Where I Come From: My All-Time Favorite Commodore (Football) Team

by KingJamesIV on Jul 6, 2010 12:05 PM EDT in EA Sports NCAA FB 11

This post is sponsored by EA Sports NCAA Football 2011.

If you were born in the 80's or later, this isn't going to come as a surprise. Heck, if you were born in the 1900's, this probably still isn't going to be shocking. The 2008 squad is my favorite all-time Vanderbilt Commodore (football) team.

Let's take a quick trip down memory lane:

Since 1980, here is the season-by-season breakdown:

Data Source: Wikipedia

Pretty anemic. 1982 was a solid year. As I mentioned yesterday, Vandy somehow managed to beat both Florida and Tennessee in the same season. Of course, I celebrated the first anniversary of my existence during that season. It still marks the highest win output of any season played during my existence. But, for all the glories and triumphs of that year, the season still ended with the bitterness of defeat.

2005 was special. The Commodores went from 1982 all the way to 2005 without beating UT, and even longer without winning in Neyland Stadium (1975). Jumpin' Jay Cutler to Earl Bennett. And I was there to bask in the glory. Also, earlier that season I road-tripped it to Fayetteville, AR with friends who shall remain nameless for another phenomenal road upset.

Not that there were a lot of options, but 2008 easily bests them all:

Vanderbilt's first winning season since 1982.
The season ended with Vanderbilt defeating a top 25 team. In a bowl game.
The bowl game determined whether we finished above or below .500.
Vanderbilt opened the season 5-0 (~~second time that happened in my life, the first being 2005~~).
Vanderbilt defeated Top 25 teams South Carolina, Auburn, and Boston College.
In beating South Carolina, Vanderbilt had a two game win streak against the Ol' Ball Coach.
In beating Auburn, Vandy pulled off something they hadn't done since 1955.
Vanderbilt was ranked as high as #13 in the AP and #14 in the ESPN Coaches polls.
WE HOSTED FREAKING COLLEGE GAME DAY. I was there. We won the game (vs Auburn) in thrilling fashion.
DJ Moore vs. Kentucky (2 TD receptions, 2 interceptions) to seal bowl eligibility.
It all happened to be my grandfather's last season. I know how much it meant to him, as a former player, to see the team finally be successful again. Every fan should be so lucky.

What is your all-time favorite Commodore (football) team?

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Comments

I'll totally have to agree with the '08 team

And hate to be a ball-buster, but we did not start 5-0 in ‘05. Had we managed to block for the damn FG and beat MTSU like you would’ve expected a 4-0 team to do, then we would’ve gone to a bowl game after beating UT. I still hate MTSU for that.

Also, I know this is no consolation to lifelong Vandy fans, but I always respected them during my formative years for refusing to roll over no matter who they played. They always seemed to play Alabama tight and certainly put several scares into superior UT teams while I was growing up (as a wee tyke, I frequently yelled at my mom during those close UT-Vandy games because I was convinced she was doing something subliminally to support her alma mater; I guess that she was actually sending me subliminal messages to attend said alma mater).

by VolnVA on Jul 6, 2010 2:47 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks for the reminder RE: 2005

Sadly, it’s almost five years later and minor details are starting to get foggy. Either that or the pain from losing to MTSU was too horrible to remember. Of course, if I had any sense, I would have to understand that mathematically we couldn’t have gone 5-0, cause the victory in Knoxville would have put us over the limit.

Anchor of Gold

by KingJamesIV on Jul 6, 2010 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

This could be wishful thinking on my part...

…but I seem to remember Peyton Manning always played like canned ass against Vandy – to the point that I definitely remember Terry Bradshaw defending him on the Letterman show by saying “but he was playing against Vanderbilt! They got some serious defense down there!”

I seem to remember some absurd stat as well about Vandy being something like 27-4 against the spread vs Top 25 teams in the 90s and early 2000s. Anyone remember hearing that? I know they covered on Alabama almost every year, seems like, and the Tide fans would have to sweat out sixty whole minutes – even before I went north, I know none of my Bama relatives slept on the ’Dores as a season or conference opener…

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

by VandyImport on Jul 7, 2010 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Misnomer

“Memory Lane,” at least in this instance, is much more akin to “Nightmare Alley.”

Anchor of Gold

by KingJamesIV on Jul 6, 2010 3:52 PM EDT reply actions

But hey!

We can get back to .500 all-time with a win against Northwestern in the season opener! Whoo!

by VolnVA on Jul 7, 2010 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions

No competition for '08.

Looking back, forgot how competitive DiNardo was. He was one of the rare one’s that got hired away instead of fired. Funny. LSU was like, “Damn, that guy won 19 games in four years at Vandy. He must be amazing!”

Official proponent of the unofficial campaign to nickname Derrick Morgan "Captain Morgan."

by Drubaru on Jul 8, 2010 3:43 AM EDT reply actions

It would be interesting

…to go back and look at the schedules that DiNardo put together. I wonder if he was just loading up on cupcakes? I can’t remember and don’t have the time right now to do it.

Anchor of Gold

by KingJamesIV on Jul 8, 2010 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions