NASHVILLE – The stage is set, and what a stage it will be.
Vanderbilt Athletics is excited to welcome you to campus Saturday for the latest installment of the thrilling series between Vanderbilt and Tennessee. Wear your black and gold, bring your family and friends, and enjoy the day with Commodore Nation.
A limited number of tickets remain. Call 615.322.GOLD (4653) to secure your tickets today, and let’s fill Vanderbilt Stadium with black and gold.
Commodores vs. Volunteers | #AnchorDown | #RTI
? | https://t.co/DTUk7b5StJ pic.twitter.com/rSsXY72uI6
— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) November 23, 2018
Saturday night at Vanderbilt Stadium, the Commodores will be looking for their third consecutive win in the series against Tennessee — and fifth in the last seven years. The three-game winning streak would match the longest for Vanderbilt since earning six straight over Tennessee between 1920-26.
From 1927 to 2011, the Commodores collected only nine wins in 83 tries against the Vols.
Our House.
Our City.
Our Opportunity.
? | https://t.co/DTUk7aOh59#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/E4eH4TWXfr
— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) November 23, 2018
Vanderbilt will recognize 27 academic seniors in pregame activities, including: running backs Khari Blasingame and Josh Crawford, defensive lineman Darion DeBrossard, offensive lineman Egidio Dellaripa, tight end Sam Dobbs, wide receiver/return specialist Trey Ellis, offensive lineman David Floyd, running back Jaire George, linebacker Jordan Griffin, defensive lineman Kade Mayle, cornerback Alim Muhammad, defensive lineman Dare Odeyingo, linebacker Caleb Peart, tight end Jared Pinkney, offensive lineman Bruno Reagan, linebacker Andrew Rector, cornerback Donovan Sheffield, quarterback Kyle Shurmur, offensive lineman Justin Skule, linebacker Josh Smith, offensive lineman Jared Southers, wide receiver Alex Stump, punter Parker Thome, defensive lineman Louis Vecchio, safety LaDarius Wiley, cornerback Joejuan Williams and linebacker Charles Wright.
The academic seniors will be recognized on the field 20 minutes before kickoff.
Need another reason to don your black and gold for Saturday’s game? You may be witnessing history, as Shurmur is approaching several Commodore career passing records.
Shurmur passed for three touchdowns last week against Ole Miss, upping his career total to 60. His last touchdown, a game-winning toss to Kalija Lipscomb, gave Shurmur the school record, one more than Jay Cutler threw from 2002-05. Shurmur is the first quarterback in Vanderbilt history to post two seasons of at least 20 touchdown passes. Shurmur and Greg Zolman (1999-2001) also are the only Vanderbilt quarterbacks to achieve 2,000 or more passing yards in three straight seasons. Shurmur is closing in on several other career passing records currently held by Cutler, including passing yards, completions and attempts — he is 38 completions, 51 attempts and 486 yards shy of eclipsing Cutler’s career marks. Shurmur also ranks second behind Cutler in career total offense, entering the Tennessee game having accumulated 7,870 yards of total offense.
We’re thankful for you, Commodore Nation… Happy Thanksgiving! Looking forward to seeing you all, and thanking you in person this Saturday vs. Tennessee. #AnchorDown
Senior sendoff | https://t.co/fgj2SeLj1P pic.twitter.com/h7YAV4MANh
— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) November 22, 2018
Vanderbilt has captured its past seven consecutive games against in-state opponents. This season, the Commodores opened with a 35-7 victory over Middle Tennessee, then fought off a late rally to defeat Tennessee State, 31-27, on Sept. 29. Both games were played on the Vanderbilt campus. The streak, which dates to a loss at Tennessee to close the 2015 regular season, includes three wins over Middle Tennessee, a pair of victories over Tennessee and a 2016 decision over Tennessee State.