Vanderbilt players still consider game with Tennessee a rivalry
NASHVILLE — Vanderbilt left tackle Justin Geisinger looks forward to playing Tennessee Saturday despite the Vols’ longtime dominance, but he’s a little fuzzy on the details.
“I think they’ve won quite a bit, the last, I don’t know how many, 20 some games?” Geisinger said.
Make that 21, but forgive Geisinger. He was an infant when the Commodores (2-8, 1-6 Southeastern Conference) last won in 1982. To him it still looks like a big rivalry.
“Any Vanderbilt fan or UT fan is going to say it,” he said.
Probably not when Tennessee (7-2, 5-1) plays Alabama, Florida and Georgia each year. The 15th-ranked Vols beat all three of those teams and can clinch a spot in the SEC title game with a win over Vandy.
“It’s a very important game for us for a lot of different reasons,” Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said. “Vanderbilt is always a battle.”
Expectations filled the Commodores’ squad before the season with a favorable schedule and 21 returning starters.
By October, the expectations were gone as Vandy struggled with the problems that have haunted them since 1982 — not enough depth, too many mental mistakes and fourth-quarter meltdowns.
A loss to Tennessee will match the team’s record last season and will leave coach Bobby Johnson with just three Division I-A wins in three seasons.
“It’s as frustrating as you can imagine it can be,” he said. “It’s easy to dismiss Vanderbilt as a poor team this year. I thought we had several opportunities to step up in the program, get it going a little bit, and we haven’t been able to do that.”
One thing the school can do is make some money off Tennessee and the Vols’ rabid fan base. Officials priced the game’s tickets at $55 each, $5 more than the SEC championship game that Tennessee will play in Dec. 4 unless they fall to Vandy and to Kentucky (2-8, 1-6 Southeastern Conference) on Nov. 27.
That’s unlikely, even with the Vols starting yet another new quarterback after injuries to their freshman co-starters, Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer.
Rick Clausen played the second half against Notre Dame and went 10-of-18 for 120 yards, but threw a pass that was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. The Fighting Irish never trailed again in a 17-13 win.
But Tennessee left tackle Michael Munoz said having last week off has given Clausen confidence.
“(He) has done a great job of being a student of the game, understanding the schemes on offensive,” he said. “I always see Rick breaking down film, anything he can do to get that edge.”
Johnson said to have any chance, they have to stop Tennessee’s running game of Cedric Houston and Gerald Riggs Jr. first. The two have combined for 1,304 yards rushing and five touchdowns this year.
“It’s a situation where you could put a whole bunch of guys up there,” he said. “We (could) try 13, because an odd number would be harder for the referees to recognize. But, I don’t think they’ll let us do it.”
And while Johnson jokes, Geisinger and his 14 graduating teammates hope to earn a little respect, even if it just means making the Vols sweat.
“Obviously, this year hasn’t met up to our expectations,” he said. “We’ve still got this last game … (and) Tennessee is as tough an opponent as you’re going to get.”
———
On the Net:
Vanderbilt Commodores, http://www.vucommodores.com/
Tennessee Volunteers, http://www.utsports.com/