I don't know why I'd be nostalgic for the '07 football season, but I put this together anyway. I thought these were the top 5 individual Vanderbilt moments/performances of 2007.
5. Earl Bennett cements his legend
No. 10 made a diving catch in traffic for reception 209 to make himself the all-time SEC receptions leader. In all the years of the illustrious Southeastern Conference, no one has made more catches in their career than Bennett. It's been said a lot, but that really is an incredible achievement.
4. Nickson starts the year out right
Chris Nickson didn't have a memorable season, but his season-opener against the Spiders was about as good as a game a QB can have. Nickson was 19/26 for 284 yards and passed for four touchdowns, and Bennett set a school record with 223 yards receiving. Best pass is at 2:20.
3. D.J. Moore soumersalts into the end zone
D.J. picked off EMU QB Andy Schmitt and did a Reggie Bush into the end zone. Pretty cool stuff. It's at 3:50.
2. Defense puts on a show in Columbia as Vanderbilt gets biggest upset since the 1930s
Not really an individual performance but this merits mentioning. Vanderbilt put 17 points on the board, then the defense took over and absolutely stifled the (then) No. 6 South Carolina Gamecocks. The Commodores had seven sacks, three interceptions, forced a fumble, and held the Cocks to 1-12 on third-down conversions. Vandy finally got the best of the Ol' Ball Coach; this also began the period when South Carolina, to quote Stewie Griffin, collapsed into itself like a neutron star.
1. The Sean Walker Show
Hey, look what happens when the Commodores open up the playbook. Walker showcased his speed with his first touchdown on a double reverse to give Vanderbilt the lead on Homecoming. His other touchdown was the No. 1 play on SportsCenter that night, and it might have been the greatest catch of the year for the whole conference. His older brother made this video, and a familiar face introduced the Vanderbilt players for ESPN that day.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
SEC Media Days: Wednesday Recap
Ten things we learned from Day 1 of the SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala.
1. Florida is going to be really, really fast.
Urban Meyer confirmed the story that redshirt freshman running back Chris Rainey recently beat true freshman Jeffrey Demps in a 40-yard dash, which was no small feat. Demps ran a 10.01 in the 100 meters at last month's Olympic Trials, only the fastest time ever for an American teeneger.
"Everyone saying how fast he is so they said let's go in the back of dorms, let's figure this thing out," Meyer recalled. "They raced. I guess Chris nudged him out. So we got some speed. I'd like to watch that. I wasn't there, but I would have liked to (smiling). Could have probably sold about 10,000 tickets for that. ESPN GameDay probably would have been there as well."
2. Tim Tebow is so popular these days that even his coach can't get close to him.
"I loved it when I was getting pushed in the back by security in Times Square, physically I was getting pushed in the back because they thought I was like hanging around Tim trying to get an autograph or something," Meyer said. "I hate to say this, I was. I wanted to get a Christmas present for my son."
3. It's impossible not to root for Tim Tebow.
In today's me-first society, it's refreshing to see that Tebow has taken advantage of his celebrity status to influence change. For his three off-season breaks, he went to the Philippines, Croatia and Thailand on mission trips, where he preached in prisons, schools, hospitals, you name it...
"The reason I do it is because it's more important than football to me," Tebow said. "Doing those things, taking my platform as a football player and using it for good, using it to be an influence and change people's lives, that's more important than football to me."
"I can change a kid's life for the better, that's much more important to me than going out there and beating Georgia or Florida State or whatever team it is," Tebow added. "That's very special to me, but it doesn't come close to having the ability to put a smile on a kid's face or go to a hospital and see a girl who is about to die, see her smile because you're there to see her. I mean, you can't put a price on it, on what that does for me."
4. Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom is glad LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey is gone.
"In my coaching career, he is one of only three defensive linemen that when I went to the game I was truly afraid of," Croom said. "Reggie White was one of the others when I was in the NFL. And Howie Long was one of the others."
5. Miles' Tigers have no interest in defending their trophy.
"The '08 is where we're at," Miles said. "We're not defending. We're not dealing with rankings. This is a brand new year. If we're defending, come see the trophy, it's in our trophy case. We're not defending it; it's there. We got a brand new team."
6. With ends Charles Alexander and Ricky Jean Francois and tackles Tyson Jackson and Kirston Pittman, LSU's defensive line should be downright scary once again.
"I think our defensive front will be as strong as there is in college football," Miles said.
7. After poking fun at Alabama last week, Miles took the high road on Wednesday.
"I have great respect for the University of Alabama, the history they have presented to college football, the competition that they put on every time they take the field," Miles said. "I promise you that any fun and entertainment that I have with supporters is very respectful."
Something tells me Crimson Tide fans aren't buying it.
8. The SEC is headed in the right direction academically.
Five years ago, SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said the SEC would have no programs on probation as of today. The league came up just short -- the Arkansas track team is the only one.
"The most satisfying accomplishment in my six years as commissioner is that we have tackled the infraction problems head on, while at the same time arguably enjoying the most sustained competitive athletic success in the history of this conference," Slive said.
9. A decision regarding an SEC Network will be made this fall, one year before the current television contracts end, Slive said.
Here's what criteria the SEC will consider in making a decision.
"They include the ability to improve national distribution for all of our sports, the ability to enhance the SEC brand nationally, the opportunity to provide a window for non athletic programming, particularly academic programming, the ability to maximize multimedia distribution in the new digital world," Slive said. "And, finally, the ability to increase revenue distribution to our member institutions in support of their broad based men's and women's athletic programs."
10. In case you didn't know, the SEC is pretty good.
*Six players were drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft.
*263 players were on the 2007 NFL opening day active roster, the most of any conference.
*The SEC sent 75 percent of all of its teams in all of its sports to NCAA post-season competition.
*The SEC had 457 student-athletes named All-Americans.
*150 former or current SEC student athletes will participate in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
You can read a full transcript from Wednesday's press conferences at SECsports.com here.
1. Florida is going to be really, really fast.
Urban Meyer confirmed the story that redshirt freshman running back Chris Rainey recently beat true freshman Jeffrey Demps in a 40-yard dash, which was no small feat. Demps ran a 10.01 in the 100 meters at last month's Olympic Trials, only the fastest time ever for an American teeneger.
"Everyone saying how fast he is so they said let's go in the back of dorms, let's figure this thing out," Meyer recalled. "They raced. I guess Chris nudged him out. So we got some speed. I'd like to watch that. I wasn't there, but I would have liked to (smiling). Could have probably sold about 10,000 tickets for that. ESPN GameDay probably would have been there as well."
2. Tim Tebow is so popular these days that even his coach can't get close to him.
"I loved it when I was getting pushed in the back by security in Times Square, physically I was getting pushed in the back because they thought I was like hanging around Tim trying to get an autograph or something," Meyer said. "I hate to say this, I was. I wanted to get a Christmas present for my son."
3. It's impossible not to root for Tim Tebow.
In today's me-first society, it's refreshing to see that Tebow has taken advantage of his celebrity status to influence change. For his three off-season breaks, he went to the Philippines, Croatia and Thailand on mission trips, where he preached in prisons, schools, hospitals, you name it...
"The reason I do it is because it's more important than football to me," Tebow said. "Doing those things, taking my platform as a football player and using it for good, using it to be an influence and change people's lives, that's more important than football to me."
"I can change a kid's life for the better, that's much more important to me than going out there and beating Georgia or Florida State or whatever team it is," Tebow added. "That's very special to me, but it doesn't come close to having the ability to put a smile on a kid's face or go to a hospital and see a girl who is about to die, see her smile because you're there to see her. I mean, you can't put a price on it, on what that does for me."
4. Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom is glad LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey is gone.
"In my coaching career, he is one of only three defensive linemen that when I went to the game I was truly afraid of," Croom said. "Reggie White was one of the others when I was in the NFL. And Howie Long was one of the others."
5. Miles' Tigers have no interest in defending their trophy.
"The '08 is where we're at," Miles said. "We're not defending. We're not dealing with rankings. This is a brand new year. If we're defending, come see the trophy, it's in our trophy case. We're not defending it; it's there. We got a brand new team."
6. With ends Charles Alexander and Ricky Jean Francois and tackles Tyson Jackson and Kirston Pittman, LSU's defensive line should be downright scary once again.
"I think our defensive front will be as strong as there is in college football," Miles said.
7. After poking fun at Alabama last week, Miles took the high road on Wednesday.
"I have great respect for the University of Alabama, the history they have presented to college football, the competition that they put on every time they take the field," Miles said. "I promise you that any fun and entertainment that I have with supporters is very respectful."
Something tells me Crimson Tide fans aren't buying it.
8. The SEC is headed in the right direction academically.
Five years ago, SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said the SEC would have no programs on probation as of today. The league came up just short -- the Arkansas track team is the only one.
"The most satisfying accomplishment in my six years as commissioner is that we have tackled the infraction problems head on, while at the same time arguably enjoying the most sustained competitive athletic success in the history of this conference," Slive said.
9. A decision regarding an SEC Network will be made this fall, one year before the current television contracts end, Slive said.
Here's what criteria the SEC will consider in making a decision.
"They include the ability to improve national distribution for all of our sports, the ability to enhance the SEC brand nationally, the opportunity to provide a window for non athletic programming, particularly academic programming, the ability to maximize multimedia distribution in the new digital world," Slive said. "And, finally, the ability to increase revenue distribution to our member institutions in support of their broad based men's and women's athletic programs."
10. In case you didn't know, the SEC is pretty good.
*Six players were drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft.
*263 players were on the 2007 NFL opening day active roster, the most of any conference.
*The SEC sent 75 percent of all of its teams in all of its sports to NCAA post-season competition.
*The SEC had 457 student-athletes named All-Americans.
*150 former or current SEC student athletes will participate in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
You can read a full transcript from Wednesday's press conferences at SECsports.com here.
Vanderbilt Football Preview: RB Breakdown
The Commodores kick off their season on Thursday, August 28, at Miami of Ohio. In the meantime, The Sports VU will take a look at a different position each day. Tuesday we dissected the quarterbacks. Today we'll break down the running backs.
STRENGTHS: Versatility. Each running back adds a different dimension to the rushing attack. With the departure of Cassen Jackson-Garrison, redshirt junior Jared Hawkins should see an expanded role after rushing for 267 yards on 60 carries in '07. Hawkins reads blocks well, hits the hole hard and has the ability to run both inside and outside the tackles. Redshirt senior Jeff Jennings appears to be in great shape two years removed from a knee injury and should thrive in short-yardage situations. The elusive Gaston Miller adds a home-run threat to the ground game, while fellow redshirt sophomore Kennard Reeves and redshirt freshman Ryan van Rensburg are capable back-ups.
WEAKNESSES: No game-changer. The Commodores are still looking for that stud tailback who can rush for 100 yards week in and week out and has the ability to break a 60-yard run. Without a complete tailback, it makes it harder for Vanderbilt to establish the run on a consistent basis.
TOP QUESTIONS: Who is the starter, Jeff Jennings or Jared Hawkins? Is Hawkins ready for a featured role, and will Jennings return to top form with the knee no longer a concern? Is the 5'7" (generous) Gaston Miller ready to contribute in the SEC? How do Reeves and van Rensburg fit into the picture, if at all?
INSTANT ANALYSIS: I doubt the Commodores are too worried about replacing Jackson-Garrison's production. Regardless of who's named the starter on the depth chart, Hawkins and Jennings should both see plenty of carries. Although the offensive line is new, both RBs should be significantly better in '08. The wild card in all of this is Miller, who coach Bobby Johnson thinks has the potential to be a solid change-of-pace back. The bottom line is that while all three RBs should be effective in their own way, don't expect opposing defenses to be too worried about any of them.
NOTE: I'm off to see Dark Knight, but I'll have a full recap of day one from the SEC Media Days later tonight.
STRENGTHS: Versatility. Each running back adds a different dimension to the rushing attack. With the departure of Cassen Jackson-Garrison, redshirt junior Jared Hawkins should see an expanded role after rushing for 267 yards on 60 carries in '07. Hawkins reads blocks well, hits the hole hard and has the ability to run both inside and outside the tackles. Redshirt senior Jeff Jennings appears to be in great shape two years removed from a knee injury and should thrive in short-yardage situations. The elusive Gaston Miller adds a home-run threat to the ground game, while fellow redshirt sophomore Kennard Reeves and redshirt freshman Ryan van Rensburg are capable back-ups.
WEAKNESSES: No game-changer. The Commodores are still looking for that stud tailback who can rush for 100 yards week in and week out and has the ability to break a 60-yard run. Without a complete tailback, it makes it harder for Vanderbilt to establish the run on a consistent basis.
TOP QUESTIONS: Who is the starter, Jeff Jennings or Jared Hawkins? Is Hawkins ready for a featured role, and will Jennings return to top form with the knee no longer a concern? Is the 5'7" (generous) Gaston Miller ready to contribute in the SEC? How do Reeves and van Rensburg fit into the picture, if at all?
INSTANT ANALYSIS: I doubt the Commodores are too worried about replacing Jackson-Garrison's production. Regardless of who's named the starter on the depth chart, Hawkins and Jennings should both see plenty of carries. Although the offensive line is new, both RBs should be significantly better in '08. The wild card in all of this is Miller, who coach Bobby Johnson thinks has the potential to be a solid change-of-pace back. The bottom line is that while all three RBs should be effective in their own way, don't expect opposing defenses to be too worried about any of them.
NOTE: I'm off to see Dark Knight, but I'll have a full recap of day one from the SEC Media Days later tonight.
A recent grad's SEC predictions
In the spirit of the week, The Sports VU decided to join the fun and make its own preseason SEC predictions. Is it pointless? Probably, but it's the middle of July and I'm all for anything that helps pass the time until August 28. Also, you'll be able to look back at these in January and commend us on our amazing picks. Or something like that.
Jarred and Aram made their predictions. Now it's time for recent Vanderbilt graduate Will Gibbons to share his wisdom.
SEC East
1. Florida
2. Georgia
3. Tennessee
4. South Carolina
5. Kentucky
6. Vanderbilt
SEC West
1. LSU
2. Auburn
3. Alabama
4. Mississippi State
5. Ole Miss
6. Arkansas
Offensive Player of the Year: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
Defensive Player of the Year: Greg Hardy, DE, Ole Miss
Coach of the Year: Urban Meyer, Florida
Top Newcomer: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
Breakout Player: Demetrius Byrd, WR, LSU
Non-Vanderbilt game you're most looking forward to: Georgia-Florida in Jacksonville (Nov. 1)
One guarantee: I really like Georgia’s personnel and Mark Richt, but this team won’t be playing for the national title, despite the amount of hype it is getting. The Dawgs travel to Arizona State, Auburn, LSU and South Carolina, get Florida in Jacksonville, and face Alabama and Tennessee at home. Georgia Tech is never easy, while Kentucky and Vandy have been pesky for the Bulldogs. The only true cakewalk on the schedule is Georgia Southern, as even Central Michigan is being picked to win the MAC. That’s just too much to ask of any team.
One bold prediction: With Houston Nutt and the excitement he’s generating, Ole Miss will compete for (not necessarily make) a bowl game. Coach O brought in a lot of talent, and Nutt just might coach it up.
Jarred and Aram made their predictions. Now it's time for recent Vanderbilt graduate Will Gibbons to share his wisdom.
SEC East
1. Florida
2. Georgia
3. Tennessee
4. South Carolina
5. Kentucky
6. Vanderbilt
SEC West
1. LSU
2. Auburn
3. Alabama
4. Mississippi State
5. Ole Miss
6. Arkansas
Offensive Player of the Year: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
Defensive Player of the Year: Greg Hardy, DE, Ole Miss
Coach of the Year: Urban Meyer, Florida
Top Newcomer: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
Breakout Player: Demetrius Byrd, WR, LSU
Non-Vanderbilt game you're most looking forward to: Georgia-Florida in Jacksonville (Nov. 1)
One guarantee: I really like Georgia’s personnel and Mark Richt, but this team won’t be playing for the national title, despite the amount of hype it is getting. The Dawgs travel to Arizona State, Auburn, LSU and South Carolina, get Florida in Jacksonville, and face Alabama and Tennessee at home. Georgia Tech is never easy, while Kentucky and Vandy have been pesky for the Bulldogs. The only true cakewalk on the schedule is Georgia Southern, as even Central Michigan is being picked to win the MAC. That’s just too much to ask of any team.
One bold prediction: With Houston Nutt and the excitement he’s generating, Ole Miss will compete for (not necessarily make) a bowl game. Coach O brought in a lot of talent, and Nutt just might coach it up.
A thinking man's SEC predictions
In the spirit of the week, The Sports VU decided to join the fun and make its own preseason SEC predictions. Is it pointless? Probably, but it's the middle of July and I'm all for anything that helps pass the time until August 28. Also, you'll be able to look back at these in January and commend us on our amazing picks. Or something like that.
You can check out Jarred's predictions here.
SEC East
1. Georgia
2. Tennessee
3. Florida
4. South Carolina
5. Kentucky
6. Vanderbilt
SEC West
1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Auburn
4. Ole Miss
5. Mississippi St.
6. Arkansas
Offensive Player of the Year: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
Defensive Player of the Year: Eric Berry, DB, Tennessee
Coach of the Year: Mark Richt, Georgia
Top Newcomer: Jevan Snead, QB, Ole Miss and A.J. Green, WR, Georgia (tie)
Breakout Player: Jonathon Crompton, QB, Tennessee
Game I'm Looking Forward To: Florida @ Tennessee (Sept. 20)
One Guarantee: Ole Miss will go to a bowl game.
Bold Prediction: Tim Tebow will get injured and miss at least one game of the 2008 NCAA Football season.
You can check out Jarred's predictions here.
SEC East
1. Georgia
2. Tennessee
3. Florida
4. South Carolina
5. Kentucky
6. Vanderbilt
SEC West
1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Auburn
4. Ole Miss
5. Mississippi St.
6. Arkansas
Offensive Player of the Year: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
Defensive Player of the Year: Eric Berry, DB, Tennessee
Coach of the Year: Mark Richt, Georgia
Top Newcomer: Jevan Snead, QB, Ole Miss and A.J. Green, WR, Georgia (tie)
Breakout Player: Jonathon Crompton, QB, Tennessee
Game I'm Looking Forward To: Florida @ Tennessee (Sept. 20)
One Guarantee: Ole Miss will go to a bowl game.
Bold Prediction: Tim Tebow will get injured and miss at least one game of the 2008 NCAA Football season.
Around the SEC (7/23)
A bunch of SEC-related links to pass along as the SEC Media Days get going this afternoon. But, first, here's today's schedule:
FLORIDA (1:10 - 3:10 pm)
Urban Meyer, QB Tim Tebow, OT Phil Trautwein
MISSISSIPPI STATE (1:10 - 3:10 pm)
Sylvester Croom, QB Wesley Carroll, LB Jamar Chaney
LSU (3:10 - 5:10 pm)
Les Miles, C Brett Helms, DE Tyson Jackson
VANDERBILT (3:10 - 5:10 pm)
Bobby Johnson, S Reshard Langford, WR George Smith
Jon Solomon of The Birmingham asks a great question: Is this the golden age of SEC football coaches?
Solomon believes so, pointing out that it's the first time in the conference's 76-year history that five current coaches have won a national championship. "And," he says, "it's not just quality at the top. The depth among the 12 current coaches rivals the early 1960s, which is considered the Holy Grail-era of SEC football."
The rest of the country finally seems to admit that the SEC is the best, according to John Adams of The Knoxville News Sentinel. For example, did you know that the SEC has three guards, three tackles and two centers ranked in the top five nationally at their positions?
Funny tidbit about Bobby Johnson in this Press-Register story about the off-field demands of coaches.
The Clarion-Ledger lists six topics to look for this week in Hoover. A couple of the big ones: Can Georgia live up to the preseason hype? Is it put up or shut up time for Steve Spurrier at South Carolina?
Meanwhile, The Tennessean's Bryan Mullen takes a look at 10 hot topics, including Vanderbilt's QB controversy.
Finally, Seth Emerson of The State rates each coach on how intense his press conference will be from one to four microphones and gives Bobby Johnson a 1.5.
Also, don't forget to check out my preseason SEC predictions below.
FLORIDA (1:10 - 3:10 pm)
Urban Meyer, QB Tim Tebow, OT Phil Trautwein
MISSISSIPPI STATE (1:10 - 3:10 pm)
Sylvester Croom, QB Wesley Carroll, LB Jamar Chaney
LSU (3:10 - 5:10 pm)
Les Miles, C Brett Helms, DE Tyson Jackson
VANDERBILT (3:10 - 5:10 pm)
Bobby Johnson, S Reshard Langford, WR George Smith
Jon Solomon of The Birmingham asks a great question: Is this the golden age of SEC football coaches?
Solomon believes so, pointing out that it's the first time in the conference's 76-year history that five current coaches have won a national championship. "And," he says, "it's not just quality at the top. The depth among the 12 current coaches rivals the early 1960s, which is considered the Holy Grail-era of SEC football."
The rest of the country finally seems to admit that the SEC is the best, according to John Adams of The Knoxville News Sentinel. For example, did you know that the SEC has three guards, three tackles and two centers ranked in the top five nationally at their positions?
Funny tidbit about Bobby Johnson in this Press-Register story about the off-field demands of coaches.
Some coaches go for laughs. Vanderbilt's Bobby Johnson broke up the room when he described signing autographs for Japanese tourists who were convinced that he was comedian Steve Martin.
The Clarion-Ledger lists six topics to look for this week in Hoover. A couple of the big ones: Can Georgia live up to the preseason hype? Is it put up or shut up time for Steve Spurrier at South Carolina?
Meanwhile, The Tennessean's Bryan Mullen takes a look at 10 hot topics, including Vanderbilt's QB controversy.
Finally, Seth Emerson of The State rates each coach on how intense his press conference will be from one to four microphones and gives Bobby Johnson a 1.5.
Typically, the biggest activity during Johnson’s presentation is at the beginning, when media members scramble out of the room. That’s too bad, because the Columbia native can be one of the most entertaining and humorous coaches in the league. Johnson should face the usual round of Vanderbilt questions: So, how close to getting to a bowl do you think you are? How tough is it to win at a school you need a 24,000 SAT score to get in? Why aren’t you winning when your basketball and baseball programs are?
Also, don't forget to check out my preseason SEC predictions below.
The Sports VU's preseason SEC predictions
College football season is finally here...sort of. The always-hectic, yet highly-entertaining SEC Media Days kick off today in Hoover, Ala., and Florida, LSU, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt are up on the first of the three-day event. The Commodores, represented by coach Bobby Johnson and seniors Reshard Langford and George Smith, will speak to the media from 3:10-5:10 p.m. CT.
In the spirit of the week, The Sports VU decided to join the fun and make its own preseason SEC predictions. Is it pointless? Probably, but it's the middle of July and I'm all for anything that helps pass the time until August 28. Also, you'll be able to look back at these in January and commend us on our amazing picks. Or something like that.
You can read Aram's predictions here.
SEC East
1. Florida
2. Georgia
3. Tennessee
4. South Carolina
5. Kentucky
6. Vanderbilt
SEC West
1. Auburn
2. LSU
3. Alabama
4. Mississippi State
5. Ole Miss
6. Arkansas
Offensive Player of the Year: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
Defensive Player of the Year: Greg Hardy, DE, Ole Miss
Coach of the Year: Tommy Tuberville, Auburn
Top Newcomer: Jevan Snead, QB, Ole Miss
Breakout Player: Mario Fanin, RB/WR, Auburn
Non-Vanderbilt game you're most looking forward to: LSU at Auburn (Sept. 20)
One guarantee: Vandy will go to its first bow...Thought I was gonna do it, didn't you? In all seriousness, Georgia will lose at least three games.
One bold prediction: Tim Tebow quits football in order to help spread the gospel.
Feel free to leave your own picks in the comments.
In the spirit of the week, The Sports VU decided to join the fun and make its own preseason SEC predictions. Is it pointless? Probably, but it's the middle of July and I'm all for anything that helps pass the time until August 28. Also, you'll be able to look back at these in January and commend us on our amazing picks. Or something like that.
You can read Aram's predictions here.
SEC East
1. Florida
2. Georgia
3. Tennessee
4. South Carolina
5. Kentucky
6. Vanderbilt
SEC West
1. Auburn
2. LSU
3. Alabama
4. Mississippi State
5. Ole Miss
6. Arkansas
Offensive Player of the Year: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
Defensive Player of the Year: Greg Hardy, DE, Ole Miss
Coach of the Year: Tommy Tuberville, Auburn
Top Newcomer: Jevan Snead, QB, Ole Miss
Breakout Player: Mario Fanin, RB/WR, Auburn
Non-Vanderbilt game you're most looking forward to: LSU at Auburn (Sept. 20)
One guarantee: Vandy will go to its first bow...Thought I was gonna do it, didn't you? In all seriousness, Georgia will lose at least three games.
One bold prediction: Tim Tebow quits football in order to help spread the gospel.
Feel free to leave your own picks in the comments.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Vanderbilt Football Preview: QB Breakdown
The Commodores kick off their season on Thursday, August 28, at Miami of Ohio. In the meantime, The Sports VU will take a look at each position, starting with the most visible and perhaps most important -- quarterback.
STRENGTHS: Experience. Things should begin to slow down for redshirt senior Chris Nickson and redshirt junior Mackenzi Adams, who have 24 starts between them. They're familiar with the offense and know what it takes to succeed in the SEC. Both QBs are also mobile, which makes the Commodores harder to defend. Vanderbilt also has depth at the position with redshirt sophomore Jared Funk and redshirt freshman Larry Smith.
WEAKNESSES: Consistency. Nickson had a terrific 2006, completing 160 of 292 passes for 2,085 yards and 15 TDs while rushing for 694 yards and nine TDs, only to regress in 2007. No one knows quite how bad Nickson was hurt, but the bottom line is that he had just 943 total yards and eight TDs in six starts and gave way to Adams in the second half of the season. Adams completed 55.5 percent of his passes for 1043 yards and nine TDs while rushing for 289 yards and 3 TDs, but fairly or unfairly, never seemed to gain the full confidence of the coaching staff.
TOP QUESTIONS: First, the obvious question -- who should/will start? Beyond that, which Chris Nickson will we see, the '06 or '07 version? Did Mackenzi Adams prove enough last season to win the job? Will both QBs receive snaps regardless? And what about the two talented youngsters, Funk and Smith? If the Dores struggle early on, will coach Bobby Johnson look to the future?
INSTANT ANALYSIS: With two experienced upperclassmen, the Commodores shouldn't have to worry about the QB position, but heading into fall camp, it remains one of the biggest question marks. Nickson at his best probably gives Vanderbilt its best chance to win, but it's unclear whether that Nickson even exists anymore. Meanwhile, Adams is a great leader who has the respect of his teammates. And if the Commodores had beaten Georgia and Tennessee in '07 and gone to a bowl game, I'd imagine that Adams would be the unquestioned starter. It'll be interesting to see how Funk and Smith factor into the question, as well. Funk looked the best of the four in the spring scrimmage and possesses a strong, accurate arm, while Smith was a big-time recruit viewed by many as the QB of the future, although I'd imagine he is still one year away. Either way, the bottom line is this -- whoever gets the nod is going to have to play well for Vanderbilt to have any shot at earning its first bowl berth since 1982.
Check back tomorrow as The Sports VU breaks down the running backs.
STRENGTHS: Experience. Things should begin to slow down for redshirt senior Chris Nickson and redshirt junior Mackenzi Adams, who have 24 starts between them. They're familiar with the offense and know what it takes to succeed in the SEC. Both QBs are also mobile, which makes the Commodores harder to defend. Vanderbilt also has depth at the position with redshirt sophomore Jared Funk and redshirt freshman Larry Smith.
WEAKNESSES: Consistency. Nickson had a terrific 2006, completing 160 of 292 passes for 2,085 yards and 15 TDs while rushing for 694 yards and nine TDs, only to regress in 2007. No one knows quite how bad Nickson was hurt, but the bottom line is that he had just 943 total yards and eight TDs in six starts and gave way to Adams in the second half of the season. Adams completed 55.5 percent of his passes for 1043 yards and nine TDs while rushing for 289 yards and 3 TDs, but fairly or unfairly, never seemed to gain the full confidence of the coaching staff.
TOP QUESTIONS: First, the obvious question -- who should/will start? Beyond that, which Chris Nickson will we see, the '06 or '07 version? Did Mackenzi Adams prove enough last season to win the job? Will both QBs receive snaps regardless? And what about the two talented youngsters, Funk and Smith? If the Dores struggle early on, will coach Bobby Johnson look to the future?
INSTANT ANALYSIS: With two experienced upperclassmen, the Commodores shouldn't have to worry about the QB position, but heading into fall camp, it remains one of the biggest question marks. Nickson at his best probably gives Vanderbilt its best chance to win, but it's unclear whether that Nickson even exists anymore. Meanwhile, Adams is a great leader who has the respect of his teammates. And if the Commodores had beaten Georgia and Tennessee in '07 and gone to a bowl game, I'd imagine that Adams would be the unquestioned starter. It'll be interesting to see how Funk and Smith factor into the question, as well. Funk looked the best of the four in the spring scrimmage and possesses a strong, accurate arm, while Smith was a big-time recruit viewed by many as the QB of the future, although I'd imagine he is still one year away. Either way, the bottom line is this -- whoever gets the nod is going to have to play well for Vanderbilt to have any shot at earning its first bowl berth since 1982.
Check back tomorrow as The Sports VU breaks down the running backs.
Commodore Banter (7/22)
The Sports VU is in full swing these days so be sure to scroll down the page and check out all of our recent stories. And in case you missed it, we're moving and need your help.
Yesterday we shared some basketball thoughts from last week's SEC teleconference. Maurice Patton of The Tennessean does the same thing today, noting that Vandy's rep lures top recruits.
"They were able to add a lot of athleticism and depth," Rivals.com recruiting analyst Justin Young said. "Sometimes they'd have a really good player mixed with some program guys. Here, you've got four guys that by the time they're juniors or seniors could be your starting lineup."
The Commodores also have another top recruit on the way in 2009 -- John Jenkins. A 6-foot-4, 200-pound shooting guard, Jenkins has seen his stock rise tremendously this summer. At the NBA Players Top 100 Camp, he averaged 17.8 points, three points better than any other player during the five-day event. He was one of just 80 players invited to the LeBron James Skills Academy last week, and he will be competing in the Nike Global Challenge (reserved from the nation's top 30 players) in August.
It's no surprise then to learn that Jenkins has received offers from a number of schools despite his commitment to the Commodores.
"North Carolina, Duke … that's where I wanted to go when I was 11," Jenkins said. "Now I have a good home in Vanderbilt. They brought me in and I love the coaches, the fans and the education. I'm real set on them."
Coach Kevin Stallings must be counting down the days until Jenkins' arrival. He is currently ranked No. 32 overall, eighth among shooting guards, by Rivals.com.
"John has started to put a little length on his résumé," said Dave Telep, Scout.com national recruiting director. "He's made perimeter shots, knocked down 3's and been in situations in camp settings where he's been on big runs. He's going to get a lot of points at Vanderbilt. That offense is the right fit for him."
In football news, D.J. Moore and Reshard Langford were named to the coaches' All-SEC team, Moore to the first team and Langford to the third.
The Commodores also received another commitment for the Class of 2009 -- Mason Johnston. A 6-foot-4, 235-pound tight end from The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla., Johnston is ranked by Scout.com as the nation’s No. 36 tight end prospect and No. 43 by Rivals.com in the class of 2009.
Speaking of prospects, Brett Hait attempts to answer the following question: When it comes to recruiting, how young is too young? (Yes, we're talking about you, Billy).
In alumni news, the Bears are closing in on a deal with offensive tackle Chris Williams.
The Tampa Bay Rays are in no rush to call up David Price. Within this mailbag, MLB.com's Bill Chastain says Price "is the one untouchable guy in the Rays' farm system." He also added this:
For Denver quarterback Jay Cutler, year three is pivotal.
In NBA Summer League news, Derrick Byars ended on a high note, scoring 15 points on 7-for-12 shooting to go along with five rebounds in the Hornets' loss to Portland. In five games, he averaged 7.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 18.6 minutes. He shot 44.4 percent from the field, including 46 percent from 3-point range.
Shan Foster averaged 8.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 49 percent from the field for the Mavs, while Matt Freije had himself a week, averaging 11.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.0 block and 1.0 assists in 21.5 minutes in four games for Milwaukee. He shot 59 percent, including 60 percent from 3-point range.
Make sure to check back later today for the first part of The Sports VU's 2008 Football Preview.
Yesterday we shared some basketball thoughts from last week's SEC teleconference. Maurice Patton of The Tennessean does the same thing today, noting that Vandy's rep lures top recruits.
"They were able to add a lot of athleticism and depth," Rivals.com recruiting analyst Justin Young said. "Sometimes they'd have a really good player mixed with some program guys. Here, you've got four guys that by the time they're juniors or seniors could be your starting lineup."
The Commodores also have another top recruit on the way in 2009 -- John Jenkins. A 6-foot-4, 200-pound shooting guard, Jenkins has seen his stock rise tremendously this summer. At the NBA Players Top 100 Camp, he averaged 17.8 points, three points better than any other player during the five-day event. He was one of just 80 players invited to the LeBron James Skills Academy last week, and he will be competing in the Nike Global Challenge (reserved from the nation's top 30 players) in August.
It's no surprise then to learn that Jenkins has received offers from a number of schools despite his commitment to the Commodores.
"North Carolina, Duke … that's where I wanted to go when I was 11," Jenkins said. "Now I have a good home in Vanderbilt. They brought me in and I love the coaches, the fans and the education. I'm real set on them."
Coach Kevin Stallings must be counting down the days until Jenkins' arrival. He is currently ranked No. 32 overall, eighth among shooting guards, by Rivals.com.
"John has started to put a little length on his résumé," said Dave Telep, Scout.com national recruiting director. "He's made perimeter shots, knocked down 3's and been in situations in camp settings where he's been on big runs. He's going to get a lot of points at Vanderbilt. That offense is the right fit for him."
In football news, D.J. Moore and Reshard Langford were named to the coaches' All-SEC team, Moore to the first team and Langford to the third.
The Commodores also received another commitment for the Class of 2009 -- Mason Johnston. A 6-foot-4, 235-pound tight end from The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla., Johnston is ranked by Scout.com as the nation’s No. 36 tight end prospect and No. 43 by Rivals.com in the class of 2009.
Speaking of prospects, Brett Hait attempts to answer the following question: When it comes to recruiting, how young is too young? (Yes, we're talking about you, Billy).
In alumni news, the Bears are closing in on a deal with offensive tackle Chris Williams.
The Tampa Bay Rays are in no rush to call up David Price. Within this mailbag, MLB.com's Bill Chastain says Price "is the one untouchable guy in the Rays' farm system." He also added this:
Price is now 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA at Double-A Montgomery. Andrew Friedman, Rays executive vice president of baseball operations, recently stated that development is king. When Price reaches the Major Leagues, the Rays want him to be ready and not have to go back down. However, Friedman's comments did indicate that he has not ruled out Price being a part of this year's team at some point.
For Denver quarterback Jay Cutler, year three is pivotal.
In NBA Summer League news, Derrick Byars ended on a high note, scoring 15 points on 7-for-12 shooting to go along with five rebounds in the Hornets' loss to Portland. In five games, he averaged 7.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 18.6 minutes. He shot 44.4 percent from the field, including 46 percent from 3-point range.
Shan Foster averaged 8.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 49 percent from the field for the Mavs, while Matt Freije had himself a week, averaging 11.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.0 block and 1.0 assists in 21.5 minutes in four games for Milwaukee. He shot 59 percent, including 60 percent from 3-point range.
Make sure to check back later today for the first part of The Sports VU's 2008 Football Preview.
Moore, Langford receive preseason All-SEC honors
The coaches' preseason All-SEC team was released Monday and Vanderbilt had just two representatives. Junior cornerback D.J. Moore was the only Commodore named to the first unit, while senior safety Reshard Langford earned third-team honors."D.J. is coming off a remarkable year and deserves all the attention he is getting. He's a big-time player in a big-time conference," said coach Bobby Johnson. "I'm pleased that Reshard is getting notice because he's truly one of the finest defensive players in this conference. Reshard simply does his job at a very high level. He's a great competitor, a great athlete, and a tremendous leader for the Commodores."
LSU led all teams with 14 players selected, followed by Florida (10), Georgia (9), Alabama, Auburn and South Carolina (all 8), Tennessee (7), Kentucky (5), Ole Miss and and Mississippi State (4), Arkansas (3) and Vanderbilt (2).
There were seven unanimous first-team selections to the squad, but Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow was not one of them (one coach voted for Matthew Stafford). The group includes four offensive linemen - Alabama's Andre Smith, Arkansas Jonathan Luigs, Ole Miss' Michael Oher and Tennessee's Anthony Parker -- along with Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno, Ole Miss defensive lineman Greg Hardy and Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes.
In addition, of the 81 players named to the first, second and third teams, six are sophomores, 35 are juniors and 40 are seniors.
You can check out all of the coaches' selections here.
Question: While it shouldn't come as a surprise to learn that Vanderbilt had just two players selected, I pose this question to all of you: Other than Moore and Langford, which Commodores do you expect to earn All-SEC honors at the end of the season?
My take: Offensively, I wouldn't be shocked to see linemen Bradley Vierling and possibly Thomas Welch earn recognition. Defensively, there are a number of possibilities, including cornerback Myron Lewis (who's quite talented and would be getting a whole lot more attention if not for Mr. Moore) and defensive ends Broderick Stewart and Steven Stone.
Photo [VU Commodores]
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