A QUICK LOOK AT - Vanderbilt

by Jack Witthaus

The Institution

School Quick Facts

Official Name:

Vanderbilt University

Nickname:

Commodore

Location:

Nashville, TN

Enrollment:

12,714

Founded:

1873

Mascot:

Mr. Commodore

Fight Song:

"Dynamite!"

SEC Division:

East

Vanderbilt is the only private school in the SEC. The university also holds the distinction as the smallest school in the conference with the largest college town.

The university started as a Methodist college. American tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt was convinced to prop up the struggling Methodist college and donated $500,000.

Unfortunately, Cornelius died before the university was named after him. Later, Vanderbilt University split from the Methodists.

Although Vandy is located in Nashville, the university is actually a national arboretum with over 300 trees and shrubs.

Vanderbilt boasts many famous alumni including Al Gore, Jake Cutler and Amy Grant.

Vanderbilt Football

Football Quick Facts

Venue Name:

Vanderbilt Stadium

Venue Capacity:

40,550

Venue Surface:

Artificial

First Season:

1890

Overall Record:

564-574-50

Last Season:

6-7 (2-6 SEC, Liberty Bowl loss)

Head Coach:

James Franklin (6-7)

Football Rivals:

Tennessee

The Commodores have had a pretty terrible football history. In the team’s 79-year history with the SEC, Vandy hasn’t won a single league title.

In fact, Vanderbilt has won a total of two bowls in their 111-year history.

Their only season where they finished ranked was in 1948 when they finished No. 12 in the AP polls with 8-2-1 season.

Since 1959, the Commodores have posted five winning seasons.

Recently, Vanderbilt has seen some success. The Commodores turned out future

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. In 2008, Vandy won the Music City Bowl and in 2011, the squad lost in the Liberty Bowl.

Vanderbilt Basketball

Basketball Quick Facts

Venue Name:

Memorial Gymnasium

Venue Capacity:

14,316

First Season:

1900

Overall Record:

1495-1046

Last Season:

25-11, (10-6 SEC)

Head Coach:

Kevin Starling (261-159)

NCAA Final Fours:

0

Vandy is better known for its basketball, which has posted way more successful seasons.

The Commodores have captured three SEC titles and two SEC tournaments.

They have reached the Big Dance 10 times, made six Sweet Sixteen appearances and have made it as far as the Elite Eight once.

Head coach Roy Skinner helped Vandy make it to the Elite Eight back in 1965. At the time, the team leader PPG and rebounds, Clyde Lee, played under Skinner.

Two unusual things stick out in the Vanderbilt basketball program. The first is Vandy’s odd court. The Commodore’s play in what was created to be a multi-purpose facility (the academic community didn’t want the gym to be limited to basketball).

The court is actually raised off the ground and the players benches are under the baskets. Most teams find it difficult to play Vanderbilt at home because they are thrown off by the court arrangement. In fact, some people have deemed Memorial Gymnasium: “The Fenway of College Basketball.”

The second unusual fact is that Vanderbilt is one of three teams to hit a three pointer in every game that it has played since the rule was invented. The other two teams are UNLV and Princeton.

Part of the three-point success can be pinned on guard John Jenkins. Last season, Jenkins was named All-American after posting 43.9% field goal percentage beyond the arc. He led the nation in three’s per game (3.9) and was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks.