Vanderbilt Football

After the first quarter of Saturday's game, Vandy found themselves trailing by 13 points—the most they have trailed by all season. 

In the second quarter, Vanderbilt's luck appeared to take a turn for the worse, when star quarterback, Chris Nixon left the game with an injury. Back up quarterback, Mackenzi Adams, checked into the game and played nearly flawless, leading the Commodores to two scoring drives, one in the second quarter and one in the third.

With his second touchdown pass Adams tied the game, and kicker Brian Hahnfeldt drove home the extra point, to give the commodores a one point lead. Vanderbilt's defense stepped up and held Auburn scoreless for three quarters, giving Vandy the one point victory.

There were many outstanding players for Vandy. To start with Mackenzi Adams, looked like a season veteran under center. Adams completed 13 0f 23 for 153 yard and two scores. Adams, revealed his is a dual threat qb, running for 54 yards on 13 carries.

Wide recievers, Justin Wheeler, and Sean Walker, kept the Auburn secondary on their toes. Walker and Wheeler combined for 118 yards and a touchdown.

The whole Vanderbilt defense, was outstanding, holding Auburn to just 82 yards in the last three quarters combined. The 'Dores defense also racked up five sacks by five different players, and preserved a phenomenal turnover ratio, averaging +1.80 turnovers a game. If I had to chose a defensive MVP it would be defensive back Myron Lewis who intercepted Chris Todd's final pass to Rodriqus Smith, to seal the deal for Vandy.

Following this historical upset, Vandy is 5-0, (3-0 in SEC). All of Vandy's wins this year, excluding their win against Miami Ohio, have been comeback victories. This weekends victory against Auburn, found the Commodores having to overcome their biggest deficit of the year, 13 points. I guess you could aptly call Vandy the little team who could. Though they have been down, the tenacious Commodores have not been out.

We still have a long way to go, but don't count Bobby Johnson and his Commodores out yet. If they were to win the SEC east, they would have to upset Florida or Georgia, maybe even both. It is a long shot, but Vandy proved if you have hope, determination, grit, and never accept defeat you can accomplish the impossible.

Despite Vandy's ranking, they will be the underdog in many of their remaining games, and that seems to be a role they are quite comfortable in.

Next weekend the Commodores take on Mississippi State, trying to seal their first bowl appearance since 1982. After that Vanderbilt will face Georgia, can Bobby Johnson and his Commodores making lightning strike twice? 

A college football fan can only hope so.

OK guys, quiet down, let's get started.

I want to thank everyone for coming; we have a lot to cover.

We must stop this madness of winning football games.

Has everyone forgotten that we are Vanderbilt, the smallest school in the SEC?

Our main focus is not athletics, it's education. We do not play football to upset our opponents. Our sole purpose is to ensure the other 11 teams have someone to win against every year.

Did you guys not get the memo at training camp?  SEC stands for “Schools Eating Commodores”, not the other way around.

Let me put things in perspective here.

Saturday we beat Auburn, a perennial powerhouse in the SEC. This team has an athletic budget that rivals a small city. We are a private school; our athletic budget is more like what each of you spend at the Laundromat every week.

We pride ourselves on being the only school to offer eyeglass maintenance courses for freshman students.

I know, we also beat the Gamecocks, on the road, but Carolina is where coaches go to retire, not play football.

The last time we were 5-0 there was a world war going on. Pennies were made of steel instead of copper. My God, Joe Paterno was still in high school!

This madness must come to an end.

We have back-to-back away games against Mississippi State and then Georgia. We are no match for the Bulldogs; those guys bench press Yugos before each game.

This would be the best time to stop all this madness and return to our normal losing ways. Our school is not equipped to handle all this success.

If it continues, the NCAA could easily re-align the conferences and replace us with Notre Dame. Do you guys want that on your conscience?

Just in case Georgia is having an off week, the staff has figured out how to help offset the advantage.

First, we will return to X’s and O’s for play explanation. This should help opposing teams to understand our plays better. Binary code will no longer be used.

Second, from now on the quarterback cannot use medical terminology for the count. This confuses the defense and puts them at a disadvantage. Hike one, hike two, or hike three are his only options.

Third, the defense will no longer rely on the calculus team to figure the statistical odds of success of each offensive play. This puts an opposing team’s offense at a disadvantage if they run a play more than once in a game.

I know the last five games have been a whirlwind, so take the rest of the week off, get some rest, and occupy your minds with things other than football.

Put your heads together and invent something, or save a Third World country, or even better, figure out how Ohio State can beat Florida. All of these are accomplishments much more noble than some football championship.

This charade will soon be over and we can all return to normal life.

Besides, Jostens has already said there is no way they can make gold championship pocket protectors for the whole team. No way.  

I love to look at the surprise teams of a new college football season, to project if they’ll continue providing pleasure to their oft-starved and surprised fans.

If a school like Vanderbilt starts strong (4-0, #21 in the nation), you’re going to take notice, especially when it includes two hard-fought SEC wins. The most recent victim, Mississippi, followed the ‘Dores defeat by upending Florida in The Swamp.

The question is: Can a program without a winning season since 1982 continue stunning the conference and country?

You can often tell plenty about a team’s strength by reviewing the statistics; they leave footprints for those willing to look beyond the score.

Head coach Bobby Johnson’s done some wonderful things with a program vastly outrecruited by most, if not all, of its peers. He has them doing the little things that add up to wins in close games.

Still, when you see Vanderbilt ranked #112 in total offense (out of 119 teams) and a less-than-stout #73 in total defense, it grabs your attention.

The second-game triumph over South Carolina grabbed everyone’s attention, as Bobby Johnson upended Steve Spurrier for the second straight season. “I'm sure those Vanderbilt players are wondering what kind of excuse the South Carolina guys have now. We don't have excuses, they just beat us," Spurrier said.

So much for the revenge factor.

The ‘Dores, despite only etching out 225 yards, won 24-17 on clutch plays, three SC turnovers (vs. just one of its own) and crucial penalties.

In a “brain school battle,” Vanderbilt and Rice were knotted 21-21 at halftime, but the Commodores rolled to a 17-0 second half edge to put away the Owls, 38-21.

Again, Johnson’s squad was outgained in victory, 407-344. Another two-turnover advantage helped make difference, as did D.J. Moore’s 67-yard punt return to the Rice one-yard line.

Next came Ole Miss, and ol’ Vandy had a similar song. Despite being massively outgained (385-202), the ‘Dores reveled in the Rebels’ turnover fest, claiming six gifts while giving just two of their own. Sloppy Ole Miss also gifted 82 yards in penalties.

The host team Rebels led early, 10-0, and drove again into Vanderbilt territory. In the turnaround play of the day, Ryan Hamilton stole one of his three passes in the game and returned it 79 yards for a touchdown. The surprising Commodores survived several Ole Miss scoring shots, winning 23-17.

Vandy obviously faces huge challenges ahead. It’s the meat of the SEC schedule that dooms it annually. After modest starts, Bobby Johnson’s program historically craters, to the point of winning at a near-invisible 10 percent clip in November.

This year’s squad seems to have a winning knack not normally associated with Vanderbilt football. Kudos to Johnson for creating an obviously well-coached and believing team.

Even so, will the excessive reliance on opponents’ miscues catch up with the ‘Dores?

What’s more, if a team averages 80 yards a game throwing (#116 nationally), can it suddenly go aerial after opposing defensive stalwarts shut down its ground game?

We may find out this Saturday when Vandy hosts defensively stout Auburn.

A final note, though; despite Auburn holding a 13-game winning streak and obvious talent edge, it may not be the “obvious” no brainer to pick the Tigers.

Their own offense (ranked #97 in scoring) isn’t exactly guaranteed to blow the Commodores out. And when Vandy has stuck around this fall, good things have happened.

Good things for college football as well, I believe.

Auburn Tigers (4-1) @ Vanderbilt Commodores (4-0)

Line: Auburn -4

ESPN GameDay will visit Vanderbilt for the first time ever as the Commodores look to inch closer to ending a bowl drought that extends back to the early '80s. However, Auburn comes in as the favorite after dispatching Tennessee at home last week 14-12.

Auburn Offense vs. Vanderbilt Defense

Auburn's new spread offense under OC Tony Franklin has failed to deliver thus far. The Tigers managed just three points earlier this season against Miss State and needed a defensive touchdown to beat Tennessee last week.

QB Chris Todd has split time with backup Kodi Burns, but it has not been enough to spark Auburn on offense. The running game has done pretty well, though, led by Ben Tate.

Right now, Auburn's O-line is struggling with the new blocking schemes, and they do not have the receivers or quarterback to run this offense.

Vanderbilt's defense has always been solid under Bobby Johnson, keeping them in many of those close games they have lost over the years. This season, Vandy has been giving up yards but has done a really good job of forcing turnovers and keeping their opponents off the scoreboard.

However, the 124 YPG allowed on the ground is concerning against an Auburn team rushing for 155 YPG this season.

Key: Can Vanderbilt's defense continue to generate turnovers?

Vanderbilt Offense vs. Auburn Defense

Bobby Johnson has turned to more of an option-based attack with Chris Nickson under center. The 'Dores are averaging over 200 YPG on the ground this season, but a measly 80 through the air each game.

Vandy's offense has done an excellent job of turning opponents' turnovers into points, averaging close to 30 PPG on under 300 YPG of offense.

While the Auburn offense struggles, the defense has not missed a beat under new DC Paul Rhoads, scoring touchdowns in each of the last two games. This defense has done an exceptional job against the pass, allowing just 155 YPG. This defense also leads the nation in third down conversion percentage.

Key: Can Vanderbilt open up the offense when Auburn stacks the box?

Prediction

Vanderbilt is sky high with their top 25 ranking and ESPN GameDay coming to Nashville. Still, Vegas is not giving Vandy much respect as a home underdog to an Auburn team that has not been overly impressive this year.

Vandy has had really good starts before under Bobby Johnson, but has choked in the big games. Auburn’s offense is not making significant improvement and now has two QBs running their offense, which means they don’t have any good ones.

If Vanderbilt can keep their turnovers in their favor, like they have all year, they have a good chance in this one. But if they give the ball up and Auburn gets points off them, then the Commodore ship could sink under the spotlight.

I just cannot trust Auburn's offense enough to go and win on the road right now.

Vanderbilt 20, Auburn 17

Vanderbilt Covers

Last Week: 2-1 ATS, 1-2 SU

Season: 13-5-1 ATS, 12-7 SU

Home

Bobby Johnson always felt he could do well in the "Big Time" division football and when the call came, Johnson took a deep breath and considered if this was the route he wanted to take. 

It would mean a step up to Division One and a step up into the SEC to match wits with some of the best coaches in the nation.  He looked out the window into the cool December sky and pondered. 

He had just led Furman to a Division II national championship, and he had hoped there would be better offers.  Not a better league to coach in, but a better school.  The school that wanted him was Vanderbilt, the doormat of the SEC.

He took a deep breath and in his mind accepted not only the offer, but the challenge.  It was like the old Broadway song: if he could make it there, he'll make it anywhere.  Bobby Johnson never backed down from a challenge.

Johnson knew there were two truths.  The university chancellor had pledged his full support and patience, and the other was he would need them.  There were three two-win campaigns, but insiders and knowledgeable sportsmen were seeing the difference in his recruits and the impact they were making.  Maybe this man could make it happen.

Then came the breakthrough season in 2005, and suddenly Vanderbilt was flirting with dreams of bowl games after another 4-0 start, but they fell just short and won just one more game with lots of close-game heartaches. 

But since the low points of the two-win seasons, there have been wins over in-state rival Tennessee, Georgia in Sanford Stadium no less, and South Carolina, who was ranked No. 6 in the nation at that time.  Not only had Johnson shown he can coach with the best, he proved it could be done from Vanderbilt, no less.

Vanderbilt is riding the wave so far this season.  With only four games down, they are the season's Cinderella story.  Once again bowl games are within their reach, with remaining games against Mississippi State, Duke and Kentucky, a seven-win season certainly seems a reality, as is post-season play, which always gets the eye of a young recruit.

Vanderbilt's Chancellor Gee and Vice Chancellor Williams' pledge of loyalty is now paying off.  Vanderbilt now sits poised to be a consistent challenger in most of its games and a spoiler should anyone not take them seriously. 

Vanderbilt has always had a history of playing "tough" games but usually winding up on the short side of the scoreboard.  Now they may develop into bowl contenders. 

Should Johnson take the Commodores to a seven- or eight-win season and a bowl, the phones may start ringing again.  I think he'll stay for a while and pay back some of that loyalty and that could spell trouble for some "Big Names" in the SEC for a few more years.

South Carolina @ Vanderbilt
Thur 8:30 ET ESPN
Line: SC -9.5
Over/Under: 40.5

Both teams won their season openers convincingly last Thursday night. South Carolina will look to avenge a 17-6 loss in Columbia last season which began their five game slide to end the season.
Keys to the Game

1. Put South Carolina QB in Tough Spots

Last year, Vandy sacked South Carolina QB Chris Smelley 7 times and picked off 2 of his passes. South Carolina does not look like they have solved their interception woes as starter Tommy Beecher threw 4 picks last week against NC State. Vanderbilt needs a good pass rush and good coverage like they had last year to win this game. South Carolina needs to counter the Vandy rush with a solid running game from Mike Davis to slow the Vandy pass rush.

2. Make Chris Nickson One-Dimensional

Nickson was the on again, off again starter last season and secured the job for the first game this season responding with over 100 yards rushing, 2 rush TDs, and a pass TD. If Nickson is made into more of a one-dimensional QB he will not be nearly as successful because he could not even nail down the starting job last season. It should be easier to slow down his rushing ability with a spy and less blitzing and make him beat you with the pass. Vandy needs to come with a ground game from their backs to keep Carolina's front seven honest.

Prediction

I know South Carolina has more talent than Vanderbilt. But I also know the Commodores are a very tough team at home in SEC play. I think South Carolina will struggle again on offense and their defense will bail them out of a tight game in the 4th quarter.

South Carolina 20 Vanderbilt 13
Vandy Covers, Under

Week 1 Results
ATS: 2-0
O/U: 2-0
SU: 1-1

Other Week 2 Predictions

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Don’t look now, but the Vanderbilt Commodores may finally be turning the corner under head coach Bobby Johnson.

Johnson and the Commodores have rattled off four straight wins to start the season, including upset victories over Steve Spurrier and South Carolina and a talented Ole Miss squad.

Their fast start has led to a No. 21 ranking in the AP Poll, their first ranking in over two decades, and an excited buzz around the football team.

Vanderbilt’s successful start has Nashville, as well as the SEC, wondering: Will this be the year that Vandy finally ends their postseason drought?

While Vandy certainly has the motivation and the competitive drive to reach a bowl game (their last bowl appearance was in 1982), their upcoming schedule will prove to be a tough test for the 4-0 Commodores.

As many of you may know, Vanderbilt plays in the SEC, which is arguably college football’s toughest conference, and faces a brutal schedule down the stretch.

The Commodores travel to play at No. 2 Georgia and No. 16 Wake Forest, while hosting No. 15 Auburn, No. 4 Florida, and Tennessee.

That schedule is not intended for the faint of heart.

Another disadvantage for Vandy is that week after week, they are often the second-best team on the field, talent-wise.

Vanderbilt prides itself primarily on academic prestige, admitting students based on their academic prowess rather than their ability to catch a football. (Ironically, former Commodore receiver Earl Bennett is the SEC’s all-time leader in career receptions with 236. Go figure.)

Vanderbilt’s strict academic requirements, as well as their rigorous curriculum, make it difficult for some of the nation’s top high school prospects to enroll at Vandy, resulting in the top talent going elsewhere (i.e. Georgia, Florida, LSU, Tennessee).

However, Vanderbilt is a resilient bunch and is normally good for at least one big upset per season—sometimes, even more than one.

The Commodores still have some very winnable games left on their schedule, including road trips to Mississippi State and Kentucky.

In addition, Vandy will play host to David Cutcliffe and Duke in the “Academic/Scholastic Bowl.”

Call me crazy, but Vanderbilt has a very realistic shot of winning six, seven, maybe even eight games this season and finally ending their egregious bowl drought.

However, it will all come down to how Vanderbilt handles their newfound success and if they can continue to perform at a high level in the ground game.

Senior quarterback Chris Nickson and junior tailback Jared Hawkins have been a formidable one-two punch on the ground, combining for nearly 600 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the young season.

The Nickson-Hawkins duo has been good thus far but will face their first major test against the Auburn Tigers in two weeks.

If the Commodores are able to establish the run against Auburn, the rest of the SEC had better take notice—and fast!

The ground game has been Vanderbilt’s bread and butter so far in 2008, and the Commodores would be wise to continue their running ways.

In fact, Vandy needs to continue doing whatever it is that they have been doing for the past few weeks if their goal is to play in a bowl game at season’s end.

Whatever happens for the rest of the season, 2008 will be a season to remember in Nashville.

Whether it will live on in infamy or historic lore is up to Johnson and the Vanderbilt Commodores.

1984...ring a bell?

That's right—the last time Vandy was ranked in the top 25.  It has been 24 years since this has happened.

Sound like luck?  No, they have completely worked for the 4-0 start this year. 

We all know that Vanderbilt is the brains of the SEC, not the brawn.  The tide seems to have turned this year.  Bobby Johnson has got the squad thinking how to win.  That is a good idea seeing as how it is one of the top-notch academic schools in the SEC. 

What do they do at this point of the season?  Do they botch the 4-0 season like they did in 1950, '84, and 2005?  Well, let's take a look at the key matchups this season to see if Vandy can get to a bowl game.

This coming Saturday (Sept. 27), Vandy has a good bye week.  It will be much needed to regroup and get ready for a stout defensive team from Auburn.  It is a home game, which may help the Commodores, but they need more than a home crowd to win this game.

After the Auburn game, Vandy will most likely be at 4-1.  After this rough game they have to travel to Miss. State.  The Bulldogs have a tough team this year, but they just can't get on the winning side of things often.  Should prove interesting.

The possible upset of the year is against Georgia.  I think that Georgia may be overlooking the Commodores as they come between the hedges for a big SEC matchup. What a way to look if you come out of Athens with a win...but you never can tell in the SEC.

To look at things realistically, Vandy has Duke after GA, which should be a solid win for the black and gold.  Looking at the big picture and what should happen, this should put the Commodores at 5-3—6-2 if they pull off a win against Miss. St.

Florida comes to town...sorry for the Commodores.  It's OK—they have Kentucky the next week.

Kentucky should be an evenly matched game.  Lots of defense + struggling offenses = great SEC game.

The Kentucky game should probably put Vanderbilt at 7-3, or 6-4 depending on other outcomes.  This is bowl eligible.  This is a great thing for Vanderbilt's recruiting and program.

Towards the end of November, Vanderbilt is actually the favorite (at the present time) to win the Vandy vs. UT game.  It is in Nashville, which should prove to be of some assistance.  Likely at the end of this game the season record should be 7-4 or 8-3. 

This is almost unreal to talk about Vanderbilt in such a positive manner, but maybe the power is shifting from Knoxville to Nashville...or maybe that's a little out there for such a statement.

To close the season, the Commodores travel to Wake Forest.  This should prove to be a brawl.  It's likely a highlight game for the weekend if all works out according to this prediction.

After all is said and done, the Vanderbilt Commodores should be 9-3 or 8-4 according to my prediction.  It is possible if they keep up their game play.

Instead of letting one side of the ball take the responsibility for each game they are in, they should take control on both sides of the ball.  In that case they may just dominate one game at least this season.

Let's just hope Bobby Johnson and company don't accidentally hit the self-destruct button.  Let's shake up the SEC this year and see what happens.  We need more parity, and Vandy would be just the school to give it to us as SEC fans, college football fans, and BCS poll haters.

Well, the Vanderbilt Commodores are a ranked team.

Number 21 to be exact. 

Not for long, fellow droogs.

Commodore faithful can rest easy for almost two more weeks since Vanderbilt has a bye week this coming Saturday.

But before I get accused of trying to take a cheap shot at an eternally struggling program, let me start by saying I am happy for Bobby Johnson and what his team has done in the early part of this season.  Johnson has a thankless job, and it’s great to see the guy getting some recognition.

That said, Vanderbilt just isn’t that good. 

Have they notched a few good wins?  Sure. 

But let’s take a closer look at those wins, shall we?

On the surface, it looks like Vanderbilt is playing perfect football: They are racking up more rushing yards than their opponents, making huge plays on special teams, and are sitting pretty with a turnover margin of +9. 

Then again, Chris Nickson, Vandy’s starting quarterback, has yet to pass for 100 yards in a game. In fact, for those counting at home, Nickson has 292 passing yards in four games—in other words, a typical Chase Daniel first half.

I can hear Vandy fans now: But Nickson’s a dual threat—he hurts teams with his legs more than his arm.        

Again, on paper Nickson’s 270 rush yards look good.  But against the two SEC teams Vandy has faced, Ole Miss and South Carolina, Nickson has rushed 23 times for 19 yards. 

Ouch.

Not only that, Ole Miss and South Carolina are ranked 8th and 10th, respectively, in rush defense in the SEC.   

Other telling statistics: Of all the SEC teams, Vanderbilt is number 12 in total offense.  In total defense, they are once again at number 12.  

Just a reminder: There are 12 teams in the SEC. 

The Commodores’ next game against Auburn appears to be the make or break game of the season.  As always, Auburn’s D is as stingy as ever—and should provide a stiff test for the Vanderbilt rush attack. 

But while Auburn has been prone to turning it over this season, I just can’t see Vandy winning the battle in the trenches.   

After Auburn, Vandy then hits the road for two weeks, heading to Mississippi State and Georgia.

From there, the ‘Dores get Duke and then end with a very tough four-game stretch: vs. Florida, at Kentucky, vs. Tennessee, and at the ACC’s finest, Wake Forest.   

Clearly the game most winnable game is against Duke, but from there, it’s a crapshoot. 

Mississippi State is down, but have fun trying to win in Starkville against a desperate Bulldog team.  Kentucky is a mystery, and while the Volunteers look to be struggling, the last thing Tennessee wants is another loss to Vanderbilt. 

So the race to go bowling is on for Vanderbilt, as they will likely need three more wins to do so.

Can the ‘Dores get three more victories?  Yes.

Would I bet on it?  No, sir. 

So enjoy it now, Nashville. 

Come Oct. 4, it’s back to reality.

It may be fun to root for the underdog, but in the powerhouse SEC, Vanderbilt’s loyal fans have had more than enough of that kind of fun, thank you very much.

Tired of being a good team in an exceedingly tough conference, whose every win is thought of as an “upset,” Vanderbilt now finds itself the unfamiliar position of being the team who could BE upset.

Any uninitiated Tennessee residents are warmly advised to take care not to hurt themselves when they jump off the UT bandwagon and climb aboard with the Commodores as the team celebrates an undefeated record and its first AP ranking since 1984.

With this Saturday’s roller coaster 23-17 win over Ole Miss, the Commodores boosted their record to 4-0 and rose to No. 21 in the AP poll—a lucky number that means Bobby Johnson’s Commodores may have finally come of age in the SEC and are getting the attention, if not the respect, they deserve.

Sometimes it seems as if the mantra for landlocked Tennessee’s only sizable naval force has been, “This is the year.” But after 2007’s optimistic start and fizzle of a finish, Vandy fans were reluctant to mention winning records or bowl bids unless there was something wooden to knock on nearby.

However, after taking out Miami of Ohio and Rice, and knocking off 24th-ranked South Carolina and Ole Miss in conference play, the chances of Vandy posting a winning season and making a bowl appearance for the first time since 1982 are not only possible in a Murphy’s Law sort of way, but downright probable.

No longer satisfied with pulling off the occasional upset, this team has become a legitimate, competitive force in the SEC East and is doing what football teams are supposed to do: win games.  

Critics eager to write off the 4-0 start as a fluke should take a closer look at the black & gold. It’s fitting that Vandy’s mascot should be maritime-related, since the team’s roster boasts more depth than the Mariana Trench.

Early injuries have left many of the team’s versatile players filling more than one role. The most obvious and spectacular of these is 5’10”, 182-lb. cornerback and renaissance player D.J. Moore, who has routinely posted some of the SEC’s best defensive statistics while also serving as the team’s primary kickoff returner and a competent wide receiver.

But while star player-sidelining injuries like the ones that removed Moore (briefly) and starting QB Chris Nickson from Saturday’s game might snap the winning streaks of other, less balanced football clubs (cough*New England*cough) the Commodore’s bench has proven itself capable of rising to the challenge when its first stringers have to sit on the bench.

Standout performances like safety Ryan Hamilton’s impressive goal line-standing, fumble-recovering, multiple pass-intercepting appearance on Saturday mean that Vandy fans’ winning record and bowl bid hopes are well-founded. It’s not unreasonable to feel confident in projecting wins over Mississippi State, Duke, Kentucky, and UT.

However, in SEC football, as in life, all worthwhile undertakings are not easily achieved. The next 10 weeks will bring tough matchups against Auburn, Georgia, Florida, and Wake Forest.

Luckily, the ‘Dores have a two-week break to rest and recuperate some of the players injured Saturday night. The bruiser of a game, in which Ole Miss racked up more yardage in penalties than Vandy did passing, left Moore limping at times and forced QB Nickson to leave the game early with an injured right shoulder. 

For now, however, fans can enjoy that little chill that runs up your spine when you look at the ESPN rankings index and see a big “21” next to “Vanderbilt” on the front page.

No one can tell what the cards will hold, but at No. 21 with a 4-0 record behind them, a winning season and a bowl bid for Vanderbilt seem like a safe bet.