Vandy football player sees parallels between UK, Commodore programs
November 10th, 2009 | 
Author: By LARRY VAUGHT
Vanderbilt senior center Bradley Vierling can see parallels between what the Kentucky football program has done by winning three straight bowl games with what Vanderbilt did last season when it went to a bowl game for the first time in 26 years.
“I think Kentucky has always been known as a basketball school and the football program has come a long way. With us we have always been the whipping boy of the SEC and people don’t look at us that way any more. It has taken a lot of hard work for us both to get where we are,” Vierling said.
He thinks that is partially why the Kentucky-Vanderbilt game has become such an intense rivalry in recent years and should be again Saturday even though the Commodores have a disappointing 2-6 record.
“We have great battles with Kentucky every year. I think that’s because most every time we play Kentucky we have five wins and are trying to get sixth win or it is the same with them. I think that competition to get to a bowl game has really pushed both of us to compete hard against each other most years,” the Vandy center said.
Vanderbilt beat Kentucky 31-24 in Lexington last year to make itself bowl eligible, a game Vierling remembers well.
“I remember last year was huge victory for us. It was our sixth win and even in that cold, awful weather it was great,” he said. “We all felt a huge monkey come off our back. It was a tremendous change for us after 26 years without a bowl.
“We pounded the ball right down their throat. They didn’t have the ball much. We controlled the tempo the whole game. They hurt us with special teams. It was one of the more fun games I ever played in because we always compete so hard against one another. It’s a good rivalry, and it was even better last year because we won.”
Now Kentucky wants to return the favor.
“They flat whipped us last year,” UK defensive tackle Corey Peters said. “They have about the same offensive line back that just killed us. You can’t look at this game as revenge, but you can say we remember what they did to us last year and we don’t want it to happen again.”
Posted in UK Football
“WE POUNDED THE BALL RIGHT DOWN THEIR THROAT”. Is Rich on the phone to the print shop to have posters of that gem made up for the locker room? If he doesn’t, I will. That is what you call a classic MOTIVATIONAL statement.
GO BIG BLUE!!!!
Last year’s Vandy game was decided by the refs, that late hit penalty to keep their drive alive was a bad call, let’s hope this year’s game isn’t close enough to have some crappy call influence it. I would also still like to see the defense come out in a 4-3 and stop laying back in the nickel, but that isn’t going to happen. GO CATS!
This years Vandy team has suffered some set-backs and are 2-6 and that in itself makes them a very dangerous opponent for UK to beat this Saturday. They have nothing to lose but to make this game their bowl game. Because they will not go to a bowl this year, they probably have the mindset that if they can’t go, neither will you. UK has to attack and dominate the offensive line and the defensive line, too. Mississippi State proved that a team with a good back can ram the ball down our throats and we can’t stop them. We have to stop their running game in order to win this game.
Matt I had forgot those calls, but went back and looked and you are right. And Jim that was a pretty strong comment for a guy to make
Also agree that Vandy would love to ruin UK’s season as well. Game the Cats have to smack the Commodores around from the start