Vanderbilt has an excellent opportunity on Saturday to truly announce they have arrived as a program under Clark Lea.

While the Commodores won five games in 2022, three of those were against Group of 5 and FCS-level schools. Outside of their two wins against Kentucky and Florida, the only other one-score game they competed in against SEC competition was a loss to Missouri.

This year has been different.

Not only has Vanderbilt upset Alabama when they were the No. 1 team in the country, but they also took Missouri to overtime and lost by three points to Texas.

They have competed in this conference for the first time in a while, but the true test for them will be against Tennessee, their in-state rival who has completely owned them during the last five matchups.

Vanderbilt has already locked up their bowl berth, so when it comes to furthering the results for this season, the game doesn’t really matter, but everyone inside and outside of this program knows what it would mean to take down Tennessee, especially with the added motivation of them potentially being able to end their College Football Playoff dreams.

For the Commodores to have a chance, early-down success rate is key.

When they’ve been able to set up short down-and-distance situations, this offense has thrived, but when they haven’t, like during the past two games, they have struggled.

“Vanderbilt’s offensive success is entirely dependent on its early-down running game. If running back Sedrick Alexander and quarterback Diego Pavia can consistently churn out gains of four or five yards, offensive coordinator Tim Beck can dig deep into his bag of tricks … If the Commodores fall into 2nd-and-long and 3rd-and-long situations, however, they become predictable and easy to defend,” explains Henry Oelhafen and Adam Burns of The Vanderbilt Hustler.

It’s not going to be easy for them to accomplish their goal of getting ahead of the chains, though.

Tennessee enters this contest allowing just 2.78 yards per carry and less than 100 for the game, so it’s going to take patience and resilience for Vanderbilt to keep trusting the rushing attack in hopes that it eventually breaks things open.

If they can find some cracks in the armor of the Volunteers in early-down situations so they are in favorable offensive setups, then that will keep the Commodores in a position to pull off another upset.

If not, the misery against Tennessee will likely continue.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Actor Gary Sinise spent part of his Thanksgiving week serving meals to troops in Tennessee.

The ‘Forrest Gump’ actor’s foundation provided a Thanksgiving lunch from Mission BBQ to guardsmen at the Tennessee National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters in Nashville on Monday. Sinise himself was on hand to serve up the barbeque in person.

Tennessee Serves, an initiative of first lady Maria Lee’s, also pitched in for Monday’s holiday event.

The Tennessee National Guard celebrated 250 years of service earlier this year. It was back in 1774 – before Tennessee was even a state – when the royal governor of Virginia sought to defend his state’s frontier from raids by Native Americans. 

That’s when Capt. Evan Shelby mobilized a volunteer militia in the Watauga settlement – territory that eventually became part of the “Volunteer State.”

Governor Bill Lee, his wife Maria, and Gary Sinise thank the Tennessee National Guard. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. Landon Evans)

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What is the Gary Sinise Foundation?

The actor’s outreach to veterans is well documented. He founded the Gary Sinise Foundation in 2010 in an effort to improve the lives of the country’s servicemembers.

The foundation donates everything from meals to suits to vacations and even new homes – all for free – to veterans and first responders around the country. And his “Lt. Dan Band,” named for his famous Forrest Gump character, performs at military installations across the country.

JACKSON, Tenn.– If you are planning on hitting the road for Thanksgiving travel, for Thursday and the holiday weekend, here’s what you should know.

AAA has estimated that 71. 7 million Americans are taking a road trip for Thanksgiving.

Of those millions, 570,000  may experience some car trouble.
Some of the most common calls received from Triple A are flat tires, dead batteries, and lock out of their car.

For West Tennessee drivers, Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT)  has stopped all construction from now until 6 in the morning December 2.

Gas prices across the state are lower with an average price being $2.69 this is lower compared to years prior.

While the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) takes a halt in construction, the Tennessee Highway Patrol is working hard to keep drivers safe this holiday season.

The THP  says its Tennessee safe travel challenge is set for today and Sunday December 1.

This is to make sure that drivers are following the rules of the road.

State troopers say will be focusing their attention on Interstate 40.

They are urging that drivers buckle up and drive the designated speed limit to their destinations.

If you notice any unsafe driving call the Tennessee Highway Patrol at star 847.

Troopers also encourage everyone to avoid distractions while driving.