Vanderbilt announced its 2016 football schedule on October 29, 2015. The 2016 schedule consisted of six home and six away games in the regular season. The Commodores host SEC foes Florida, Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Tennessee, and traveled to Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, and Missouri.[1]
Asst. athletics director and director of football operations
Tyler Barnes
Director of player personnel
Tom Bossung
Head athletic trainer
Rayna Stewart
Director of high school relations
Gary Veach
Head equipment manager
Matt Britain
Assistant director of operations
Mike Kroeger
Player development & operations assistant
Tyler Clarke
Assistant director, strength
Aaron Hill
Assistant strength coach
Ben Schumacher
Assistant strength coach
Cedric Calhoun
Quality control – defense
Kevin Abrams
Graduate assistant – offense
Tate Benton
Graduate assistant – offense
Davis Dudchock
Graduate assistant – football administration
Ryan Blakney
Quality control offense
Rod Chance
Quality control defense
Mike Morita
Quality control offense
[4]
Coaching changes
On December 15, 2015, coach Mason announced that special teams coach Charles Bankins, OL Coach Keven Lightner will not be retained for 2016. Mason cited a difference in philosophy rather than poor performance for the coaching changes.
"I just see this football team moving in a different direction and I just wanted to make sure these men were treated the right way," Mason said. "I feel like it’s time for us to move forward."[5]
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time.
In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.
Sources:
"2016 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
Game summaries
South Carolina
1
2
3
4
Total
South Carolina
0
0
3
10
13
Vanderbilt
3
7
0
0
10
Middle Tennessee
1
2
3
4
Total
Middle Tennessee
10
7
7
0
24
Vanderbilt
5
28
0
14
47
Georgia Tech
1
2
3
4
Total
Vanderbilt
7
0
0
0
7
Georgia Tech
14
3
14
7
38
WKU
1
2
3
4
OT
Total
Vanderbilt
0
7
7
10
7
31
WKU
7
7
0
10
6
30
Florida
1
2
3
4
Total
#23 Florida
0
10
0
3
13
Vanderbilt
0
3
3
0
6
Kentucky
1
2
3
4
Total
Vanderbilt
3
0
7
3
13
Kentucky
7
10
0
3
20
Georgia
1
2
3
4
Total
Vanderbilt
7
0
3
7
17
Georgia
3
3
7
3
16
Tennessee State
1
2
3
4
Total
#25 (FCS) Tennessee State
14
3
0
0
17
Vanderbilt
7
14
7
7
35
Auburn
1
2
3
4
Total
Vanderbilt
3
10
0
3
16
Auburn
7
3
10
3
23
Vanderbilt's November 5 meeting with Auburn at Jordan-Hare stadium was notable for eventual All-American LB Zach Cunningham's blocked FG in the fourth quarter. Auburn's Daniel Carlson lined up to kick a 35-yard field goal with 1:45 left in the fourth quarter to give the Tigers a 10-point lead. Cunningham, who after the game described watching special teams tape to learn the snap timing of the field goal team, leaped over Auburn's offensive line between the center and left guard to block Carlson's kick. Although Vanderbilt turned the ball over on the ensuing possession to seal Auburn's victory, the play became iconic for Cunningham during his redshirt junior season.
Missouri
1
2
3
4
Total
Vanderbilt
0
10
7
0
17
Missouri
6
13
0
7
26
Ole Miss
1
2
3
4
Total
Ole Miss
10
0
0
7
17
Vanderbilt
7
7
17
7
38
Tennessee
1
2
3
4
Total
Tennessee
14
17
3
0
34
Vanderbilt
7
17
7
14
45
Vanderbilt's 45–34 win over the Tennessee Volunteers represented the Commodores' 6th win on the season, guaranteeing Vanderbilt's eligibility for Bowl play for the first time since 2013, and the first time during Mason's tenure as Vanderbilt's head coach. Prior to this game, which was played at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 26, Vanderbilt's high Academic Performance Index (API) introduced the possibility of bowl play even with a 5–7 season end record, as the 5–7 teams with the best API are rewarded with bowl appearances.
However, Vanderbilt avoided dependence upon the API and defeated state rival Tennessee, also for the first time since 2013. Kyle Shurmur led Vanderbilt in a breakout performance with 412 passing yards, and Ralph Webb eclipsed Zac Stacy's school record for career rushing yards. Vanderbilt outscored Tennessee 21–3 in the second half and iced the victory with a touchdown rush from Webb late in the fourth quarter.[6]
^"2016 Commodore football schedule announced" (Press release). Vanderbilt University Department of Athletics. October 29, 2015. Archived from the original on November 2, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
^"2016 Vanderbilt Commodores Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
^"2016 Schedule". Archived from the original on August 20, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
^"Official Football Roster - Vanderbilt Official Athletic Site". Archived from the original on June 26, 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
^"Assistant Football Coaches Bankins, Lightner Gone". December 15, 2015.
^"Tennessee at Vanderbilt Box Score, November 26, 2016". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
