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.
Schedule
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 Rankings from AP Poll released week prior to game All times are in Central time
Season summary
Following a 4–0 start to the season, the Vanderbilt Commodores were ranked for the first time on the AP Poll since 1984.[ 1] [ 2] 16-14 , ending a 53-year bowl victory drought.
Game summaries
1
2
3
4
Total
Commodores
17
10
0
7
34
RedHawks
3
7
3
0
13
South Carolina
1
2
3
4
Total
Gamecocks
7
3
0
7
17
Commodores
0
3
14
7
24
Rice
1
2
3
4
Total
Owls
14
7
0
0
21
Commodores
7
14
10
7
38
Ole Miss
1
2
3
4
Total
Commodores
14
3
0
6
23
Rebels
17
0
0
0
17
Auburn
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.
Mississippi State
1
2
3
4
Total
Commodores
0
7
0
7
14
Bulldogs
3
0
7
7
17
Georgia
1
2
3
4
Total
Commodores
0
7
7
0
14
Bulldogs
7
7
7
3
24
Duke
1
2
3
4
Total
Blue Devils
0
7
3
0
10
Commodores
0
0
0
7
7
Florida
1
2
3
4
Total
Gators
21
14
7
0
42
Commodores
0
0
7
7
14
Kentucky
1
2
3
4
Total
Commodores
14
10
0
7
31
Wildcats
0
7
10
7
24
Tennessee
1
2
3
4
Total
Volunteers
0
20
0
0
20
Commodores
0
0
10
0
10
Wake Forest
1
2
3
4
Total
Commodores
3
0
0
7
10
Demon Deacons
3
7
7
6
23
Boston College
1
2
3
4
Total
Eagles
0
7
0
7
14
Commodores
6
0
7
3
16
Coaching staff
Bobby Johnson – Head coachTed Cain – Offensive coordinator and tight ends coachBruce Fowler – Defensive coordinatorRobbie Caldwell – Assistant head coach/offensive line coachRick Logo – Defensive line coach
Warren Belin – Linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator
Jamie Bryant – Defensive backs coach and special teams coordinatorCharlie Fisher – Co-passing game coordinator & wide receivers
Jacob DeLucia – Co-passing game coordinator & quarterbacks
Desmond Kitchings – Running backs coachMichael 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
References
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championships in bold
