Vanderbilt Things and Other Auburn Connections
Auburn is coming off a loss. Vandy is coming off a loss quite possibly the dumbest win of all time, and that’s saying a lot considering that Michigan/Western Michigan thing happened this season. Anyway, Auburn and Vandy have a lot of history. Let’s look at some of the quirkier things.
⚓ Vanderbilt Things
📯 They have a giant ship horn called “The Admiral.”
It’s been sitting above the stadium press box since 1993 and blasts when Vanderbilt takes the field, on third downs, and after Commodore scores. Which I’m sure they had to dust it off when Pavia showed up.
⚓ They literally “drop the anchor” before games.
Vanderbilt carries a huge anchor onto the field and selects someone to drop it at midfield before kickoff. The anchor became a football symbol in 2004 and even travels with the team. Nothing says progress and getting out of the shadows like setting an anchor.
🐶 A Vanderbilt basset hound once chased Tennessee’s mascot out of the stadium.
In 1964, Vanderibilt had a dog for a mascot named George. During the Tennessee game, it took off after the Vols’ former mascot, a horse, and chased it off the field. Apparently colleges in Tennessee don’t know how mascots work. Commodore? Dog. Volunteer? Horse, and now a dog.
🏟️ Vanderbilt built the first football stadium in the South.
Dudley Field opened in 1922 and is credited by Vanderbilt as the first stadium in the South built specifically for college football. So yes, Vandy can say the “we were doing this before you” card. And then you say “What? Sucking at football?”
🚢 They’re named after an actual Commodore who wasn’t really a Commodore.
Cornelius Vanderbilt got the nickname from his shipping empire, and the school eventually adopted it. So their entire athletic identity basically comes from one extremely rich guy owning a lot of boats. That feels like an Alabama-level of stretching the truth.
🐅 Auburn Connections
📊 Vanderbilt leads the all-time series.
Auburn led the series 22-21-1 entering the 2024 meeting. Two straight Vanderbilt wins since then have flipped it to 23-22-1 Vanderbilt. It’s not right.
🧱 Vandy nearly spoiled Terry Bowden’s perfect 1993 season.
Auburn escaped Nashville 14-10 after stopping Vanderbilt three straight times from the 1-yard line in the 4th quarter. That 1993 team went on to finish 11-0, so Vandy came within inches of ruining one of Auburn’s greatest seasons. Probation be damned.
🏠 Vanderbilt has a player literally from Auburn.
Freshman kicker/punter Joe Daniel is from Auburn, Alabama, and played at Auburn High School before heading to Nashville. Continuing Auburn High’s tradition of sending players to anywhere but Auburn.
🤦 Vanderbilt beat Alabama and Auburn in the same season in 2024.
The Commodores’ 2024 win at Jordan-Hare completed their first season beating both Alabama and Auburn since 1955. It’s so embarrassing that they beat Alabama.
🔄 Auburn and Vanderbilt basically traded basketball players this offseason.
Auburn signed George Kimble III after his season at Vanderbilt, while Vanderbilt added Sebastian Williams-Adams after his freshman season at Auburn.
