, rolled into Oxford at 9 a.m. and rolled out with their first win in nearly a year, 28-14 over the West division rival Rebels.

Calling it a business trip seemed appropriate, because Vanderbilt looked shockingly crisp the final three quarters of this game.

With a return to form from 2008 with hard-nosed defense, big plays when they needed it from the offense, outstanding special teams work and no turnovers, the Commodores played within themselves and won a game they deserved to win.

Not to mention, they won a game that snapped a host of ugly skids, including a 10-game losing streak overall and a 10-game SEC losing streak dating back nearly two years.

Well, the Commodores deserved this one. Caldwell got the game ball from his players at the end, but all three phases of the team were in top form in this game, especially the defense, who stood tall against the Rebels through the first quarter when the Commodores had terrible trouble moving the ball in their own right.

A 96-yard touchdown drive, with a great mixture of pass and run that played to Vanderbilt's strengths on offense, took some pressure off.

But perhaps the most telling moment came in the third quarter, when the Rebels appeared to be making a comeback.

After Ole Miss tied the game on Jeremiah Masoli's terrific touchdown run in the third quarter, the Commodores didn't hesitate to respond, with Warren Norman blasting through a wide hole for an 80-yard score.

It was a huge play that turned the momentum of the game firmly back toward Vanderbilt. The Rebels couldn't finish any drives; the work-in-progress offense of the Commodores didn't do much the rest of the game either, but it took care of the football.

The Rebels were hampered by drops, mistakes (the worst a terrible throw by Masoli that Eddie Foster intercepted for a touchdown) and a missed chip-shot field goal, and Masoli's athleticism wasn't enough to overcome it.

Houston Nutt was the picture of frustration on the sidelines, while Caldwell ran around smashing high-fves.

Maybe the only non-businesslike portion of the trip came at the end, when Caldwell was doused with Gatorade by co-captain Adam Smotherman. He deserved it; this was, after all, a victory over 30 years in the making for a man who's spent over half his life coaching.

While Nutt paced off the field with the echos of Rebel boos in his ears, Caldwell could revel in his Commodores singing the alma mater at game's end with the Vanderbilt contingent in attendance.

They were two coaches who were 1-2, but one of them was preparing to feel some serious heat from angry fans, and the other was breathless with excitement.

For Vanderbilt, it was a start. The passing game still needs a lot of work, the penalties have to be cut down. But it was a start nonetheless.

And perhaps the start to a winning streak.

With a much-needed bye week, Vanderbilt's first since 2008, the banged-up Commodores can concentrate on getting healthy and enjoy their spot in the middle of the SEC East.

And that hasn't been business as usual for a long time.

A couple years back, when the third quarter ended during games at Vanderbilt Stadium, a Commodore football player would appear on the big screen to get the crowd energized.

"It's the fourth quarter, Commodore fans!" he said. "Stand up!"

That hasn't been done the last few seasons in Nashville. Perhaps this is because the fourth quarter, Vanderbilt's time to shine when the Commodores started the 2008 season 5-0 and went to their first bowl game in 26 years, has become a time to sit down and sulk.

Saturday's 27-3 dismantling at the hands of No. 19 LSU was just another catastrophe indicative of a larger problem with the Commodores and their inability to play effectively in the fourth quarter. It was Vanderbilt's 10th consecutive loss and disappearing act at game's end.

Want a gruesome statistic? The Tigers scored 17 points to Vanderbilt's zero in the final stanza Saturday night, which means the Commodores have been outscored 89-19 in the fourth quarter during their 10-game skid. They've held the ball for 53:57 during that time, an average of less than 5:30 per quarter.

Nineteen points. That's two touchdowns, one against Army (on a kickoff return) and one last week against Northwestern, and two field goals, in two and a half games worth of fourth quarters.

Last night was more of the same.

A strong effort by Vanderbilt's defense made it a one-score contest with LSU heading into the fourth quarter, but the Commodores had mustered just five first downs and a 23-yard field goal.

In the fourth quarter, it all came apart.

The Tigers finished off a long drive for a field goal, Warren Norman coughed up a kickoff return, and LSU scored another touchdown four plays later to make it 20-3.

For good measure, after Vanderbilt punted (for the ninth time, finishing with 10 for the night), Stephen Ridley ran past the Commodore defense for a 65-yard touchdown to put the stamp on an ugly night.

This wasn't LSU being clutch. This was Vanderbilt being gassed. John Stokes, a Vanderbilt linebacker, said the Commodores knew they'd get a heavy dose of the run late in the game. They knew, and they couldn't stop it. Sure, LSU's the superior team, but the defense wasn't just outmuscled; it was fatigued.

And it starts with the offense, who after showing some sparks in last week's 23-21 loss to Northwestern, were again embarrassed by an SEC defense. Dating back to 2008, this was the sixth time in 10 SEC games, all losses, that the Commodores managed only a single offensive score.

Embattled quarterback Larry Smith had eight pass completions and was sacked six times. Those aren't numbers that should come close to one another. The offensive line, which everyone knew would be a work in progress this season, looked out of its league.

The Commodores had 135 yards of total offense, 51 coming on one rush by Norman. The defense can only do so much before the wear and tear of a game starts to break them down, but Vanderbilt just can't move the ball against an SEC defense.

One thing is for sure; Robbie Caldwell's team will never be able to finish games if it can't even start them. Vanderbilt hasn't even led this season; in fact, the Commodores haven't had a lead since the third quarter against Kentucky last November.

That was quickly erased after the Wildcats held the Commodores to one first down over the final half of football.

Good teams are good late in games; Vanderbilt isn't. The last 15 minutes of the last 10 games have been generally dreadful, but it's the first 45 that's had a lot to do with that.

It's the fourth quarter, Commodore fans. Avert your gaze.

The uneasiness around Vanderbilt football head coach Bobby Johnson’s abrupt departure transformed almost completely into jubilation for successor Robbie Caldwell’s prospects within a 24-hour time period in the week after the retirement announcement.

Hot on the heels of Caldwell’s standing ovation from the rabid press at SEC Media Days came the leaked info that Tulsa co-offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Herb Hand was leaving Conference USA to fill Caldwell’s vacant role.

“We’re so excited to have (Herb Hand) in our family,” Caldwell finally announced on August 6, 2010. “There’s not enough expletives to describe him. Not only is he a great coach, he’s got a pedigree a mile long.

“Not only that. He’s a great man, great person. He’s the kind of man you want your son to play for. And so he’s a perfect fit for our staff and he did us a great honor by coming and joining us and we’re just thrilled to death.”

You might have already heard of the 41-year-old Hand before this move. If not, you should have.

Along with current Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn (unanimously regarded by national media as the next hot assistant who should land a FBS head-coaching gig), Hand guided Tulsa to No. 1 national rankings for total offense in 2007 and 2008.

During the latter season, Tulsa’s total offense topped out at 570 yards per game and 90 touchdowns. The Golden Hurricane’s rushing offense, powered by Hand’s line, ranked fifth nationally with 268 yards per game to go along with 40 rushing TDs.

Before his three-year tenure at Tulsa, Hand served six years as the recruiting coordinator/tight ends coach for a West Virginia program that made the 2005 Sugar Bowl and won three Big East titles.

More so than even Caldwell’s own elevation, stealing Hand away from one of the nation’s most consistently prolific and elite offenses is the greatest (or at least the flashiest) hire for a Vanderbilt sports program since Tim Corbin took over the Diamond ‘Dores. With the exception of 2007, Hand has coached in a bowl game every season this decade.

Had Hand stayed at West Virginia, he may have already joined other prominent Mountaineer assistants in making a successful jump to the head coach’s chair, such as former wide receivers coach Butch Jones (Central Michigan/Cincinnati) and last season’s associate head coach/recruiting coordinator/tight ends coach Doc Holliday (Marshall).

Ergo, it wouldn’t have been objectively surprising to see the Rich Rodriguez protégé’s name on a short list for Vandy head coaching candidates, had Vanderbilt vice chancellor/de facto AD David Williams decided to go with a national search instead.

And while he’s only the offensive line coach in name right now, it’s hard to imagine the Commodores settling for many more of the inside QB draws on third down that have continually deflated the fan base’s enthusiasm over the years.

"Herb also fits perfectly into what we do offensively at Vanderbilt,” Caldwell said. “He has tremendous knowledge and understanding of the offense we introduced last year. Herb will walk into the first practice and be right at home."

While it may seem somewhat disingenuous and self-serving for a coach who’s been involved in Vanderbilt’s offensive slide of the past few seasons to compare the spread system in place on West End to that of a proven virtuoso, it’s an affinity Hand embraces.

“There’s a lot of similarities in the general scheme,” Hand said. “It was kind of funny when I first decided to take the job, they sent me a playbook. And I was looking through it and what I would know as a certain play... I’d look at the name that they had for it and it was just different words. So the biggest thing is just learning the (new) terminology.

“It’s a spread, no-huddle (offense) and we just try to pressure people with tempo and being able to operate fast.”

Hand is tasked to hit the ground running in developing an entirely new line rotation, devoid of returning starters. Fortunately for Vandy, this is not Hand’s first rodeo with that kind of situation, which provides another key clue to the value Caldwell saw in him.

“My first year at Tulsa, we had to replace four starters from (2006),” Hand said. “Of the four guys I replaced them with… the right tackle had zero career starts; the center had two career starts, an offensive guard who had never played center before; the left guard had zero career starts; and the left tackle was a defensive lineman and we took him to offense. He’d never played offensive line before.

“We led the nation in total offense (that 2007 season). So it’s not something that’s going to be new to me. I like the challenge of it having got to meet the guys and kind of evaluate them on film. Based on what they did in the spring, I’m very encouraged.”

Though upbeat, Hand did lament that he had to start teaching his new guys “at ground zero” with only 29 practices left before the opener. There’s a sizable chunk of mutual “carry-over” in terminology for himself and his new disciples to learn.

Keep in mind, this is a guy who could have sought much greener pastures with his resume, at least in terms of winning programs and name recognition. In his introductory presser at Vanderbilt, Hand did give a nod to the allure of coaching in “the best conference in football” and his pre-existing relationship with the offensive side of the staff, most notably his longtime friend, wide receivers coach Charlie Fisher.

“I first knew him at Clemson. I’m a lot older so he may not even remember me,” Caldwell chuckled.

Hand added, “I'm just very appreciative to Coach Caldwell and his staff for getting me this opportunity. I'll give the Vanderbilt coaches and players everything I have as their offensive line coach.”

And, hopefully for Vanderbilt, a lot more than just that in the future. There’s a stark contrast between Hand’s coordinator accolades and the offensive legacy of the Johnson era.

Even though Hand’s Hurricane unit fell relatively precipitously from the top last season to 35th nationally in total offense (averaging 410 yards per game while breaking in a new core), none of Johnson’s eight Commodore squads ranked higher than 46th in that category or averaged more than 396 yards per game (both marks set during future NFL first-rounder Jay Cutler's senior year in 2005).

Four of Johnson’s Vanderbilt offenses finished in the 100s (bottom 10-15 percentile). Ironically, the worst of those was the 2008 Music City Bowl champions, who finished 117th of 119 FBS teams while averaging a meager 256 yards per game.

It’s doubtful that Hand and his innovative skills will be able to significantly influence this team’s schemes with so little time to prepare for the Sept. 4th opener at home versus Northwestern, but you wouldn’t know it from listening to him.

“A lot of people think that it is an odd timing because of how quick it is before camp,” Hand acknowledged, “but for me, it was perfect timing.”

Before Hand’s hire materialized out of left field, Caldwell had done nothing yet to distinguish himself on the field from his predecessor. Though there are still weeks left before the Caldwell era officially begins in box scores, it is a signal change that this tweaked coaching regime plans to open up the offensive schemes far more than last season’s anemic performance.

“As I’ve said before, we’re trying to improve in every phase,” Caldwell said, “so we really stepped up our game here by hiring him (to help) in the offensive line.”

While he should provide a crucial resource for new offensive coordinator Jimmy Kiser this season, it would seem like just a matter of time before Hand entrenches himself with more power and input on the staff.

Perhaps for Caldwell to set himself apart as an SEC-caliber head coach, he seeks to lean on seasoned commodities like Hand, let them do their jobs, and step out of the way.

Henry Nichols is a sports editor/reporter and talk show host currently based in Chicago. He can be reached at henrywallace83@gmail.com

Robbie Caldwell has been a busy man since taking over as Vanderbilt’s football coach, but do you think he even knows Judy Orr, Donna Smith, Mike Smeltzer, John Russell, Daniel Dubois or Jenny Mandeville?

I doubt it. But even if he does, he should stop by each of their offices and thank them for the spectacular marketing campaign this group of talented folks has put together promoting Vanderbilt football. Recently, part of the effort was recognized, as Vanderbilt claimed the top spot in a Bleacher Report feature on the nation’s best 2010 Football Posters.

The story has been a hot read on the site, and has caused some buzz—not only for those acknowledging Vanderbilt’s submission, but also those curious why approximately 50 schools declined to participate. The reasons varied, but Vanderbilt’s effort deserves special recognition.

The staff from the Creative Service Department, along with a number of other folks from the sports information office at Vanderbilt, have also sparked some interest in the Nashville area with the promotion that focuses on players who are “Vanderbilt Football.”

The four chosen players—TE Brandon Barden, DB Jamie Graham, RB Warren Norman, and RB Zac Stacy —represent Commodore football. Below you can watch one of their 60-second commercials (and if you listen closely you may recognize that voice as it is Vanderbilt basketball legend Perry Wallace).

“The concept behind our football advertising campaign was to allow our fans to hear and see some of the individual stories on our team that make up Vanderbilt Football. Our student-athletes come from a wide array of backgrounds and many have amazing stories about how they are now competing in the toughest football conference in the country and succeeding in the classroom at one of the most challenging academic institutions in America,” said Steven Walsh, Director of Sales and Marketing at Vanderbilt.

“The schedule posters tie into the overall advertising campaign as we’ve highlighted these four individuals without abandoning the team concept that is so important. We’ve tried to tie the theme together in our TV, radio, print and online campaign elements,” Walsh said.

And the four stories are compelling. Here’s what Walsh shared with me on each of them.

Barden: “He is our standout returning tight end who is also pursuing degree in special education at the top ranked education school in the country. He comes from a family of teachers (including his mother who was also his high school principal) and is dedicated to teaching students with special needs.”

Graham: “Jamie is one of our top defensive backs and kick returners. He is a Nashville native who lost his mother at a very early age and with the help of his grandmother he raised his younger brother. He is now extremely active in the community—speaking to schools and community centers throughout the city telling them the importance of education. He is also a special education major and wants to teach in Nashville Metro schools after graduation.”

Norman and Stacy: “Warren and Zac were one of the nation’s top freshman rushing duos last season. They are great competitors on the field (Warren was SEC Freshman of the Year) and also great friends off the field. They are roommates with two differing personalities (Warren is quiet and reserved while Zac is constantly smiling and engaging) who are top-notch running backs and strong students.”

In recent days we’ve heard and read a lot about talented college players who may be suspended this season for interactions with agents, etc. That’s why it’s also important to remind people who love college football that there are still Brandon Barden’s, Jamie Graham’s, Warren Norman’s, and Zac Stacy’s who make the college game great.

“We chose the players after having met with members of the football staff, our media relations group and the players themselves,” Walsh said. “We tried to highlight players who have distinguished themselves both on and off the field and who have a unique story that our fans may not know. We felt that our fans and even the casual college football fans in the Nashville area deserved to hear these stories.”

And those stories are being heard. Vanderbilt may not compete for an SEC title in 2010, but the Commodores are a team anyone would be proud to cheer for this year.

“The over-riding goal was really to continue to build the connection between our fans and our student-athletes. To tell the stories that fans may not see in the media and give them a sense of pride in supporting Vanderbilt,” Walsh said. “The posters and the entire campaign have been very well received by the Vanderbilt community and by the entire Nashville community. We are actually going to be doing something similar with all of our teams for the 2010-11 school year—we feel like we have exciting stories to tell from our student-athletes in all of our sports.”

At first, I wasn't sure how to feel when I heard that Bobby Johnson was stepping down from coaching less than two months before the season starts against Northwestern.

It's a difficult position that Vandy now finds itself in, if it wasn't already hard enough.

The timing is horrible, but the reason is not. According to Johnson himself, he decided to call it quits because "football isn't life, it's a way of life". Amen to that. He has his priorities straight. I just wish he would've done this a lot sooner.

However, you can't condemn the man too much. It's tough thing to do—leaving what he calls his way of life. He probably second guessed himself a few times before finally coming to grips with what he had to do.

He also went on to say that he would basically feel terrible if he was asked if he was doing the best he can, just to leave in December.

At first glanc,e Johnson's coaching slate at Vanderbilt looks terrible and people who don't follow Vanderbilt probably don't understand why people may be upset about this.

Let me just say this.

Coaching at Vanderbilt is an uphill battle from day one because you're coaching at a school where athletics is a distant second to academics. In fact, Vanderbilt doesn't even have an athletics department, technically.

Despite that, Johnson had Vanderbilt competing week in and week out. You can't expect a coach to just walk into Vanderbilt and make them an SEC champion. It's almost impossible.

Johnson did the best he could with the talent he had and did so much with so little. You put Johnson as the coach at a bigger program and I guarantee you he has success.

The team has been handed down to interim coach Robbie Caldwell, who will take over and get a chance to win the job.

But, there are rumors swirling around the Phillip Fulmer and even Tommy Bowden will hear talks from Vanderbilt for the job. If a big name coach gets the job at Vanderbilt, then recruiting could get a lot better for a school that has little to draw the top football prospects.

Those possible coaching replacements leaves a shred of hope left for Vandy fans.

Bobby Johnson's Career at Vandy

• 29-66 record
• 12-52 SEC record
• 1 bowl win (Music City Bowl 08')
• Had Vandy up to No.13 in rankings in 2008
• Coached Jay Cutler
• Coached Vandy to first win against Tennessee in 30 years