Sept. 16, 2010
Scoring First Matters
Who scores first does matter when deciding recent Vanderbilt football outcomes.
Since the 2009 opener, Vanderbilt has scored first only twice in 14 games – against Western Carolina and at Rice. They won both games.
In the 7-6 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl season of 2008, Vanderbilt’s appropriate nickname could have been the Cardiac Commodores. In each of Vanderbilt’s five wins to start the season, the Commodores rallied after initial opponent scores.
Wondering Where to Watch the Game
Ninety-six television outlets, from Miami to New York and Charleston to San Antonio, will air the Vanderbilt-Ole Miss game. For your nearest outlet, check this list.
Other Consistencies for Recent Vanderbilt Wins
Looking for other trends in Vanderbilt wins?
- In each of its last two regular season wins – and four of its last eight victories – a Vanderbilt running back has rushed for at least 100 yards. The Commodores have lacked a 100-yard rusher in its last 12 regular season defeats.
- In seven of its last nine wins, Vanderbilt has notched fewer penalty yards than its foes. Since the 2009 opener, the Commodores have been flagged for more yards in eight eventual losses.
Close Encounters in Oxford
In the last decade, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss have played close in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Though the Commodores are just 2-4 in Oxford since 1999, the combined score of the last six games is Ole Miss 177, Vanderbilt 158. Even in the game that featured the biggest final score – a 38-27 Rebel victory in 2001 – Vanderbilt owned a 13-point fourth quarter lead before 21 straight points by Ole Miss.
Did You Know…
- The last time a Commodore scored three touchdowns in a game came at Ole Miss: Cassen Jackson-Garrison in 2007
- The last time a Vanderbilt defensive player notched three interceptions in a game also came at Ole Miss: Ryan Hamilton, 2009.
- Conversely, the last opposing returner to score on a Vanderbilt kickoff came at Ole Miss: Mike Wallace, 2008.
Switching Commodores in Chicago
The 1-0 Chicago Bears switched one Commodore for another earlier this week.
One day after putting eight-year veteran linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer on season-ending injured reserve, the Bears signed Vanderbilt 2007 grad Marcus Buggs to their practice squad. In effect, the Bears replaced one former Commodore linebacker from Nashville (Hillenmeyer attended Montgomery Bell Academy) with a former Commodore linebacker from Nashville (Buggs prepped at Goodpasture).
Buggs stands as a remarkable story of overcoming injury. Eleven months after suffering a severe knee injury that included multiple ligament tears as a starting `backer in Buffalo, Buggs finds himself back in the NFL. For the last six months, Buggs has been virtually a daily visitor in John Sisk’s weight room rehabbing the knee.
Buggs’ signing could not have happened to a more dedicated athlete. The news is bittersweet for Hillenmeyer, the former 2002 National Scholar Athlete Award recipient who started 13 games at middle linebacker after All-Pro Brian Urlacher went down with a broken hand in the first game.
More Bears Coverage
One year after seeing limited action as an NFL rookie, former Commodore All-American D.J. Moore was the Bears’ starting nickel back in a 19-14 win over Detroit. Moore posted a pair of tackles and earned solid reviews from Chicago coaches.
