April 11, 2013
Black & Gold Game Rosters 
| Spring Game Central
NASHVILLE – Facing severe thunderstorms and the urgency of putting the finishing touches on preparations for the Black and Gold Spring Game, Vanderbilt Head Coach James Franklin called an interesting audible Thursday, moving the Commodores’ workout into Memorial Gym and its adjoining basketball practice facility.
The Commodores accomplished virtually everything Franklin sought in the unique setting, working 90 minutes on final preparations for the spring finale scheduled this Saturday in Vanderbilt Stadium.
For an hour, defensive coordinator Bob Shoop guided his unit through various offensive looks on Ingram Court of Memorial Gym. His offensive counterpart, John Donovan, put his pupils through an array of plays in the practice gymnasium. During the closing 30 minutes, the full squad came together in the practice gym for an 11-on-11 walk-thru of different offensive sets.
Just two blocks from Memorial Gym and its practice gymnasium, crews are on schedule with the construction of a state-of-the-art indoor practice facility that will totally change Franklin’s ability to hold practices in threatening weather. The huge venue is expected to be available early in the upcoming football season.
For Franklin’s squad, most of the heavy workload of Spring Ball is in the books. Now, a quick walk-thru Friday afternoon of game-day procedures is the only activity remaining until the spring game, which kicks off at 1 p.m., CT.
Ideal Weather Forecast for Spring Game
The weather in the days ahead is expected to be a 100 percent improvement over Thursday when severe storms were common across Middle Tennessee. The Thursday storms are expected to give way to sunny skies Friday through the weekend.
The National Weather Service is calling for sunny skies with temperatures in the mid-60s when the Black and Gold squads kick off.
Vanderbilt, Nashville Ties with TV Broadcast of Spring Game
The Comcast Sports South (CSS) taped delay broadcast of Vanderbilt’s spring game will prominently feature two personalities with ties to Vanderbilt and Nashville. While CSS lead anchor Matt Stewart will handle play-by-play duties, former Vanderbilt standout Corey Chavous will serve as color analyst for the second straight year. The sideline reporter will be Dawn Davenport, well known locally as a popular sports anchor at WKRN, Nashville’s ABC affiliate.
Chavous is one of the most decorated defensive players in modern Commodore history. A two-time All-SEC defensive back in the mid-1990s, he spent a decade in the NFL as a starting safety. He was also named as Vanderbilt’s SEC legend in 2010.
Black, Gold Rosters Announced Thursday
The Black squad, which will feature most of the Commodore veterans, will be a heavy favorite Saturday in the intrasquad game. Franklin’s staff released the split rosters Thursday morning.
The Black team features several starters from the 9-4 2012 squad, including receivers Jordan Matthews and Chris Boyd, offensive linemen Wesley Johnson and Jake Bernstein, linebackers Chase Garnham and Karl Butler, safeties Javon Marshall and Kenny Ladler, and cornerback Andre Hal. They will be led by quarterbacks Austyn Carta-Samuels and Josh Grady.
The White team includes some of Vanderbilt’s most impressive young performers, including quarterbacks Patton Robinette and Johnny McCrary, running back Jerron Seymour, five talented redshirt freshman offensive linemen, defensive end Stephen Weatherly, linebacker Jake Sealand, and cornerbacks Paris Head and Torren McGaster.
Popular Nashville Sports Radio Show to Broadcast from Stadium Friday
One of the area’s most popular afternoon-drive radio shows, 104.5 The Zone’s 3-Hour Lunch, will broadcast from the Vanderbilt Stadium press box Friday from 3-6 pm.
Coach Franklin is expected to go on with 3HL co-hosts Brent Dougherty, Clay Travis and former Tennessee Titan safety Blaine Bishop during the first hour of the show.
Commemorative Schedule Posters to be Distributed Free Saturday
A stylish poster featuring two Commodore players wearing black and gold helmets, designed special for the spring game, will be distributed free of change at Gate 2 of Vanderbilt Stadium. Stadium gates open at 11 a.m., two hours before kickoff and an hour prior to Star Walk.
A limited supply of the commemorative posters will be available.