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VU-UT Game Notes
11/19/2005
Commodore Postgame Notes
Vanderbilt 28, Tennessee 24
November 19, 2005, 11:30 a.m., CT. Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn. Attendance: 107,487
Vanderbilt Regular Season Record
With the victory, the Commodores conclude the season with a 5-6 overall record, and 3-5 in the SEC Eastern Divison. It marks the most victories for a Vanderbilt squad since the 1999 Commodores finished 5-6. This becomes the sixth Vanderbilt team to notch five victories since the 1982 squad went 8-3 in the regular season.
It also marks the first time since the SEC went to divisional play in 1992 that the Commodores have captured three league victories in a single season.
The Commodore-Volunteer Series
With the victory, Vanderbilt claims its first victory in the intrastate series in 23 years, dating back to the Commodores 28-21 win over the Vols in Nashville on Nov. 27, 1982. It also marks the Commodores first victory in Neyland Stadium since earning a 17-14 decision on Nov. 29, 1975. The victory pushes Vanderbilt’s all-time record in Knoxville to 10-34-1. Vanderbilt now trails in the series 28-67-5.
First Half Scoring Highlights
Two Commodores sophomore tailback Cassen Jackson-Garrison and redshirt freshman receiver Bryant Anderson earned their first career starts as Vanderbilt opened the game in a four-receiver offensive set. In its second offensive series, QB Jay Cutler connected with Jackson-Garrison on a 35-yard pass during a seven-play, 69-yard touchdown drive that gave Vanderbilt a 7-0 lead with 10:53 left in the first quarter. Jackson-Garrison, a Knoxville native, capped the drive with a 2-yard TD Redshirt freshman George Smith had a sensational 46-yard catch to spark a second Commodore drive late in the first quarter. Cutler ended the possession with a five-yard TD to junior WR Marlon White During the half, Jackson-Garrison had 93 yards of total offense (44 rushing/49 receiving).
Second Half Scoring Highlights
The Jay Cutler to Earl Bennett connection accounted for all three plays in the 29 second, 63-yard game-winning drive that culminated with a five-yard touchdown reception by Bennett with 1:11 left in the game.
Vanderbilt Team/Individual Notes:
The victory came in front of the largest crowd (107,487) to ever witness a Vanderbilt win, surpassing the crowd of 78,741 that watched the Commodores 43-30 defeat of Georgia at Athens.,Ga., on Oct. 15, 1994.
Vanderbilt’s 28 points scored today were the most the team has scored against Tennessee in Neyland Stadium since scoring 36 in 1987.
Jay Cutler ended his Commodore career in style. Holder of virtually every significant Vanderbilt passing record, Cutler was 27 of 39 for 315 yards and three touchdowns against the Volunteers. In his final two games against Tennessee he was 49 of 72 for 629 yards and six touchdowns.
Cutler ends his career with the following all-time Vanderbilt records:
Category Total All-time in SEC
Total Offense 9,953 yards 7th
Passing Yardage 8,697 yards 11th
TD Passes 59 14th
Completions 710 10th
Attempts 1,242 7th
Senior LB Moses Osemwegie contributed a career high 16 tackles in his finale, bringing his season tackle total to 118, and career total to 391. He is the SEC’s active career leader in solo and total tackles. His 12 solo tackles was a career high, one more than the 11 solo tackles he set against MTSU. His previous total tackle high was 13 set numerous times (most recently against Georgia this year).
Earl Bennett, the Commodores all-time leading freshman receiver, set another team frosh mark in receiving yardage. He had 14 catches for 167 yards and a score. His 79 receptions this year set a new freshman single season SEC record, moving past Florida’s Jabbar Gaffney total of 71 set in 2000. With 876 receiving yards, Bennett moved past Boo Mitchell (739 in 1985) into first place on VU’s single season yardage list. It is also the fourth time this season he has caught 10 or more passes.
Redshirt freshman safety Reshard Langford contributed his team-leading third interception in the third quarter, stopping a Volunteer possession deep in Vanderbilt territory.
Redshirt freshman wide receiver George Smith’s 47-yard reception in the first half was a career-long besting his 28-yarder against Kentucky last week.
Sophomore running back Cassen Jackson-Garrison rushed a career high 18 times in the contest. His 35-yard reception in the first half was a career long, besting his previous high of 28 yards set against Kentucky last week.
Junior wide receiver Marlon White’s two touchdown receptions today tied his career high set against Arkansas earlier this year. In the last two games against Tennessee, White has 12 receptions for 141 yards and three touchdowns.
Freshman cornerback Jared Fagan recorded his first career interception on the final play of the game.
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