So you know ... I grew up in south Alabama rootin’ for the Tide. RTR! However, as a high school junior in 1984, I watched Vanderbilt defeat Alabama at it’s homecoming game in Tuscaloosa. Little did I know that two years later those Commodores would become my teammates.
Now I root for the Dores, in all sports and against all schools. I am proud of my school, my years on campus, my teammates, my degree, and the opportunities I have been afforded from my education.
Vanderbilt gridiron teams before WWII were traditionally very strong. A powerhouse program for many years, Vanderbilt regularly whipped bigger schools and had many successful seasons. In fact, the 1920 and 1921 teams, led by legendary coach Dan McGugin, were undefeated and recognized as National Champs. (1)
However, the post-war era has not been as kind to the Commodores or to its fans. In almost 130 years of Vanderbilt football, only nine teams have played in bowl games. Only three of those bowls came between 1890-2007.
I played during the Watson Brown era, 1986-1989. Our teams were historically typical as we won only nine games during those four seasons. Our biggest win was a 24-9 victory over Emmitt Smith and the Florida Gators. This game was a pre-SEC network match-up in 1988 on regional TV, and we wore the most unfortunate pee-yellow jerseys. In 1989, we played in perhaps one of the most tragic college football games when Chuckie Mullins, an Ole Miss defensive back, was paralyzed. (2)
Since 2008, Vanderbilt has been to six bowl games, and this past decade has certainly been the most productive in a century. No longer do teams just expect to roll over Vanderbilt. In fact, the Dores have beaten almost every SEC team during these last ten years. (Have you noticed that the Dores have beaten that orange team from Knoxville four of the past six years?) There has also been much individual success. For several years lately Commodores have been making NFL rosters (Cutler, Bennett, Stacy, Cunningham, Hal, Matthews, Butler, etc.). Some have had notable careers, including All-Pro selections and Super Bowls. Perhaps these are some of the reasons why Vanderbilt fans have developed heightened expectations. (3)
By mid-August each year optimism abounds at the McGugin Center on Jess Neely Drive. The upcoming football season certainly will be a success. Returning starters are lauded. The incoming talented new players look sharp and hope to contribute. The schedule is closely analyzed and debated while looking for enough wins for bowl eligibility. The current head coach is the best one yet. Emotions run high inside the program and for most followers of the team.
However, reality sets in once the ball kicks off in the scorching August weather. By late September, freshmen students who arrived before kickoff at the home opener most likely arrive closer to halftime (if at all) at remaining home games. Even before midterms, all is not well on Dudley Field at Vanderbilt Stadium.
Home field advantage is virtually nonexistent. Home game stands against SEC schools are usually 70-80% red (Bama, Georgia), orange (Tennessee, Auburn, Florida) or blue (Ole Miss, Kentucky). Black and Gold sits behind the home sidelines, student section, and sprinkled around the stadium. It’s almost always been this way. We just do not have a very large fan base who attend the games. Did you see the stands this past weekend when Georgia invaded the stadium? Looked like 90% Dawgs in the stands. Nothing is more frustrating and disheartening for the players--past or present--and the fans.
Roster depth has always been an issue with the team. Most of the first team can compete against just about anyone on any given Saturday. It’s the second and third team depth, or actually, lack of, is what leads to problems. Competing in the best conference in the country leads to very little room for error. SEC rosters are full of 3⭐, 4⭐and 5⭐studs. With its rigorous academic requirements, Vanderbilt University does not have the luxury of recruiting many such players. As such, being the conference doormat was just assumed for many decades.
Historically Vanderbilt football has been housed in an outdated facility that lacks the modern amenities of top programs. While Vanderbilt does boast being an elite academic institution, playing in the best conference, and located in an outstanding city, most recruits will be turned off from enrolling at Vanderbilt due to substandard facilities and probably the worst stadium in the country.
Gridiron success has never been a priority on the institutional level. As a founding member of the Southeastern Conference, Vanderbilt enjoys the financial rewards of its annual payouts. ($43+ mil in 2018). Where does this money go? I am highly encouraged by our new athletics director‘s approach to modernizing the sports facilities on campus, including the stadium. He recognizes that all three of the major sports, basketball, baseball and football, must upgrade in order to compete. I have read several positive articles in the past few months.
I do not want this article to sound like I am down on the athletics department or the football program--far from it. I am highly encouraged at the direction they have been going this decade. Maybe heightened expectations are a good thing. I just want us to keep winning the games that we should and occasionally surprise some teams along the way. Going to a bowl game each season is not such a bad thing!
Anchor Down!
Bernard
*Since I played for Vanderbilt in the late 1980s and have followed the football program for more than 30 years, I feel somewhat of a sense of obligation to write this blog. I do not speak for any other fans. These are my words, observations, and experiences. Please do not allow my comments to appear otherwise.
(1) Berryman QPRS, also known as the Berryman Quality Point Rating System is a mathematical rating system developed by Clyde P. Berryman to rate sports teams and competitors. The Berryman QPRS system considers strength of schedule, win-loss record, points scored, and points allowed. The Berryman QPRS is one of the rating systems used to select historic national champions that is recognized by the NCAA in its Football Bowl Subdivision record book.
(2) I have previously written about my experience from that game here: October 28, 1989.
(3) Don’t even get me started talking about Jimmy Frank: A letter to Coach James Franklin. However, with NCAA National Championships in bowling (2007, 2018) tennis (2015) and VandyBoys in 2014 and 2019, Vanderbilt fans are getting used to the success!
