2008 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

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

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. Following the victory over Auburn, the Commodores were 5–0 for the first time since 1943. After the good start, the Commodores would lose their next four games before a 31-24 victory over Kentucky that declared them bowl eligible for the first time since 1982. Vandy would then lose their final two games of the regular season. They ended the season by going to the Music City Bowl where they defeated Boston College by a score of 16-14, ending a 53-year bowl victory drought.

Game summaries

Miami (OH)

South Carolina

Rice

Ole Miss

Auburn

ESPN's College GameDay broadcast from Vanderbilt's campus prior to the Auburn game.

Mississippi State

Georgia

Duke

Florida

Kentucky

Tennessee

Wake Forest

Boston College

Coaching staff

Bobby Johnson – Head coach

Ted Cain – Offensive coordinator and tight ends coach

Bruce Fowler – Defensive coordinator

Robbie Caldwell – Assistant head coach/offensive line coach

Rick Logo – Defensive line coach

Warren Belin – Linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator

Jamie Bryant – Defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator

Charlie Fisher – Co-passing game coordinator & wide receivers

Jacob DeLucia – Co-passing game coordinator & quarterbacks

Desmond Kitchings – Running backs coach

Michael 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

Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt Commodores football seasons

Music City Bowl champion seasons

Vanderbilt Commodores football