Sept. 4, 2010
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Vanderbilt – Northwestern Postgame Notes
Sept. 4, 2010
Vanderbilt Stadium
Pregame Notes
– Vanderbilt is in its 121st year of organized football.
– Vanderbilt wore black jerseys with white pants and had names on the backs of their jerseys for the first time since the Commodores were coached by Woody Widenhofer in 2001.
– Northwestern won the toss and deferred to the second half.
Team Notes
– Vanderbilt is 77-40-4 all-time in season lid-lifters.
– Vanderbilt had won three straight season openers.
– Vanderbilt has won four of its last six openers.
– Vanderbilt is 10-16 in its last 26 openers
– Vanderbilt is 5-6 in its last 11 openers against non-SEC members.
– The all-time series between Northwestern and Vanderbilt is now tied at 1-1-1 … It was the first meeting between the two schools since Oct. 4, 1952 â€â€ a 20-20 tie.
– Vanderbilt is 7-18-2 all-time against Big Ten opponents … Vanderbilt’s last win against a Big Ten opponent was a 32-20 victory at Penn State on Oct. 19, 1957.
– Vanderbilt held Northwestern scoreless in the second quarter, marking the first time an opponent has been held scoreless in the second quarter since the 2009 season opener against Western Carolina.
– Vanderbilt’s fourth-down conversion on fourth-and-two from the Northwestern 41 in the fourth quarter was its first since against South Carolina in 2009 … Vanderbilt had failed on its previous two attempts.
– Since the 2005 season opener, Vanderbilt is now 15-7 in the month of September. – Vanderbilt outgained Northwestern, 432-365 … It was the first time the Commodores have outgained an opponent since at Army on Oct. 10, 2009.
– Northwestern had the ball for 30:54 compared to 29:06 by Vanderbilt … Vanderbilt has not won a game when it did not win the time of possession battle since defeating Richmond to open the 2007 season.
– Vanderbilt rushed for 192 yards compared to 143 by Northwestern … It was the first time the Commodores outrushed an opponent since at South Carolina on Oct. 24, 2009.
– Vanderbilt passed for 240 yards compared to 222 by Northwestern, marking the first time Vanderbilt has outgained its opponent through the air since at Army.
Individual Notes
– The last Commodore coach to win in their head coaching debut was Woody Widenhofer, who led the Commodores to a 29-12 win over North Texas on Aug. 30, 1997.
– Vanderbilt had eight players making their first career starts.
– The following Commodores made their first career starts on defense: Eddie Foster (defensive back), Jay Fullam (safety), Rob Lohr (defensive tackle), Trey Wilson (defensive back).
– The following Commodores made their first career starts on offense: Jabo Burrow (left guard), Wesley Johnson (left tackle), Caleb Welchans (right tackle) and Turner Wimberly (wide receiver).
– Vanderbilt played 10 true freshman … Seeing action were Karl Butler (safety), Steven Clarke (defensive back), Chase Garnham (linebacker), Andre Hal (defensive back), Jonathan Krause (wide receiver), Kenny Ladler (safety), Fitz Lassing (h-back), Jordan Matthews (wide receiver), Andre Simmons (safety), Carey Spear (kicker).
Defense
– Linebacker Chris Marve and safety Jay Fullam led the Commodores on defense with 12 tackles apiece.
– Marve reached double digits in tackles for the 12th time in his career … In 2009, he had 10 or more tackles seven times.
– Marve made the 26th consecutive start of his career, which is longest on the team. – Playing in his first game, Fullam also forced a fumble.
– Cornerback Eddie Foster had a career-high eight tackles, topping his previous best of four at South Carolina in 2009.
– Foster led the team with 3.0 tackles for loss.
– Safety Sean Richardson finished with eight tackles, including a career-best 2.5 for loss … His previous best was 2.0 against Mississippi State in 2009.
– Defensive tackle Colt Nichter recorded the first sack of his career with 9:42 to play in the second quarter.
– Defensive end Tim Fugger forced the second fumble of his career.
– Linebacker John Stokes recovered the second fumble of his career.
Offense
– Running back Zac Stacy gained a team-high 69 yards rushing on nine attempts, including a 33-yard touchdown run … The 69 yards rushing were Stacy’s most since gaining 75 against Georgia Tech on Oct. 31, 2009.
– Stacy’s 33-yard touchdown run with 2:25 to play was the second longest rush of Stacy’s career … His career long rush was a 62-yard touchdown against Georgia Tech on Oct. 31, 2009.
– Quarterback Larry Smith completed 19 of 33 pass attempts for 240 yards and a touchdown … The 240 yards through the air were the second-most in Smith’s career … His career high is 268 yards at Rice in 2009 … Smith also attempted and completed the second-most passes in his career.
– Smith’s 12 completions in the first half were the most he has had in his career.
– Smith’s 36-yard touchdown pass was his longest since connecting with Justin Green for 46 yards in the 2009 season opener.
– Tight end Brandon Barden’s 36-yard touchdown catch was the longest of his career … It was also his second longest reception of his career … He caught a 43-yard pass at South Carolina in 2009.
– Barden finished with a team-high 63 yards receiving on four catches … The 63 yards were the second most of Barden’s career, topped only by his 67-yard performance at Tennessee last year.
– Wide receiver Jonathan Krause hauled in four catches for 55 yards.
– Wide receiver Turner Wimberly’s 37-yard reception in the second quarter was the longest of his career.
– Wesley Tate had the first carry of his career, gaining two yards and a first down. – Warren Norman scored Vanderbilt’s first touchdown with 2:19 to play in the half … It was Norman’s first rushing touchdown since Sept. 26 at Rice … Norman finished with 46 yards rushing on 10 carries.
– Kennard Reeves’ 20-yard run in the third quarter was the second longest of his career … His career long is 22 yards.
Special Teams
– Kicker Ryan Fowler failed to convert the extra point on the Commodores first touchdown, marking his first failed PAT … Fowler was 20-for-20 in his career.
– Fowler connected from 30 yards out at the end of the first half and had made nine straight field-goal attempts until missing from 46 yards.
– Eric Samuels had the first kick return of his career … returning the first kick 44 yards.
– T.J. Greenstone blocked and recovered a Northwestern 27-yard field-goal attempt with 13:02 to play in the game and Northwestern leading 17-15.
– It was the first blocked field goal by a Commodore since Greg Billinger blocked a South Carolina field goal on Sept. 4, 2008 … It was the first blocked field goal and second recovery by Greenstone.
– Vanderbilt attempted its first two-point conversion since Sept. 26, 2009 at Rice … The Commodores failed to score on either attempt … Vanderbilt also missed a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter.
