KNOXVILLE -- There's a reason the Vanderbilt Commodores finished 0-8 in the Southeastern Conference this season and 2-10 overall after Saturday's 31-16 loss at Tennessee.
It can be summed up by one possession late in the fourth quarter, the Commodores owning a first down at the UT 2, a mere six feet from the end zone.
Vandy trailed 24-13 at that moment. A touchdown and two-point conversion would pull the visitors within 24-21, close enough to attempt to recover an onside kick, boot a field goal and head for overtime.
Six feet from hope, however slender. That's where Vandy stood with roughly four minutes to go. Only the Commodores never navigated those final six feet. They went backward, forced to kick a 32-yard field goal with 2:54 on the clock.
The ensuing onside kick wound up in Big Orange hands. When Vanderbilt got the ball back a final time with 26 seconds to play, UT senior defensive end Wes Brown returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown to lock up the final margin.
Still, the Commodores' inability to score a touchdown from two yards away with four downs to get there says a lot.
"This definitely leaves a bad taste in my mouth," Vanderbilt linebacker Chris Marve said. "This definitely is motivation and fuel for the fire for this offseason to train hard and not get complacent.
VU coach Bobby Johnson wasn't worried about complacency at season's dawn. Despite going 2-10 in both 2002 and 2003 during his two seasons in Nashville, Johnson had gradually built the program to reach its first bowl game since 1982 last season, the Commodores even winning the Music City Bowl against a heavily favored Boston College team,
But Vanderbilt never got going this season, partly done in by injuries and graduation and the bounces that never went the way they had a season earlier.
"It's a tough way to end the season," Johnson said. "I was extremely proud of my team. I think it was our best (offensive) performance. We just made too many errors when we were in position to make first downs or big plays."
Especially with four minutes to go and the ball on the UT 2.
Mark Wiedmer started work at the Chattanooga News-Free Press on Valentine’s Day of 1983. At the time, he had to get an advance from his boss to buy a Valentine gift for his wife. Mark was hired as a graphic artist but quickly moved to sports, where he oversaw prep football for a time, won the “Pick’ em” box in 1985 and took over the UTC basketball beat the following year. By 1990, he was ...
Or login with:
New Account