Note: We'll have complete coverage of football national signing day starting at 7 a.m. CT Wednesday on VUcommodores.com. We'll post player bios with videos, quotes, photos and more on our NSD Central page. Also, follow @VandyFootball on Twitter to get instant notification for each signee when the NLIs come in.
We launched National Signing Day Central on VUcommodores.com with details on our online coverage for the day of events.
One new addition... Coach Franklin will host a public gathering on campus that evening to meet fans and discuss his first Commodore signing class. For more information, go here.
And while you're waiting until next Wednesday, check out the promo video courtesy of Wes.
"I am beyond excited," Anderson said. "Having my name hanging in the rafters at a school like Vanderbilt with such a rich tradition is the highest honor. It started with a goal freshman year before I ever played a college basketball game and I thank God for blessing me with so many wonderful people who helped make it happen. It really is amazing to me."
Football: James Franklin's speech to Commodore fans - Watch Video
Men's Basketball: Highlights/interviews, Ole Miss Game - Watch Video
Women's Basketball: Highlights/interviews, Arkansas Game - Watch Video
NFL: Chicago QB Jay Cutler discusses the Green Bay matchup - Watch Video
SONG OF THE DAY
Props to Nick Wells for his Vanderbilt remix titled "Black and Gold." The original song, Wiz Khalifa's "Black and Yellow," is used during the Commodores' starting lineup in Memorial Gym.
In his introduction at last night's basketball game, football head coach James Franklin simply asked Commodore Nation to rally together behind the program in the days ahead.
"We have a plan; we have a vision for what this program could be, but we can't do it alone," Franklin stated. "We need everybody's support. We need this community, we need this campus to come together and unite more than it ever has before."
Franklin got one of the loudest reactions when he singled out the student section, telling them that they could make the biggest impact by getting involved with the team and creating a true home field advantage.
Franklin closed his address by guaranteeing that brighter days are ahead. "Failure is not an option. We're going to succeed."
Vanderbilt junior quarterback Jordan Rodgers appeared on ESPN2's First Take Wednesday (watch video) to discuss his ties to this weekend's NFC Championship Game between Chicago and Green Bay.
Rodgers' older brother, Aaron, is the starting QB for the Packers, while Bears QB Jay Cutler was extremely helpful offering advice when he transferred to Vanderbilt last January.
Despite his relationship with Cutler, Jordan told ESPN host Dana Jacobson there's no dilemma when it comes to who he's cheering for this Sunday. "There's definitely no question that I'll be rooting for the Packers," Jordan said, "but with so many Vanderbilt players playing for the Bears, I root for them every other week besides the week they play the Packers. This week I'm green and gold."
Jordan also explained how he had the opportunity to pick Cutler's brain after he arrived on campus.
"Jay was real good to me when I got into town. I was able to run questions off him about our school, the offense and the coaches. I also worked out with him a little bit while he was in town during the offseason. He was a big help."
On comparing the two NFL quarterbacks, Jordan added, "They both have unbelievable arms, so my hands hurt a little bit after playing catch with them. They both kind of play their own game, they really do, so it's tough to compare the two. They're both playing really well right now and it's going to be a
great game this weekend."
(Photos courtesy of Chris Weinman and Brian Smokler)
Cutler and the Bears will face their old rivals Green Bay this Sunday for the right to go to Super Bowl XLV.
Cutler is the second Commodore to grace the front of the popular sports magazine in the last four months. Tampa Bay pitcher David Price was on the cover in October for SI's Major League Baseball Playoff preview.
First, the NFL Network will air Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler's press conference Wednesday at noon CT. Cutler and the Bears are preparing for the NFC Championship Game with Green Bay Sunday at Soldier Field (2 p.m. CT, FOX).
Also on Wednesday, Vanderbilt junior quarterback Jordan Rodgers will appear on ESPN to talk about the Packers, quarterbacked by his older brother Aaron, and Cutler's Chicago squad that also features three other former Commodores in the starting lineup.
The segment, on ESPN's First Take, should air about 10:40 a.m., CT.
Cutler helped Jordan get acclimated to Nashville after he transferred from Butte Junior College (Calif.) last year, then spent time during the offseason working out with the Bear starter on campus.
"(Jay's) a guy who's been great to my little brother," Aaron Rodgers told ChicagoBears.com in September. "As a big brother, it's much appreciated the way he's made my little brother feel comfortable down there and get the lay of the land down there in Nashville.
"It's only helped to strengthen our friendship. I pull for him 14 weeks out of the season, and hopefully he throws us a couple in those other two weeks."
"There is nothing like sitting in the front row and watching your son play," Brad Tinsley's mother, Kathy, said. "I just can't even imagine how nerve-wracking it would be to only get to see him and not have that personal interaction afterwards, whether it is a good game or a rocky game. Just to be able to be with him, give him a hug when he needs it and a pat on the back. That is just so special."
In his postseason debut, quarterback Jay Cutler tallied four touchdowns to lead Chicago to a convincing 35-24 win over Seattle in the NFC Divisional Playoffs Sunday at Soldier Field.
Cutler and the Bears will face longtime rival Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game next Sunday at 2 p.m. CT in Chicago.
"After last year and the disappointment and the struggles we've had
offensively and kind of rebuilding, it's been a fun ride," Cutler said.
"But it's not over yet. We've still got some business to take care of."
Cutler completed 15 of 28 passes for 274 yards, rushed for another 43 yards, and committed no turnovers. He became only the second quarterback in league history to have two TDs rushing and two passing in a postseason game (Otto Graham, Cleveland, 1954 and '55).
"I don't know if you're going to get any better performance out of a quarterback in the playoffs," said tight end Greg Olsen.
Three more former Commodores contributed in the victory: wide receiver Earl Bennett had 22 total yards from one reception and rush, defensive back D.J. Moore made five tackles, and starting left guard Chris Williams was effective for an offensive line that opened holes for 176 rushing yards.
Chicago and Green Bay will renew the league's oldest rivalry next Sunday for the right to go to Super Bowl XLV. The teams have played 181 times overall, but their only previous postseason meeting was in 1941 with the Bears
winning 33-14 at Wrigley Field.
The Bears and Packers split their two regular season meetings this year with the home team getting the victory each time.
Football head coach James Franklin brought "a ray of sunshine" to his first appearance on Nashville's top-ranked afternoon sports talk show on Thursday.
For one hour, Franklin stayed upbeat while taking on tough questions from 104.5 Sports Zone co-hosts George Plaster and Willy Daunic as well as local callers.
Fifteen minutes into the segment, Franklin wanted to turn the mood around.
"Can we start talking
at some point about all of the positives of the program because there's
a bunch of them," he said.
Plaster explained that fans have been told it was going to be a new era for the last 40 years, and that they're looking for a legitimate sign that it's going to be different.
"All I can tell you is that I've come here for a specific reason," responded Franklin, calmly and confidently. "There is nothing in my makeup about failure. We're going to find a way to get it done here, one way or another. We're going to get it done together. I feel really, really good about the commitment that's being made."
*Coach Franklin described his first month on the job as "controlled chaos." He's busy recruiting before signing day, assembling his coaching staff and meeting with people in the community.
*On how he was hired, Franklin said he was first called about the Vanderbilt job to determine his level of interest. He liked his situation at Maryland and had no intentions of leaving. After talking to VU's administration, he was impressed and intrigued with the position.
*On why he'll have success at Vanderbilt, he believes he's been hired at the right time. "The administration, the community and the university as a whole have gotten to a point where they've said, 'enough's enough, and we're ready to do this the right way.'"
*On what's different with Vanderbilt's commitment to the football program, he said he can't speak about the past, but since he's arrived, several discussions have been based on a well-planned out expansion project to the facility, but he wants to make sure it's right. At the moment, he believes the players should be taken care of first. "I'm going to fight for those kids."
*On not having a good home field advantage, Franklin said, "It's our job to put a product on the field that people are excited about. With the facilities, with the recruitment, with the staff I'm putting together, we're going to have the ability to do that. We're going to be aggressive with everything we do. We're going to attack recruiting, we're going to attack our opposition, and we're going to keep asking and pushing from an administration standpoint so we can get to the point where basketball and baseball are."
*On selling the program, he expressed that he's willing to do whatever it takes to make the program succeed. "Failure is not an option." Once things slow down after signing day, he plans to put on his "marketing hat."
*He had his first team meeting the day before, since students were on break when he was hired. He told the squad about his direction of the program and asked them to "take a leap of faith" with him and his staff, and to trust his leadership. "I'll fight for them in every aspect of their lives."
*On the recruiting front, he thinks they'll make a bigger impact next year since they only have a few scholarships left for this year's class. "We're going to take a national approach and sell all the reasons Vanderbilt makes sense."
*He said he's willing to look at the football models used by Stanford and Northwestern.
*On non-conference scheduling, he explained: "Initially, you have to take a Kansas State/Bill Snyder philosophy. You'll have to schedule teams that you think you're going to have an opportunity to be competitive with and teach your guys how to win. The best way to do that is by winning. I think it's very important how we schedule from here on out." He added that he'll be very involved in the process.
*On getting local fans back in the stands: "I'll be out selling the program as much as I possibly can, but for the time being, I have to prioritize. Right now, my focus needs to be putting my staff together and recruiting so we can put a great product on the field. I'm willing to do whatever I have to do to get people excited about the program."
*He said administration stepped up by giving him salaries to hire a successful staff.
*On turning things around: "I think our fans are hungry, I think the community is hungry for a winner, and I think the administration is willing to do what they have to do to be successful. I know looking in those players eyes last night, they want to win more than anybody."
*On improving the offense, he said he has a diverse coaching staff that will be able to come up with a flexible plan to take advantage of their strengths. "We going to be aggressive with everything we do and we're not going to be afraid to make mistakes."
Check out the first edition of The Williams Report.
Thanks to your fan questions, Vice Chancellor David Williams hits on a bunch of hot topics like stadium renovations, football scheduling, parking and more.
"I'm extremely pleased to make this announcement today," Franklin said. "All of these coaches want to be part of something really special. When I called, many of them said yes without even talking about money and titles. They simply want to help turn this program into a success."
COMMODORES AROUND THE WEB
Football: Commodores' football staff has 'chemistry' (Tennessean)
Men's Basketball: Commodores are set at center (Tennessean)
Men's Basketball: VU has little concern for Vols' current struggles (City Paper)
Men's Basketball: Jenkins 'a tough cover' from 3-point arc (Knoxville News-Sentinel)
"You better make (Jenkins) put it on the floor. Because if you're late you're gonna get nailed," UT coach Bruce Pearl said. "But Vanderbilt's offense does not allow you to take one guy and just put him on (Jenkins). Their offense is too good.''
"I'm probably not the first quarterback that hasn't been to the playoffs in the first five years," Cutler said, "and I probably won't be the last. We're in a good situation now. We've just got to take advantage of it."
"I think we were ready tonight," Head Coach Melanie Balcomb said. "We had paid the price before on the road and didn't want that to happen again, and I felt like this was the right timing for us to get our first SEC win on the road."
VIDEO OF THE DAY
Coach Franklin introduces his offensive staff - Watch Video
Men's Basketball: Dores bounce back with 73-66 win (VUcommodores.com)
"We're hungry, we're still mad about that (South Carolina) game," center Festus Ezeli said. "We still have a bad taste about that one because we didn't play to our abilities."
"I think we will be more focused this time (on the road)," guard Jasmine Lister said. "I felt like we were playing like we didn't want to lose instead of winning on the road. Now, we are going to focus on winning.
"The Commodores will have one of the nation's better weekend rotations this season with Sonny Gray and others leading the way. Gray has had a fruitful campaign at Vandy and is expected to parlay a solid junior season into an even better first-round draft status."
"I probably know him better than y'all do," RB Matt Forte said. "I will tell you that he is probably the opposite of what you guys portray him to be. Jay is a good guy, and he comes to work every day to work hard."
NFL: Cutler says loser tag didn't irk him (Chicago Tribune)
"The only thing I will honestly say about (my time at Vanderbilt) and this is hard to believe, but its true," Fogler said. "I'm not sure why I left Vanderbilt. I really don't know. Now that sounds like bull, but why would I give you bull 17 years after the fact? I honestly do not know exactly what happened. Obviously, something went awry. I just decided to go to South Carolina."
*Vanderbilt football head coach James Franklin is expected to officially announce his offensive coaching staff Thursday afternoon. The press conference is scheduled to start at 2:45 p.m. CT on campus. Stay with VUcommodores.com for complete coverage of the event.
*Also scheduled for Thursday-- Franklin will make his first appearance on Nashville's top-ranked afternoon sports talk show. Franklin will spend the 4 o'clock hour with 104.5 Sports Zone co-hosts George Plaster and Willy Daunic. You can listen to the interview live online at 1045thezone.com.
*Finally, mark your calendar. Franklin will be introduced to Commodore fans during the men's basketball game against Ole Miss next Wednesday, January 19.
Who is James Franklin? Here are two articles that offer insight on the Commodores' new head football coach.
First, Ed Kracz
of the Bucks County Courier Time chronicles Franklin's journey from Langhorne, Pa., to Vanderbilt with stories on his childhood and previous coaching stops. You really get a sense of how Franklin's made it to where he is today.
"He cared about his players and was a great family guy," said Jordy Nelson, a former walk-on at Kansas State who developed into a second round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers under the tutelage of Franklin. "He had his love for the game and a love for his players, and he cares about his players like family."
Also, Larry Leathers of VUcommodores.com looks at how Franklin's developed future stars at the quarterback position.
Franklin mentored current pro QB Josh Freeman at Kansas State and ACC Rookie of the Year QB Danny O'Brien at Maryland.
"Coach (Franklin) has meant so much to me, both on and off the field,"
Freeman said. "One of the best things that ever happened to me was
getting to work with Coach Franklin."
According to CNN, 49 of the 50 states currently have snow on the ground including Tennessee (as you can see in the picture of Vanderbilt Stadium).
Well, in the Barca household, there's never a shortage of activities on snow days. In fact, former intern Travis polished up an old satellite dish with non-nutritive cereal varnish and used it for sledding in our subdivision today (no joke). Let's just say it didn't work, even though he gave it the old Clark Griswold try.
Somewhere in Arizona, Schulzie could be heard saying, "Are you serious?" while noting that Travis' attempt was "for all the Tostitos."
Jay Cutler and company don't have to play the guessing game any longer.
Chicago, fresh off a bye week, will host Seattle in the NFC divisional playoffs Sunday at noon CT.
The Seahawks advanced past wild card weekend by upsetting New Orleans, the defending Super Bowl champions, 41-36 in Seattle. (If you missed Marshawn Lynch's incredible 67-yard TD run to clinch the Seahawks' win, you gotta see it.)
Chicago and Seattle met earlier this season with the Seahawks getting the upperhand, 23-20, in October at Soldier Field. In that game, the Bears' offense failed to convert a third down (0-for-12), while Cutler completed only 17 of 39 pass attempts and was sacked six times.
Cutler will be getting his first crack at the postseason along with former Commodores Earl Bennett, D.J. Moore and Chris Williams.
NFL Divisional Playoffs schedule
Saturday, Jan. 15 AFC: Baltimore at Pittsburgh (CBS), 3:30 p.m. CT
NFC: Green Bay at Atlanta (FOX), 7 p.m. CT
Sunday, Jan. 16 NFC: Seattle at Chicago (FOX), 12 p.m. CT
AFC: N.Y. Jets at New England (CBS), 3:30 p.m. CT
Football head coach James Franklin's surprise call to 104.5's 3 Hour Lunch Friday afternoon (listen to interview) sparked a positive response on Twitter.
Here were some of the tweets:
@Ian_Rhodes_WSMV: New Vanderbilt Coach James Franklin had me fired up for Vandy Football listening to him on the Radio today
@jwyattsports: I liked the enthusiam of new Vanderbilt football coach James Franklin on @3HL1045
@carterpat23: Just heard james franklin on @3HL1045. Vandy got a good hire
@notsolegato: James Franklin is enthusiastic, if nothing else. #vandy
@sunfiregalaxie: james franklin may be all talk, but I like what he is saying so far! #godores #3hrlunch
@ChadCaldwell24: "We're going to storm the beaches and burn the boats" -James Franklin
@Kenny_J_52: @3HL1045 Awesome he already knows about the show. Im so excited about the future of Vandy football. Go dores. Great get.
@ozzthegreat: Wasn't a fan of the hire, but interview changed by mind
@dashyree: "Success is our only option."--James Franklin, @vandyfootball coach. I like this guy more every day.
Four former Commodores on the Chicago Bears -- wide receiver Earl Bennett, quarterback Jay Cutler, defensive back D.J. Moore, and left guard Chris Williams -- will finally get their first taste of the NFL Playoffs.
They'll also have a much-needed week off after finishing the grueling 17-week season atop the NFC North with an 11-5 record, good for second overall in the conference.
The Bears will open the playoffs against either Philadelphia, Seattle or New Orleans in Chicago on Sunday,
January 16 (12 p.m. CT, FOX).
It's been a remarkable regular season run for the Bears, who most predicted to finish behind Green Bay and Minnesota in the division.
Also worth noting-- former Commodore safety Reshard Langford contributed to Kansas City's AFC West Division title. The Chiefs (10-6), the No. 4 seed in the AFC, will host No. 5 seed Baltimore in the opening round of the playoffs Sunday (12 p.m. CT, CBS).
Here's the playoff schedule for the first two weekends:
Wild-card weekend
Saturday, Jan. 8 NFC: New Orleans at Seattle (NBC), 3:30 p.m. CT AFC: N.Y. Jets at Indianapolis (NBC), 7 p.m. CT
Sunday, Jan. 9 AFC: Baltimore at Kansas City (CBS), 12 p.m. CT NFC: Green Bay at Philadelphia (FOX), 3:30 p.m. CT
Divisional playoffs
Saturday, Jan. 15 AFC: Indianapolis or Kansas City or Baltimore at Pittsburgh (CBS), 3:30 p.m. CT NFC: Seattle or New Orleans or Green Bay at Atlanta (FOX), 7 p.m. CT
Sunday, Jan. 16 NFC: Philadelphia or Seattle or New Orleans at Chicago (FOX), 12 p.m. CT
AFC: Kansas City or Baltimore or N.Y. Jets at New England (CBS), 3:30 p.m. CT
Also on Wednesday, Vanderbilt junior quarterback Jordan Rodgers will appear on ESPN to talk about the Packers, quarterbacked by his older brother Aaron, and Cutler's Chicago squad that also features three other former Commodores in the starting lineup.
Check out the first edition of The Williams Report.
*Vanderbilt football head coach James Franklin is expected to officially announce his offensive coaching staff Thursday afternoon. The press conference is scheduled to start at 2:45 p.m. CT on campus. Stay with VUcommodores.com for complete coverage of the event.
Football head coach James Franklin's surprise call to 104.5's 3 Hour Lunch Friday afternoon (
