Showing posts with label Vanderbilt Football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vanderbilt Football. Show all posts

Friday, August 29, 2014

"Anchor Down" Almost Gets Vandy A Penalty

((HT: ESPN/SEC Network))

Let's face it...

It was a long night for Vandy football in their Derek Mason debut...

A long lightning delay and torrential rains kept fans out of the stadium, the doors locked, and kickoff pushed back an hour and fifty minutes. Temple took care of business 37-7 and there was even a fat guy TD in the game that ended close to 2AM eastern time.

But the game didn't even start well for the Dores. They had their catch phrase, "Anchor Down," on their backs instead of nicknames- which made for a very cool effect. The refs weren't sold, but they should have left the idea alone.


When was the last time you saw an e-mail shown to an official to wipe out a penalty...???

That was, definintely, a first...

1:30 PM Update:

This from Chuck Dunlap, SEC Director of Communications

"A miscommunication resulted in Vanderbilt wearing jerseys during its football game Thursday night that are not permissible under the NCAA football uniform regulations. Before production of the jerseys, Vanderbilt sought approval of the jersey design from the NCAA, which included the words “Anchor Down” on the back panel. The NCAA responded with written approval of the design as presented and Vanderbilt proceeded with the jersey production, assuming the approval was applicable to the slogan as well as the colors and overall design in the submitted layout."

"NCAA football regulations do not permit the use of slogans on jerseys. Vanderbilt was originally penalized for the jerseys during the game and after being shown the written correspondence, the head referee also interpreted the correspondence to mean the slogan had been approved. Vanderbilt has been notified it cannot wear the slogan on its jersey for future games and has agreed to comply."

Gotta love corporate efficiency.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Vandy News: 3 Footballers Wouldn't Have Made Academics, Went To Happy Valley

((HT: The Dirty South Sports Report))

Here's another round from contributor Jackson Martin and paragraph 2 is the more interesting part...

The biggest news out of the AD office today is that Vanderbilt has offers from three different BCS schools to play a future home and home series with the Commodores. A potential matchup with Stanford — new Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason’s former employer — is the most exciting possibility by far, but some fans would rather see less successful programs in Georgia Tech or Boston College on the schedule. Vanderbilt has never played Stanford in football, but has played Boston College three times (most recently defeating the Eagles in the 2008 Music City Bowl) and former SEC-member Georgia Tech 37 times (most recently in 2009).

Another potentially shocking story comes from our source who says, ”Three of the six recruits that Franklin ‘stole’ from Vandy were denied admission on academic grounds.” What isn’t known is the timeline here: did the recruits flip and then were denied by the school, or did they flip because they were denied?

Our source also told us, “DW and all SEC ADs are opposed to 9 game SEC schedule. Some coaches are in favor.” That’s unfortunate news to this writer, who would be in favor of adding an extra conference game so that teams don’t see non-rivals from the opposite division only once every six years.

A small bit of uniform-centric news: the team will not have names on the back of the jerseys in the fall. Former head coach Bobby Johnson was a big believer in the “team-first” mentality and didn’t have names on the jerseys either, though Franklin did put the names on the uniforms during his tenure.


Dime Store Analysis:

The HQ isn't all that shocked that coaches would have their prospects flip from old school to new school, but the timing will turn out to be interesting...

John Stuetz from the Daily Collegian detailed some of the flippers around National Signing Day and it included OL Chance Sorrell and Ashburn, Virginia QB Trace McSorely.

The others, according to the Collegian, are Tampa-Gaither DB Amani Oruwariye, The Lovett School (Atlanta) CB Grant Haley, and Park Ridge, Illinois OT Brendan Brosnan. LB Troy Reeder from Wilmington-Salesianum out of Delaware had an offer from Vandy as well.

Here's Franklin addressing his NSD2014 with the media...
((HT: Centre Daily Times))






Friday, January 10, 2014

Your Friday James Franklin Update (Or: Still Maybe...Maybe Not...UPDATED and UPDATED AGAIN)

Dirty South's Jackson Martin reports to OSG, with knowledge of people in the meeting that Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin just had with AD David Williams, that Franklin did not say he was leaving his current job...

Penn State is saying that there is a major announcement on campus at 4:15 tomorrow...

Franklin was supposed to meet with the Vanderbilt AD and the biggest Vandy booster, John Ingram, this afternoon, so take all this information at your own peril...

Here's fans reaction to the back and forth...
((HT: WTVF-TV))
NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather

More when we know more...

1700 UPDATE:

Citing a source, wkrn.com columnist Joe Biddle says Franklin received an offer to become Penn State's next head football.

After that, he got a counter offer from Vanderbilt to stay in Nashville. The Vanderbilt offer would pay him a higher salary.

According to Biddle, Franklin is currently weighing his options.

1800 UPDATE: Brett McMurphy is now saying that while Bill O'Brien made $3.82-million in his last season at Penn State while Franklin made $3-million in his last season at Vanderbilt.

The current number being floated around by Happy Valley is in the neighborhood of $4.5-million...

Also from McMurphy:

The Penn State compensation committee is scheduled to meet in a closed session at 8:30 a.m. ET Saturday to discuss a "matter of compensation," school spokeswoman Lisa Powers said. Sources told ESPN that meeting is about Franklin, who spent the past three seasons at Vanderbilt.

Powers said that following the meeting a brief public session would be held. The committee members are chairwoman Linda B. Strumpf, Kathleen L. Casey, Mark H. Dambly, Karen B. Peetz and Paul H. Silvis.


1845 UPDATE: Martin now reports, from people with direct knowledge of the meeting with Franklin and the University, that Vanderbilt has offered more, and it is now up to Franklin as to his next step...

1930 UPDATE: Jeremy Fowler over at CBS Sports, via his Twitter, says that Franklin's assistants don't know anything either...

assistants have heard nothing from James Franklin. "Sound of silence," one VU staffer said.

2045 UPDATE: From Jeff Lockridge at the Tennessean through his Twitter:

There's a team meeting scheduled for tomorrow morning at 8 on campus. Franklin expected to address players & coaches

Whatever that means... still no word on whether or not AD David Williams knows the end result...

Thursday, January 9, 2014

DEVELOPING: Franklin Not In Happy Valley Yet... (UPDATED w/7PM Announcement...???)

OSG Sports sources close to the situation at Vanderbilt seem to contradict what Pennsylvania is saying...

Dirty South Sports Report's Jackson Martin is telling us that no one at Vanderbilt- players, coaches, sports information department included- have heard anything about an impending decision for Franklin going back home to take the head coaching gig at Penn State...

Earlier today, ESPN's Brett McMurphy discussed the idea with Jay Crawford that Franklin seems to be going north...


Greg Roman, Mike Munchak, and Al Golden are also candidates...

More when we know more...

1505 UPDATE: Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean has word from campus via his Twitter...

#Vandy AD David Williams on James Franklin and Penn St. reports: "As of 1:45 p.m. Central, he is still Vanderbilt's football coach.''

1750 UPDATE: From Cory Curtis at WKRN-TV and his Twitter...

Source tells us Vanderbilt expects Penn State to make announcement by 7 PM.

Our Jackson Martin still maintains that no one on campus has any Franklin-based answers on a change of address or a lack of one... so, we'll go with that until we hear otherwise...

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

DEVELOPING: Franklin To Penn State...???(Updates)

((HT: College Football Scoop))

According to Scoop, the Langhorne native/Stroudsburg grad/Kutztown coach is heading home...

No particulars yet on contract, contract length, or a signing, but Scoop is confident this is happening as Franklin went 16-4 in his lst 20 games in Nashville...

Here's Franklin's last win on campus, the win over Houston in the bowl in Birmingham...
((HT: ESPN))


More when we know more…

More:

According to USA Today Sports reporter Dan Wolken, Franklin will take the job if he's offered and Penn State Athletic Director Dave Joyner went so far as to release a statement saying he anticipates having a coach in a "Couple of Days"

Read Wolken's full story RIGHT HERE

Vanderbilt's Athletic Director, David Williams is telling anyone that will listen that he expects Franklin to remain the football coach at the Nashville school.

CBSSports.com has more RIGHT HERE

Smart money says Vandy will counter and try to keep him, the question though is will it be enough?


Sunday, November 24, 2013

Vandy Stuns Vols On Fake Jump Pass

((HT: XOS Sports/SEC))

It is painfully obvious to the HQ that both Lane Kiffin and Derek Dooley have poisoned the Tennessee Volunteer water until further notice...

And the most immediate confirmation of that fact was last night as Vanderbilt drove 92 yards in 12 plays culminating in a Patton Robinette shotgun snap, fake jump pass, bootleg for a score with 12 seconds left in regulation for the 14-10 win

IN KNOXVILLE...

BY VANDERBILT...
Here's your highlights...


Vandy is now 7-4, Tennessee is the opposite...

Here's Butch Jones postgame...
((HT: Knoxnews.com))


Joshua Dobbs finished 11-of-19 passing for 53 yards and Tennessee generated only 237 yards of offense.

Vandy now has a two-game winning streak against UT for the first time since the 1920's.

The HQ is in agreement that Jones is the right guy to bring the program back to where it should...
It may take 15 years or so...

Friday, September 20, 2013

Nashville DA: Franklin/Carta-Samuels Not Involved In Rape Cover-Up

((HT: Newschannel5/WTVF))

Davidson County (TN) District Attorney Torry Johnson held a press conference yesterday to clear the air yesterday regarding the Vanderbilt University rape case. And the larger issue that was picked up dealt with texts sent by Chris Boyd after the rape took place.

A Boyd text mentioned the quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels as one of two people who helped Boyd move the victim out of a hallway.

Johnson cleared that up saying that the text was from Boyd but misidentified Carta-Samuels. Johnson also addressed rumors of involvement by Vandy head coach James Franklin. He said those rumors were also untrue.

Here's the presser...
NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather

Boyd's plea deal involves the notion that he is going to help out prosecutors who are trying to convict four former Vandy football players for the alleged rape of an unconscious co-ed on campus. Appearances of the defendants start next month in court...

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Boyd Dismissed From Vandy, Will Testify Against Ex-Teammates

((HT: NewsChannel 5 WTVF))

Vanderbilt announced it has dismissed Chris Boyd from both the football team and athletic program.

Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs Beth Fortune said, in a prepared statement, that the decision came after a review that included information that came out in open court as a part of his plea bargain hearing.

"Vanderbilt's athletic administration, in conjunction with its head football coach, today dismissed Chris Boyd from the university's football team and athletic program. The action came after an ongoing review that included information disclosed during a hearing September 13 in Davidson County Criminal Court.

The review concluded that Mr. Boyd's admitted actions are clearly inconsistent with the high standards of behavior expected of our student-athletes."
said Fortune.

Boyd entered a conditional guilty plea to a role in attempting to cover up the rape of an unconscious student in a dorm on the school's campus that also allegedly involved a handful of other Vanderbilt football players.

Boyd received a suspended sentence on a misdemeanor charge of "criminal attempt to commit accessory after the fact." If he completes probation, his record is cleared. Surprising no one, he is also cooperating with prosecutors and is set to testify against the four other former football players charged in the case.

Brandon Vandenburg, Jaborian "Tip" McKenzie, Brandon Banks and Cory Batey each face five counts of aggravated rape and two counts of aggravated sexual battery. They are scheduled to be in court Wednesday, October 16th.

McKenzie was kicked off the Alcorn State football team after one game and transferring from Vandy- which was a big no-no.
((HT: WKRN-TV))
WKRN, Nashville News, Nashville Weather and Sports

Friday, September 13, 2013

DEVELOPING: Vandy WR Boyd Pleads To Lesser Charge, McKenzie's Alcorn Career Over After 1 Game...

((HT: WSMV-TV))

Suspended Vanderbilt WR Chris Boyd pleaded guilty to lesser charges in a local criminal court appearance this morning- a misdemeanor charge of "criminal attempt to being accessory after the fact."

Boyd was given an 11 month, 29 day suspended sentence. He has been placed on probation and won't serve any more jail time right now. He was suspected of helping to cover up the alleged sexual assault inside a dorm room at Vanderbilt.

Before the sentence was handed down, prosecutors read text messages between Boyd and one of the rape suspects in open court about what may have happened on the night in question. Vanderbilt suspended Boyd from the football team upon learning of his initial indictment.

Here was the court appearance...
WSMV Channel 4

The HQ's guess is that Boyd cut a deal to inform authorities about the others who are allegedly involved in the case...

Speaking of ex-teammates, JaBorian "Tip" McKenzie's career at Alcorn State lasted one game. McKenzie, after being banned from the Vanderbilt campus as a result of the accusations, transferred to Alcorn and could play immediately because of Alcorn's FCS/Division I-AA status. He wasn't listed on an active roster, but played last Saturday.

In a statement, Alcorn State University President M. Christopher Brown II, said:

"Alcorn failed to sufficiently examine the allegations against McKenzie before allowing him to participate in our football program ... In an effort to provide educational opportunities to a Southwest Mississippi student, Alcorn State University made an error in judgment."

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

James Franklin Explains Vandy's New Tradition

Most anyone who's followed college football knows that Vanderbilt University has been one of the least successful programs in the SEC and nationally over a rather long period of time.

That's been changing the past couple of years under coach James Franklin. Franklin has gotten the Commodores to a couple of bowl games and been able to recruit with the Tennessee's and Georgia's of the world.

Sure, it's not been without some controversy. At least four Vandy players were dismissed from the team and are facing possible rape charges among other things. A recent follow up story in BuzzFeed.com claims that Franklin helped in a cover-up of the incident in question.

But at this time there is no proof Franklin did anything wrong and he's not accused or charged nor being questioned about it.

At this point in his head coaching career, what he's done in Nashville has been nothing sort of amazing.  And one of things he's tried very hard to do is bring some tradition, some unity--to try and grow the Vanderbilt football program.

And for that we say bravo.

Check out this video done by the school, where Franklin explains to his team what their new "Anchor Down Ceremony" means to him and should mean to them.

Well done sir.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

OSG COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Thursday Night Previews

North Carolina at South Carolina

Forget about Jadeveon Clowney, all eyes will be on North Carolina's offensive tackle James Hurst who will be matched up on Clowney.

"Obviously it's the biggest match-up in my college career." Hurst said.  "I do think about it all the time.  Everytime I do a football activity it's related to that match-up."

Hurst is one of the best offensive lineman in the ACC and is on the pre-season Outland and Lombardi trophy watch lists.  Thursday night he's going up against a freak of nature.

South Carolina will win this battle.

Ole Miss at Vanderbilt

This game should be appointment TV for your Thursday night.  Ole Miss and Vandy are two teams who a eager to have a seat at the big boy table within the SEC.

Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze will try to run as many plays as possible on offense and gas the Commodore defense.  You can bet Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin will be in the ear of an SEC official making sure the Rebel offense doesn't have an advantage.

"When the ball is snapped I want everyone set." Franklin said.  "We went back and looked at (film of game vs) Ole Miss last year and there were probably 10 to 12 plays we they snapped the ball their offense wasn't set. The officials had a hard time keeping up with the pace to get into position to do that."

"So as long as everyone is playing by the same rules and this isn't Canadian football where people are running toward the line of scrimmage when they snap the football, I'm good with that."

Franklin would be good with a loss and that's what should happen.  Ole Miss will get it done in Music City.

USC at Hawaii

Southern Cal quarterbacks Max Wittek and Cody Kessler will play against Hawaii.  This should be a Trojan blowout.

Utah State at Utah

If your looking for a Thursday night upset this might be the one. Last year Utah State won in Logan.

"Utah State is a very good opponent." Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "They have most everyone back. They have a new head coach and a lot of the same assistant staff. We expect that they are going to be every bit as good as last year and we have a big challenge ahead of us."

Those of us in the OSG HQ are calling and upset.  Utah State makes it two in a row over the Utes.






Wednesday, August 14, 2013

1 Of 4 Ex-Vandy Players To Plead Not Guilty

((HT: WSMV-TV))

One of the four ex-Vanderbilt football players charged in the allegedly rape of an unconscious student in June has waived his right to appear at his arraignment and intends to enter a not guilty plea.

Jaborian "Tip" McKenzie along with Brandon Vandenburg, Cory Batey, and 19-year-old Brandon Banks have all been charged. McKenzie and Banks are currently free on bond.

McKenzie is free on a lesser bond than the other three defendants- a recommended $50,000 by the District Attorney's office.

Here's the latest from this afternoon...
WSMV Channel 4

Conventional wisdom is that McKenzie may be the one who is going to flip on his three ex-teammates...

McKenzie's attorney, Jodie Bell, volunteered nothing...of course...

"On behalf of Mr. McKenzie, out of respect for the victim, in light of the pending litigation, and the ongoing investigation, we are not making any comment at this time."

Friday, August 9, 2013

DEVELOPING: 4 Dismissed Vandy Players Charged In June Rape

((HT: Tennessean/Haas))

Four former Vanderbilt football players (pictured right, thanks Tennesseean) have each been charged with five counts of aggravated rape and two counts of aggravated sexual battery.

Brandon Vandenburg from California- was one of the biggest 2013 recruits
Brandon Eric Banks from Maryland
JaBorian “Tip” McKenzie from Mississippi and
Cory Batey of Nashville were charged in the indictment.

Vandenburg was also charged with one count of tampering with evidence and a count of unlawful photography.

Here's the initial story from our friends at Fox Nashville...


Batey has already been arrested and taken to General Hospital for a mandatory blood draw.

“I do not know exactly what the charges are, but I'm sure it involves some type of sexual misconduct,” Batey’s attorney, Worrick Robinson, told the Tennessean.

Police are trying to track down the other three and maintain that the four raped an unconscious woman in Vandenburg’s dorm room June 23rd of this year. The alleged victim's identity has not been announced because of a rape shield law in the state of Tennessee.

From Haas:

Police first got word after university officials checked a hallway security camera in an unrelated incident and saw suspicious behavior by the four.

Metro Police Chief Steve Anderson called the evidence, “compelling” and “unsettling”. Metro Police spokesman Don Aaron said he couldn’t elaborate on the unlawful photography charge, but said their electronics expert was “heavily involved” in their investigation.

“Our electronics expert specializes in the forensic analysis of modern-day electronic gadgets,” Aaron said.


Banks’ attorney, Grover Collins, is trying to get Banks in custody as soon as possible, and Aaron would not address the idea that more arrests could be made in the case.

Cory Batey's bond has been set at $350,000- operating under the assumption that Batey could be a flight risk as he is the local of the four- thus the high amount.

1800 UPDATE: Here's an interview Aaron gave with the guys from the 3 Hour Lunch on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville

According to the Nashville City Paper, QB Austyn Carta-Samuels is subpoenaed as a witness in the case as well as tight end Dillon van der Wal. Offensive lineman Jake Bernstein, wide receiver De'Andre Woods and long-snapper Mack Prioleau were also listed by the state as witnesses.

Here's the Vanderbilt presser, thanks to our friends at Newschannel 5
((HT: WTVF-TV))
NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather

Saturday, June 29, 2013

ICYMI: Four Vanderbilt Football Players Investigated for Sex Crimes (UPDATED: They're Gone)

((ht: tennessean.com))

How very SEC of the Vanderbilt Commodores.

A report leaked out late Friday afternoon that 4-Vanderbilt football players are suspended from the team pending the results of a police investigation that link them with sex crimes.

Metro Nashville Police wouldn't identify the players or specify the crimes other than to say that they were notified by Vanderbilt police on Wednesday of an incident that may have involved the players took place in a school dormitory.

The school, nor coach James Franklin added anything of detail, citing the "Ongoing Investigation" line.

Read the full story from the Tennessean.com  RIGHT HERE

We await the outcome of this investigation because really, it is the 1st time something like this has happened and involved Vanderbilt in as long as we can remember.

The Commodores, long an SEC doormat, have had a revival in the past couple of seasons after the arrival of head coach James Franklin.

We would not go as far to say the school is attracting a "different" type athlete than they have in the past, but things have changed for the Nashville based school. A $31 million dollar new indoor football facility, 2 straight bowl appearances have the markings of a program on the rise.

Your TV story from our friends at Newschannel 5 (WTVF) in Nashville:

NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather

SATURDAY UPDATE: The players were dismissed from the football team and also placed the four players on interim suspension “effective immediately, pending further investigation and/or a hearing.” None of the four will be permitted to return to campus without permission from the office of student conduct and academic integrity.

“The well-being of our students is of paramount concern to us, and we will not tolerate any actions that threaten student safety and security,” Beth Fortune, Vanderbilt vice-chancellor for public affairs, said in a statement.