2016 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

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2016 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

The 2016 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University during the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Commodores played their home games at Vanderbilt Stadium at Dudley Field in Nashville, Tennessee and competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by third-year head coach Derek Mason. This was Vanderbilt's 126th season of college football. They finished the season 6–7, 3–5 in SEC play to finish in a tie for fifth place in the Eastern Division. They were invited to the Independence Bowl where they lost to NC State.

Quick Facts Vanderbilt Commodores football, Independence Bowl, L 17–41 vs. NC State ...
2016 Vanderbilt Commodores football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
Record6–7 (3–5 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorAndy Ludwig (2nd season)
Offensive schemePro-style
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumVanderbilt Stadium
Seasons
 2015
2017 
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More information Conf., Overall ...
2016 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Eastern Division
No. 14 Florida x  6 2   9 4  
No. 22 Tennessee  4 4   9 4  
Georgia  4 4   8 5  
Kentucky  4 4   7 6  
South Carolina  3 5   6 7  
Vanderbilt  3 5   6 7  
Missouri*  2 6   4 8  
Western Division
No. 2 Alabama x$^  8 0   14 1  
No. 24 Auburn  5 3   8 5  
No. 13 LSU  5 3   8 4  
Texas A&M  4 4   8 5  
Arkansas  3 5   7 6  
Mississippi State  3 5   6 7  
Ole Miss*  2 6   5 7  
Championship: Alabama 54, Florida 16
  • ^ College Football Playoff participant
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • * Ole Miss and Missouri vacated all wins due to NCAA violations.
Rankings from AP Poll
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Schedule

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Vanderbilt announced its 2016 football schedule on October 29, 2015. The 2016 schedule consisted of six home and six away games in the regular season. The Commodores host SEC foes Florida, Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Tennessee, and traveled to Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, and Missouri.[1]

The Commodores hosted two of its four of its non–conference games, which were against Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets from the Atlantic Coast Conference, Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky (WKU) both from Conference USA, and Tennessee State from the Ohio Valley Conference.

More information Date, Time ...
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 17:00 p.m.South CarolinaESPNL 10–1330,304
September 103:00 p.m.Middle Tennessee*
  • Vanderbilt Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
SECN+W 47–2429,627
September 1711:30 a.m.at Georgia Tech*ACCNL 7–3841,916
September 243:30 p.m.at Western Kentucky*CBSSNW 31–30 OT23,674
October 111:00 a.m.No. 23 Florida
  • Vanderbilt Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
SECNL 6–1330,565
October 83:00 p.m.at KentuckySECNL 13–2055,030
October 1511:00 a.m.at GeorgiaSECNW 17–1692,746
October 226:30 p.m.No. 25 (FCS) Tennessee State*
  • Vanderbilt Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
ESPNUW 35–1731,084
November 511:00 a.m.at No. 11 AuburnESPNL 16–2387,451
November 122:30 p.m.at MissouriSECNL 17–2650,261
November 197:00 p.m.Ole Miss
  • Vanderbilt Stadium
  • Nashville, TN (rivalry)
SECNW 38–1727,763
November 266:30 p.m.No. 24 Tennessee
  • Vanderbilt Stadium
  • Nashville, TN (rivalry)
SECNW 45–3438,108
December 264:00 p.m.vs. NC State*ESPN2L 17–4128,995
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Schedule Source:[2][3]

Coaching staff

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NamePosition
Derek MasonHead coach/defensive coordinator
Andy LudwigOffensive coordinator/tight ends coach
Jeff GenykSpecial teams coordinator/running backs coach
C.J. Ah YouDefensive line coach
Gerry GdowskiQuarterbacks Coach/recruiting coordinator
Cortez HanktonWide receivers coach
Chris MarveInside linebackers coach
Marc MattioliDefensive backs coach
Osia LewisOutside linebackers coach
Cameron NorcrossOffensive line coach
James DobsonHead strength coach
Jason GroomsAsst. athletics director and director of football operations
Tyler BarnesDirector of player personnel
Tom BossungHead athletic trainer
Rayna StewartDirector of high school relations
Gary VeachHead equipment manager
Matt BritainAssistant director of operations
Mike KroegerPlayer development & operations assistant
Tyler ClarkeAssistant director, strength
Aaron HillAssistant strength coach
Ben SchumacherAssistant strength coach
Cedric CalhounQuality control – defense
Kevin AbramsGraduate assistant – offense
Tate BentonGraduate assistant – offense
Davis DudchockGraduate assistant – football administration
Ryan BlakneyQuality control offense
Rod ChanceQuality control defense
Mike MoritaQuality control offense

[4]

Coaching changes

On December 15, 2015, coach Mason announced that special teams coach Charles Bankins, OL Coach Keven Lightner will not be retained for 2016. Mason cited a difference in philosophy rather than poor performance for the coaching changes.

"I just see this football team moving in a different direction and I just wanted to make sure these men were treated the right way," Mason said. "I feel like it’s time for us to move forward."[5]

Recruiting

More information College recruiting information (2016), Name ...
College recruiting information (2016)
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight 40 Commit date

N/A N/A  
Star ratings: Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
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:

  • "2016 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
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Game summaries

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South Carolina

More information Total ...
1 2 3 4 Total
South Carolina 0 0 3 10 13
Vanderbilt 3 7 0 0 10
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Middle Tennessee

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1 2 3 4 Total
Middle Tennessee 10 7 7 0 24
Vanderbilt 5 28 0 14 47
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Georgia Tech

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1 2 3 4 Total
Vanderbilt 7 0 0 0 7
Georgia Tech 14 3 14 7 38
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WKU

More information OT, Total ...
1 2 3 4OT Total
Vanderbilt 0 7 7 107 31
WKU 7 7 0 106 30
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Florida

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1 2 3 4 Total
#23 Florida 0 10 0 3 13
Vanderbilt 0 3 3 0 6
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Kentucky

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1 2 3 4 Total
Vanderbilt 3 0 7 3 13
Kentucky 7 10 0 3 20
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Georgia

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1 2 3 4 Total
Vanderbilt 7 0 3 7 17
Georgia 3 3 7 3 16
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Tennessee State

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1 2 3 4 Total
#25 (FCS) Tennessee State 14 3 0 0 17
Vanderbilt 7 14 7 7 35
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Auburn

More information Total ...
1 2 3 4 Total
Vanderbilt 3 10 0 3 16
Auburn 7 3 10 3 23
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Vanderbilt's November 5 meeting with Auburn at Jordan-Hare stadium was notable for eventual All-American LB Zach Cunningham's blocked FG in the fourth quarter. Auburn's Daniel Carlson lined up to kick a 35-yard field goal with 1:45 left in the fourth quarter to give the Tigers a 10-point lead. Cunningham, who after the game described watching special teams tape to learn the snap timing of the field goal team, leaped over Auburn's offensive line between the center and left guard to block Carlson's kick. Although Vanderbilt turned the ball over on the ensuing possession to seal Auburn's victory, the play became iconic for Cunningham during his redshirt junior season.

Missouri

More information Total ...
1 2 3 4 Total
Vanderbilt 0 10 7 0 17
Missouri 6 13 0 7 26
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Ole Miss

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1 2 3 4 Total
Ole Miss 10 0 0 7 17
Vanderbilt 7 7 17 7 38
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Tennessee

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1 2 3 4 Total
Tennessee 14 17 3 0 34
Vanderbilt 7 17 7 14 45
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Vanderbilt's 45–34 win over the Tennessee Volunteers represented the Commodores' 6th win on the season, guaranteeing Vanderbilt's eligibility for Bowl play for the first time since 2013, and the first time during Mason's tenure as Vanderbilt's head coach. Prior to this game, which was played at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 26, Vanderbilt's high Academic Performance Index (API) introduced the possibility of bowl play even with a 5–7 season end record, as the 5–7 teams with the best API are rewarded with bowl appearances.

However, Vanderbilt avoided dependence upon the API and defeated state rival Tennessee, also for the first time since 2013. Kyle Shurmur led Vanderbilt in a breakout performance with 412 passing yards, and Ralph Webb eclipsed Zac Stacy's school record for career rushing yards. Vanderbilt outscored Tennessee 21–3 in the second half and iced the victory with a touchdown rush from Webb late in the fourth quarter.[6]

NC State–Independence Bowl

More information Total ...
1 2 3 4 Total
NC State 0 14 14 13 41
Vanderbilt 3 0 7 7 17
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References

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