Vanderbilt - The Dirtiest Team in the SEC?

[RedStar]

Part of the reason for the scuffle after the UGA game was because Grantham was upset that Vanderbilt players were targeting defenseless UGA players. Late hits, and hits to the back of the knees.

Same things with the UT game this year. Check out this video:

Starting at 10:17, watch as the play develops. You'll notice as the pass is in the air, look at the top left hand side of the screen, and you'll see a Vandy OL dive for the back of a UT players knees.


It's Franklin's first year in the league and he's already gotten into 2 post game dust-ups with other coaches.

Making matters worse, Jimmy Hyams of WNML-AM/FM in Knoxville has reported that a witness heard Franklin shout an obscenity toward the Tennessee student section as he left the field.

And tossing in one other nugget at this point, Vanderbilt is also developing a reputation for delivering late clips. Vanderbilt center Logan Stewart was given a half-game suspension by the SEC for a blindside, knee-first that hit he put on Georgia’s Kwame Geathers. On Saturday, the Commodores had a 70-yard pass called back when O-lineman Josh Jelesky delivered a similar clip to a Tennessee defender.

If you'll remember, Upshaw "kicked" a Vanderbilt player because he claimed the Vanderbilt player had been trying to go for his knees earlier in the game.

Also, during the Arkansas-Vandy game this year an Arkansas DB, Marquel Wade was ejected for a late hit on the Vandy punt returner after he called for a fair catch. Word from a lot of Arkansas fans was Wade'***** was payback for cheap shots by some of the Vandy players.

James Franklin is a dirty coach and he's coaching his players to do this. There's no way around it. Vanderbilt never pulled stunts like this until Franklin arrived. There is an obvious pattern evolving here. I like seeing Vanderbilt competitive, it's fun to pull for the underdog every once in a while (as long as they're not playing you.) But I can't pull for a team that repeatedly pulls these types of shenanigans. (That's one reason that even as a proud UNA alum, I can't watch the Lions this year. I can't wait for Bowden to go.)

Let's hope that Franklin wins against Wake Forest, wins his bowl game and get's hired into some other conference. The guy is a clown and I don't want to play a team coached by him next year.

 

[CullmanTide]

I agree the guy has no class. I don't think he even shook Dooleys hand after the game.

 

[DrollTide]

What a shame. I was enjoying The Commodore's resurgence, but if the coach is coaching for injuries, it is going to end badly for them and meanwhile they'll only be a spoiler.

 

[teamplayer]

It is good that he teaching his players to put up a fight and not take losing lying down; however, there is no place for cheap shots and dirty coaches and players. Football is a tough game, and hurting the opponent is part of the game, but there is a big difference in hitting someone hard and hurting them and taking a cheap shot and injuring them. All of these guys are probably hurting on Sunday morning, but injuring someone is a totally different situation. If he keeps up that kind of play, not only will his team take scoreboard beatings, but they will take some beatings on and off the field, too. Then again, he may have just watched AU last year and thought that was how everyone in the SEC did it.

 

[lafella]

Same thing I said about the Dore's .. If you can't put up a fight with class instead of reverting to being thugs I've got no use for you and no respect. I think Vanderbilt is respected maybe not so much for being a contender part for having pride and class yes among their Academic endeavors. It's a shame that Franklin isn't the coach I thought he would be.. I'd like to see them competitive but what's happening there isn't happening the right way.

That's unfortunate he might be allowed to tarnish Vanderbilt's image. I won't say what team Vanderbilt reminds me of but they reside in the SEC.

 

[TrampLineman]

Yes the guy dove for his knees with his back TURNED FULLY towards him.

It's not just some "odd situation" that Vandy has been involved in this many things. Just not. I'm not quick to think Franklin might be teaching this, but I don't think they are shying away from it either. I think they are chalking it up to "aggressive play" and dropping it at that. That and the "we're not gonna back down" b.s. he spews.

The Jordan Jefferson kick by Upshaw might have been retaliation as well as the Arky hit, but that Arky player could have SERIOUSLY hurt that Punt Returner. That was blatant and un-called for no matter the dirty stuff from Vandy. A punch or kick I can understand as a hit or kick to the helmet or body chances are wont hurt anybody. But basically he took revenge by hitting him helmet to helmet and could have paralyzed him. Payback or not that is just dirty.

But I agree Vandy is trying to be the "Oakland Raiders" of the SEC and if they keep ticking off the big boys, they will get their heads knocked off. I doubt the brass at Vandy likes this either.

 

[uaintn]

Could not believe the play in the Tennessee game. Ended up being about a 75 yard penalty that arguably cost them the game. Good. Never thought I'd see stuff like this out of VU. I'm surprised the zebras didn't toss him -- the play was more than 50 yards away when the kid hit him. It was like punching somebody in the stands. The litmus test is this week. If nothing happens to the kid who caused that penalty, then you'll know the coach is supporting it. If he is, I hope they never win another game. Play hard, stand up for yourself, don't get pushed around is fine. Intentionally try to injure players with dirty hits who aren't even near the action? Get out.

 

[Harmost]

a witness heard Franklin shout an obscenity toward the Tennessee student section

Now there's an accusation with some force to it :rolleye2:

 

[thunderz7]

I commented earlier in the year about Vandy's play.
We don't need another coach in the SEC coaching cheap shot ball.
Nutt has always done it, he's on the way out.
Petrino does it.(per Tuberville)
CheezWhiz does it(via Tubberville)
We can certainly do without Vandy starting this.

As much as I despise Fulmer and Dye, I can say their teams didn't play the cheap shot game. Can't say the same about how their "boosters" spent their money.

 

[CrimsonChuck]

Poor Auburn. That was the only football title that they had a chance of winning this year. And Vandy comes and snatches it away from them. :biggrin2:

 

[GrayTide]

Not that I need another reason to dislike Vanderbilt, but seeing Franklin on Nashville tv makes you realize he is an arrogant thug and apparently has fostered this attitude in his team. I hope Wake beats the crap out of the 'dores.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Yes the guy dove for his knees with his back TURNED FULLY towards him.

It's not just some "odd situation" that Vandy has been involved in this many things. Just not. I'm not quick to think Franklin might be teaching this, but I don't think they are shying away from it either. I think they are chalking it up to "aggressive play" and dropping it at that. That and the "we're not gonna back down" b.s. he spews.

The Jordan Jefferson kick by Upshaw might have been retaliation as well as the Arky hit, but that Arky player could have SERIOUSLY hurt that Punt Returner. That was blatant and un-called for no matter the dirty stuff from Vandy. A punch or kick I can understand as a hit or kick to the helmet or body chances are wont hurt anybody. But basically he took revenge by hitting him helmet to helmet and could have paralyzed him. Payback or not that is just dirty.

But I agree Vandy is trying to be the "Oakland Raiders" of the SEC and if they keep ticking off the big boys, they will get their heads knocked off. I doubt the brass at Vandy likes this either.

Who might that be, now that they've done away with the athletic department? That's who usually keeps the FB HC in line. Maybe they rushed that move a bit...

 

[bamanut_aj]

this is not new. Under DiNardo, Woodenhofer, et al they had a reputation of 'we may not beat you, but we will out-trash-talk you, and get the best of you in the pile'

But this is a new low for them.

 

[TrampLineman]

Who might that be, now that they've done away with the athletic department? That's who usually keeps the FB HC in line. Maybe they rushed that move a bit...

That's kind of my point. Not sure who is in charge but somebody has to be there.....lol. I'm sure they didn't expect Franklin to pull some moves like this, which is now multiplying their decision to clean house..

 

[Just Win]

Poor Auburn. That was the only football title that they had a chance of winning this year. And Vandy comes and snatches it away from them. :biggrin2:

You're right. I hope Auburn doesn't begin to realize that Vandy's out-done them in the cheap-shot and fighting category. I'd hate to see them step up that part of their game for this weekend. But we'd be foolish to think that Auburn won't be trying to injure our players this week. That's all they know to do when they're as outmatched as they will be this weekend.

 

[bamanut_aj]

Who might that be, now that they've done away with the athletic department? That's who usually keeps the FB HC in line. Maybe they rushed that move a bit...

if their is a hierarchy, so to speak, David Williams is the Vice Chancellor for Athletic blah blah....but I think the Franklin hire was a 'joint effort' amongst whatever odd formation of people they have running that thing.