Music City Bowl notes: VU almost overwhelmed with preparation

Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson has learned at least one thing in his first experience with a bowl game. He’s come to understand that one can learn a lot about an opponent – perhaps too much.

“The good thing and the bad thing is that you have 12 games of film on them,” Johnson said. “The good thing is you can see what they like to do. The bad thing is you see everything they have done, and then you go, ‘Oh my gosh, what are we going to do if they do that?’ Then you try to defend everything or draw up a play for everything they do on defense.

“You can get over-burdened.”

The Commodores learned on Dec. 7 that Boston College was going to be their opponent in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl. That meant coaches and players had three weeks to study the Eagles and to create a plan.

“You’re better off getting something your team can execute,” Johnson said.

HATING THE HATERS: VU quarterback Chris Nickson has watched his share of ESPN in recent days.

As a result, he noticed on the crawl at the bottom of the screen that 90.9 percent of people who voted on ESPN.com believed that Boston College will defeat Vanderbilt.

“We have 91 percent of America against us,” Nickson said. “That put a chip on the shoulder.”

PLAYMAKER: BC’s defense ranks among the top 10 nationally in seven different categories, including first in interceptions and takeaways.

The leader of that unit is junior linebacker Mark Herzlich, the 2008 ACC defensive player of the year and a Butkus Award finalist. Herzlich has a team-high 105 tackles, with 11 tackles for losses, six interceptions, three sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

“He just makes plays for them,” Johnson said. “He makes ordinary plays and he makes big plays.”

IDENTICAL IMPRESSIONS: The only common opponent for both teams this season was Wake Forest.

BC defeated Wake 24-21 on Nov. 22, but VU lost 23-10 the following Saturday.

“(BC coach Jeff Jagodzinski) has compared us to Wake Forest,” Johnson said. “I could compare them to Wake Forest. They’re not going to beat themselves, and they’re going to take advantage of every mistake you make.”

RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE: Jagodzinski said he was not surprised that former BC quarterback Matt Ryan was named the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year on Tuesday.

“He went to a real difficult situation down there in Atlanta and he won them over, not with what he said but with what he did,” Jagodzinski said. “That’s the type of kid he is.”