American college football season
The 2008 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University during the 2008–09 college football season . The team's head coach was Bobby Johnson , who served his seventh season in the position. The Commodores played their six home games at Vanderbilt Stadium at Dudley Field in Nashville, Tennessee .
This was Vanderbilt's first 5–0 start since 1943 and first bowl appearance since 1982 , ending a streak of 25 straight losing seasons.
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance August 28 6:30 p.m. at Miami (OH) * ESPNU W 34–13 18,398
September 4 7:30 p.m. No. 24 South Carolina ESPN W 24–17 36,850
September 13 6:00 p.m. Rice * Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN W 38–21 37,370
September 20 6:00 p.m. at Ole Miss W 23–17 51,281
October 4 5:00 p.m. No. 13 Auburn No. 19 ESPN W 14–13 39,773
October 11 1:30 p.m. at Mississippi State No. 13 PPV L 14–17 43,619
October 18 11:30 a.m. at No. 10 Georgia No. 22 Raycom L 14–24 92,746
October 25 2:00 p.m. Duke * Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN L 7–10 38,270
November 8 7:00 p.m. No. 4 Florida Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN ESPN2 L 14–42 39,773
November 15 7:00 p.m. at Kentucky ESPN2 W 31–24 65,595
November 22 11:30 a.m. Tennessee Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN (rivalry ) Raycom L 10–20 38,725
November 29 6:00 p.m. at Wake Forest * ESPNU L 10–23 25,902
December 31 2:30 p.m. vs. Boston College * ESPN W 16–14 54,250
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released week prior to game All times are in Central time
Following a 4–0 start to the season, the Vanderbilt Commodores were ranked for the first time on the AP Poll since 1984.[ 1] Following the victory over Auburn, the Commodores were 5–0 for the first time since 1943.[ 2] After the good start, the Commodores would lose their next four games before a 31-24 victory over Kentucky that declared them bowl eligible for the first time since 1982. Vandy would then lose their final two games of the regular season. They ended the season by going to the Music City Bowl where they defeated Boston College by a score of 16-14 , ending a 53-year bowl victory drought.
1
2
3
4
Total
Commodores
17
10
0
7
34
RedHawks
3
7
3
0
13
1
2
3
4
Total
Gamecocks
7
3
0
7
17
Commodores
0
3
14
7
24
1
2
3
4
Total
Owls
14
7
0
0
21
Commodores
7
14
10
7
38
1
2
3
4
Total
Commodores
14
3
0
6
23
Rebels
17
0
0
0
17
1
2
3
4
Total
Tigers
13
0
0
0
13
Commodores
0
7
7
0
14
ESPN's College GameDay broadcast from Vanderbilt's campus prior to the Auburn game.
1
2
3
4
Total
Commodores
0
7
0
7
14
Bulldogs
3
0
7
7
17
1
2
3
4
Total
Commodores
0
7
7
0
14
Bulldogs
7
7
7
3
24
1
2
3
4
Total
Blue Devils
0
7
3
0
10
Commodores
0
0
0
7
7
1
2
3
4
Total
Gators
21
14
7
0
42
Commodores
0
0
7
7
14
1
2
3
4
Total
Commodores
14
10
0
7
31
Wildcats
0
7
10
7
24
1
2
3
4
Total
Volunteers
0
20
0
0
20
Commodores
0
0
10
0
10
1
2
3
4
Total
Commodores
3
0
0
7
10
Demon Deacons
3
7
7
6
23
1
2
3
4
Total
Eagles
0
7
0
7
14
Commodores
6
0
7
3
16
Bobby Johnson – Head coach
Ted Cain – Offensive coordinator and tight ends coach
Bruce Fowler – Defensive coordinator
Robbie Caldwell – Assistant head coach/offensive line coach
Rick Logo – Defensive line coach
Warren Belin – Linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator
Jamie Bryant – Defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator
Charlie Fisher – Co-passing game coordinator & wide receivers
Jacob DeLucia – Co-passing game coordinator & quarterbacks
Desmond Kitchings – Running backs coach
Michael Hazel – Assistant director of football operations
Joey Orck – Offensive quality control
Andy Frank – Defensive quality control
Norval McKenzie – Offensive graduate assistant
Mark Moehring – Defensive graduate assistant
Tom Bossung – Head athletic trainer
Brian Reese – Associate director of student athletics
John Sisk – Director of speed, strength and conditioning
Luke Wyatt – Head equipment manager
Gary Veach – Assistant equipment manager
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championships in bold