NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Friday marked an important date along the road to the 2022 Vanderbilt football season. The Commodores are now 50 days away from kickoff and debuting Team 2 to the rest of the world.
On Thursday, the Dores held their last team workout — at 6 a.m. — before a short break and will soon embark on the rest of summer training next week. Here are some important dates to note ahead of the team’s season-opening game:
July 12
On Tuesday, Vanderbilt’s student-athletes will return to campus to begin more summer classes and resume summer workouts. The majority of the team has been enrolled in summer school and participating in training since early June.
Training includes work in the weight room and outdoors with strength and conditioning director Brandon Hourigan as well as on-field work with teammates.
July 19
Vandy will head to the Peach State on July 18 ahead of its annual appearance at Southeastern Conference Media Days.
Held at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, second-year head coach Clark Lea and a trio of student-athletes will discuss the growth of the Vanderbilt program, the team’s offseason work and expectations for the 2022 season. Lea will speak at the event’s main podium the same day as Alabama head coach Nick Saban, Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach and South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer.
The Commodores will begin making the rounds with the media beginning at 7 a.m. CT that day.
July 28-29
A sense of urgency will kick in at the end of the month when the 2022 Vanderbilt football team begins fall camp.
The Commodores will congregate in Nashville on July 28 and officially begin practicing the next day. Vandy will spend the next three weeks building toward the 2022 season.
Aug. 21
Vanderbilt football, and all of whom are involved with the program, will depart Nashville for Honolulu on Aug. 21.
The Commodores will arrive in Hawai’i that same day then begin final preparations and adjustments in the days that follow. Vandy will practice daily at a local high school leading up to game day and also take part in an itinerary of activities designed to educate the Commodores on local culture and history.
Aug. 27
For the first time in its long history, Vanderbilt will face Hawai’i in a football matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. CT Aug. 27.
Hawai’i finished the 2021 season strong by winning its final two regular season games to become bowling eligible. The Rainbow Warriors (6-7) were scheduled to play Memphis in the Hawai’i Bowl on Dec. 24, but that game was canceled due to COVID-19.
First-year Hawai’i head coach Timmy Chang inherits a team that registered five defensive touchdowns in 2021, gained 27 turnovers and was among the nation’s top 40 in passing yards per completion.
Vanderbilt will depart for Nashville immediately following the contest and turn its attention to its home opener Sept. 3 against Elon (6-5 in 2021) at Vanderbilt Stadium.
