Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson assured his team of adequate press coverage last season, but it had nothing to do with football.
Johnson does not allow Vandy players to use profanities in practice or games. The story was well-documented on ESPN last season. For Vanderbilt’s football team, it was the best press the Commodores received last season.
Vandy finished 2-10 in 2002 without recording a single Southeastern Conference victory. The two lone victories came against Furman, Johnson’s former employer, and Connecticut – both home games.
Apparently Johnson’s 2-10 record was an improvement to the Vanderbilt athletic department, who recently extended the coach’s contract into the 2007 season.
Vanderbilt football is synonymous with losing.
The last time Vanderbilt recorded a winning record Ronald Reagan was president, Mike Rozier won the Heisman Trophy, Dallas was the most watched television program and Michael Jackson’s “Beat it” was record of the year. The year was 1983.
It could be a good sign for the Commodores, as most of the team’s current roster includes players born in 1983.
Vandy is investing in its youth. Middle linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer, free safety Justin Giboney and strong safety Johnathan Schaub are gone.
Hillenmeyer led the team in tackles last season with 168, including four sacks. Giboney chipped in with 144 tackles while Schaub recorded 105 tackles along with three interceptions.
The big three are replaced by three untested sophomores – middle linebacker Otis Washington, free safety Kelechi Ohanaja and strong safety Andrew Pace. The trio combined for 32 tackles last season.
The best defense may be a good offense for Vandy, who return starting tailback Kwane Doster and quarterback Jay Cutler.
Doster, a sophomore, accumulated 798 yards rushing and three touchdowns in 2002, cracking the starting lineup in the second half of the season.
If Vanderbilt has a player to watch, it is senior Cutler. Although only throwing for 1,433 yards and completing a meager 48.6 percent of his passes, Cutler accounted for 19 Vanderbilt touchdowns – 10 through the air and nine on the ground.
“He has looked so much better, even in spring practice, and of course this preseason practice,” Johnson said in an SEC teleconference. “Experience helps a quarterback so much.”
But Cutler lost his favorite target Dan Stricker, Vandy’s leading receiver in 2002. Stricker collected 44 of Cutler’s passes for 620 yards and six scores. Sophomore wideout Erik Davis and junior Brandon Smith must fill Stricker’s void.
Cutler will have to improve the Vanderbilt offense for the Commodores to succeed, as the ‘Dores were outgained in every offensive category last season and boasted a turnover ratio of +14.
“There’s just so many things he sees now that he didn’t see last year,” Johnson said. “There are also things that he doesn’t do now that he did do last year, like throw late over the middle and throw off of his back foot.
“A year, especially to a quarterback, makes a whole lot of difference.”
And a year like 1983 would be more than welcome in Nashville, Tenn. this fall.