Aug. 26, 2011
The last time D.J. Moore donned a Vanderbilt uniform it was at LP Field following the 2008 Music City Bowl win against Boston College. Moore will return to LP Field for the first time since that memorable win Saturday night when he and the Chicago Bears come to town to face the Tennessee Titans in what will be the third preseason game for both teams.
Moore won’t be the only former Commodore returning to Nashville on Saturday. The “VanderBears,” as they are often referred to by Commodore fans, boast nearly half of the school’s 11 current NFL players with Early Bennett, Jay Cutler and Chris Williams joining Moore on Chicago’s roster. The quartet of Commodores easily outnumbers the other colleges represented in Chicago’s locker room, and it was even larger last season.
Former Commodore Hunter Hillenmeyer was the original Commodore of this era on the Bears’ roster, but he was released last spring, in part due to multiple concussions he had received over his eight-year career. Although he has not filed his retirement papers, he likely has played his last snap; something he quickly accepted (read his letter to fans in February.)
Because of the number of Commodores who currently do or formally have called the Windy City home (don’t forget about Bill Wade), Vanderbilt fans have developed an affinity for the Bears.
Toss in former Vanderbilt and current Titans’ defensive tackle Jovan Haye and long snapper John Stokes, and Saturday’s game at LP Field is no longer just a typical preseason game for Commodore fans or for the players for that matter.
“I don’t expect too many cheers being a part of the opposing team, but to be able to play in front of Commodore fans again will be an honor,” said Moore, a third-year pro.
It will nonetheless still be a preseason contest and the number of plays run between each team’s first string players will be limited. So don’t expect Cutler to play much or at all into the second half, but do expect most of the other players to receive extended looks.
No matter the number of plays he runs, the opportunity to take the field in front of so many fans that supported him during his time on West End has Bennett’s enthusiasm boiling over.
“It is definitely exciting,” said Bennett, the all-time SEC leader in career receptions. “VU Nation is big and I see representation everywhere we go. But I look forward to playing in front of those fans who got to watch me in college as well as see some old faces at the same time.”
The opportunity to play in Nashville also puts less travel constrains on his family, which still lives in Birmingham. He expects his mother, father, sister and some friends to make the drive up on Saturday.
“Every time the schedule comes out everybody looks to see what games we have down south so it is one a lot of people want to come to,” said the recently married Bennett.
Bennett is currently listed as second string on Chicago’s unofficial depth chart after having 46 catches go for 561 yards and three touchdowns last season. Joining Cutler in the Bears’ starting lineup is fourth-year left guard Chris Williams. Moore is used in passing situations as the team’s nickel back and continues to edge his way up the depth chart.
Moore and Bennett each left Vanderbilt in successive years after their junior seasons, and both went through an adjustment period when they first got into the league.
During that time, Moore leaned heavily on Bennett for assistance; something Bennett remembers doing with Hillenmeyer.
“He helped me out a lot and we talked about the transition; making sure that you know the position and that this is your job now you are not in school anymore,” Bennett said. “Understanding that, just helps me to realize that each day I have to come out and compete and get better and I have to do all the little things to make the team each year.”
Despite their early departure, the university does hold a special place to them. Both players visit town regularly and Moore was back in Music City as recently as a month ago.
“I miss the college life and college experiences more than anything,” Moore said. “It is probably the most fun time you can have. You don’t have to worry about paying a lot of bills or playing good in order to stay on the team. You could just go to class and enjoy yourself.”
Since entering the league, Bennett has continued to keep his eye on obtaining his degree. Each offseason, he has returned to take classes and is now one semester shy of graduating, which he intends to do next offseason.
In the meantime, Bennett will direct his attention to the upcoming season where he will again have the opportunity to take the field with players he once shared a locker room in McGugin Center with.
“It is a blessing to have a couple of more guys that you are familiar with and played with in college,” Bennett said. “It is just a lot of fun having these guys around.”
As for Saturday’s game, Moore plans on just approaching it as any other game, but even he admits there will be something different, but refreshingly comfortable about it.
“I’m not too much more excited than any other game, but to go back and play where you went to college, it’s kind of like you are at home,” Moore said.
The last time, Moore donned a football uniform in Nashville, he and his Vanderbilt teammates departed LP Field with a bowl trophy. But for as invigorating as the win was, Moore can’t help but have “some bad memories” from the game. He sprained his left ankle early in the second quarter and was then removed from the game for good in the third quarter. After the game, Moore declared he was leaving for the NFL.
There won’t be a trophy up for the taking Saturday and no big announcements are expected from the game, but memories should only be positive for the six Commodores who will share the field together again in Nashville as well as the fans who will again get to see some of the best players in school history together again just five miles from where they watched them grow up and develop into who they are today.
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