Bobby Johnson Retires, Assistant Robbie Caldwell Takes Over as Interim Head Coach

by Christian D'Andrea on Jul 14, 2010 2:31 PM EDT in Vanderbilt Commodores Football

Ensuring reporters today that he and his wife are healthy, Vanderbilt football head coach Bobby Johnson retired from the sport altogether today for personal reasons. Former assistant head coach Robbie Caldwell will man the helm in his place for the 2010 season, but will have big shoes to fill behind one of Vandy's most successful football coaches in school history. Johnson's watershed moments with the team include a win in Tennessee in 2005, a beating of #6 South Carolina on the road in 2007, and possibly most importantly a win in the 2008 Music City Bowl - the school's first bowl win since 1955.

We'll have more details as they unfold, but Commodore nation is no doubt reeling from the retirement of the coach that brought the team back to respectability. Good luck with retirement, Coach.

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It's a bloodbath.

I mean, he’s a free man, he can do what he likes, but he has to know he is completely and utterly screwing us for 2010, unless Robbie Caldwell can pull a rabbit out of his hat.

Curious fact: every Vandy football coach until 1952 left Nashville with a career winning record at Vanderbilt, bar one fellow with a losing record in two years during WWII. Since 1952, the only coach to quit with more Ws than Ls was Steve Sloan in his 2-year stint.

"Well, if that ain't a show, I'll kiss your ass." - Gov. Jim Folsom Sr. (D-AL), 1948-52

by VandyImport on Jul 14, 2010 2:41 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, the timing is curious, that's for sure.

But if his heart wasn’t in it, maybe Caldwell is the better choice. Tough decision, no doubt. What I’m most worried about is how it will affect this year’s recruits and incoming freshmen.

http://www.anchorofgold.com - For all 27 Vanderbilt fans out there.

by Christian D'Andrea on Jul 14, 2010 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions

And recruiting going forward

Gonna be tough to win over the kids looking at Furd, Northwestern, Duke, et al when there’s no idea who’s going to have the book for Vandy next year.

"Well, if that ain't a show, I'll kiss your ass." - Gov. Jim Folsom Sr. (D-AL), 1948-52

by VandyImport on Jul 14, 2010 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions

wish him the best, with gratitude

"Infield hits are sexy, because they require technique."

-Ichiro

by VivaLosBravos on Jul 15, 2010 2:13 AM EDT reply actions

and perplexity

"Infield hits are sexy, because they require technique."

-Ichiro

by VivaLosBravos on Jul 15, 2010 2:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Thank you and so long

Personally I am grateful for his time he gave us, but I also say so long…his only redeeming quality was how good of a person he was and his above average recruiting. He was a below average coach, however.

You see that stat that we’ve lost 26 games by 7 points or less – I look at it from a different perspective, how many of those games should we have WON and not lost? Far too often the game was so poorly managed we either lost a lead late, or never even put ourselves in the position to win those close games. Our talent level has increased, and yet we still have 2 win seasons, or a season I’ll never forget/forgive: starting 4-0 to finish 1-6…and lets not forget 2 of those losses were to MTSU and KENTUCKY! or the fact that we lost to South Carolina in the last 2 mins. I could go on, but I’ll leave it at that.

Thank you, Bobby, have a great retirement and I wish you well. Now, let’s get a coach who can coach the game.

by Kekambaz on Jul 15, 2010 1:24 PM EDT reply actions