Vanderbilt was 0-60 all-time in matchups in opposition to Prime 5 groups. The Vanderbilt Commodores haven’t defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide since 1984.
That’s now 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 below 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 once they wanted it most.
Vanderbilt soccer has perception. They beat Virginia Tech earlier this season, and now they’ve pulled off a large upset in opposition to the No. 1 workforce in school soccer. Simply final week, they took No. 9-ranked Missouri to additional time. The Commodores are demanding respect, particularly in opposition to 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 only 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 with the ability to reconnect with the eagerness I’ve for educating and training. I am a instructor 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 via educating them and serving to them to play the sport at a better stage. All these issues are energizing to me.”
This victory will undoubtedly knock the Crimson Tide out of their No. 1 spot in school soccer. At 4-1, Alabama continues to be very more likely to make the School Soccer Playoffs regardless of the embarrassing loss. The identical 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 workforce within the nation by the top of the season. Lea even admitted after the thrilling victory in opposition to Alabama that this is not the top objective, however it’s definitely the turning level.
However actually? Playoffs are inappropriate proper now. Any manner you spin it, this can be a large win for a Vanderbilt program on the rise. Knocking off Alabama is rarely simple, however the retooling Commodores did the unthinkable in opposition to the No. 1 workforce within the nation.
Put a little bit of respect on the Vanderbilt Commodores. They simply pulled off the largest victory within the historical past of their soccer program.