Vanderbilt was 0-60 all-time in matchups towards Prime 5 groups. The Vanderbilt Commodores haven’t defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide since 1984.
That’s not the case. On Saturday night, Vanderbilt upset Alabama 40-35.
Alabama scored with slightly below three minutes remaining within the sport. They fought again, however Vanderbilt stood tall and guarded their victory.
All through the sport, Alabama was simply unable to maintain Vanderbilt off the sector. Quarterback Diego Pavia was 16-20 passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns. With beneath two minutes remaining, Pavia scrambled for a primary down that put Vanderbilt within the driver’s seat to cap off their victory. The New Mexico State switch has breathed life into Vanderbilt soccer after they wanted it most.
Vanderbilt soccer has perception. They beat Virginia Tech earlier this season, and now they’ve pulled off a large upset towards the No. 1 staff in faculty soccer. Simply final week, they took No. 9-ranked Missouri to additional time. The Commodores are demanding respect, particularly towards ranked opponents.
New head coach Clark Lea is popping this system round in entrance of our eyes simply 5 weeks into the season.
The Commodores went 0-8 in SEC video games final yr. This yr, they simply proved that there’s no slouches within the SEC, and if you end up asleep on the wheel, you might be liable to be upset.
“I believe particularly it is talking to only having the ability to reconnect with the fervour I’ve for instructing and training. I am a trainer first, competitor second,” Lea stated earlier than the season. “So feeling like I’ve direct obligations over the play and the efficiency on the sector, constructing belief with gamers by instructing them and serving to them to play the sport at the next degree. All these issues are energizing to me.”
This victory will undoubtedly knock the Crimson Tide out of their No. 1 spot in faculty soccer. At 4-1, Alabama remains to be very more likely to make the Faculty Soccer Playoffs regardless of the embarrassing loss. The identical just isn’t precisely true for Vanderbilt. They have already got two losses within the younger season and would have to be excellent to be named a Prime 12 staff within the nation by the tip of the season. Lea even admitted after the thrilling victory towards Alabama that this is not the tip aim, however it’s definitely the turning level.
However truthfully? Playoffs are inappropriate proper now. Any means you spin it, it is a huge win for a Vanderbilt program on the rise. Knocking off Alabama is rarely straightforward, however the retooling Commodores did the unthinkable towards the No. 1 staff within the nation.
Put a little bit of respect on the Vanderbilt Commodores. They only pulled off the most important victory within the historical past of their soccer program.
