Disappointed but determined, Gee and Turner looked elsewhere. They still wanted a proven coach, but of paramount importance to them was to find someone who had experience winning at a school with Vanderbilt’s high academic standards. Finally realizing it was going to be impossible to ask a coach from an established program to take a giant step downward, Gee and Turner found one who would take a giant step upward.
That man was Furman coach Bobby Johnson, who had been the caretaker of a Division I-AA power. Johnson didn’t start the successful run Furman has enjoyed the last two decades, but he was a successful steward of the program, having taken it to the 2001 NCAA championship game. Wooing Johnson with a $500,000 yearly contract, nearly triple what he made at Furman, Gee and Turner at last had their man.
Johnson wasn’t concerned in the least that he was the third coach offered the job.
Johnson, who took over the top job at Furman in 1994, compiled a 72-38 record there. He took the Paladins to the I-AA playoffs the last three seasons, and they averaged 10 victories a year in that stretch.
Clearly Johnson has the requisite head-coaching accomplishments. But can he duplicate his success at Furman at Vanderbilt? Johnson is an old defensive coordinator, but he knows that the Commodores will have to score points to win. Johnson and new offensive coordinator Ted Cain want to install an offense that will not be overly reliant on the run or pass. A year ago, Vanderbilt leaned heavily on the arm of quarterback Greg Zolman.
QUARTERBACKS
Vanderbilt will have to start over at quarterback after the graduation of Zolman, the school’s all-time passing leader. Last season, Zolman completed 186-of-357 passes for 2,512 yards and 14 touchdowns. He finished his career with 596 completions—good for 41 touchdowns and 7,981 yards—in 1156 attempts. Zolman finished No. 1 all-time in all those categories, as well as total offense (7,607).
It’s a safe assumption that neither of the quarterbacks who competed to replace Zolman in the spring, junior Benji Walker (6-4, 208) or red-shirt freshmen Jay Cutler (6-4, 202) will ever toss up 357 passes in a season or 1,156 in his career. Johnson’s plan is for the Commodores’ offense to become more balanced.
Walker, a hometown product from Brentwood Academy, has seen limited action in his two seasons at Vanderbilt. In 2001, he played in four games, usually in fourth-quarter mop up roles. His season highlight came against Florida. He rushed for 33 yards and two touchdowns and completed 2-of-6 passes for 48 yards. Those passing numbers were also Walker’s season totals.
In 2000, Walker played in just one game. He didn’t complete a pass but rushed for 14 yards on his only carry against Kentucky.
Cutler, who sat out last season, comes from Heritage Hills High School in Santa Claus, Ind. He’s a proven leader, taking Heritage Hills to a 15-0 record and the 3A state championship in 1999. Cutler completed 60 percent of his passes that season.
RUNNING BACKS
Vanderbilt is going to be untested at running back.
After spring, sophomore Norval McKenzie (5-11, 202) and junior Ronald Hatcher (5-10, 180) were listed as co-No. 1 at tailback. Red-shirt freshman Matthew Tant (5-11, 216), and seniors Bara Cola (6-0, 236) and Mike Adam (6-3, 222) were all listed as fullback hopefuls.
McKenzie played in nine games last season as a reserve in Vanderbilt’s one-back set. He carried 13 times for 80 yards, an impressive 6.2 yards per carry.
Hatcher, moved from receiver to running back in the spring, did a little bit of everything last season. He was Vanderbilt’s top kickoff and punter returner and was among the top six receivers with 10 catches for 117 yards.
Cola, a walk-on, spent last season as a team manager after undergoing knee surgery. He started at fullback in 2000, and was impressive in spring practice.
Adam was moved from linebacker in the spring.
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
When Vanderbilt hired Johnson, Stricker (6-3, 200) was concerned. He knew what offense Johnson ran at Furman and was concerned he wouldn’t fit in. Stricker, who graduated in May, had the option of declaring for the NFL draft. He went so far as to get an evaluation of his draft status from the NFL.
It didn’t take long for Johnson to learn of Stricker’s indecision. He convinced the All-SEC receiver that he would be a viable part of the new offense.
The return of Stricker makes this position one of the strongest on the team. Stricker enters the season within reach of some of the SEC’s all-time receiving records. He has 138 career receptions for 2,260 yards, fifth and third, respectively, on Vanderbilt’s all-time list.
A year ago, Stricker caught 65 balls for 1,079 yards and eight touchdowns.
Joining Stricker as a starting receiver is senior M.J. Garrett (6-3, 202). Garrett started out great in 2001, catching eight passes for 219 yards and a touchdown in the opener against Middle Tennessee State. But late in that game, he suffered a separated shoulder, an injury that would hamper him the rest of the season.
Garrett finished the season with 27 catches for 455 yards and four touchdowns.
Keith Williams (6-1, 180), a red-shirt freshman, will back up Stricker, and sophomore Brandon Smith (6-1, 180) will be behind Garrett.
Senior Tom Simone (6-2, 285) returns at tight end. A solid blocker, Simone also caught nine passes for 86 yards and a touchdown last season. His lone score came on a 19-yard pass against South Carolina.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Vanderbilt will miss Pat Green, a right tackle and second-team All-SEC pick a year ago, but four starters return on the line.
The left side returns intact with sophomore tackle Justin Geisinger (6-4, 320), and senior guard Jim May (6-4 300).
Senior center Jamie Byrum (6-4, 281) and sophomore right guard Brian Kovolisky (6-7, 270) round out the line.
Geisiner suffered a fractured ankle late last season that limited him to nine games. Before that he had become one of the Commodores’ most dependable linemen.
May started every game in 2001 and allowed just one sack. He played the final six games with an injured shoulder that required off-season surgery.
Byrum is a tough, agile veteran who started every game in 2001, served as team captain and called the offensive line assignments. Kovolisky started four games filling in for an injured Duncan Cave.
Junior Jordan Pettit (6-4, 282) and sophomore Kenan Arkan (6-7, 280) saw spot starting duty a year ago and will provide depth up front along with junior center/guard Jason Tant (6-3, 280) and sophomore guard Greg Robson (6-4, 288).
Red-shirt freshman tackles Ryan King (6-7, 292) and Nigel Seaman (6-5, 326) will compete for playing time.
KICKERS
Vanderbilt might have to rely on a freshman to handle this job, though two other candidates will compete for it in the fall.
Chuck Folino (6-0, 190), who kicked three field goals in a 12-9 loss to Alabama last season (and missed a 38-yarder that would have tied the game), didn’t participate in spring practice but is expected back in August.
Abtin Iranmanesh (5-11, 205), a junior walk-on from Madison, Ala., was the most effective kicker in the spring. He has a strong leg but no college experience.
Patrick Johnson (5-11, 170), a freshman from Athens, Ala., will be thrown into the mix when he arrives for fall drills.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Talk about crummy luck. Defensive tackle Robert Dinwiddie might have been Vanderbilt’s most impressive defensive player during the spring. But in the next-to-last practice, he tore an ACL, an injury for which he subsequently underwent surgery. He’s doubtful for the season, though athletes are coming back faster and faster from ACL surgery.
In Dinwiddie’s absence, freshman Trey Holloway (6-3, 288) or sophomore Aaron Carter will take over at tackle. Holloway was a pest in practice last year, wreaking havoc with Vanderbilt veterans while serving out his red-shirt season. Carter (6-3, 270) played sparingly in the Commodores’ 3-4 set last season and saw most of his action on special teams.
The other tackle spot is equally well contested. After spring, the job came down to three players, junior Brett Beard (6-3, 285), sophomore Matt Clay (6-2, 292) and red-shirt freshman Ralph McKenzie (6-3, 314).
Beard missed spring practice after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured foot. In 2001, he made 41 tackles while earning 10 starts. Before his injury, Beard had a nine-tackle game against Alabama and eight against Middle Tennessee State.
The end positions were a little more stable after the spring. Red-shirt freshman Jovan Haye (6-3, 252) emerged as one starter. Senior Chuck Losey (6-4, 250) will start at rush end.
LINEBACKERS
Spring brought a pleasant surprise at this position as red-shirt freshman Moses Osemwegie (6-0, 214) staked his claim for the starting job at "Will" linebacker.
Osemwegie is a local product, having played for Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville. Two years ago, he was chosen Tennessee’s Division II Mr. Football while leading MBA to a 12-0 record and a state title.
The other linebacker jobs were undecided.
At the "Mike" position, senior Hunter Hillenmeyer (6-4, 242) or sophomore Pat Brunner (6-3, 242) could end up starting depending on their performance in fall practice.
Junior Doug Wolford (6-3, 236) will also compete for time at the Mike spot.
Hillenmeyer could end up starting at "Sam" linebacker. If so, senior Brandon Walthour (6-3, 218) and sophomore Eric Byrum (6-4, 230) would back him up.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
The secondary is the most experienced position on defense—three senior starters return.
The cornerbacks will be seniors Aaron McWhorter (6-1, 192) and Rushen Jones (6-1, 198). Last fall, Jones missed six games because of a broken hand, and his absence was felt. The Commodores surrendered 44.6 points per game when Jones was out of the lineup, 27 when he was starting. McWhorter started 10 games last season and finished with 43 tackles. He also forced a fumble and recovered one. His 48-yard interception return against Duke was a team high for the season.
Senior Justin Giboney (6-0, 203) holds down the strong safety spot. He was leading Commodore defensive backs with 59 tackles and two interceptions when he was lost for the season in the Florida game.
Junior Jonathan Shaub (6-1, 208) will start at free safety. He missed 2001 because of shoulder problems. In 2000, he made 35 tackles and an interception while starting five times.
PUNTERS
Four-year starter Joe Webb is gone, which means Vanderbilt will have to throw another freshman into the fray in its kicking game. Greg Johnson (6-1, 190), no relation to his coach or the Commodores’ freshman kicker, punts left-footed. He started three years for Parkview High School in Lilburn, Ga., which won the state championship twice in that time.
SPECIAL TEAMS
These units are in a state of transition. In addition to having to find a kicker and punter in fall drills, the Commodore staff also has to locate a long snapper and a holder.
A year ago, Vanderbilt was 10th in the SEC and 94th in the country in punt returns (7.1), eighth in the league in kickoff returns (20.3) and 11th in the SEC in kickoff coverage (22.5). Clearly, work needs to be done before the special teams can become a strength.
Hatcher was Vanderbilt’s primary return man a year ago but didn’t finish among the league leaders in punt or kickoff returns.
RECRUITING CLASS
Johnson was hired on Dec. 24, so he and his staff had to scramble to salvage a recruiting class. Most of the players on Vanderbilt’s recruiting board hadn’t been contacted since Widenhofer and his assistants cleaned out their offices, so Johnson faced pressure in not only hiring a staff, but reconnecting with several recruits and finding some of his own. Fortunately for Vanderbilt, Johnson’s time at Furman had helped him establish connections throughout the South.
The new Vanderbilt staff wound up with 20 players while concentrating on finding help at wide receiver, the offensive line, running back and defensive back.
Most recruiting analysts thought Vanderbilt had a respectable recruiting class, though it still ranked at the bottom of the SEC. Johnson and his assistants blanketed the South, with some good results.
Quarterback Steven Bright (6-3, 208) of Greer, S.C. was generally considered the top quarterback in his talent-rich home state in 2001. Bright’s season was limited to nine games after he suffered a leg injury, which might have been fortuitous for Vanderbilt. As a senior, he rushed for 939 yards and eight touchdowns on 69 carries. He also completed 121-of-211 passes for 1,550 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Vanderbilt went to Florida and Louisiana, respectively, to sign running backs Kwane Doster (5-11, 175) and Ron Bullock (5-11, 215). Doster played for Robinson High School in Tampa. He rushed for 1,299 yards as a senior despite missing several games with an ankle injury. He piled up 353 yards (the third highest total in the country in 2001) and seven touchdowns in just 17 carries against Alonso High School.
Bullock came up with 1,303 yards and 18 touchdowns in his senior season at Brother Martin High School in New Orleans.
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS
Vanderbilt administrators aimed high when searching for a coach last fall. They tried and failed to land Gary Barnett and Tyrone Willingham, but did manage to hire a successful coach in Bobby Johnson.
The hiring of Johnson didn’t register much excitement with some Commodore fans. But he’s an intelligent, experienced coach who has dealt with the particular constraints, albeit at a smaller level, of recruiting to a school with higher academic standards than the rest of its league opponents.
Johnson and his staff hurriedly salvaged Vanderbilt’s recruiting class. And though the Commodores’ group of signees ranked last in the SEC in the opinion of most recruiting analysts, the class marked a great start as Johnson began to put his stamp on the program. The Commodore coaches were able to sign several players who could help as early as this season.
In 2002, Vanderbilt will be solid defensively and more diversified offensively than it was the last few years, when the Commodores won or lost behind the arm of Zolman.
But it’s not likely Vanderbilt has enough talent to rise above sixth place in the SEC’s Eastern Division.
