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QB battle brewing at Vandy

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Vanderbilt's quarterback situation might boil down to a healthy Chris Nickson battling a now-experienced Mackenzi Adams. The two, along with Jared Funk and Larry Smith, will battle over the next three weeks to lead the first offensive unit in the Aug. 28 season opener at Miami in Oxford, Ohio. Although the dilemma was one Vanderbilt Coach Bobby Johnson would have preferred to avoid last season, the result has put Vanderbilt in a pretty good position this spring, with two experienced quarterbacks to consider as potential starters.

Tennessean

Bobby Johnson , Scott Halleran/Getty Images Bobby Johnson , Scott Halleran/Getty Images
March 12, 2008  12:56 PM ET

QB battle and Vandy should be an oxymoron because no matter who the QB is, Vandy will finish at the bottom of the SEC East (again).

March 12, 2008  01:45 PM ET

A word to the wise: Don't try the QB shuffle like UT tried a few years back. That was the worst decision Fulmer ever made.

March 12, 2008  02:41 PM ET

A word to the wise: Don't try the QB shuffle like UT tried a few years back. That was the worst decision Fulmer ever made.
c note | 03/12/08, 01:45 PM

I'm impressed that you could actually find "a worst decision" made by Fulmer. He has made quite a few in the last three years. TN has some of the best talent in the nation, but they don't seem to get the most out of their guys.

March 12, 2008  02:49 PM ET

That was a terrible decision on Fulmer's part. Of course that led to Brent Schaeffer running to the exit. If he choose Florida over Ole Miss, I'm sure his career would have ended better.

March 12, 2008  02:50 PM ET

Fulmer also screwed over CJ Leak which led to Chris Leak running to Florida. Damn, C Note. You're good. I didn't even think about Fulmer and those mistakes he made.

March 12, 2008  03:15 PM ET

I call that one the worst because they were ranked as high as third in the nation before the shuffle upset two good quarterbacks and led the Vols to miss the Bowl games for the first time in over a decade.
Also the talent pool at UT is not what it used to be. This year they missed being in the Top 20 for recruiting.

March 12, 2008  03:18 PM ET

Yeah the CJ Leak decision continues to hurt seeing as how he is now on Florida's coaching staff. I never really thought that much of Chris Leak. He was good but I thought Ainge was better. Ainge will have a better pro career at least but Leak did bring Florida a championship.
Schaeffer would be a great spread offense QB in Meyer's system but they got Tebow who seems to be doing a good job of his own.

March 12, 2008  08:59 PM ET

lets look on the basketball side and say Vandy's got a chance!

March 12, 2008  11:34 PM ET

They're awesome, baby

Vitale

March 13, 2008  12:14 AM ET

I don't think the surprise is that Vandy has a QB battle on its hands... The surprise is... That anyone outside of Vandy actually noticed... Good for them

March 13, 2008  05:40 PM ET

Who cares? But Jay Cutler is pretty good. I might watch my own mouth before speaking out too much. But it is an outstanding academic school. I am very impressed with that. There basketball team is respectable, but that old pigskin crew, I would play my Youth Football Team against them and be competitive.

March 14, 2008  11:59 AM ET

OK guys, now I know you probably have never even seen a Vandy game in your lives, but as someone who actually watches football teams before commenting on them, they really are a team on the rise. Not saying they will win an SEC title anytime soon, but they have a very young, stout defense, and if Larry Smith wins the QB battle they are going to improve dramatically on offense (even with the loss of the number one WR). Larry only lost two games in his 40+ games as a starter in high school, is a very mobile and accurate QB, a great leader, and to boot is one of the smartest guys you could be around (which is why he chose Vandy and not a bigger SEC school). --
Now Hova, not that it had any bearing on this topic, but do you really think that Schaeffer 's career would have ended better by being the number 3 QB at Florida and never seeing the field? That kid was never as advertised, never really improved, and never was going to be a consistant starter on any team.Trust me, any coach in America would have played Ainge over Schaeffer.

March 14, 2008  03:42 PM ET

That is a harsh comment to make about Schaeffer, whom was all world coming out of high school in Florida, who was compared to having Mike Vick type attributes, but you are prepared to tell me about Larry Smith, all world high school QB, whom is going to lead Vandy to the promise land. It is one thing to win the State title, in high school and be a leader on that level, it is another thing to do it in college, where everyone is maturing at the same time. The talent level gets better, he is playing against various talent across the country, as opposed to the high school state level competition. I didn't know Schaeffer would end up the way it has turned out, but I wouldn't jinx your boy Smith, before he starts his career. Things do happen.

March 17, 2008  12:59 PM ET

I don't recall saying he (Larry Smith) would lead them to the promise land. I do however recall saying that he would "improve" their offense, which is a statement I will stand by. You're right you never can tell what is going to happen, but Schaeffer had his chance and did nothing with it. I guess at this point I am just questioning which part of my post you felt was inaccurate?

 
March 18, 2008  10:27 PM ET

There was nothing inaccurate; I felt that it was premature to cast 40+ game shadow over your boy Larry Smith. To give an example would be Notre Dame. I mean, I love ND, but I didn't think that Jimmy would come in and resurrect the program from the ashes; Good Kid, hopefully he lives up to the hype, I believe he didn't lose a game as a starter at the high school level. Michigan, Purdue, USC, shoot Navy didn't care as they were stomping a mud hole thru his offense line throughout the season. I also agree with you about Schaeffer, but who new. The promise land quote that is in implied; based on the stout defense concept. I mean, offense wins games, but defenses win National Championships or SEC Championships. I do pull for the Cinderalla Team and I have watched Vanderbilt on various occassions.

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