Tag: Vanderbilt Commodores

Here’s what really happened with the Georgia-Vanderbilt cancellation

Why the Georgia-Vanderbilt football game was really cancelled

Last Monday, news broke that Vanderbilt could possibly cancel its trip to Athens for the game against Georgia at Sanford Stadium.

A few hours later, it was confirmed the Commodores would not be traveling to the Peach State for their season finale.

Fans of the Bulldogs expressed their frustrations with the way the whole situation was handled, as this was the second time the game got canned before gameday.

However, UGAWire has learned a few key details on the situation that led to the cancellation of the contest.

Notre Dame’s Clark Lea close to becoming Vanderbilt’s new head coach

Based on a report by Yahoo Sports Pete Thamel, it seems Notre Dame’s Clark Lea will take the Vanderbilt head coaching job.

This is not something we wanted to hear, but knew it was inevitable. Holding onto high-level coordinators doesn’t happen too often, especially when an alma mater comes calling. In a report by Yahoo Sports Pete Thamel, it looks as if Irish defensive coordinator Clark Lea will head off to Vanderbilt.

Lea has been in South Bend since 2017, starting out as linebackers coach before being elevated to defensive coordinator in 2018. The resurgence of the Irish can be directly attributed to his leadership. The Irish have the nation’s 12th-ranked defense heading into the ACC Championship game this year. It was ranked 14th last year and 9th in 2018.

Lea has earned the right to become a head coach.

Unfortunately, it will not be for Notre Dame, but instead where Lea played his collegiate ball. This will not be an easy job for Lea: The Commodores have gone 0-9 this year; a matchup with Georgia remains.

What remains to be seen is if the Irish will be left short-handed in their quest for an ACC title and a berth in the College Football Playoffs. Normally, when a coordinator takes another job, and they’re in the CFP hunt, the coach stays with his current program until they either win the championship or are eliminated.

With the early signing period starting on Wednesday, however, Lea will have his hands tied. Does he jump ship and start his rebuild or will he stick it out with Brian Kelly for the remainder of the season? Hopefully, the latter since the Irish have a legit chance to bring home multiple trophies back to South Bend.

If this is true, we wish Lea the best. These last three years have been amazing, with the Irish defense being one of the best in the country during his time as the defensive coordinator.

WATCH: Sarah Fuller becomes first female to score a point in a Power Five game

Vanderbilt’s Sarah Fuller became the first female to score a point for a Power 5 football program on Saturday.

While Sarah Fuller didn’t get her chance a few weeks ago when Vanderbilt took on Missouri, she wasted no opportunity on Saturday against Tennessee, becoming the first female to score a point in a Power Five game by making the extra point for the Commodores to tie up the Volunteers, 7-7.

Vanderbilt alum Adam Butler speaks to the magnitude of Sarah Fuller’s impact

Sarah Fuller broke boundaries that have never been broken before.

History was made in the sports world last weekend.

The Vanderbilt Commodores were depleted at the kicker position and they brought standout women’s soccer goalie Sarah Fuller to fill in. She was an emergency appearance, but she became the first woman to suit up for a Power 5 team in the long history of collegiate football.

Despite Vanderbilt’s 0-8 record and difficult season at hand, Fuller’s presence sparked curiosity and brought in viewers from everywhere. New England Patriots defensive tackle, Adam Butler, was one of those viewers. Butler played college ball at Vanderbilt and had some remarks about the historical moment.

“Women have definitely been through a lot throughout history,” Butler said, via MassLive’s Matt Vautour. “It’s a great thing to see her get out there and get on the field, and I’m sure she gave a lot of women a sense of pride by her doing that. So, it was good to see that.”

Her performance may have given Butler life, as he tallied a career performance on the following day. Butler finished the nail-biting win against the Arizona Cardinals with five tackles, two tackles for loss and a huge sack.

It was a solid weekend for Vanderbilt alumni, but Fuller’s moment takes the cake.

[vertical-gallery id=91049]

Will Sarah Fuller be with Vanderbilt as it faces Georgia?

Sarah Fuller is listed as the lone kicker of Vanderbilt’s depth chart for its game against Georgia

Sarah Fuller made a historic debut in Vanderbilt’s loss to Missouri last Saturday.

The soccer goalkeeper turned kicker for the Commodores executed a squib kick in her lone appearance.

Head Coach Derek Mason was fired after the game with Vanderbilt winless. The Commodores play at Georgia on Saturday and the question was: Will Fuller kick or be with the team for a second game?

The depth chart answers it … to a point.

So, Fuller is listed on special teams, meaning she will make the trip to Athens. She is the only kicker listed on the depth chart but a report says the Commodores may reach into their recent past.

However … According to Vandy247’s Robbie Weinstein,

the team is looking into bringing back Ryley Guay, who kicked for the team last year but is in grad school now. It is unclear if Vanderbilt will be able to do that, but Fuller will get the start if the Commodores cannot, Fitch said.

“I didn’t speak with her specifically after last week’s game, but she indicated that she wanted to continue,” Fitch said. “She was there today. Right now, as it stands I don’t see any change in that. She’ll be with us on the trip to Georgia and we’re gonna put the best people out there. If she’s our best option, we’ll continue to work with her and we’ll do the best we can for the team.”

Guay is currently in Vanderbilt medical school and has one year of eligibility remaining. He would have to get through the NCAA clearinghouse and COVID-19 testing to be able to play. Guay made 9-of-11 field goals and 18-of-18 PAT kicks last season.

If Vanderbilt had trouble moving the ball against Missouri and getting into position to attempt a field goal, let alone find the end zone, the task will be more difficult against the Dawgs. It could be another game that sees the Commodores with a lone kickoff to open the game or second half.

 

Sarah Fuller named SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week

Sarah Fuller of Vanderbilt is the SEC Special Teams Placekicker of the Week

Credit to the SEC for recognizing an accomplishment. The conference announced Monday Vanderbilt’s Sarah Fuller has been named its special teams’ placekicker of the week.

The SEC site chronicled the events of Saturday as the Commodores lost to Missouri.

Sarah Fuller, PK, Vanderbilt

  • Fuller made history Saturday, becoming the first woman ever to officially take the field during a football game in a and major conference football game.
  • Served as the Commodores’ primary kicker during the team’s contest at Missouri.
  • She took the opening kickoff of the second half against the Tigers, as her perfectly-executed kick sailed 30 yards and was downed at the Missouri 35-yard line. She joined the likes of New Mexico’s Katie Hnida and Kent State’s April Goss as the only females to appear in a Football Bowl Subdivision contest.

Well done by Fuller, Vanderbilt, and the Southeastern Conference.

Her effort received a compliment from another woman of accomplishment.

 

Vanderbilt fires Derek Mason day after Sarah Fuller kicks for Commodores

The Vanderbilt Commodores are winless and Derek Mason is out as head coach

Derek Mason helped Sarah Fuller and Vanderbilt make college football history Saturday. A day later, the coach was history.

The winless Commodores announced Sunday they have fired Mason. The decision comes amid an 0-8 season that saw them crushed 41-0 by Missouri in Columbia.

That was the game where Fuller, the soccer goalkeeper, became the first woman to play in a Power 5 Conference game.

Offensive coordinator Todd Fitch will serve as interim head coach until a replacement for Mason is named

Mason had been coach since 2014 and never had a team with a .500 record in the brutal SEC. He finishes 27-55. These Commodores have been outscored 294-116.

“On behalf of the entire Vanderbilt community, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Coach Mason for his many years of dedication and service leading our football program,” athletics director Candice Lee said in a statement. “Derek cares deeply about the student-athletes under his charge. His tenure at Vanderbilt will be remembered for his steadfast commitment to our student-athletes, not only on the field but in the classroom and as young people.”

 

Watch: Sarah Fuller delivers important message to girls everywhere

Sarah Fuller offered wisdom to all after debuting for Vanderbilt against Missouri

After kicking off to start the second half in Vanderbilt’s 41-0 loss to Missouri Saturday, Sarah Fuller was asked what becoming the first woman to play in a Power 5 conference game meant to her.

She offered wisdom: “I just want to tell all the girls out there that you can do anything you set your mind to.”

And to give you an idea of how much her mind was in the right place, Fuller let everyone know that an SEC championship soccer game brought far more intensity and pressure than the appearance against Missouri.

“Honestly the SEC championship game was more stressful.”

A week earlier, Fuller was the goalkeeper as Vanderbilt captured the SEC women’s soccer crown.

 

Watch: Sarah Fuller kicks off to start second half, college football history

Sarah Fuller with the opening kickoff of the third quarter becomes the first woman to play in a Power 5 conference game

It took until the third quarter Saturday of the Vanderbilt-Missouri game but Sarah Fuller finally got her chance to play.

The soccer goalkeeper-turned placekicker for the Commodores’ football team took part in an SEC game to open the second half with a 30-yard kick that saw Missouri not return it.

Fuller becomes the first woman to play in a Power 5 conference game.

Congratulations to Fuller and to Derek Mason for making this marvelous call.

(15:00 – 3rd) Sarah Fuller kickoff for 30 yds, Mason Pack return for no gain to the Misso 35

It’s Sarah Fuller Saturday as Vanderbilt player is celebrated

Vanderbilt’s Sarah Fuller is being celebrated as she gets ready to kick in an SEC game.

Sarah Fuller is the lone kicker listed on the Vanderbilt roster for its game with Missouri on Saturday. She is dressed out for the SEC game and ready to kick for the Commodores. Her moment is being appreciated.