Vanderbilt-UConn postgame notes

Sept. 10, 2011

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Vanderbilt – UConn Post-game Notes
Sept. 10, 2011 Nashville, Tenn.

Pregame Notes
– Vanderbilt is in its 122nd year of organized football.
– The Commodores wore black pants with black uniform tops and black helmets. VU wore black helmets for the first time since 1990 during the Watson Brown era.
– Vanderbilt won the toss and deferred to the second half, UConn elected to receive
– The attendance was 32,119.
– At halftime former Vanderbilt coaching legend George MacIntyre was honored. Coach Mac led the Commodores to the 1983 Hall of Fame Bowl and was the last coach to lead Vandy to eight wins.
– Joining team captains Kyle Fischer, Casey Hayward, Chris Marve, Larry Smith, and Carey Spear were game captains Brandon Barden, Andrew East and T.J Greenstone.

Team Notes
– The Commodores are now 2-1 against UConn in the all-time series and 11-8-1 against the Big East. In Nashville, Vanderbilt is now 2-0 against the Huskies.
– Since the start of the 2007 season, Vanderbilt is 11-8 against non-conference opponents.
– Since 2008, Vandy is 6-1 in September against non-conference opponents.
– For the second straight week the Commodores led at the half.
– The comeback victory is the first over a BCS school since the 2008 Music City Bowl win over Boston College.
– For the first time since 2008 Vanderbilt starts the year 2-0. Head Coach James Franklin is the first, first-year head coach to start 2-0 since Fred Pancoast in 1975.

Individual Notes
– Safety Javon Marshall recorded a career-high with four tackles.
– Freshman Chase White started at offensive guard for his first career start.
– On his first play of the night, Kenny Ladler picked off his second career pass in the first quarter. The pick was his first since the Tennessee game last year.
Chris Boyd’s third catch of his career came in the first quarter when he hooked up with Larry Smith on a 42-yard touchdown. The catch was the longest of Boyd’s career.
John Cole’s 31-yard reception in the first quarter was a season long.
Jerron Seymour’s 40-yard touchdown-run in the first quarter was the longest of his career and his first touchdown. The run was the longest of the year by a Commodore.
– Freshman Vince Taylor made his Vanderbilt debut in the second quarter.
Richard Kent’s 52-yard punt in the second quarter was a season-long.
– For the second straight week Johnell Thomas recorded a sack with his sack in the second quarter.
Javon Marshall’s interception in the second quarter was his first of his career.
Chris Marve notched a career-best with two pass break-ups.
Richard Kent’s 67-yard punt in the third quarter set a career-long.
Tim Fugger set a career-best with two sacks on consecutive plays in the third quarter.
Rob Lohr’s four tackles for loss set a new career-high.
Chase Garnham forced his first career fumble and recorded his first sack in the fourth quarter. Vince Taylor recovered the fumble for his first career recovery.
Casey Hayward’s interception returned for a touchdown in the fourth quarter was his 10th career interception and first pick for a touchdown. The 50-yard return set a career-high.
Jerron Seymour posted a career-high with 70 yards rushing on eight carries.
Chris Boyd’s 46 yards receiving set a career-best.
– With 140 yards, Larry Smith moved into 10th all-time at Vanderbilt with 2,820 yards in his career, passing MacKenzie Adams. He is now ninth all-time with 267 completions.

Defense
Kenny Ladler’s interception led to the Commodores’ first touchdown of the night. Including the Elon game, VU has turned in the team’s first four turnovers of the year into points.
– For the second straight week, the defense picked off multiple passes with a season-best three, something the team accomplished only twice last season. For the season, the Dores already have five interceptions after picking off nine all of last year. The team’s two interception returns for scores are more than last year’s two.
– The VU defense held UConn to 193 total yards in the win, the fewest since holding Western Carolina to 115 yards in 2009.

Offense
– Seymour’s 40-yard TD run capped the Commodores’ 80-yard drive, the longest scoring drive of the year.
– The Dores have scored 21 points in the first quarter this year after scoring only 27 points in the opening quarter all of last year.
– Vanderbilt rushed for a season-best 118 yards on a season-most 32 carries.

Special Teams
Richard Kent extended his streak to 14 straight games with a punt inside the 20 with his 67-yard punt in the third quarter.
– For the second straight week, the Dores were good on Carey Spear’s field goal attempt, this time good from 31 yards.