Sept. 13, 2014
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Wade Freebeck is expected to get the starting assignment at quarterback today as Vanderbilt hosts Massachusetts in an early kickoff on campus.
Freebeck, from Davie, Fla., would become just the fifth true freshman to start at quarterback for the Commodores and the first since 1998 when David Wallace started on the road against nationally ranked Alabama on Sept. 12, 1998.
Freebeck, a 6-5, 216-pound prospect from south Florida perennial power St. Thomas Aquinas High School, also would become the 29th true or redshirt freshmen to see action for the Commodores this year. Vanderbilt tops the nation in total freshmen participants.
The strong-armed Freebeck also would become the first true freshman this season to start at quarterback in the Southeastern Conference.
Vanderbilt Head Coach Derek Mason and the offensive staff believe Freebeck can jumpstart a sluggish Commodore offense. The unit has produced just three points and averaged 222.5 total yards in early-season home losses to Temple and Ole Miss. Freebeck would become the third starter at quarterback this year for the Commodores, with Patton Robinette starting in the opener against Temple and Stephen Rivers getting the call against Ole Miss.
Other Vanderbilt true freshmen besides Wallace who have started at quarterback since the NCAA changed eligibility rules for first-year players in 1972 are Kenny Simon (vs. Alabama, Sept. 11, 1993), John Gromos (at Iowa State, Sept. 21, 1985) and Mike Wright (vs. Florida, Oct. 11, 1975).
The Commodores, 0-2 overall and 0-1 in Southeastern Conference East action, face Massachusetts (0-2) from the Mid-American Conference today, with kickoff scheduled at 11 a.m. CT. The Minutemen are coming off a narrow 41-38 home loss to Colorado of the Pac-12 Conference. Vanderbilt notched a 24-7 victory over UMass last year in Gillette Stadium near Boston.
Tickets remain available for the Vanderbilt-UMass game. The encounter also will be aired on Fox Sports South affiliates and ESPN3.com, with Bob Rathbun providing play-by-play and Tim Couch as the color analyst.