Sept. 28, 2011
After departing Vanderbilt’s campus at noon on Friday for its first road game of the season at South Carolina, the team was back on campus a little after 1 a.m. Sunday morning. In the 37 hours away from home, the team and members of Vanderbilt’s support staff poured many hours into preparing for the game.
You see the team take the field every Saturday, but just what type of preparation goes on in the background the day and hours leading up to kickoff?
To provide a peak behind the curtain, Vanderbilt University photographer John Russell was embedded within the program throughout the trip and captured a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on with a football team on the road from departure to the final horn.
Photos from the trip have been divided into six categories for easier navigation.
Travel to South Carolina 
(Gallery)
Team Hotel (Gallery)
Equipment Staff & Training Staff Setting up at Stadium (Gallery)
Team Arrives at Stadium (Gallery)
Pregame Warmups & Final Moments in Locker Room (Gallery)
The Game (Gallery)
TRAVEL TO SOUTH CAROLINA (Gallery)
After departing campus at noon on Friday, Vanderbilt arrived in Columbia at 1:54 p.m. CT following a 55-minute flight.
TEAM HOTEL (Gallery)
The team spent a short amount of time getting settled in their rooms before gathering for team meetings and dinner.
The morning of the game, the team spent time going through walkthrough and final meetings. Below, Brent Pry meets with the linebackers.
EQUIPMENT STAFF & TRAINING STAFF SETTING UP AT STADIUM (Gallery)
At 1 p.m. on Saturday, members of Vanderbilt’s equipment staff and training staff departed for the stadium to begin setting up for the 6 p.m. CT game. Below, Sam Leben of the equipment staff shines a helmet.
One of the duties of the training staff is to fill the water jugs before every game and practice.
TEAM ARRIVES AT STADIUM (Gallery)
The Commodores arrived at the stadium at 3:30 p.m. CT and players spent time getting taped in the training room.
After getting dressed for the game, players relax by their lockers before taking the field for warmups.
PREGAME WARMUPS & FINAL MOMENTS IN LOCKER ROOM (Gallery)
The team goes through pregame warmups on the field at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Coach Franklin addresses the team moments before taking the field.
THE GAME (Gallery)
Following Vanderbilt’s 21-3 loss, Head Coach James Franklin greets the team as players leave the field.
