New Coach, Same Expectations For Vandy

Vandy swaps coaches, not philosophy

New ’Dores coach Caldwell says team still follows Johnson’s teaching

Written by SETH EMERSON
semerson@thestate.com

Posted on 07.31.1


Rich Glickstein/File Photograph/The State

Running back Warren Norman wll be the top returning offensive threat for Vanderbilt this coming season.

VANDERBILT

COACH: Robbie Caldwell (first season)
2009 RECORD: 2-10
PLAYER TO WATCH ON OFFENSE: TB-KR Warren Norman (led SEC with 161.8 all-purpose yards per game)
PLAYER TO WATCH ON DEFENSE: LB Chris Marve (led SEC with 10.1 tackles per game)
BOTTOM LINE: The Commodores should win more than two games, but don’t count on a bowl invitation.

The reins at Vanderbilt were handed from one Palmetto State native to another, from a low-key Columbia native to a quip-a-minute son of Pageland.

The expectations, however, remain the same: low. Very low.

Vanderbilt begins its 121st season of football next month, seeking its fifth bowl appearance.

Bobby Johnson, the Columbia native, had the longest tenure (eight years) of any Vanderbilt coach since the 1960s. He resigned abruptly two weeks ago, citing a desire to get on with his retirement.

In steps Robbie Caldwell, a longtime assistant who wowed the SEC media last week with tales of breeding turkeys as a teenager in Pageland. But those same reporters picked Vanderbilt to finish last in the East.

“First thing coach Caldwell said was that everything was going to be the same,” sophomore tailback Warren Norman said. “Everything we’ve been doing was just about the same as coach Johnson.”

Still, the coaching staff’s status will loom over the season. Caldwell and his assistants have the interim tag, but he shrugged it off, pointing out Vanderbilt’s current chancellor started out on an interim basis.

“Vanderbilt has given me no stipulations,” Caldwell said. “All they’ve told me is, ‘We’re behind you 100 percent’. I know vice chancellor (David) Williams said, ‘You’re our coach. We’re not looking for one.’”

Williams, as the vice chancellor, serves as the de facto athletics director, since Vanderbilt abolished its athletics department several years ago.

When that happened, Johnson fielded questions about whether it was the death knell for the Commodores competing in SEC football. But he got them to a bowl in 2008, their first in 26 years, and his teams always played close games.

This year’s team will have 10 seniors but nearly 30 sophomores, and one of them is Norman. The tailback rushed for 783 yards last year, averaging 5.4 yards per carry, and was one of the league’s top kick returners.

USC fans will remember Norman for returning a kickoff 99 yards for a score, Vanderbilt’s lone touchdown in a 14-10 loss to USC.

Like most SEC teams, there will be competition for the starting quarterback job. Senior Larry Smith has the experience but has not done much the past few seasons to secure the job. One of the contenders for the job is Jordan Rodgers, a junior college transfer and the brother of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The offensive line, which Caldwell coached before being promoted, could be the biggest worry. There is one starter back on the line.

Vanderbilt had the worst scoring offense in the SEC last year and bested only LSU in total offense.

“We’ve got to be more consistent on offense, obviously. That’s not a profound statement,” Caldwell said. “It’s at every position.”

Defensively, the Commodores were solid last year, especially against the pass. But their run defense ranked last in the league, and they have five starters back. Junior linebacker Chris Marve was a bright spot and a second-team All-SEC pick by the coaches.

“We think we’re in a good situation,” Caldwell said. “What coach Johnson did putting together this freshman class — all of our coaches obviously had a hand in it — but we put together our best class ever with a 2-10 record. They could see what we’re trying to do, how we’re trying to do.

“The thing I liked about coach (Johnson) and our philosophy is we never cried about what we didn’t have, what happened.”