The Sports Xchange
NCAAF Team Report – Vanderbilt – INSIDE SLANT
As Stacy goes, so goes Vandy
Fans tend to grumble when teams lose, and one of the common complaints around Vanderbilt football this year has been that running back Zac Stacy’s not getting the ball enough. Coach James Franklin must have been listening, because Stacy’s 26-carry, 169-yard, one-TD game in Saturday’s 17-13 win over Auburn may have well been the difference in the outcome.
A look back through Stacy’s career reveals one interesting stat: When Stacy eclipses 100 yards, VU is 7-1. Two of those games have come this season, the other being the senior’s eight-carry, 174-yard effort vs. Presbyterian.
So it’s probably a good thing that Franklin is leaning more on Stacy as the season progresses: He’s carried 29, 24 and 27 times the last three games.
Last year was somewhat the same story, as Stacy didn’t tote the rock more than a dozen times in his first five games, but didn’t carry less than 13 in the last eight. It was really the first time in his career the 210-pounder had been used as a workhorse back.
However, it hasn’t stopped him from putting up numbers. On Saturday, Stacy passed Frank Mordica’s all-time VU rushing mark of 2,632 yards, which had stood since 1979. He now has 2,670 on an even 500 carries for his career.
The effort earned the respect of his teammates, who carried him off the field on their shoulders after the game.
“I came in with him, so I’ve always been real close with him,” senior defensive end Walker May, a fellow Alabama native, said afterward. “It’s great to see a teammate break a record like that. It couldn’t happen to a better person. He’s one in a million as a running back and one in a million as a person and that’s awesome. I can’t say enough.”
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NCAAF Team Report – Vanderbilt – NOTES, QUOTES
WHAT’S AHEAD: The 3-4 Commodores, who are now 2-3 in the SEC, have an outstanding shot to get to .500 this coming week with 0-7 Massachusetts coming to town. A victory there would mean the Commodores would just need to win half their remaining games against Kentucky, Ole Miss, Tennessee or Wake Forest to get bowl-eligible for consecutive seasons.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Coach James Franklin came under fire from fans after failing on 3-of-5 fourth-down conversions. One came on a fake punt on the Commodores side of the 50. VU converted 15-of-20 such opportunities last season, but is just 9-of-20 this year.
LOOKING GOOD: Vandy’s Achilles’ heel all season had been its rush defense, which ranked last in the SEC coming into Sunday’s game. Auburn’s best shot to win was to establish RBs Tre Mason and Onterio McCalebb, and the two combined for 24 carries for 124 yards. But the Commodores have been destroyed by mobile quarterbacks, and AU’s Jonathan Wallace and Clint Moseley combined for eight rushes and minus-26 yards. As a team, Auburn netted 103 yards on 33 carries — just over half what VU had been allowing, on average.
STILL NEEDS WORK: Franklin’s got to be wondering what the ‘Dores need to do to force turnovers. After seven games, Vandy has just two interceptions and three fumble recoveries, while Vandy has turned it over nine times itself.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I’m definitely honored. Reflecting back on my career here, I’ve dealt with a lot of adversity, a lot of injuries, coaching changes. No doubt about it, I am very honored to represent Vanderbilt and have the rushing title. At the same time, I still have a lot of improving to do. That’s just the type of player I am. I’m always looking for improvement within this team and myself. We’ll celebrate this win tonight and get back to work.” — RB Zac Stacy, on his record-breaking day, and the fact that his end-of-game fumble gave Auburn one last shot at a comeback.
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NCAAF Team Report – Vanderbilt – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
PLAYER NOTES:
–LB Chase Garnham had one of the best games of his career, recording nine tackles, three sacks and another half-tackle for loss, which had to be sweet coming against Auburn (he’s an Alabama native).
–QB Jordan Rodgers played another solid game, hitting 15-of-26 passes for 173 yards with no TDs or interceptions. He’s thrown just two interceptions in 159 attempts after being picked nine times in 210 throws last season.
–P Richard Kent continues to show remarkable consistency, averaging 45.3 yards on his three kicks. He’s averaging 45.1 this season.
ROSTER REPORT
–DT Rob Lohr limped off the field on Auburn’s final drive, and didn’t return. It’s not known what the injury is, or its severity.
–OG Josh Jelesky had to leave with an injury late in the first half, and did not return. Jake Bernstein replaced him the rest of the way.
–TE Steven Scheu got the start over Kris Kentera after Kentera had started the previous three games. Scheu started in weeks two and three (Northwestern, Presbyterian).
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