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Vanderbilt Commodores football
2024 Vanderbilt Commodores football team
First season1890; 134 years ago
Athletic directorCandice Storey Lee
Head coachClark Lea
4th season, 15–33 (.313)
StadiumFirstBank Stadium
(capacity: 40,550)
FieldDudley Field
Year built1922
Field surfaceFieldTurf
LocationNashville, Tennessee
NCAA divisionDivision I FBS
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Past conferencesIndependent (1890–1894)
SIAA (1895–1921)
SoCon (1922–1932)
All-time record618–665–50 (.482)
Bowl record4–4–1 (.500)
Unclaimed national titles6 (1906, 1910, 1911, 1918, 1921, 1922)
Conference titles14 (12 SIAA, 2 SoCon)
RivalriesGeorgia (rivalry)
Kentucky (rivalry)
Ole Miss (rivalry)
Tennessee (rivalry)
Georgia Tech (dormant)
Sewanee (historical)
Consensus All-Americans7[1]
ColorsBlack and gold[2]
   
Fight songDynamite!
MascotMr. C
Marching bandSpirit of Gold Marching Band
OutfitterNike
Websitevucommodores.com

The Vanderbilt Commodores football program represents Vanderbilt University in the sport of American football. The Commodores compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) within the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They are led by head coach Clark Lea. Vanderbilt plays their home games at FirstBank Stadium, located on the university's Nashville, Tennessee campus.

History

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Main article: History of Vanderbilt Commodores football
See also: List of Vanderbilt Commodores football seasons

Vanderbilt has a winning percentage of .464, the average among all members in the Southeastern Conference. They have had no seasons with ten wins, but 10 with ten losses.

Head coaches

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Main article: List of Vanderbilt Commodores head football coaches

Adopting the nickname the Commodores after the 1897 season, the team has played in 1,250 games over 126 seasons. In that time, seven coaches have led the Commodores to a postseason bowl appearance: Art Guepe, Ethan Halbert, George MacIntyre, Bobby Johnson, James Franklin, Derek Mason, and Clark Lea. Four have led them to a conference championship: R. G. Acton, W. H. Watkins, James R. Henry, and Dan McGugin. McGugin is the leader in seasons coached and games won, with 198 victories during his 30 years at Vanderbilt. He was awarded two National Championships retroactively by Clyde Berryman.

Of the 29 different head coaches who have led the Commodores, McGugin,[3] Ray Morrison,[4] Red Sanders,[5] and Bill Edwards[6] have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

The head coach is Clark Lea, who was hired on December 14, 2020.

Conference affiliations

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Vanderbilt has been affiliated with the following conferences.[citation needed]

Championships

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Conference championships

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Vanderbilt has won 14 conference championships, with six shared and eight won outright.

Season Conference Coach Overall record Conference record
1897 SIAA R. G. Acton 6–0–1 3–0–1
1901 W. H. Watkins 6–1–1 6–0–1
1903† James H. Henry 6–1–1 5–1–1
1904 Dan McGugin 9–0 5–0
1905 7–1 6–0
1906† 8–1 6–0
1907 5–1–1 4–0
1910† 8–0–1 5–0
1911 8–1 6–0
1912 8–1–1 4–0–1
1915 9–1 5–0
1921† 7–0–1 4–0–1
1922† SoCon 8–0–1 3–0
1923† 5–2–1 3–0–1

† Co-champions

National championships

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Vanderbilt has been awarded 6 national championships for the years 1906, 1910, 1911, 1918, 1921, and 1922.

Season Coach Overall record Conference record National Championship Selector
1906 Dan McGugin 8–1–0 6–0–0 Billingsley Report[7][8]
1910 8–0–1 5–0–0 James Howell[9]
1911 8–1–0 5–0–0 Billingsley Report[10][11]
1918 4–2–0 4–0–0 David Wilson[12][13]
1921 7–0–1 4–0–1 Berryman QPRS,[14] James Howell[15]
1922 8–0–1 3–0–0 Berryman QPRS,[16] James Howell[17]

Undefeated seasons

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Vanderbilt has had 8 undefeated seasons in the years 1890, 1897, 1904, 1910, 1921, 1922, 1943, and 1944.

Bowl games

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Vanderbilt has been invited to nine bowl games, with the Commodores garnering a record of 4–4–1 in bowl games.

Season Coach Bowl Opponent Result
1955 Art Guepe Gator Bowl Auburn W 25–13
1974 Steve Sloan Peach Bowl Texas Tech T 6–6
1982 George MacIntyre Hall of Fame Classic Air Force L 28–36
2008 Bobby Johnson Music City Bowl Boston College W 16–14
2011 James Franklin Liberty Bowl Cincinnati L 24–31
2012 Music City Bowl NC State W 38–24
2013 BBVA Compass Bowl Houston W 41–24
2016 Derek Mason Independence Bowl NC State L 17–41
2018 Texas Bowl Baylor L 38–45

Rivalries

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Georgia

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Main article: Georgia–Vanderbilt football rivalry
Georgia Vanderbilt 2011

Having started in 1893, the Georgia-Vanderbilt football series was played annually from 1968 to 2023. The two were divisional opponents in the SEC East from 1992 to 2023. The series, which rotates between Nashville, Tennessee, and Athens, Georgia, stands with Georgia leading 61-20–2 through the 2023 season.[18] Under the new SEC format, they are not scheduled to play each other again in the regular season until at least 2026.[19]

Kentucky

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Main article: Kentucky–Vanderbilt football rivalry

Having started in 1896, the Kentucky-Vanderbilt football series has been played annually since 1953.[20] The two were divisional opponents in the SEC East. The series, which rotates between Nashville, Tennessee and Lexington, Kentucky, is led by Kentucky at 48-44-4 with the average score being Vanderbilt 17.2-Kentucky 16.9[21]

Ole Miss

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Main article: Ole Miss–Vanderbilt football rivalry

Ole Miss was Vanderbilt's cross-divisional rival in the SEC from 1992 to 2023.

Vanderbilt and Ole Miss have played 98 times since 1894.[22] Ole Miss leads the series 56-40-2.[22] The largest margin of victory was by 91 points won by Vanderbilt in 1915. Vanderbilt also holds the longest win streak in the series (18) from 1894 to 1938. Under the new SEC format, they are not scheduled to play again in the regular season until at least 2026.[23]

Tennessee

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Main article: Tennessee–Vanderbilt football rivalry
Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt 2007

Vanderbilt and Tennessee have played 117 times since 1892 , Tennessee leads the series 79–33-5.[24] When the rivalry first started Vanderbilt dominated by taking 19 of the first 24 with 3 ties. But from 1928 to 2022 however, Tennessee has dominated going 77–14–2 against Vanderbilt. The largest margin of victory for Vanderbilt was by 76 points in 1918 at Old Dudley Field in Nashville. (Vanderbilt 76, Tennessee 0) The largest defeat was 65 points in 1994 at Vanderbilt Stadium (Tennessee 65, Vanderbilt 0). The longest win streaks for Vanderbilt is (9) from 1901 to 1913. The longest win streak for Tennessee is 22, from 1983 to 2004.[25]

Georgia Tech (dormant)

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Main article: Georgia Tech–Vanderbilt football rivalry

The Commodores first met the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in 1892 in Atlanta, Georgia with Vanderbilt winning 20–10.[26] Since 1924, the winning team in the series has received a silver-plated cowbell with the year and final score of each game engraved on it. The trophy was created by Ed F. Cavaleri, who was described by the Atlanta Constitution as “a faithful Georgia Tech supporter though he did not attend the Jacket institution,” according to Georgia Tech's website. Cavaleri purchased a cowbell at an Atlanta hardware store to use as a noise-maker while on his way to a game in 1924. The Commodores defeated Georgia Tech 3–0, however another fan in attendance suggested that Cavaleri award the bell to the winning team. The tradition was born and Cavaleri attended every game between the two teams from 1924 to 1967.[27] The cowbell has a gold plate screwed into each side, with “GEORGIA TECH-VANDERBILT FOOTBALL TROPHY” inscribed at the top. Three columns list the year of each game, Vanderbilt’s points scored and Georgia Tech’s points scored. The results of the games from 1924 to 1967 are engraved on one side; the results from 2002, 2003, 2009 and 2016 are on the other.[28] Vanderbilt is 15–20-3 against Georgia Tech in 38 games. The Commodores lost the last matchup 38–7 in 2016.

Sewanee (historical)

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Main article: Sewanee–Vanderbilt football rivalry

Vanderbilt and the Sewanee Tigers were both founding members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA), the Southern Conference, and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). It is the oldest of Vanderbilt's rivalries;[29] dating back to 1891 when Vanderbilt played its second football game. Vanderbilt leads the series 40–8–4.[30] The largest margin of victory was in 1905 when Vanderbilt won 68–4. Usually played towards the end of the season on Thanksgiving Day, the two teams have not met again since 1944 and are unlikely to anytime soon as Sewanee plays in NCAA Division III.

Uniforms

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Traditionally, Vanderbilt has featured differing designs of gold helmets, black jerseys, and gold or black pants at home, and gold helmets, white jerseys and gold, or white pants on the road. Meanwhile, the traditional alternate uniform saw gold helmets and jerseys matched with white pants.[31]

The James Franklin (2011–2013), and Derek Mason (2014–2020) eras saw the introduction of several new combinations- including "blackout” (i.e. all black), and "whiteout" (i.e. all white) uniforms. The team's gold alternate jerseys were also re-designed with the addition of black shoulders and a more muted gold.[32] Eventually, battleship gray was incorporated as well.[33]

The Clark Lea (2021–Present) era has seen a return to traditional gold helmets (note: featuring a modernized “V” logo), black jerseys, and gold pants at home, and gold helmets, white jerseys, and gold (or white) pants on the road.[34] More recently, Vanderbilt introduced new all white ("whiteout"),[35] and all black ("blackout") uniforms[36] for the 2024 season opening up the possiblity of several different combinations.

Individual awards

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College Football Hall of Fame

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Vanderbilt Commodore football personnel have been inducted into the National Football Foundation's National College Football Hall of Fame.[37]

Players

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Name Position Career
John J. Tigert HB 1901–1903
Josh Cody T 1914–1916, 1919
Lynn Bomar End 1921–1924
William Spears QB 1925–1927
Carl Hinkle C 1935–1937

Coaches

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Name Career
Dan McGugin 1904–1917, 1919–1934
Ray Morrison 1918, 1935–1939
Red Sanders 1940–1942, 1946–1948
Bill Edwards 1949–1952

All-Americans

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Main article: List of Vanderbilt Commodores football All-Americans
Player Year Position
Zach Cunningham 2016 LB
Jordan Matthews 2013 WR
Casey Hayward 2011 CB
D.J. Moore 2008 DB
Earl Bennett 2006 WR
Jamie Winborn 1999 LB
Jamie Duncan 1997 LB
Bill Marinangel 1996 P
Boo Mitchell 1988 WR
Chris Gaines 1987 LB
Ricky Anderson 1984 P
Leonard Coleman 1983 DB
Chuck Scott 1983 TE
Jim Arnold 1982 P
Allama Matthews 1982 TE
Preston Brown 1979 Back
Barry Burton 1974 TE
Bob Asher 1969 T
Chip Healy 1968 LB
George Diedrich 1958 G
Charley Horton 1955 RB
Bill Wade 1951 QB
Bob Werckle 1951 T
Bucky Curtis 1950 End
Bob Gude 1941 C
Carl Hinkle 1937 C
Pete Gracey 1932 C
Bull Brown 1929 G
Dick Abernathy 1928 End
Bill Spears 1926, 1927 QB
Gil Reese 1923, 1924 Back
Henry Wakefield 1923, 1924 End
Oliver Kuhn 1922 QB
Lynn Bomar 1922, 1923 End
Josh Cody 1914, 1915, 1919 T
Irby Curry 1916 QB
Lewie Hardage 1912 Back
Ray Morrison 1911 QB
W. E. Metzger 1910 G
Bob Blake 1907 E
Owsley Manier 1906 Back

Consensus All-American

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Vanderbilt has had seven consensus All-Americans in their history. In 2016, Zach Cunningham became the first unanimous All-American in Vanderbilt's history.[38]

Player Year Position
Lynn Bomar 1923 E
Hek Wakefield 1924 E
Pete Gracey 1932 C
George Deiderich 1958 G
Jim Arnold 1982 P
Ricky Anderson 1984 P
Zach Cunningham 2016 LB

All-Southerns

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Main article: List of Vanderbilt Commodores football All-Southerns

Conference recognition

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Vanderbilt Commodores personnel, including coaches and players, have received recognition from the Southeastern Conference for their performances on the football field.[37]

Most Valuable Player

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Five Vanderbilt players have been awarded Most Valuable Player, with three of them being awarded over a six year span to Commodores.

Name Year
Willie Geny 1935
Carl Hinkle 1937
Jack Jenkins 1941
Bill Wade 1951
Bob Goodridge 1967

Offensive Player of the Year

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One Vanderbilt player has won Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Name Year
Jay Cutler 2005

Freshman of the Year

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Two players have won Freshman of the Year while at Vanderbilt.

Name Year
Kwane Doster 2002
Warren Norman 2009

Best Blocker

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One Commodore has won Best Blocker, doing so twice.

Name Year
Jack Jenkins 1941, 1942

Best Wide Receiver

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Name Year
Earl Bennett 2005–2007

Coach of the Year

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Five Vanderbilt coaches have won Coach of the Year honors over the past century.

Name Year
Ray Morrison 1937
Red Sanders 1941
Art Guepe 1955
George MacIntyre 1982
Bobby Johnson 2008

Future opponents

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Conference opponents

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From 1992 to 2023, Vanderbilt played in the East Division of the SEC and played each opponent in the division each year along with several teams from the West Division. The SEC will expand the conference to 16 teams and will eliminate its two divisions in 2024, causing a new scheduling format for the Commodores to play against the other members of the conference.[39] Only the 2024 conference schedule was announced on June 14, 2023, while the conference still considers a new format for the future.[40]

2024 Conference Schedule

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}}
OpponentSiteResult
at Missouri
L 27-30
Alabama
W 40-35
at Kentucky
W 20-13
Texas
  • FirstBank Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
L 24-27
at Auburn
W 17-7
South Carolina
  • FirstBank Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
L 28-7
at LSU
L 24-17
Tennessee
  • FirstBank Stadium
  • Nashville, TN (rivalry)

2025 Conference Schedule

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Opponent
at Alabama
Auburn
Kentucky
LSU
Missouri
at South Carolina
at Tennessee
at Texas

Non-conference opponents

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Announced schedules as of December 12, 2024[41]

No games are scheduled for the 2030 and 2031 seasons.
2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2032 2033
Virginia Tech at Virginia Tech Austin Peay Eastern Kentucky SMU Purdue at Stanford Stanford
Alcorn State Georgia State NC State at Stanford at NC State at SMU
Ball State Utah State Delaware
at Georgia State Charleston Southern

References

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  1. ^ "2011 NCAA Football Award winners" (PDF). NCAA.
  2. ^ "Athletics". Vanderbilt University Brand Style Guide. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  3. ^ "Dan McGugin". College Football Hall of Fame. Football Foundation. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  4. ^ "Ray Morrison". College Football Hall of Fame. Football Foundation. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  5. ^ "Red Sanders". College Football Hall of Fame. Football Foundation. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  6. ^ "Bill Edwards". College Football Hall of Fame. Football Foundation. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  7. ^ "Richard Billingsley Report College Football National Champion". syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/212378-the-history-of-vanderbilt-football-part-1-1890-1934.amp.html.
  8. ^ "Richard Billingsley Report College Football National Champion". nationalchamps.net/NCAA/database/vanderbilt_database.htm.
  9. ^ "James Howell 1910 College Football National Champion". www.jhowell.net/cf/cf1910.htm.
  10. ^ "Richard Billingsley Report College Football National Champion". www.liveabout.com/college-football-national-champions-791518.
  11. ^ "Richard Billingsley Report College Football National Champion". Archived from the original on October 24, 2001. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  12. ^ "David Wilson 1918 College Football National Champion". wilson.engr.wisc.edu/perform/1918/byrating.txt.
  13. ^ "Vanderbilt All National Championships". August 8, 2009. Archived from the original on August 8, 2009. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  14. ^ "Clyde P. Berryman QPRS College Football National Champion" (PDF). wilson.engr.wisc.edu/rsfc/oth_sites/rate/.
  15. ^ "James Howell 1921 College Football National Champion". www.jhowell.net/cf/cf1921.htm.
  16. ^ "Clyde P. Berryman QPRS College Football National Champion". cfbalmanac.com/fbs-teams-vanderbilt-row121-football-history-records-and-database/.
  17. ^ "James Howell 1922 College Football National Champion". www.jhowell.net/cf/cf1922.htm.
  18. ^ "Winsipedia - Georgia Bulldogs vs. Vanderbilt Commodores football series history".
  19. ^ https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/sports/2024/03/21/sec-announces-2025-football-season-scheduling-format
  20. ^ "mcubed.net : NCAAF Football : Series records : Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt". mcubed.net.
  21. ^ "Kentucky Vanderbilt series". Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  22. ^ a b "mcubed.net : NCAAF Football : Series records : Mississippi vs. Vanderbilt". mcubed.net.
  23. ^ https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/sports/2024/03/21/sec-announces-2025-football-season-scheduling-format
  24. ^ "mcubed.net : NCAAF Football : Series records : Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt". mcubed.net.
  25. ^ "School Photos: Vanderbilt Sports" (PDF). grfx.cstv.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 12, 2023.
  26. ^ "Winsipedia - Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Vanderbilt Commodores football series history". Winsipedia.
  27. ^ "College Football News, Videos, Scores, Teams, Standings, Stats". FOX Sports.
  28. ^ "Inside The Chart: The Cowbell". Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. September 15, 2016.
  29. ^ William L. Traughber. "CHC- Sewanee Was Vandy's First Rival". Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  30. ^ cf. William L. Traughber (2011). Vanderbilt Football: Tales of Commodore Gridiron History. History Press. p. 26. ISBN 9781609494230.[permanent dead link‍]
  31. ^ "Vanderbilt uniform history". Saturday Down South. April 12, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  32. ^ "The Best of 2012: Uniform Combination". Vanderbilt University Athletics - Official Athletics Website. December 10, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  33. ^ "New Uniforms for Vanderbilt Football". UNISWAG. October 10, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  34. ^ "Vanderbilt Commodores 2023 Uniforms | CFBUniforms". cfbuniform.com. April 18, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  35. ^ "Vanderbilt Commodores Unveil New All White Football Uniform". Uni Watch. August 8, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  36. ^ "This Magic Moment". Vanderbilt University Athletics - Official Athletics Website. October 5, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  37. ^ a b According to the Vanderbilt 2006 Football Media Guide.
  38. ^ Inabinett, Mark (December 17, 2016). "SEC Consensus All-Americans by the Numbers: Alabama has half the league's 2016 haul". AL.com. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  39. ^ Emerson, Seth (June 1, 2023). "SEC approves 8-game football schedule for 2024, no decision yet on long-term format". The Athletic. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  40. ^ Gerson, Aria (June 14, 2023). "Vanderbilt football schedule 2024 includes Tennessee, Texas". Nashville Tennessean. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  41. ^ "Vanderbilt Commodores Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved April 26, 2020.

Further reading

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Seifried, C.S., & Pfleegor, A. (2022). When Vanderbilt Ruled the South: A Review of Football and Playing Grounds 1890-1940. Tennessee Historical Quarterly, 81(2), 134-163.

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