It's almost fitting and proper that Vanderbilt is home to Nashville, Tennessee, where everyone sings as if it were the next big country music star. Nashville is also home to the Music City Bowl, where the Vanderbilt Commodores came of age New Year's Eve (12-31-08) faster than Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys' birth of bluegrass in the Deep South.
Vanderbilt entered the Music City Bowl as a loser to Boston College Eagles, who were ranked sixth in the nation in least yards allowed in the country and tops in turnover. Commodores, despite being held to 200 yards, and only 1 conversion in 15 third-down attempts, left the stadium with a 16-14 victory.
Although much of the heroism and triumphs of the early Confederacy in the Civil War, Vanderbilt southern contingent of players made some important history of their own.
1) They used a 45-yard-hit for Bryant Hahnfeldt with 3:26 left in the fourth quarter to win a bowl game for the first time in 53 years, bringing to mind Vanderbilt in 25-13 win over Auburn in the 1955 Gator Bowl.
2) They got the monkey from their backs, a 28-year drought SEC the longest, since it was last played in a bowl game.
3) They signed their first winning season (7-6), since the beginning of drought 28 years ago.
4) were defeated Boston College 8-game winning streak in bowl play, the longest in the nation.
5) They cost Boston College a chance at finishing with at least 10 wins for the third-straight season. Eagles were playing in a bowl game for 10 consecutive year. The eagle, which flew straight and true for 8 consecutive bowl victories, now has broken wings, thanks to the Commodores.
Now we can reasonably take offense when their competitors, media and fans refer to them as "people of the basement" and "the worst team in the SEC. " Let's see now, what SEC team lost a bowl game this year? Oh yes, it was Alabama and South Carolina. Hail to the Commodores! This is America, we love underdogs who rise to the top, that is, by the sweat of their brow, lifted up by their bootstraps, and win.
What did they do? With special teams play. Junior Brett Upson, on average, 42 + feet with 9 punts with a long boat of 58 meters, was named the game MVP. Senior Bryant Hahnfeldt aced field goals from 28 and 42 meters before the game-winning kick from 45 meters and a life of fame (as a way to end college playing career ).
freshman defensive back Sean Richardson accounted for Vanderbilt's only goal when he fell on a boat that bounced off his left knee Boston College's Paul Anderson in the third quarter. Government officials have a goal and replay review upheld the call. For Sean Richardson is all about the right place at the right time (also sometimes known as luck ).
After the game, Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson was gushing .. "I think everyone can understand that we are quite happy we are delighted to win the Music City Bowl in Nashville right here in our hometown We kept our composure and made some big plays when we had to. It may not have been the prettiest win in the world, but it is for us now ."
Well said, Bobby. It is refreshing to find someone in the sport today, a little sense of gratitude. Currently we have too much self-important stars with more money and ego of humility and gratitude for their happiness.
Commodores finished the season by winning at 7-6, while Boston College had to settle for a 9-5 record.
Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley
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