Good to be Gold!

For the first time in fifty years Vanderbilt football will enter the season finishing with a bowl victory. Previously the Dores hadn't even been to a bowl since the 1982 Hall of Fame bowl in which vandy chalked up an 8 point loss to Air Force. Since coach Bobby Johnson walked on to campus their has been a change in attitude towards the team. In the past four seasons Vanderbilt has won 21 games a feat that hasn't happened since the 72-75 seasons. Highlights under Johnson's tenure include the first winning season in nearly fifty years and wins against highly ranked South Carolina (2007), Auburn (the first victory since 1955), Tennessee (first victory since 1975) and the bowl victory against #24 Boston College, who had previously held the nation's longest active bowl win streak. The success has come through great coaching but also great talent. Vanderbilt now has 10 players recruited under Johnson either currently on an NFL roster or who spent time in the league. Including first round picks Jay Cutler and Chris Williams as well as third round picks Earl Bennett and D.J. Moore. Coming off a winning season though has Commodores entering uncharted waters however Johnson said this is only the beginning. With the economy in a tailspin Vanderbilt has the city of Nashville excited about more than one SEC school this year. Throw in the fact that season tickets start at $99 in the SEC's smallest venue, roughly 40,000, the Dores are sure to have the seats packed this year. With Dudley Stadium undergoing multi-million dollar renovations set to add permanent seats into the south endzone within the coming years Johnson has truly left his mark already at Vanderbilt.