Vanderbilt Football: Tales of Commodore Gridirion History

In the Southeastern Conference arguably the most historic and competitive conference in all of college football the more blue-collar programs often get overshadowed by the dynasties (read: Alabama). So it has been with Vanderbilt’s football history. Yet Vandy is one of the South’s, and the country’s, most historic universities. Not surprisingly, there are many fun, fascinating, and peculiar history. There are triumphs, like Vandy’s upset of Alabama in 1969; tragedies, like the riot that ended a game in 1896; historic events, like the founding of Dudley field in 1922, still the Commodore’s home. Then there are the legendary coaches and players. Players from across Vandy’s history like Irby Rabbit Curry, Dixie Roberts, Carl Hinkle, Greet Ricketson, and Josh Cody, who excelled on both sides of the ball. Coaches like Dan MuGugin who established Vandy as a power house from the early 1900s to the 1930s, and remains the only NCAA football coach in history to win his first three games by 60 points or more. Plus, pioneers like Ray Morrison who helped establish Vandy football, serving as player and coach.