The 1974 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University in the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. The Commodores scored 313 points while allowing 199 points.[1] Led by head coach Steve Sloan, the Commodores had their best record since 1955 and appeared in the school's second bowl game. Vanderbilt did not return to a bowl game until 1982.
Vanderbilt defeated Florida, Ole Miss, Tulane, Louisville, Army, Chattanooga, and the Virginia Military Institute.[2] Vanderbilt lost to Kentucky, Georgia, and Alabama. Vanderbilt's final two games ended in ties: the regular season finale against rival Tennessee and the 1974 Peach Bowl against Texas Tech.[3] Vanderbilt's final record was 7–3–2 (2–3–1 in the SEC).[4] After the season, head coach Steve Sloan left Vanderbilt to become head coach at Texas Tech, the team Vanderbilt had faced in the Peach Bowl to close the season.
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 14 | Chattanooga* | | | W 28–6 | 19,900 | [5] |
| September 21 | VMI* | - Dudley Field
- Nashville, TN
| | W 45–7 | 16,500 | [6] |
| September 28 | at No. 4 Alabama | | | L 10–23 | 58,419 | [7][8] |
| October 12 | No. 8 Florida | - Dudley Field
- Nashville, TN
| | W 24–10 | 25,800 | [9] |
| October 19 | at Georgia | | | L 31–38 | 51,100 | [10] |
| October 26 | Ole Miss | - Dudley Field
- Nashville, TN (rivalry)
| | W 24–14 | 30,875 | [11] |
| November 2 | at Army* | | | W 38–14 | 30,109 | [12] |
| November 9 | at Kentucky | | | L 12–38 | 56,000 | [13] |
| November 16 | Tulane* | - Dudley Field
- Nashville, TN
| | W 30–22 | 15,000 | [14] |
| November 23 | at Louisville* | | | W 44–0 | 8,936 | [15] |
| November 30 | Tennessee | - Dudley Field
- Nashville, TN (rivalry)
| | T 21–21 | 35,300 | [16] |
| December 28 | vs. Texas Tech* | | ABC | T 6–6 | 31,695 | [17] |
- *Non-conference game
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
|
[18][19]
Team players drafted into the NFL
[20]
References
- ^ "1974 Vanderbilt game by game results". Archived from the original on September 17, 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
- ^ "1974 Vanderbilt game by game results". Archived from the original on September 17, 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
- ^ "1974 Vanderbilt game by game results". Archived from the original on September 17, 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
- ^ "1974 Vanderbilt game by game results". Archived from the original on September 17, 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
- ^ "Nothing routine about VU's win". The Tennessean. September 15, 1974. Retrieved September 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Vandy runs over VMI". The Sun Herald. September 22, 1974. Retrieved February 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Martin, Steve (September 29, 1974). "Vandy proves it can play too". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 1A. Retrieved July 5, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
- ^ Johnson, Randy (September 29, 1974). "Alabama passing is key factor in 23–10 victory over Vandy". The Gadsden Times. p. 37. Retrieved July 5, 2014 – via Google News Archives.
- ^ "Vanderbilt upsets Gators". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. October 13, 1974. Retrieved October 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Vandy falls to Bulldogs". Bristol Herald Courier. October 20, 1974. Retrieved October 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Vandy decks Rebels 24–14". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. October 27, 1974. Retrieved October 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "O'Rourke keys Vandy past Army by 38–14". The Courier-Journal. November 3, 1974. Retrieved October 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Kentucky pops Vandy". The Sunday Express-News. November 10, 1974. Retrieved October 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Lee-to-Burton pass gives Vandy 30–22 victory". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. November 17, 1974. Retrieved October 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Vandy crushes Louisville". The Tampa Tribune. November 24, 1974. Retrieved October 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tennessee ties fumbling Vandy in final 7 seconds". The Courier-Journal. December 1, 1974. Retrieved May 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Vandy, Red Raiders battle to 6–6 stalemate in Peach Bowl". Valley Morning Star. December 29, 1974. Retrieved October 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "1974 Vanderbilt game by game results". Archived from the original on September 17, 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
- ^ 1974 Vanderbilt Commodores Schedule and Results
- ^ "1975 NFL Draft Listing | Pro-Football-Reference.com". Archived from the original on May 31, 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
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National championships in bold |