Commodore Time Machine - 1975

by Barca Blog - Today we’ll look back at the last time Vanderbilt played Rice in Houston.

The year was 1975. The media guide (pictured above) featured first-year head coach Fred Pancoast with senior safety Jay Chesley (7) and senior tight end Barry Burton (89) – both preseason All-Americans. The Commodores were coming off its second-ever postseason appearance, a 6-6 tie against Texas Tech in the Peach Bowl.

Vanderbilt headed into the Rice game looking to move to 2-0 after defeating Chattanooga, 17-7, in the opener. In front of 18,000 fans, senior kicker Mark Adams, who earned all-SEC honors in 1974, accounted for all of the Commodores’ points with three field goals… just enough to edge the Owls 9-6.

Adams, who also doubled as a linebacker, ended up playing a significant role in the ’Dores 7-4 season. In fact, his field goals provided the margin of victory in four of those wins.