The 2012 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University during the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Commodores played their six home games at Vanderbilt Stadium at Dudley Field in Nashville, Tennessee, which has been Vanderbilt football's home stadium since 1922. The team's head coach was James Franklin, who was in his second year at Vanderbilt.
On November 11, 2012, Vandy became bowl eligible in back to back years for the first time in its 123-year football history. This was the first time since 1935 that Vandy won five SEC games in a year and the first time in 30 years that they won at home against Tennessee. Vanderbilt finished the year with the longest current SEC winning streak. For the first time since 1948, Vanderbilt finished the season with a top 25 ranking.
Before the season Vanderbilt vice chancellor of athletics David Williams announced on February 6, 2012, Vanderbilt will be adding new artificial turf and a new JumboTron.
Vice Chancellor Williams confirmed that a large "berm" is to be constructed in the open end of Vanderbilt Stadium as a place for fans to watch games starting fall 2012. The project, in addition to other renovations, began after the Black & Gold scrimmage on April 14, 2012. While several ACC stadiums such as Clemson's Memorial Stadium and Virginia's Scott Stadium have hillside seating, Vanderbilt's idea stemmed from the team's 2011 visit to Wake Forest's BB&T Field, which features "Deacon Hill" in one end zone.
Vanderbilt's is on the line of, but not to the same as Wake Forest. Wake Forest has a natural hill, Vanderbilt's is manmade. Only 500 seats are available, the hillside is a first-come, first-served area in terms of picking a spot to sit. No lounge chairs or coolers are allowed, but fans can bring blankets to place on the grass. The berm will not reach the permanent seating on the sidelines to leave space in the corners of the end zone for fans to enter. The grass on the playing surface will be cut up and relocated to the berm. FieldTurf is being installed as the new playing surface after April 14, 2012. The JumboTron Vanderbilt is installing in the open end zone that will showcase a significantly larger screen than the one above the closed end zone.
The fourth major project set for the stadium is improved lighting. Vanderbilt Stadium has the reputation of being one of D1 college football's darker venues for night games. Renovations are ongoing at McGugin Center, where new meeting rooms and Olympic sport locker rooms are being built. The work is due for completion summer 2012.
On July 12, 2012, Vanderbilt announced that vice chancellor David Williams will change his title to vice chancellor for athletes and university affairs and athletics director. This will be the first time Vanderbilt has had an athletics director since 2003.
2012 season milestones In 2012 Franklin's team has had numerous milestones.
The longest road winning streak (4) since 1950 Longest win streak (7) since 1948. Most times scoring 40 (5) or more points since 1915. First Vandy player (Zac Stacy) to rush for over 3,000 yards in career First time since 1949–1951 that Vanderbilt beats rival Ole Miss in consecutive years. Jordan Matthews set a single-season record with 1,262 yards receiving. Kicker Carey Spear school record 81 points. Largest margin of victory over rival Tennessee (23) 41–18 since 1954 (26–0) Largest margin of victory against secondary rival Kentucky (40) since 1916 when Vanderbilt won 45–0 First time a Vanderbilt team went to a bowl in back to back years First win at home vs Tennessee in 30 years First 8 win season since 1982 Longest rush from scrimmage 90 Zac Stacy. First winning record in the regular season since 1982 Four straight wins in SEC play for the first time since 1949 The first time in Vanderbilt history a player (Zac Stacy) has rushed for over 1,000 yards back to back years. The first 9 win season since 1915
New uniforms On July 11, 2012, Vanderbilt unveiled new football uniforms. Marking the first time since the 1986 season Vanderbilt added a white helmet. Other changes are to the gold jersey, with the addition of black shoulder covering and numbers. Also Vanderbilt is on the front of all jerseys and Names on the back. A Star V logo is on both sides of the paints (before was only on one side). A gold anchor is in the center of the jersey collar. The words Anchor Down (the team's motto) is placed on the inside of the collar. Vanderbilt has 27 uniform combinations for the 2012 season. For the opener against South Carolina on August 30, 2012, the team wore all black.
Maryland transfers On February 18, 2012, Maryland Football coach Randy Edsall blocked three of his players from transferring to Vanderbilt. Quarterback Danny O’Brien, offensive tackle Max Garcia and linebacker Mario Rowson. Franklin was instrumental in O’Brien's recruitment out of North Carolina, and the two shared a close relationship before Franklin's departure to become the head coach at Vanderbilt in December 2010. Edsall's transfer policy does not allow former players to transfer to other ACC schools or upcoming opponents outside the conference.
On February 22, 2012, Edsall changed his mind and said he will allow three football players to transfer to Vanderbilt, if they wish.
On February 22, 2012, Maryland officially filed tampering charges against Vanderbilt: "We have been informed by the Southeastern Conference that the Atlantic Coast Conference has filed a formal complaint involving Vanderbilt University football on behalf of one of its members. We are complying with SEC and Vanderbilt procedures and are conducting an investigation on the matter."
Maryland has believed strongly that O’Brien had been in contact with former Maryland offensive coordinator James Franklin, now Vanderbilt's coach. Under NCAA rules, a school can limit a rival program from having contact with a player without permission: "A rival school can't encourage a player to transfer without permission. And it can't provide athletics aid in the first academic year if the player transfers without that consent."
Franklin has said he keeps relationships with former players but has maintained there was no tampering.
Vanderbilt vice chancellor of athletics David Williams said he will be looking thorough and will be conducting an internal investigation into whether football Coach James Franklin or anyone else on his staff was tampering with Maryland players who intend to transfer. The SEC sent a request to Vanderbilt to have the matter investigated.
Schedule SEC 2012 TV Schedule , Matt Sarz Sports, Retrieved April 12, 2012
Coaching staff Name Position Years at VU James FranklinHead coach2ndJohn Donovan Offensive coordinator / running backs coach 2ndBob Shoop Defensive coordinator / safeties coach 2nd Charles Bankins Special teams coordinator / tight ends coach2nd Josh Gattis Wide receivers coach 1st Herb Hand Offensive line coach4th George Barlow Defensive backs coach1st Ricky Rahne Quarterbacks coach 2nd Brent Pry Co-defensive coordinator / linebackers coach2nd Sean Spencer Defensive line coach2nd Andy Frank Assistant director of football operations4th Jemal Griffin Football Chief of Staff2ndMichael Hazel Director of football operations 4th Norval McKenzie Assistant Recruiting coordinator 4th Joey Orck Offensive Graduate Assistant 4th Tom Bossung Head Athletic Trainer 14th Kevin Colon Associate Director of Student Athletics 2nd Dwight Galt Football Strength and Conditioning Director 2nd Chuck Losey Football Assistant Strength Coach 2nd Kevin Threlkel Offensive Administrative Assistant 2nd Luke Wyatt Head equipment manager 30th
Coaching changes On January 13, 2012, Franklin announced the hiring of George Barlow, a defensive coordinator at the University of New Mexico in 2011. At Vanderbilt, he coached defensive backs and served as defensive recruiting coordinator. Josh Gattis, who helped Western Michigan to its fifth bowl game as a receivers coach in 2011, was hired at Vanderbilt as wide receiver coach and handled offensive recruiting coordinator duties.
Captains Number Name Position Class 67Wesley Johnson OT (RS) SR 31 Javon Marshall S (RS) JR 39Carey Spear PK JR 2Zac Stacy TB SR 98 Johnell Thomas DE (RS) SR 15Archibald Barnes OLB(RS) SR 11Jordan Rodgers QB(RS) SR90 Walker May DE (RS) JR
Starters FIRST TEAM OFFENSE Position Name Name Name QBJordan Rodgers Austyn Carta-Samuels RB + Zac Stacy Wesley Tate WR Chris Boyd + Jordan Matthews Jonathan Krause TE Austin Monahan OTWesley Johnson Andrew Bridges G Ryan Seymour Josh Jelesky C Spencer Pulley
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Position Name Name Name DE Johnell ThomasWalker May DT Rob Lohr NT Colt Nichter OLB Archibald Barnes Karl Butler MLB Chase Garnham CB Andre Hal Trey Wilson SS Javon Marshall FS Kenny Ladler
SPECIAL TEAMS
Position Name Name Name P Richard Kent K Ryan Fowler H Richard Kent LS Andrew East KO Carey Spear KRAndre Hal PR Jonathan Krause
+ All SEC Second Team
Recruiting Austyn Carta-Samuels transferred to Vanderbilt from Wyoming. He contributed as a practice squad quarterback during the 2011 regular season. In 2009, he earned postseason Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year honors while at Wyoming.
Rankings
Game summaries
South Carolina Vanderbilt has played South Carolina 22 times and trails 4–18 the first meeting was in 1961 USC won the first seven 1962 to 1997 Vanderbilt won 2 in 98 and 99 USC won the next seven 2000 to 2006 Vandy won the next two and USC has won the last 4. The latest game was the first game of the college football year and played on ESPN.
Northwestern Vanderbilt has played Northwestern 4 times with a 1–2–1 record, the teams' first meeting was in 1947 Vanderbilt won 3–0, in 1962 played to a tie score at 20 and Northwestern has won the last two games 21–23 and 13–23
Presbyterian This was the first meeting of Presbyterian and Vanderbilt. Jordan Rodgers did not play in this game.
Georgia Secondary rival Georgia has played Vanderbilt 73 times dating back to 1893. Vanderbilt trails 18–53–2 Vandy was at one time ahead; from 1893 until 1961 Vandy was 14–9–1 from 1962 to present Vanderbilt trails with only 4 wins and 43 losses and 1 tie.
Missouri Missouri and Vanderbilt have played 5 times in a tied series of 2–2–1 the first meeting was 1895. Vanderbilt lost the first 2 games 1895 0–14, 1896 6–26, tied the next 7–7 1957 and won 12–8 in 1958. This was the first meeting since 1958 only one of the five games has been played in Nashville 3 in Columbia, Mo. and 1 in Saint Louis.
Florida Vanderbilt and secondary rival Florida has played 46 times and trails 9–35–2. Vanderbilt lead for only a few years from 1945 when they first met until 1963 Vandy was 6–6–1 at that point; Vanderbilt has lost the last 22 games the last two have been somewhat close most have been one sided to the Florida side Vanderbilt lost in 1993 by 52 points.
Auburn Auburn and Vandy have met 41 time since 1893 Vandy leads by one game at 21–20–1 Vandy lost the first meeting and won the next 5, games tied 1, lost 2, won 2, lost 1, won 2, lost 1, won1, lost 1, Vandy won the next 8 Auburn won the next in 1955 Vanderbilt played in its first bowl game against Auburn Vandy won 25–13 from 1893 to 1955 Vandy and Auburn played 28 time Vandy lead 19–7–1. The teams did not play from 1956 to 1977 from 1978 to present the teams have played only 15 times Auburn won 13 straight games Vandy has won the last two. The 2008 game was a "ESPN College GameDay" game which Vandy won it made them at the time 5–0.
University of Massachusetts UMass and Vandy is the first meeting of the schools. This was U Massachusetts first year in FBS.
Kentucky