NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - Vanderbilt is still just a game away from bowl eligibility.
Entering their final game of the season, the Commodores already have blown one chance at a winning record and a possible bowl invitation after three straight losses.
But Saturday's visit by Wake Forest will give Vanderbilt (5-6, 2-6 Southeastern Conference) one more shot to do something it hasn't done in 25 years finish with a winning record.
``It would be the first Vanderbilt team in a long time to be bowl eligible and to have six wins,'' Commodores center Hamilton Holliday said. ``It would still mean a lot, bowl or no bowl. It's still going to be a special season if we win this Saturday.''
Vanderbilt is not mathematically eliminated from bowl consideration, although its postseason hopes look bleak.
Seven SEC teams already have at least seven victories. Another three South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi State have six wins with a chance at seven this weekend.
The SEC has eight bowl tie-ins, with the possibility of sending a ninth team to the postseason if a second conference team is selected as a Bowl Championship Series at-large representative. Simply put, the Commodores' chances of going to their first bowl since 1982 are slim.
``That'll be a moot point if we don't win,'' Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson said.
Of course, defending Atlantic Coast Conference champion Wake Forest (7-4, 5-3 ACC) doesn't have such worries.
The Demon Deacons, who played in last season's Orange Bowl, have earned back-to-back bowl berths for the first time in school history. That doesn't mean they don't have bigger goals.
Wake Forest is trying to become just the fifth team in school history to win at least eight games in a season.
Demon Deacons defensive end Matt Robinson said it's important they build on their momentum.
``Everybody wants to talk about bowl games right now, but there's not a lot of talk going on with us,'' Robinson said. ``I went up and turned the film on, and this Vanderbilt team is really, really good. There's no one on our team that's looking ahead to a bowl game. That stuff will take care of itself.''
The Commodores will be celebrating Senior Day, with 17 seniors playing their final game at Vanderbilt Stadium.
Junior receiver Earl Bennett may be playing his last game for the black and gold, too. Already the SEC's career receptions leader, Bennett has been tagged by pro scouts as a likely first-round pick in the NFL draft should he forgo his senior season.
Bennett's first collegiate catch came three years ago against Wake Forest. His last may also come against the Demon Deacons, although Bennett said he hasn't decided where he'll be playing next year.
``It's up in the air right now,'' Bennett said. ``It's definitely something I need to do, explore the options and look into it. It's ultimately going to be my decision. I'm just going to check it out and see what I think. I really haven't thought about it yet.''
Stopping Bennett has been a weekly task for Vanderbilt opponents. Against Wake Forest, the Commodores will be on the other side, having to face a star receiver.
Demon Deacons receiver Kenneth Moore has 78 catches, and needs just 11 more receptions to set an ACC record for catches in a season. Moore also needs 140 yards receiving to become just the third Wake Forest player to have at least 1,000 yards receiving in a season.
With bowl games stake, receivers and records are just a small slice of Saturday's game. Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe said he wants his team to play like it needs a victory to become bowl eligible.
``You don't want to spend too much time patting yourself on the back,'' Grobe said. ``Because you're not going to play very well against Vanderbilt if you do.''
Wake Forest recognizes Vanderbilt is playing for a lot more than another win. Robinson said he wouldn't mind being the latest team to spoil the Commodores' bowl hopes.
``We've got our hands full,'' Robinson said. ``It's their Senior Day, and they're sitting right there on bowl eligibility. We're going to get their best shot. We've got to make sure ... we're doing everything on our end to give ourselves a chance of winning.''
Monday
May 20th, 2024
10:37AM
