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Vanderbilt’s “Dynamite” Explodes on SEC Football Scene 9/28/2005 Thursday, 9/29 at 5:30 p.m. CT The Vanderbilt Commodores. Just who are they, and why they are 4-0? Inquiring minds want to know! With the 2005 season dedicated to the memory of fallen running back Kwane Doster; with a potent offense steered by one of the nation’s premier quarterbacks — senior Jay Cutler; and, with a pair of season-opening road wins already under their belts, these black and gold warriors are causing the college football world to stand and take notice. Already off to its best start in 22 years, Vanderbilt, in hosting next door neighbor Middle Tennessee State this weekend, has an opportunity to go 5-0 for the first time since 1943! And, with a mammoth home showdown with LSU looming on 10/8, coach Bobby Johnson’s fourth VU team has a chance to equal, in one season, what his previously teams did collectively in three. Vandy and Cutler lead the SEC in passing (286 yards per game), first downs and third down conversions, and they’re second in total offense (466.5 ypg). But, that’s not where the story ends as the Commodores are second in the SEC in an area critical to bowl-caliber teams — red zone defense. Thursday’s SEC-TV examines the Commodores’ amazing start, perhaps best reflected by what Richmond coach Dave Clawson experienced during Vandy’s 37-13 win over his Spiders — “Anytime a team can effectively run and throw the football, they’re going to be tough to defend. They’ve got a great quarterback and enough of a run game to keep you honest, and they’ve got some guys that can win match-ups on the outside.” Also, on Thursday’s show, reporter Jenn Hildreth meets one of the SEC’s toughest female soccer players — Florida’s Jasmine Johnson, a gritty, scrappy midfielder, who challenges opponents, wins balls, and puts a charge into her teammates. In 2004, when she landed a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team, little did anyone know but that Johnson had been playing with a torn right ACL since her sophomore year of high school. Now, after successful, off-season knee surgery, this sophomore leads the 6-2-1 Gators in points (7) and goals (3). SEC-TV, hosted by Dave Neal, is a live, weekly, half-hour Southeastern Conference studio program originating from FSN South’s Atlanta headquarters. The show reaches 10.7 million homes throughout Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, on the nation’s largest regional sports television network. In the states of Arkansas and Louisiana, SEC-TV airs live on FSN Southwest, and throughout the state of Florida, SEC-TV airs live on Sun Sports.
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