Commodores hope to turn biggest road victory ever into momentum

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Posted 6:32PM on Monday, October 16, 2006

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Wins at Arkansas and Tennessee last season. Now the Vanderbilt Commodores have pulled off the biggest road upset in their program's history by stunning Georgia in Athens. So coach Bobby Johnson, have your Commodores turned the corner? ``No, there's so many corners to turn, and you've got to keep turning every week,'' Johnson said Monday. ``It's always going to be a work in progress. Our guys have to understand that, and I think they do. They know they can compete. We'll get out there and do our best every week.'' Still, it's impossible to overstate just how big beating then-No. 16 Georgia 24-22 was for the Commodores and Johnson in his fifth season. It was the first time the Commodores have beaten a ranked opponent on its home field since The Associated Press poll started in 1936. That easily overshadows the Commodores ending a 49-game skid against ranked teams dating back to a 31-9 victory over No. 25 Mississippi on Sept. 19, 1992. Vandy had every reason to lose to Georgia yet again with two interceptions in the second half, including one returned 24 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. But the defense stopped the Bulldogs' 2-point conversion, which allowed the Commodores to drive in the final minutes for the winning field goal. ``It was a mind-set that we don't need people running up and down the sideline to tell us we've got to get fired up and play. They made up their mind,'' Johnson said. The Commodores (3-4, 1-3 Southeastern Conference) celebrated this victory, but fullback Steven Bright said they want more at a school that hasn't had a winning season or a bowl appearance since 1982 a 23-year drought. ``It's a huge win for everyone involved, for Vanderbilt and the football team. It doesn't get us to our ultimate goals. It's a stepping stone to where we all know we want to be at the end of the year. It's definitely a big step. I don't think it's the final step.'' The final step would be a winning record at least not a losing season in a year where the Commodores are playing 12 games. Three more victories in the final five games would make Vandy bowl eligible because the Dores haven't been able to count a win over an I-AA program toward a bowl, so beating Tennessee State last month won't hurt. With No. 9 Florida and No. 7 Tennessee visiting in November, the time is now for the Commodores to build some momentum. They host South Carolina (4-2, 2-2) on Saturday for homecoming, a team that has won 13 of the 15 games in this series including a 35-28 rally last year in Columbia. The Commodores have their hands full because left tackle Brian Stamper had back surgery Monday and will not be back this season. His replacement, junior Chris Williams, did well enough against Georgia he was named the SEC's offensive lineman of the year. Johnson said he hopes they can build some momentum. ``A lot of teams go into Athens, Ga., and want to win but have a hard time doing it. I think it tells you a bit about your team. They had the wits about them to come up with the plays to do it. It ought to help us. Will it? We'll find out,'' he said.