Until this past Saturday night in Nashville, it was generally assumed that this week’s Tennessee-Vanderbilt game at Vandy would be all about the Volunteers and their bid for their first 10-win season since 2007.
And should Tennessee win to improve to 9-3 heading into a bowl game, that might still be the storyline.
But at the risk of figuratively burning the turkey, couldn’t the Commodores become just as big a story if they win?
Given the struggles of the past two seasons under third-year coach Derek Mason, if VU beats UT to become bowl eligible, might that not trump the Vols, who were expected to reach the SEC title game but will wind up watching Florida represent the East for the second straight season against Alabama?
After all, it’s not like bowl memories are as prevalent as aspiring country music stars on the West End. Even in an era when 80 schools go bowling, Vanderbilt has played in just seven bowls total in its history, and none since James Franklin left for Penn State following the 2013 season.