Oct. 2, 2010
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Vanderbilt – UConn Postgame Notes
Oct. 2, 2010 Hartford, Conn.
Pregame Notes
– Vanderbilt is in its 121st year of organized football.
– Commodores wore all white uniforms for the second time this season … Vanderbilt is now 1-1 in the uniforms…VU won its first game of the season in all whites – a 28-14 victory over Ole Miss in Oxford on September 18.
– The attendance of the game was 40,000.
Team Notes
– This is the second meeting between the two schools. The Commodores knocked off UConn, 27-24, in Nashville on October 26, 2002.
– This is Vanderbilt’s third all-time trip to play a football game in the state of Connecticut – the last time Vanderbilt played on Connecticut soil was October 23, 1948, a game the Commodores won, 35-0, against Yale. The first time VU played in the state was 100 years ago on October 22, 1910, when Vanderbilt tied Yale, 0-0, in New Haven.
– The series between Vanderbilt and UConn is now tied at one game apiece. Vanderbilt’s record against the Big East moves to 10-8-1.
– Saturday’s loss is Vanderbilt’s first on the road this season.
– The Huskies scored 26 unanswered points to end the game.
– On Vanderbilt’s first play from scrimmage, Jonathan Krause fumbled a Larry Smith 12-yard completion…UConn recovers and returns to VU 12. It is Vanderbilt’s first turnover since the LSU game on Sept. 11. UConn’s Jordan Todman capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown run. – Todman’s touchdown is the first opponent score in the first quarter since the Northwestern game on September 4 (Stefan Demos 26-yard field goal).
– Vanderbilt’s opponent has scored first in 11 out of the last 12 games.
– The Commodores went scoreless in the first quarter for the fourth straight game this season.
– Vanderbilt has scored first only three times in 16 games – against Ole Miss this year and Western Carolina and Rice in 2010.
– Vanderbilt’s 21-point second quarter is the most by a Commodore team since November 5, 2005. VU scored 21 points in the fourth quarter in a 49-42 overtime loss at Florida. Vanderbilt’s 21-point first half was Vanderbilt’s highest total since VU scored 28 points against Georgia Tech on Oct. 31, 2009.
– Vanderbilt scored its three touchdowns in the second quarter in only 3:48.
– Vanderbilt committed three turnovers to UConn’s one. The Huskies turned those three turnovers into 14 points.
– The Commodores have dropped nine consecutive games in the month of October, dating back to a 14-13 win over Auburn on October 4, 2008.
– UConn outgained Vanderbilt 375 to 326 in total yardage.
– UConn had a 36:20 to 23:40 advantage in time of possession.
– Vanderbilt gave up a safety with 2:26 to go in the fourth quarter, the first time an opponent has scored on a Commodore safety since LSU accomplished the feat on October 8, 2005.
Individual Notes
– Colt Nichter, a redshirt sophomore defensive lineman, made his first start of his career.
– Jay Fullam started at safety after missing Ole Miss game.
– Defensive back Jamie Graham made his season debut against the UConn after missing the first three games due to injury. He started the game.
– James Kittredge saw the first action of his career on special teams in the first quarter. Kittredge is the 11th true freshman to take the field for Vanderbilt this season.
Defense
– Casey Hayward picked off his third pass of the 2010 season at the 7:16 mark in the second quarter.
– John Stokes recovered his second fumble of the season, stopping a UConn drive deep in Vanderbilt territory. Casey Hayward forced the fumble, the second of his career and first this season.
– Chris Marve led all Vanderbilt tacklers with 11 total tackles (7 solo, 4 individual). Sean Richardson was next with 10 total tackles (5 solo, 5 assisted).
Offense
– Quarterback Larry Smith’s 57-yard run in the first quarter is the longest of his career.
– A 32-yard catch by sophomore receiver John Cole in the first quarter is a career long. Previous best was 23 yards.
– Smith totaled 221 yards on the day (157 passing, 64 rushing). Smith was the Commodores’ leading rusher. – Larry Smith completed his second touchdown pass of the season (7th of his career) to tight end Brandon Barden. This was of the six-yard variety. It was Barden’s seventh career-touchdown reception, second of the 2010 campaign.
– On the ensuing play for Vanderbilt after a UConn three-and-out, Smith completed a 48-yard touchdown pass to Udom Umoh to tie the game at 14. It was Umoh’s second career touchdown reception. It was also Smith’s longest TD pass of the season, and the second-longest of his career (54-yard TD completion at Rice in 2009).
– It is Smith’s first career two touchdown completion game.
– Smith also gave up two interceptions, including a pick six by Blidi Wreh-Wilson in the fourth quarter. First pick six by an opponent since a 25-yard interception return by Tony Brown of Tennessee on November 21, 2009.
– Jonathan Krause scored on a 44-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. It was his second career run, his first touchdown run and the longest run of his career.
– Udom Umoh was the Commodores’ leading receiver with three carries for 45 yards.
Special Teams
– Warren Norman contributed 162 yards on four kickoff returns.
– Warren Norman had a 72-yard kickoff return at the 10:53 mark in the second quarter. It is the longest kick return of the season for Norman.
– Ryan Fowler hit all three extra points.
– Punter Richard Kent had 7 punts for a 39.1 average.