Vanderbilt Commodores Tickets

After 3rd win over ranked team, is Vandy for real?
No, really. Vanderbilt is going to keep up the momentum after beating a ranked team this time. At least, they know they have to if they want to be taken seriously after beating then-No. 24 South Carolina 24-17 on Thursday. "This ups the ante," coach Bobby Johnson said. "We have a responsibility to keep playing this way." The Commodores have been here before.

Vanderbilt Team Report
Another season of Vanderbilt football starts Thursday night at Miami (Ohio) with the same questions as many other recent years: Can this team score enough points? Can the defense carry the load of respectability yet again? And can this program learn how to win? For glass-is-half-full coach Bobby Johnson, the season opener against a Mid-American Conference preseason favorite represents an opportunity more than a hurdle. "We sure are excited about finally getting to play a game on Thursday," he said. "I tell our players that any team on our schedule can beat us and we can beat any team on our schedule." If the Commodores are to make the statement's second half a reality, they'll have to generate a decent offense.

Vanderbilt Team Report
A month ago, Vanderbilt was ranked 13th and seemed a lock for its first bowl bid since 1982. One four-game losing streak later, the Commodores are in the same position they were in a year ago, needing one more win to become bowl-eligible. Saturday night's trip to Kentucky may be the swing game which determines if they can do it or not. "I think our guys realize they have three tough games left but they are looking at it as three opportunities," coach Bobby Johnson said. "I think they are going to be OK." Certainly, the Wildcats aren't the caliber of Florida, which simply blasted Vandy out of its stadium last week in a 42-14 decision which was never that close. But Kentucky has the six wins required to be bowl-eligible, an impressive feat considering it was...

Former UConn receiver enrolls at Vanderbilt (AP)
Wide receiver Terence Jeffers has enrolled at Vanderbilt after transferring from Connecticut. He won't be able to play for the Commodores this season because of NCAA rules, but he can practice with the team. "I look forward to him being a great contributor on the practice field next season and a valuable player on Saturdays starting in 2009," coach Bobby Johnson said Wednesday.

Vanderbilt Team Report
Going into November, Vanderbilt appeared ready to claim its first bowl berth in 25 years. But the Commodores couldn't finish what they started, dropping their last four games with their most experienced, most athletic team in the Bobby Johnson era. Vandy will be doing well to repeat last year's 5-7 record in 2008. Among other things, it lost the Southeastern Conference's all-time leading receiver (Earl Bennett), all five starters on the offensive line and one of the team's best-ever linebackers (Jonathan Goff). The Commodores did retain their well-respected coach, though. Johnson briefly considered taking the Duke post but opted to return to Nashville for his seventh season.

Alabama native key to Commodores' strong start
Chris Nickson would be the perfect quarterback for the spread offense No. 13 Auburn is running this season. Unfortunately, the Tigers didn't recruit him even though he lived only 80 miles away and was Alabama's Mr. Football in 2003. "Well, we weren't in this type of offense back when he was coming out," Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said.