2014 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

The 2014 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University during the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Commodores played their eight home games at Vanderbilt Stadium at Dudley Field in Nashville, Tennessee, which has been Vanderbilt football's home stadium since 1922. Derek Mason took over the helm as Vanderbilt's new head coach. They were members of the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They finished the season 3–9, 0–8 in SEC play to finish in last place in the Eastern Division.

2014 Vanderbilt Commodores football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
Record3–9 (0–8 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorKarl Dorrell (1st season)
Offensive schemePro-style
Defensive coordinatorDave Kotulski (1st season)
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumVanderbilt Stadium
Seasons
← 2013
2015 →
2014 Southeastern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Eastern Division
No. 14 Missouri x 71  113 
No. 9 Georgia 62  103 
Florida 44  75 
Tennessee 35  76 
South Carolina 35  76 
Kentucky 26  57 
Vanderbilt 08  39 
Western Division
No. 4 Alabama x$^ 71  122 
No. 11 Mississippi State 62  103 
No. 17 Ole Miss * 53  94 
No. 22 Auburn 44  85 
LSU * 44  85 
Texas A&M 35  85 
Arkansas 26  76 
Championship: Alabama 42, Missouri 13
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • * LSU and Ole Miss vacated all wins (except for Ole Miss' win over Presbyterian) due to NCAA violations.
Rankings from AP Poll

Coaching staff

NamePositionYear
Derek MasonHead Coach1st
Karl DorrellOffensive coordinator/ quarterbacks coach1st
Dave KotulskiDefensive coordinator / inside linebackers coach1st
Charles BankinsRunning Backs Coach/special teams coordinator4th
Gerry GdowskiWide receivers coach1st
Keven LightnerOffensive line coach1st
Frank MaileDefensive line coach1st
Kenwick ThompsonOutside Linebackers1st
Ryan AndersonDefensive Graduate Assistant2nd
Tom BossungHead Athletic Trainer16th
Cedric CalhounAssistant Sports Performance1st
Kevin ColonAssociate Director of student athletics4th
Jason GroomsDirector of football operations1st
Bill HughanFootball Strength and Conditioning Director1st
Kevin ThrelkelOffensive Administrative Assistant4th
Matt RulandAssistant recruiting coordinator1st
Luke WyattHead Equipment Manager32nd
Tyler BarnesDefensive Graduate Assistant2nd
Rod ChanceQuality Control Offense1st
A.J. HaaseOffensive Graduate Assistant1st
Chandler HenleyOffensive Graduate Assistant1st
Charles WalkerDefensive Quality Control1st

[1]

Recruiting

US college sports recruiting information for 2014 recruits
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeight40Commit date
Dallas Rivers
RB
DeKalb County, GeorgiaTucker6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)210 lb (95 kg)Mar 23, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Wade Freebeck
QB
Fort Lauderdale, FloridaSt. Thomas Aquinas HS6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)210 lb (95 kg)Feb 5, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Shawn Stankavage
QB
Raleigh, North CarolinaCardinal Gibbons6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)182 lb (83 kg)Feb 2, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPNN/A
Bryce Lewis
DB
Lilburn, GeorgiaParkview High School6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)170 lb (77 kg)Mar 23, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Bruno Reagan
OL
Clarksville, TennesseeClarksville High School6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)302 lb (137 kg)Feb 2, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Khari Blasingame
DB
New Market, AlabamaBuckhorn High School6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)200 lb (91 kg)Jan 25, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Bailey Granier
OL
Galliano, LouisianaSouth LaFourche High school6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)340 lb (150 kg)Jan 28, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Caleb Scott
WR
Suwanee, GeorgiaNorth Gwinnett High School6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)185 lb (84 kg)Feb 3, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPNN/A
Tre Tarpley
DB
Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaCentral Catholic High School6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)195 lb (88 kg)Feb 2, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Sekou Clark
DL
Denton, TexasRyan High School6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)245 lb (111 kg)Feb 5, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Rashad Canty
WR
Atlanta, GeorgiaRiverdale High School6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)202 lb (92 kg)5.35Jan 21, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Emmanuel Smith
DB
Murfreesboro, TennesseeOkland High School6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)205 lb (93 kg)Mar 23, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Cole Hardin
OL
Florence, AlabamaFlorence High School6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)295 lb (134 kg)Jun 15, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Ronald Monroe
ATH
Houston, TexasFort Bend Bush High School6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)185 lb (84 kg)Feb 4, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Tre Herndon
DB
Chattanooga, TennesseeEast Hamilton High School6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)180 lb (82 kg)Jul 12, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Trent Sherfield
WR
Danville, IllinoisDanville High School6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)192 lb (87 kg)Jul 12, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Hawkins Mann
LB
Burbank, CaliforniaBurroughs High School6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)230 lb (100 kg)Feb 2, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Charles Wright
LB
Irvine, CaliforniaBeckman High School6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)225 lb (102 kg)Feb 2, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPNN/A
Riley Tindol
DL
Autauga County, AlabamaAutauga Academy6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)270 lb (120 kg)Feb 4, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPNN/A
Davis Winkie
LS
Cumming, GeorgiaSouth Forsyth High School6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)265 lb (120 kg)Feb 2, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPNN/A
Ladarius Wiley
DB
Los Angeles, CaliforniaCathedral High School6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)195 lb (88 kg)Feb 5, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Nifae Lealao
DT
Sacramento, CaliforniaCapital Christian High School6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)310 lb (140 kg)Feb 5, 2014 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 50   Rivals: 50  247Sports: 50  ESPN: 48
  • ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2014 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 5, 2014.

Schedule

In 2014 Vanderbilt played eight home games; the Ole Miss game was played at LP Field, but it was considered a Vandy home game. Their first four games were at home. Vanderbilt played at Kentucky (Lexington, Kentucky), Georgia (Athens, Georgia), Missouri (Columbia, Missouri), and at Mississippi State (Starkville, Mississippi). Also Vandy played four non-conference teams at home against Temple, UMass, Charleston Southern, and Old Dominion.

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 289:50 p.m.Temple*SECNL 7–3731,731
September 63:30 p.m.No. 15 Ole Miss
ESPNL 3–4143,260
September 1311:00 a.m.UMass*
  • Vanderbilt Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
SECRNW 34–3133,386
September 206:30 p.m.No. 14 South Carolina
  • Vanderbilt Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
SECNL 34–4834,441
September 2711:00 a.m.at KentuckySECNL 7–1756,940
October 43:00 p.m.at No. 13 GeorgiaSECNL 17–4492,746
October 116:30 p.m.No. 24 (FCS) Charleston Southern*
  • Vanderbilt Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
SECRNW 21–2026,738
October 253:00 p.m.at MissouriSECNL 14–2465,264
November 16:00 p.m.Old Dominion*
  • Vanderbilt Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
ESPNUW 42–2828,966
November 86:30 p.m.Florida
  • Vanderbilt Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
SECNL 10–3435,191
November 226:30 p.m.at No. 4 Mississippi StateSECNL 0–5160,493
November 293:00 p.m.Tennessee
  • Vanderbilt Stadium
  • Nashville, TN (rivalry)
SECNL 17–2440,350
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

[2]

Game summaries

Temple

The Derek Mason era got off to a bad start as his mistake-prone Commodores were outscored 37-7 in a loss to visiting Temple at home. It was the worst defeat in a home opener in Vanderbilt program history, and the worst opening game loss since 1998 a 42-0 loss to Mississippi. The Commodores had seven turnovers, leading to 27 points for Temple.[3]

1234Total
Temple71413337
Vanderbilt07007
  • Location: Nashville, Tennessee
  • Game start: 9:52 p.m. (The game was delayed from 8:15 PM by thunderstorms)
  • Elapsed time: 3:22
  • Game attendance: 31,731
  • Game weather: 78 degrees, mostly cloudy
  • Television network: SEC Network

[4]

[5][6]

Ole Miss

With a bad loss to Ole Miss Vandy had the worst start since 1998. In 1998 they lost to Ole Miss 42-0 and Alabama 32-7 to start the season. Also in 1998 Vanderbilt started with a six straight losses and ended the 1997 season with five straight losses to complete an eleven-game losing streak.

1234Total
Ole Miss101021041
Vanderbilt00033
  • Location: Nashville, Tennessee (LP Field)
  • Game start: 3:30 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:12
  • Game attendance: 43,260
  • Game weather: 82 degrees, mostly cloudy
  • Television network: ESPN

[7][8]

UMass

1234Total
UMass14107031
Vanderbilt02001434
  • Location: Nashville, Tennessee
  • Game start: 11:05 a.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:48
  • Game attendance: 33,386
  • Game weather: 62 degrees, cloudy
  • Television network: ESPN3/FSN

[9][10]

South Carolina

1234Total
South Carolina017102148
Vanderbilt140101034
  • Location: Nashville, Tennessee
  • Game start: 6:39 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:36
  • Game attendance: 34,441
  • Game weather: 84 degrees, partly cloudy
  • Television network: SEC Network[11][12]

Kentucky

1234Total
Vanderbilt07007
Kentucky7100017
  • Location: Lexington, Kentucky
  • Game start: 12:01 pm
  • Elapsed time: 2:56
  • Game attendance: 56,940
  • Game weather: 76 degrees, mostly sunny
  • Television network: SEC Network

[13][14]

Georgia

1234Total
Vanderbilt073717
Georgia21671044
  • Location: Athens, Georgia
  • Game start: 4:01 pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:14
  • Game attendance: 92,746
  • Game weather: 65 degrees, sunny and breezy (10 mph winds)
  • Television network: SEC Network

[15][16]

Charleston Southern

1234Total
Charleston Southern0107320
Vanderbilt3180021
  • Location: Nashville, Tennessee
  • Game start: 6:35 pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:23
  • Game attendance: 26,738
  • Game weather: 60 degrees, cloudy
  • Television network: ESPN3/FSN

[17][18]

Missouri

1234Total
Vanderbilt070714
Missouri377724
  • Location: Columbia, Missouri
  • Game start: 3:07 PM
  • Elapsed time: 3:13
  • Game attendance: 65,264
  • Game weather: 76 degrees, sunny
  • Television network: SEC Network

[19][20]

Old Dominion

1234Total
Old Dominion777728
Vanderbilt72101442
  • Location: Nashville, Tennessee
  • Game start: 6:02 PM
  • Elapsed time: 3:16
  • Game attendance: 28,966
  • Game weather: 47 degrees, clear
  • Television network: ESPNU[21][22]

Florida

1234Total
Florida71001734
Vanderbilt700310
  • Location: Nashville, Tennessee
  • Game start: 6:39 PM
  • Elapsed time: 3:25
  • Game attendance: 35,191
  • Game weather: 51 degrees, cloudy
  • Television network: SEC Network

[23][24]

Mississippi State

1234Total
Vanderbilt00000
Mississippi State13247751
  • Location: Starkville, Mississippi
  • Game start: 6:39 PM
  • Elapsed time: 3:19
  • Game attendance: 60,493
  • Game weather: 60 degrees, partly cloudy
  • Television network: SEC Network

[25][26]

Tennessee

1234Total
Tennessee1077024
Vanderbilt0107017
  • Location: Nashville, Tennessee
  • Game start: 3:01 PM
  • Elapsed time: 3:30
  • Game attendance: 40,350
  • Game weather: 57 degrees, cloudy with 16 MPH winds
  • Television network: SEC Network

[27][28]

References