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.

2016 Vanderbilt Commodores football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
2016 record6–7 (3–5 SEC)
Head coachDerek Mason (3rd season)
Offensive coordinatorAndy Ludwig (2nd season)
Offensive schemePro-style
Defensive coordinatorDerek Mason
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumVanderbilt Stadium
(Capacity: 40,550)
2016 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East 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  
West 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
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

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.

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 17:00 p.m.South Carolina
ESPNL 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 Kentucky
SECNL 13–2055,030
October 1511:00 a.m.at Georgia
SECNW 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 Auburn
ESPNL 16–2387,451
November 122:30 p.m.at Missouri
SECNL 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
Schedule Source:[2][3]

Coaching staff
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/Director of Football Operations
Tyler BarnesDirector of Player Personnel
Tom BossungHead Athletic Trainer
Rayna StewartDirector of High School Relations
Gary VeachEquipment 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 DudchockGrad 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

Game summaries

South Carolina
1 2 3 4 Total
South Carolina 0 0 3 10 13
Vanderbilt 3 7 0 0 10
Overall record Last meeting Result
4–20 2015 South Carolina, 19–10

Middle Tennessee
1 2 3 4 Total
Middle Tennessee 10 7 7 0 24
Vanderbilt 5 28 0 14 47
Overall record Last meeting Result
13–3 2015 Vanderbilt, 17–13

Georgia Tech
1 2 3 4 Total
Vanderbilt 7 0 0 0 7
Georgia Tech 14 3 14 7 38
Overall record Last meeting Result
15–19–3 2009 Georgia Tech, 56–31

WKU
1 2 3 4OT Total
Vanderbilt 0 7 7 107 31
WKU 7 7 0 106 30
Overall record Last meeting Result
3–1 2015 WKU, 14–12

Florida
1 2 3 4 Total
#23 Florida 0 10 0 3 13
Vanderbilt 0 3 3 0 6
Overall record Last meeting Result
10–37–2 2015 Florida, 9–7

Kentucky
1 2 3 4 Total
Vanderbilt 3 0 7 3 13
Kentucky 7 10 0 3 20
Overall record Last meeting Result
42–42–4 2015 Vanderbilt, 21–17

Georgia
1 2 3 4 Total
Vanderbilt 7 0 3 7 17
Georgia 3 3 7 3 16
Overall record Last meeting Result
19–55–2 2015 Georgia, 31–14

Tennessee State
1 2 3 4 Total
#25 (FCS) Tennessee State 14 3 0 0 17
Vanderbilt 7 14 7 7 35
Overall record Last meeting Result
1–0 2006 Vanderbilt, 38–9

Auburn
1 2 3 4 Total
Vanderbilt 3 10 0 3 16
Auburn 7 3 10 3 23
Overall record Last meeting Result
21–20–1 2012 Vanderbilt, 17–13

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
1 2 3 4 Total
Vanderbilt 0 10 7 0 17
Missouri 6 13 0 7 26
Overall record Last meeting Result
3–4–1 2015 Vanderbilt, 10–3

Ole Miss
1 2 3 4 Total
Ole Miss 10 0 0 7 17
Vanderbilt 7 7 17 7 38
Overall record Last meeting Result
38–50–2 2015 Ole Miss, 27–16

Tennessee
1 2 3 4 Total
Tennessee 14 17 3 0 34
Vanderbilt 7 17 7 14 45
Overall record Last meeting Result
30–75–5 2015 Tennessee, 53–28

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.

NC State–Independence Bowl
1 2 3 4 Total
NC State 0 14 14 13 41
Vanderbilt 3 0 7 7 17
Overall record Last meeting Result
2–0 2012 Vanderbilt, 38–24

References
  1. "2016 Commodore football schedule announced" (Press release). Vanderbilt University Department of Athletics. October 29, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  2. "2016 Vanderbilt Commodores Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  3. "2016 Schedule". Archived from the original on August 20, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 26, 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. http://www.anchorofgold.com/2015/12/15/10233686/2015-ncaa-football-vanderbilt-assistant-coaches-bankins-lightner-fired
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