Vanderbilt Bowl Notes Vanderbilt Offense Ranks as SEC's Leader in Explosive Plays To the surprise of many, Vanderbilt's offense finished the regular season as the Vanderbilt's Explosive Offensive Plays Southeastern Conference leader in explo 2011 2011 SEC 2010 2010 SEC sive plays of 30 yards or more. Plays of 30+ Yards 31 T-1st 22 10th The Commodores have dialed up 17 1st 13 10th Plays of 40+ Yards 17 offensive plays of 40 or more yards to Source: cfbstats.com pace the 12 conference teams. Arkansas and LSU are closest to the Commodores with 15 plays of at least 40 yards. When reviewing stats for plays of at least 30 yards, Vanderbilt is tied with Arkansas for the SEC lead with 31 plays. Only one other team (Alabama, 29) is within eight of the Vanderbilt-Arkansas total. The added big plays have resulted in a scoring average of 26.9 points, 10.0 points more than the team's 2010 scoring average. The offense is producing more big plays via the rush and pass. The unit has 46 rushes of 12 yards or more, 12 more than a year ago. It also has produced 41 passes of 15 yards or more, five more than in 2010.
Franklin's Six-Second Focus Catches On With Fans Commodore fans are increasingly displaying the six-finger gesture in tribute to Coach Franklin's desire to focus on the next play. Toward the end of the regular season, the team and its fans have started displaying the "Six-Second Salute" during the opening kickoff and at the start of the fourth quarter. The salute calls for fans to point the thumb, index finger and middle finger of each hand toward the sky.
Marve's 48 Career Starts Tops Commodores Captain and fifth-year senior Chris Marve tops all active Commodore position players with 48 career starts. Marve has started at inside linebacker for all but one game during his career, missing the 2010 Eastern Michigan contest due to injury. Marve is one of six Commodores with 30 or more career starts. The others are Brandon Barden, 39; Kyle Fischer, 37; Casey Hayward, 36; Sean Richardson, 34; and Tim Fugger, 30. Hayward, a senior cornerback, has the most consecutive starts on the team. He will start his 37th straight game when the Commodores face Cincinnati in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. A list of active Commodores with at least 10 career starts follows: Player Career Starts 48 Chris Marve (R-Sr., LB) Brandon Barden (R-Sr., TE) 39 Kyle Fischer (R-Sr., OL) 37 36 Casey Hayward (Sr., DB) Sean Richardson (Sr., safety) 34 30 Tim Fugger (R-Sr., DE) Ryan Fowler (R-Jr., PK) 27 Larry Smith (R-Sr., QB) 27 24 Wesley Johnson (R-So., OL) Richard Kent (Jr., punter) 24 24 Rob Lohr (R-Jr., DT) Udom Umoh (R-Sr., WR) 24 John Cole (R-Jr., WR) 21 21 Ryan Seymour (R-Jr., OL) Zac Stacy (Jr., RB) 19 16 Eddie Foster (R-Jr., DB) Kenny Ladler (So., safety) 16 Colt Nichter (R-Jr., DT) 16 T.J. Greenstone (R-Sr., DT) 15 Jonathan Krause (So., WR) 15 Warren Norman (Jr., RB) 13 Austin Monahan (R-Jr., TE) 13 Trey Wilson (Jr., DB) 13 Jordan Matthews (So., WR) 11
How Former Commodores Are Performing in the NFL Player
NFL Team
Notes
Earl Bennett, WR Jay Cutler, QB Jonathan Goff, LB Jovan Haye, DT Reshard Langford, S Myron Lewis, DB D.J. Moore, DB Chris Williams, OG Thomas Welch, OT
Chicago Bears Chicago Bears New York Giants Detroit Lions Kansas City Chiefs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Chicago Bears Chicago Bears St. Louis Rams
Third-year WR just signed new long-term deal with Bears; remains solid receiving target for Chicago QBs. Fifth-year QB was enjoying banner year, but status remains uncertain after breaking bone in throwing hand. Starting linebacker will miss the entire 2011-12 season after suffering a knee injury in preseason practice. Seven-year pro signed with Lions on Dec. 9, then was released after making appearance in one game. Third-year player has contributed on special teams and as a reserve safety in secondary for Kansas City. Troubled by hamstring woes early in year, Lewis has witnessed limited action as a reserve DB in second year. Third-year DB back in starting role in early December after missing three games with injuring ankle at practice. Chicago's starting left guard will miss rest of season after suffering wrist injury in November game vs. Lions. Released earlier this year by New England and Buffalo, Welch signed free agent deal Dec. 7 with St. Louis.
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2011 AutoZone Liberty Bowl Guide