Staff Predictions: Vanderbilt Commodores

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​The Hammer:

Vandy's two leading tacklers on defense in 2005 were defensive backs and they lost them to graduation. Their top middle linebacker signed a free-agent deal with the Titans and their four year starter at Quarterback could very well replace Jake Plummer in Denver by the end of the year. The coaching staff is talking about running the triple option with a sophomore or redshirt freshman. What does that say about Arizona's 2005 starter who transferred to the school this year to start his graduate work?

On the bright side they might possibly have the SEC's top wide out in sophomore Earl Bennett who set an SEC reception record in '05 with 79. Did I mention they're thinking of running the triple option? Yikes.

In short, whether it's the triple option, or the passing game, it won't matter in Ann Arbor. Their defense will have their hands on their knees by halftime. We won't hit our stride until the third quarter but look for three straight scores from the Wolverines in that quarter to finish off Vanderbilt.

Offensive MVP: Steve Breaston

Defensive MVP: Chris Graham

Michigan 34, Vanderbilt 13

Johnny Cleveland: 

Setting up to be a typical home opener, a couple conservative drives establishing the run and throwing to the TE on third down. Look for 5 different Wolverines to score, with Henne throwing for two. Looks like 41 to 17 to me, with at least 10 of the 17 coming against the 2nd and 3rd team D. Best case scenario: we get a glimpse of the incoming Freshmen. Worse case: the weather is nice and we are back at the tailgate drinking by halftime. Either way, bring on the Chips cuz we are 1-0.

Offensive MVP: Kevin Grady

Defensive MVP: David Harris

Michigan 41, Vanderbilt 17

The Webmaster:

For the last nine months, the players have lived with the stigma of being labeled as the worst Michigan team in twenty years. They've heard it from the media, felt it from the fans, and seen it in the eyes of their classmates. Nine months of "coach-on-a-hot-seat" talk. Nine months of reliving lost 4th quarter leads. Nine months....and they could do nothing about it...until now.

Unfortunately for the Commodores, they will feel the frustration of 2005 from the kickoff THROUGH THE FOURTH QUARTER.

Offensive MVP: Chad Henne

Defensive MVP: David Harris

Michgan 45, Vanderbilt 3

The XBox 360: 

Michigan 34, Vanderbilt 7

You've Gone and Done It Now!

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by Tuba​

They said it just for me. They knew I had just turned on the tv, I know they did. I can accept criticism but I can not accept a lack of respect. Whether it puts the University of Michigan in a better position by being disrespected, if that's what it takes to get motivated...well I guess I can accept that. But you should never need motivation to play the game of football. You should never need motivation to knock the head off of your opponent. And you should never let people disrespect you. If they do...KNOCK THEIR HEAD OFF! My friends, I have been disrespected...


These sons of bitches on the tv have just uttered that Notre Dames' two toughest games in September will be @ Georgia Tech and @ Michigan State. In a little game that ESPN likes to play called "fact or fiction," both Lee Corso and Herb Alpert stated that Notre Dame will still be in the National Championship hunt after the month of September. I have no problem with that my friends, but to then qualify this by saying their two toughest games will be on the road?! 'Dem are fightin' words right there son!

I swear every year I say "I haven't felt like this since '97." (I'm sure that's not really true seeing that we had John Navarre at quarterback for four years but...) Regardless, I am in true form this year my friends. In March of 1998 I was talking trash to Ohio State hockey fans...In August of 2006, there is no cap on how far I will go. And seeing as there are only three days left in August we are all fairly safe. But I will not accept being disrespected. I will not tolerate a lack of passion for this team. I will not accept pesimism this year. We have the same caveat as to every title contender...If we stay healthy...we won't lose.

Now I've gone and done it haven't I! This talk disturbs some I know, but I'm mad damn it and I'm not going to take it any more. And neither should any of you. Do your part to represent your team. Leave it on the field. I don't want to see another post about the lack of heart of the Michigan fans. It starts here. It starts now. Do the damn thing!

Know Your Foe: Vanderbilt

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​Less than three days before Michigan takes the field in an attempt to get their 850th all-time victory, which is, of course, a record. Ann Arbor will welcome the SEC into the city limits for the first time since a 1980 visit by South Carolina. As you well know, Michigan is no stranger to the teams of the SEC, as the Big Ten-SEC bowl contracts seem to arrange for a holiday matchup nearly every year. Simply put, if you are in the Big Ten and you don't make the BCS, chances are you'll be staring across the field at an SEC opponent. Come to think of it, sometimes you'll see the SEC even when you are in the BCS.

This will be the 28th time that Michigan has faced an SEC opponent, and the 11th time they have faced Vanderbilt, compiling a 21-5-1 and 9-0-1 record respectively. The Wolverines last squared off against the Commodores in the 1969 season opener...the first game for Michigan under Bo Schembechler, in a season that would see round one of Woody vs. Bo.

The University

The Long Past:

  • Vanderbilt is 538-526-50 all time.

  • Vanderbilt was 352-140-31 through 1950. That's right, a pre-WWII powerhouse. However...

  • With a 186-386-19 record since 1950, Vanderbilt finds itself dead last in winning percentage in all of college football for that period.

  • Last winning season was in 1982

  • Most wins in a season: 9 (1904, 1915)

The Recent past

  • Finished 2005 with a 5-6 record

  • Had big wins at Tennessee and at Arkansas, though Tennessee and Arkansas both had horrible years.

  • Had an embarrassing loss to Middle Tennessee State

  • Lost QB Jake Cutler in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft

Player to watch:

  • Sophomore WR Earl Bennett
    • Freshman Team All-American in 2005

    • Preseason all-SEC

    • Preseason Biletnikoff Candidate

    • 42 catches for 545 yards and 9 touchdowns in the final five games of 2005.

Fun Facts:

  • Vanderbilt's head coach from 1995-2001 was Woody Widenhofer, who grew up in Riverview, Michigan and was childhood friends with Lloyd Carr and Bill McCartney.

  • Vandy QB Richard Kovalcheck and Michigan QB Jason Forcier played for the same high school in San Diego.

On the Line:

  • Michigan's 7-game home opening winning streak. Last loss in a home opener came at the hands of McNabb's Orangemen back in 1998.

  • Michigan's two-game losing streak, their last win coming against Indiana on November 12th. Hurts, doesn't it?

  • Michigan's 28-2 home record under Coach Carr in the month of September.

  • Michigan's home streak of 193 games with 100,000 or more fans in attendance.

  • Lloyd's job?

  • My sanity

The $400 Magic 8-Ball

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​You don't need season preview mags, Corso or Herbstreit or Mark May. You don't need The Wolverine Football Season Preview in all of its glossy glory. You don't need websites or weblogs or monkeys throwing darts. Everything you need to get an accurate gaze into the future is right there in your living room, right under your TV. It's sleek, it's off-white, it has cool glowing green lights, and it sends millions of pixels of HD glory right to your idiot box. It's the XBox 360. Not an early adopter? All it takes is 399 bucks and a dream...oh and another 60 for EA Sports NCAA Football 2007.

Since UMTailgate.com first took flight, I've been taking the simulated season and posting the results before the first game. It started with the Playstation 2, went to the XBox, and now it is as advanced as it has ever been on the XBox 360. Fun? Perhaps. Accurate? Rarely. Waste of time for you and me? Absolutely.

As with previous years, I will give you the full season overview now, and drop the individual game scores on a week-to-week basis:

The Michigan Wolverines finish 9-4, 6-2 in the Big Ten. That alone should clue you in to some obvious outcomes. The final Big Ten standings look like this:

  1. Minnesota

  2. Penn State

  3. Michigan

  4. Ohio State

  5. Wisconsin

  6. Iowa

  7. Purdue

  8. Illinois

  9. Indiana

  10. Michigan State

  11. Northwestern

The final AP poll looks like this (and keep in mind I removed Rhett Bomar from the Sooners)

  1. Oklahoma

  2. West Virginia

  3. Louisville

  4. Auburn

  5. Texas

  6. Nebraska

  7. Florida

  8. Notre Dame

  9. Virginia Tech

  10. Utah

The BCS Bowls plus Big Ten Bowl appearances look like this:

  • Champs Sports Bowl: Iowa vs. Virginia Tech

  • Alamo Bowl: Kansas State vs. Wisconsin

  • Outback Bowl: Tennessee vs. Ohio State

  • Capital One Bowl: Florida vs. Penn State

  • Rose Bowl: Minnesota vs. USC

  • Orange Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. West Virginia

  • Sugar Bowl: Louisville vs. Michigan

  • Fiesta Bowl: Nebraska vs. Utah

  • BCS National Championship: Auburn vs. Oklahoma

The Heisman Trophy goes to RB Kenny Irons of Auburn.

Individual accolades for Wolverines:


  • First Team All-American: Alan Branch

  • Second Team All-American: Steve Breaston

  • Steve Breaston finishes 5th in Heisman voting

  • First Team All-Big Ten selections:
    • Alan Branch

    • Mark Bihl

    • Jake Long

    • Mike Hart

    • Morgan Trent

    • Prescott Burgess

    • Steve Breaston

    • Tim Jamison

    • Willis Barringer
  • Second Team All Big Ten
    • Adam Kraus

    • Chad Henne

    • Garret Rivas

Interesting that we have a couple of All-Big Ten selections that are not currently listed as starters. Can you live with 9-4 and a BCS Bowl game?

Amendments to Tailgate Constitution

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by Johnny Cleveland​

Nice job Franky, but you made some serious omissions. You get a pass since it's game week #1 and I'm sure your nervous, but it would be unjust to not include the following amendments and add ons. Tailgaters, remember it is your duty to help continue making Umtailgate the fastest growing and winningest tailgate of all time, so follow the rules laid out for you in these posts. All amendments are after the jump so continue reading!

#1A. Bring Something/Someone

Another very plausible thing to bring is good looking, preferably single girls to diversify the group. As you know Michigan is known for its football tradition, not its eye candy, so helping some of us out here is greatly appeciated. For an example of the type of chick preferred see Mellisamidwest.com (adult only site, so married guys wait till after the girls are in bed, T & Goody especially).

#2 Eat Something 

This is essential, however make sure you eat a reasonable share, nobody likes a tailgate pig, especially if you didn't adhere to rule #1.

#3 Drink Something

Unless you are the driver, or under age, or meet the mellisamidwest criteria, what else are you coming for?? The Game, yeah right.

#4 Hug the Godfather

Make sure you warn new members that he just likes to hug a lot and he is not a pervert, there has been some confusion/gray area around this before.

#5 Respect the Hall

NUFF SAID

#6 Learn to Love

This message needs to be spread to others when we go on the road, so follow the golden rule at all times. Even if we do play the fight song a little loudly. (See Wisconsin 2005.)

#7 Learn to Hate

I don't think we need to hate anybody, its just a game between teenage boys that we use for an excuse to party, Hate is a waste of party time, get over it. Plus this season we will whip both aforementioned asses.

#8 Go to the Game

Being that I have never missed a kickoff I would normally agree, however exceptions include extreme heat/cold, shitty opponent, or if a lot of people adhere to rule 1A and you can stay at the tailgate with good company and booze.

#9 Go to an away game 

A must for the true fan/tailgater, I suggest first timers avoid this year's funsuckers that are minnesota and ohio state.

#10 Ask Goody About his tatoos. 

Goody you still have time to eliminate these mistakes. Go to Wreckingbalm.com.

#11 Follow the Theme 

It is a good idea sometimes, hopefully everyone dresses like Charlie the Tuna for week 2.

See you all Saturday!!!