’Dores hit the big-time with Auburn win

Matt Bubis and Mackenzi Adams bask in Vanderbilt's win over Auburn. Mike Strasinger for The City Paper

Yes, big-time college football has arrived in Nashville.

Yes, Vanderbilt is 5-0 and ranked No. 13 in the nation.

Yes, the Commodores were called out of their locker room by fired-up fans for a post-game curtain call after upsetting Auburn 14-13 on Saturday at Vanderbilt Stadium.

Yes, it was all captured on ESPN, leaving bewildered fans around the nation asking — Is this really happening?

“This is for real,” VU wide receiver George Smith said. “This team is for real.”

Strange days, indeed, on West End Avenue, where football fever is running high as Vanderbilt carves out a magical season and stands one win away from being bowl-eligible for the first time since 1982.

Most around these parts have never seen the likes of this. VU hasn’t been 5-0 since 1943 and hasn’t been ranked as high as No. 13 since 1956.

For even more perspective, consider this: Vanderbilt is 3-0 in Southeastern Conference play for only the third time in school history and for the first time since 1950.

Saturday’s toppling of Auburn followed a familiar script for 2008: The Commodores fell behind early, stifled the opposing offense in the second half and made enough clutch plays to pull out a victory.

Perhaps the law of averages have finally evened out. Traditionally, Vanderbilt hasn’t come through at crunch time, contributing heavily to a quarter-century of losing.

Now, it seems nothing can go wrong.

The Commodores can even lose their starting quarterback for the second straight game – and still beat an SEC opponent.

That happened Saturday as reserve Mackenzi Adams came off the bench in place of injured starter Chris Nickson and passed for 153 yards and two touchdowns.

Meanwhile, the VU defense – shredded in the first quarter as Auburn sprinted to a 13-0 lead – stiffened and held the Tigers to 82 yards of total offense after the first quarter and only 11 in the fourth quarter.

Vanderbilt players talk regularly about changing the perception of the program. For now, there is little doubt they have accomplished their mission.

“People can think what they want to think,” linebacker Chris Marve said. “We just want to show the country we’re a different Vanderbilt.”

Added wide receiver George Smith: “A lot of these teams think they’re way better than us, but we’re proving that we can play with them.”

Even Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson smiled a little Saturday. While he didn’t bite on lamenting on the historical significance of the victory, he did acknowledge the important of it for many of VU’s long-suffering fans.

“I’m glad we could reward them,” Johnson said.

The normally stoic Johnson was also asked if his emotions were running high.

“I live for this. This is what coaches live for,” he said. “I live to walk into the locker room and see how happy our players are. That’s what gets me excited.”

Vanderbilt (5-0, 3-0) at Miss. State (1-4, 0-2)

1:30 p.m. Saturday

Starkville, Miss.

TV – none