Monday, November 5, 2007

Vanderbilt Hotline: Bright Side, Edition

This is not common, but I am actually going to choose and focus today on the bright spots in Saturday's game. For one thing, we "won" the second-half, outscoring the Gators 15-14 in the final 30 minutes. Forgot about the fact that Adams had 5 turnovers that were either called back because of UF penalties, or occurred during 2-point conversion attempts; forget that the defense allowed 498 yards; forget the fact that Ted Cain's offensive play-calling is as unimaginative as something that's so unimaginative that I can't think of it at this time. Why? Because we won the 2nd half.

With 3 games left, Vanderbilt's road to a bowl doesn't get any better. Kentucky is coming off a loss and a bye and is the best offense we will face all season. Tennessee is a wild-card, and Wake, while clearly the worst of the 3, is nothing to scoff at. Making matters worse, I don't see how 6 wins will be enough. Mississippi State has more signature wins than the Commies do, and if Vanderbilt gets to 6 wins, they are likely to be one of 11 SEC teams that are .500 or better. With only 8 SEC tie-ins, I don't see the remaining, uncommitted bids are out there including a Vanderbilt team that probably won't travel well, getting an invite. For the Commies to be bowling, they need to go 2-1 down the stretch. Is this doable? Absolutely, especially if we are looking on the bright side.

8 comments:

Stanimal said...

I agree with you Bobby about needing more that 6 wins to go bowling.

The odds are made a little better if LSU wins out because that means they'll go to the national championship game, which means the Sugar will invite its supposed next best team in for the at-large bid. That'll give us 9 bowl tie-ins as opposed to 8. However, Mississippi State's win over Auburn is a huge quality win. With LSU, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Auburn, Alabama, Kentucky, and Arkansas pretty well solidified with six wins, it's pretty much down to us and Mississippi State for that last spot. We need to win two big ones and get a little help.

Douglas James said...

The real bright side is Vandy B-Ball opens tonight with an exhibition against some school i have never heard of who lost to lipscomb. I'm going go out there and say the Croc drops a double double on these guys.

Aaron said...

It is sad that Vandy could be bowl eligible and not go.

Anonymous said...

Try this one: VU wins one or two more games, then loses CBJ to Texas A&M or Nebraska...

...if you think the job he has done at Vandy has gone unnoticed around the country, you're fooling yourself.

Seamus O'Toole said...

Jason - I don't think that was sarcasm but wanted to make sure. If it wasn't, do you have some inside info for us? I am HIGHLY skeptical of your claim if made seriously. You're talking about a coach who's 15-43 at Vanderbilt and .500 lifetime. Major Applewhite and a host of other assistants, not to mention head coaches, have a better shot at those jobs. Nothing against CBJ, but I'm just saying...

Aaron said...

I agree with seamus, and i would further argue that if we dont get to a bowl this year then CBJ needs to be fired!!! 15-43!!?!?! I know Vandy is not a football powerhouse, but we brought him in to get us out of the cellar, and so far that has not happened. The sad thing is that Vandy wont fire anyone and we are stuck with a coaching staff who cannot get it together. If no bowl then at least get rid of the O coordinator, do something, let the kids drop the f-bomb.. Do something!!

Anonymous said...

Seamus-- My inside info only requires looking back to the 90's:

Gerry DiNardo's record at Vanderbilt before he got the LSU job: 18-26.

Johnson (like DiNardo) has made Vanderbilt into a team that, while not a contender, must be taken seriously week-to-week. CBJ has also proven he can successfully recruit SEC caliber talent to Vanderbilt.

I hope he stays at VU for several years. He's a good coach, he can build a winning program and he's a good fit for the school. But 6 or more wins and I guarantee you he gets a few offers.

Seamus O'Toole said...

Jason - MAYBE. I think DiNardo getting the LSU job had more to do with his being the offensive coordinator of a national championship team before moving to Vandy. CBJ doesn't have much of a resume beyond 1-AA. DiNardo also took over an LSU team that had just seen six straight losing seasons. He had three good years with other people's recruits and then completely tanked, got fired, and was awful at Indiana. I'm not sure he's the best basis for comparison in assuming CBJ will go to A&M or Nebraska...I have no doubt Bobby could get some offers but I'm not sweating losing him to one of the big boys.