Vanderbilt was 0-60 all-time in matchups in opposition to High 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 recreation. They fought again, however Vanderbilt stood tall and guarded their victory.
All through the sport, Alabama was simply unable to maintain Vanderbilt off the sphere. Quarterback Diego Pavia was 16-20 passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns. With underneath 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 an enormous upset in opposition to the No. 1 crew 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 12 months. This 12 months, they only proved that there’s no slouches within the SEC, and if you end up asleep on the wheel, you’re liable to be upset.
“I believe particularly it is talking to simply having the ability to reconnect with the eagerness I’ve for instructing and training. I am a instructor first, competitor second,” Lea mentioned earlier than the season. “So feeling like I’ve direct obligations over the play and the efficiency on the sphere, constructing belief with gamers by means of instructing 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 is just not precisely true for Vanderbilt. They have already got two losses within the younger season and would should be excellent to be named a High 12 crew within the nation by the tip of the season. Lea even admitted after the thrilling victory in opposition to Alabama that this is not the tip aim, however it’s actually the turning level.
However truthfully? Playoffs are inappropriate proper now. Any manner you spin it, this can be a huge win for a Vanderbilt program on the rise. Knocking off Alabama is rarely straightforward, however the retooling Commodores did the unthinkable in opposition to the No. 1 crew within the nation.
Put a little bit of respect on the Vanderbilt Commodores. They simply pulled off the most important victory within the historical past of their soccer program.