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Big finish carries Vanderbilt to spots in final football polls
The Southeastern Conference reinforced its stranglehold on the national rankings — and Vanderbilt helped tighten the grip.
The Commodores were ranked 23rd in the final Associated Press poll and 20th in the USA Today coaches poll. Both were released early Tuesday morning after unanimous No. 1 Alabama rolled to its third national championship in four years.
Vanderbilt last finished the season ranked in 1948. The Commodores were 12th that year after winning eight straight to finish 8-2-1 in the third year of Red Sanders’ second stint as coach.
This year, in James Franklin’s second season as head coach, the Commodores (9-4) won seven in a row – the longest active winning streak in the SEC — and finished with their highest win total since 1915.
Vanderbilt was the seventh and final SEC team ranked in both polls. Also among the top 10 in each were Georgia (T-5/4), Texas A&M (T-5/5), South Carolina (8/7) and Florida (9/10). Vanderbilt is scheduled to play all four teams next year, with all but Georgia on the road. LSU was ranked 14th by the AP and 12th in the coaches poll.
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I have watched and waited for this since I was 7 years old. It only took 64 years.
I'm so very proud of Vandy this year. As a proud, long-time season ticket holder, I challenge more Middle Tennesseans to support our home team and buy season tickets, too. You'll be treated to the best football in Nashville.
Congratulations Vandy for a remarkable season. I drive 400 miles to see the Commodores and I rarley miss a game. If you live in Middle Tennessee, you need to support Nashville's team. They are fun to watch AND they are good.
Joe
This is NOT Big Orange Country!
Congrats, Vandy! Thanks, coach Franklin!
You may say there's no such thing as Santa, but as for me and Grandpa (Rasputin) we believe!
Fightcrib, BNA
Thoroughly enjoyed this year. Looking forward to midstate getting behind the Commodores and stadium seating capacity bubbling up on David Williams problems to resolve.
The brass ring is there, it stands to be seen if anyone grabs it.
All I ask is that if Vanderbilt continues with the recent success, that the fans do it in a classy way. I've seen how success has caused fan bases to become classless, especially the bandwagon fans. I saw it in the 90's with Florida, I saw it, albeit briefly, with Kentucky and its run of bowl game success. I don't want to see it with Vandy.
I've been a Vanderbilt supporter for many years; I fully support the players and coaches, but I refuse to call myself a Vandy fan because of the whining I've heard from Vandy fans over the years. There are exceptions, but there are too many whiners to not overshadow the loyal supporters.
PK, unfortunately the standard mode for people today, including sports fans, is to be obnoxious or maybe just loud, in your face & downright extreme. If the numbers in attendance rise for VU football, by simple statistics some will not understand the aspects of moderation regarded in winning or losing and have likely never understood the meaning of humble. Gone are the days of speak softly and carry a big stick. Now it is all about shock & awe.
What you describe as whining is likely venting frustration from generations of underperforming teams, lack of respect from other SEC programs and percieved abundance of bad calls by officials. The best cure all this is winning moer than losing, which franklin has Demonstrated can be done at Vanderbilt.
Keep up the support. Maybe soemday you can come to darkside and consider yourslef a Vanderbilt fan.
Nice work and congratulations on a great season, Commodores. Next step is knocking off the big three in SEC East: Georgia, Florida and South Carolina.