It’s time for Vanderbilt to be shown the door in the SEC. Don’t take this the wrong way, Vanderbilt fans. I loves me some Bobby Johnson and I respect darn near everything about your program. When I use the words “love” and “respect” (terms I reserve for college football discussions only), I’m talking about what you do off the field as a remnant of what “student-athlete” is supposed to mean and also the way you plug along on the field, normally playing tough defense and a ball-control offense in the way the entire conference used to do it decades ago. But I want you out and I want Southern Miss in.
LONG TIME COMING
Vanderbilt’s days as a relevant football program are over and it’s been that way since the Commodores helped form the Southeastern Conference in 1932. They’ve yet to win a conference title despite being a member institution for each of the league’s 75 seasons. The team hasn’t had a winning season since 1982 and its only bowl victory came in the Gator Bowl … in 1955. (Author’s note: We’re gonna stretch the definition of “magical” and apply it to that 1982 season. How a season can be magical and also include a loss to Air Force in the Hall of Fame Bowl is God’s own private mystery, but that’s what we’re going with here. Work with me, people.)
Following the magical 1982 season, there have been six full-time head coaches at Vanderbilt. With the exception of Gerry DiNardo’s 19-25 mark achieved from 1991 through 1994, none of the six has averaged more than four wins a season. When Gerry DiNardo’s coaching tenure is thought of as the veritable salad days of your program, you’ve got major problems. Bobby Johnson has brought a bit more respectability to Vandy over the past six seasons and they will normally play you hard. But even Johnson is only averaging a shade over three victories per year.
THREE YEARS AGO
For probably the greatest indictment of Vandy’s situation, look back at the 2005 season. Vanderbilt took the field that September with a quarterback who would win SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors and was later taken 11th overall in the NFL draft. It also had future first-rounder Chris Williams on the line and All-SEC pick Earl Bennett catching passes. The defense had future NFL players scattered hither and yon on the depth chart and the team’s kicking game was solid. It’s very realistic to say that when the Commodores kicked it off that season, they did so with the most talented roster the program had built in probably 35 years, if not longer. And it equaled five wins and nary a bowl invite at the end of the season.
Southern Miss, welcome to the party.
Oliver can be heard on 790 The Zone’s “Afternoon Saloon” weekdays from 4-7 p.m. and can be reached at king@790thezone.com.
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