I was lucky (for personal reasons) to spend some time in Nashville this past week and watch a SEC team which typically has a disadvantage recruiting in the SEC, .......compete with some of the best.
That team.......Vanderbilt.
Last Saturday my brother and I watched them (on TV) beat a team no CFB would have them Beat in their wildest imaginations.......Florida. Forget the fact Florida is having an off year due to a rash of injuries.......historically a medi0cre Florida team should consistently beat a team that doesn't admit the same type of skilled players because of academic standards.
But get this, the QB that led Vanderbilt to a "V" at Florida (11/9)was a true freshmen put into the line of fire due to a severe injury to the starting QB four weeks earlier when they almost upset Ole Miss.
I like Coach Franklins attitude which I witnessed yesterday (11/16) when they beat Kentucky @ Vandy. They have a fairly high success rate of converting 4th and ____ for a first. From anywhere on the field. And I'm not saying its something like 3 of six 4th down conversions.....its more like 9 of 17 or some other ridiculously high ratio. He did it the previous two years also. His commentary after the victory over Florida was something like " We have a maximum of four plays to make ten yards. I don't necessarily subscribe to the theory ......run three plays, and if you don't make ten yards, surrender. That sends a message to the team that you don't believe in them or trust that they can do the job.
And he does this anywhere on the field at any time. This past Saturday Vandy got the opening kickoff and was faced with 4th and two at their own 26......and made it!
And with time winding down in the 4th quarter.....Vandy up 15-6, and inside the Kentucky 20, Coach Franklin could have let the play clock run out, take a five yard penalty, and do the safe think....kick a field goal, go up 18-6, and leave Kentucky needing 2-TD's to win. I guess that is "surrendering" ........he calls time out with 1 second left on the play clock (everyone was expecting Kentucky to use a TO to stop the clock). Fourth down, a few yards to go, he gives up the "sure" 3 points and gambles for a 1st down instead. A fake handoff (which completely fools Kentucky players and everyone in the stands) results in a pass to a wide open receiver for a TD!
Now Kentucky, down 22-6, needs 3 scores to win......not enough time......even with help from the "good Fairy".
And Vandy's all time SEC leading receiver.....was every bit of his press acclaims.
Much different atmosphere that any BE or AAC game I've attended. And game fans told me every time I said something like "I don't believe he did that" .....that's typical Franklin. An under manned, under skilled (by SEC standards) team competing with, and sometimes beating some well established conference mates.
A combination of being in a good conference, having an exciting coach that can get "some of the best" to choose Vandy over more prominent SEC and Big 12 teams, certainly has Nashville buzzing.
Vanderbilt......an unlikely team on the rise in the SEC.
I can only dream that UConn can find a coach like that.......if Franklin leaves Vandy, it won't be for UConn.
That team.......Vanderbilt.
Last Saturday my brother and I watched them (on TV) beat a team no CFB would have them Beat in their wildest imaginations.......Florida. Forget the fact Florida is having an off year due to a rash of injuries.......historically a medi0cre Florida team should consistently beat a team that doesn't admit the same type of skilled players because of academic standards.
But get this, the QB that led Vanderbilt to a "V" at Florida (11/9)was a true freshmen put into the line of fire due to a severe injury to the starting QB four weeks earlier when they almost upset Ole Miss.
I like Coach Franklins attitude which I witnessed yesterday (11/16) when they beat Kentucky @ Vandy. They have a fairly high success rate of converting 4th and ____ for a first. From anywhere on the field. And I'm not saying its something like 3 of six 4th down conversions.....its more like 9 of 17 or some other ridiculously high ratio. He did it the previous two years also. His commentary after the victory over Florida was something like " We have a maximum of four plays to make ten yards. I don't necessarily subscribe to the theory ......run three plays, and if you don't make ten yards, surrender. That sends a message to the team that you don't believe in them or trust that they can do the job.
And he does this anywhere on the field at any time. This past Saturday Vandy got the opening kickoff and was faced with 4th and two at their own 26......and made it!
And with time winding down in the 4th quarter.....Vandy up 15-6, and inside the Kentucky 20, Coach Franklin could have let the play clock run out, take a five yard penalty, and do the safe think....kick a field goal, go up 18-6, and leave Kentucky needing 2-TD's to win. I guess that is "surrendering" ........he calls time out with 1 second left on the play clock (everyone was expecting Kentucky to use a TO to stop the clock). Fourth down, a few yards to go, he gives up the "sure" 3 points and gambles for a 1st down instead. A fake handoff (which completely fools Kentucky players and everyone in the stands) results in a pass to a wide open receiver for a TD!
Now Kentucky, down 22-6, needs 3 scores to win......not enough time......even with help from the "good Fairy".
And Vandy's all time SEC leading receiver.....was every bit of his press acclaims.
Much different atmosphere that any BE or AAC game I've attended. And game fans told me every time I said something like "I don't believe he did that" .....that's typical Franklin. An under manned, under skilled (by SEC standards) team competing with, and sometimes beating some well established conference mates.
A combination of being in a good conference, having an exciting coach that can get "some of the best" to choose Vandy over more prominent SEC and Big 12 teams, certainly has Nashville buzzing.
Vanderbilt......an unlikely team on the rise in the SEC.
I can only dream that UConn can find a coach like that.......if Franklin leaves Vandy, it won't be for UConn.
