Johnson, Cutler and Osemwegie to Represent Vanderbilt at SEC Media Days Thursday

Johnson, Cutler and Osemwegie to Represent Vanderbilt at SEC Media Days Thursday

7/27/2005

Vanderbilt Head Coach Bobby Johnson and a pair of standout Commodore seniors are scheduled to appear before hundreds of writers and reporters Thursday at the annual Southeastern Conference Media Day activities in Birmingham, Ala.

Johnson will be joined by quarterback Jay Cutler and linebacker Moses Osemwegie as the Commodores participate in the second day of three “Media Days”. SEC officials expect one of the largest contingents of national and regional writers and reporters ever at the three-day session.

The trip to SEC Media Day comes one week after the league released its coaches’ preseason All-SEC squad. Cutler and Osemwegie were named to the first team.

Johnson, recovering well from a broken collar bone sustained three weeks ago, is looking forward to talking about his 2005 squad. “You’re plenty busy during the day, but it’s an enjoyable experience. I look forward to any opportunity, especially one with this many media representatives present, where I get to talk about our program and our student-athletes. It’s a great honor and opportunity for Jay and Moses, two of the finest players and leaders on our team. They will represent our university in outstanding fashion,” the head coach said.

For Cutler, Media Days has become part of the preseason routine. A native of Santa Claus, Ind., Cutler is believed to be the first Southeastern Conference football player to make three appearances at Media Days.

Cutler is one of the SEC’s active career leaders in virtual every quarterback statistical category, topping all league signal callers in total offense, combined touchdowns, completions and rushing yards. Cutler, who currently holds the team career record with 54 combined touchdowns, enters his final season with an opportunity to surpass nearly every Commodore passing and total offense mark.

When the 2005 season begins, Cutler will become just the second Vanderbilt player ever to serve as captain for three years. The only other player to achieve the designation was Elliott H. Jones, who helped start the program in 1890 and also served as head coach for three years.

Though Osemwegie is making his first appearance, media representatives know plenty about his defensive talents. In 2004, the resident of Nashville, Tenn., was named First Team All-SEC by both the coaches and media after a stellar junior season.

Continuing Vanderbilt’s tradition of producing superb linebackers, Osemwegie enters his final year as the SEC’s active leader with 273 career tackles. He has ranked among the leading tacklers at linebacker since breaking into the Commodore starting lineup as a sophomore.

The Commodores open preseason camp August 8, pointing toward the 2005 season opener at Wake Forest on Thursday, Sept. 1. The opener is scheduled in Winston-Salem, N.C., with kickoff at 7 p.m., ET.