Aug. 1, 2008
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — It was back to work Friday for the Vanderbilt football team as Head Coach Bobby Johnson put more than 100 Commodore prospects through their first preseason practice.
Practicing in muggy conditions, the Commodores were pushed through an energetic 2-hour, 45-minute session on the newly added FieldTurf synthetic surface at the team’s Rich Practice Facility.
Johnson liked virtually every aspect of the session, even saying the warm weather “were just great for practicing.” The coach directed a session focused on individual instruction, offensive and defensive team teaching, and special teams work.
“I thought there was good tempo. Our guys are in pretty good shape and I thought it showed out there,” Johnson said. “Being our first practice, we were putting a lot in front of the younger guys, and there were some struggles like you expect. But I really thought our guys were going hard the entire time, and trying to get better. I’m pleased with the first one.”
Johnson’s Commodores beat the worse of Nashville’s heat wave Friday by starting practice just before 6 p.m. The team will continue the early evening practice schedule for the next week.
Doster Suspended for Upcoming Season
Tailback Jermaine Doster (R-Fr., Tampa, Fla.) has been suspended for the season due to violating team rules, Johnson told the team’s beat reporters after the session.
The coach said Doster will remain enrolled at Vanderbilt, and continue practicing with the team, but would not participate on game days. Due to NCAA restrictions on total players in preseason camp, Doster is not expected to join the team until late August when fall classes open on campus.
Practice Notes
Before practice started, Johnson and the three Commodore co-captains – safety Reshard Langford, receiver George Smith and center Bradley Vierling – spent time interviewing with reporters from four Nashville televisions and the Tennessean newspaper… The head of Vanderbilt athletics, Vice Chancellor of University Affairs and Student Athletics David Williams II, and Voice of the Commodores Joe Fisher were spotted watching much of the practice… Jamie Graham (R-Fr., Nashville) provided one of the top practice highlights, leaping high between defenders Jared Fagan and Brent Trice to haul in a deep sideline pass from QB Chris Nickson in an early 11-on-11 drill. Graham, who missed virtually all of Spring Practice after playing on the Commodore men’s basketball team, has moved from cornerback to wide receiver… Two-year starting punter Brett Upson (Jr., Griffin, Ga.) did not participate. Johnson said Upson was bothered by stomach pains, and did not give a firm date for his return to practice… Brent Trice (Jr., Orange, Va.) has moved to strongside linebacker from safety. Johnson said Trice’s athleticism at linebacker breaks a potential hybrid presence to the unit… Former walk-on defensive tackle Bo Cramer has left the team due to a hip injury. A favorite of teammates, Cramer will continue with the Commodores as a student equipment manager… Three new walk-ons – punter Richard Kent from Marietta, Ga., running back Chavez Scott from Memphis; and snapper David Gillen from Swampscott, Mass. – are participated in practice… Three former walk-ons – linemen James Elledge and Garrett Snoeyenbos, and receiver Chris Griffin – have left the team.
