iTunes Pick of the Day - Pearl Jam

by Barca Blog

I just watched Pearl Jam perform their latest single "Just Breathe" on Saturday Night Live.

It was one of the best moments on the show this season (sad but true, especially considering it wasn't even a skit).

You can find the track on their 2009 album titled Backspacer. Sample it below (footage from Austin City Limits):

Music City Bowl Rings

by Barca Blog - Click the above image to get your first look at the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl championship rings, which were awarded to the Commodores during today's Awards Banquet at the Cool Springs Embassy Suite. For more photos plus a complete recap, click here.

Video: Music City Bowl Ceremony

By Barca Blog - If you weren't able to attend the basketball game last night, then watch the video below of the halftime ceremony honoring the 2008 Music City Bowl Champions. I'm already fired up about next season.

The Battle to Find the Perfect Workout Song Rages in McGugin

Officially powering the 2009 McGugin's Biggest Loser Competition

Posted by Eric Jones

Before getting into just how powerful of an influence the band Survivor has on this year's contest, an update. Team Gold has lost 72.5 lbs (1.877% of initial team body weight) over the competition's first four weeks. That is just a slim half pound more than Team Black, who weighed in heavier and has therefore lost 1.711% of their team body weight. As each team tries to adopt subtle tactics to tempt the opposition into falling head first into a vat of cake batter, it has been enjoyable to watch the two teams take various approaches to getting and staying active. Be it just taking the steps more often or walking to lunch (so as not to lose a parking space in the McGugin Lot), I have witnessed a common theme. Music.

Take Brett Wulke, an intern working in Operations, who is training for the Music City Marathon. By using a mix of including the Rocky Story compilation soundtrack featuring the Rocky Training Montage, to Linkin Park with Jay-Z, The Kiss on the Last of the Mohicans soundtrack while sprinkling in Your the Best from the Karate Kid soundtrack, Brett has been able to shed a Team Gold best 13 lbs. Team Gold teammate Jessica Siegel (Ticket Office) puts a method to her workout soundtrack including Britney Spears' Circus ("Britney looks the way I want to look"), Lose Yourself by Eminem ("Great song to spin on the exercise bike"), and We Built This City by Starship ("You just have to love the '80's,"). Even Brandon Barca (Web Guru) admitted the secret to losing some pre-wedding weight(coming up in seven days) for Team Gold was grounded in Survivor's workout anthem from Rocky III, Eye of the Tiger.

Team Black features a very eclectic mix of workout fanatics. Heather Warf (Business Office) believes in balancing her decades: Journey and Bon Jovi ('80's), Hootie and the Blowfish ('90's) and Lady Antebellum/Keith Urban ('00's). Teammate Jason Silvers (marketing) uses a harder edge: Cult of Personality by Living Colour, Click, Click, Boom by Saliva and Gasoline by Audioslave to name a few. "I like the consistent beat with a heavy song. Getting a little mad at the weights as you are lifting is a good thing." I didn't get to ask him whether his cool down music is the slow piano song at the end of the Incredible Hulk TV show from the '70's. After all, it always calmed down the Hulk.

Music isn't for everyone though. My own Team Black teammate, Vice Chancellor David Williams, enjoys an early morning workout on the treadmill. "There isn't much on at 6:00 or 7:00 am, so I just turn on the TV and start walking. If I can watch West Wing, I really like that, but you never know what you find. This morning it was Sister, Sister. I get caught up in what I am watching and before I know it, I've been going at it an hour."

My own personal favorites for watching the calories whisk off on the treadmill are as follows:

Anvil of Crom - Arnold, Sountrack of Arnold Swarzeneggar movies - Just try it once....

Right Now - Van Halen. Remember the Crystal Pepsi commercial? Horrible product, great song!
Hollywood Nights - Bob Segar. Just try to slow your pace, it's impossible.

Runaway - Bon Jovi. Be careful not to get your mullet caught in your iPod headphones.

Let's Go Crazy - Prince. How many calories does he burn onstage?!

Are You Gonna Go My Way - Lenny Kravitz. It helps to whip your dreadlocks to the music.

Can't Stop Till You Get Enough - Michael Jackson. Okay, pretend you are at the skate rink.

My thanks to Coke and Smart Water for sponsoring the contest. Until next time...

Definitely Good Enough

Thank you Cyndi Lauper for combining two of the greatest things from the 80's -- The Goonies and WWF -- into one spectacular music video that has stood the test of time.

My only complaint is that Chunk and Data should have gotten more air time. Would a "truffle shuffle" have been too much to ask for??

And I'm sure Corey Feldman ("Mouth") is on the horn with his agent about getting another Goonies movie done. I mean, he deserves it after giving a riveting performance in the Lost Boys sequel that surprisingly didn't win him an Oscar nomination (what a travesty).

Also, see if you can name all the former wrestling stars in the clip (led by Captain Lou Albano).

Finally, at the 6:55 mark you'll see why Steven Spielberg stuck to producing and directing rather than acting. Good call, Spielberg.

More Music City Bowl Highlights

I could watch these clips over and over and over again. They just never get old.

Music City Bowl Desktop Wallpaper

Download new desktop wallpaper celebrating the Commodores' 16-14 win over Boston College in the 2008 Music City Bowl. Click Here!

Pre-Order March to Music City DVD

Vanderbilt's first bowl victory in 53 years capped off a historic season for Head Coach Bobby Johnson and the Commodores! Re-live the magical moments from the 2008 season including the 5-0 start, national ranking, ESPN College Game Day on campus, and the thrilling win over Boston College in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl. Catch exclusive interviews, behind the scenes footage, game highlights, radio calls, and bowl events of this memorable season. "March to Music City" is a keepsake for all Vanderbilt fans....Go Dores!

CLICK HERE to pre-order your copy now. Starts shipping in late January 2009!

Remembering Music City Bowl Magic

Stop whatever you're doing and watch this five-minute video courtesy of Vanderbilt News Service Video Productions.

They did a wonderful job of chronicling just what the Music City Bowl victory meant to us all.

What a day it was!

Enjoy!

Richardson relishes moment

Freshman Sean Richardson scored Vanderbilt's only touchdown of the Music City Bowl, a serendipitous play that will forever live in the chapters of Commodore history.

With Vanderbilt trailing 7-6 in the third quarter, Brett Upson's punt bounced off the knee of Boston College's Paul Anderson, causing a scramble for the ball that ended with Richardson getting his first collegiate touchdown.

“It was a great moment,” Richardson told the Demopolis Times. “I just knew it was a touchdown because I saw the ball hit the opponent. As the referees were going over what really happened, I heard them say ‘touchdown.’”

Richardson was one of three true freshmen to see action this season (along with Casey Hayward and John Cole). He played second team strong safety in every game and also contributed on special teams, earning Specialist of the Week honors following Florida and Kentucky games for effort on coverage units.

Richardson should compete for the starting strong safety job in the spring with the graduation of Reshard Langford.

Read more on Richardson in today's edition of the Demopolis Times.

More Bowl Reaction

Thanks to some footage provided by Vanderbilt News Service Video Productions, we have some on-the-field reaction from head coach Bobby Johnson, wide receiver George Smith and tailback Gaston Miller following the Commodores' Music City Bowl victory.

Check out the video below:



Visit our Athletics YouTube page for more clips - Click Here

Replay of Bowl Game on CSS Right Now

If you have CSS, turn on the tube and watch a replay of Vanderbilt's exciting 16-14 win over Boston College. The broadcast started at 11:30 a.m. CT.

Oh, what a feeling

One of the special things about yesterday's game is that so many die-hard fans, who have waited a lifetime for a bowl victory, were finally rewarded.

Like Daniel Stockton.

I've known Daniel since I was hired at Vanderbilt in 2003. Through good times and bad, he's been a loyal supporter of the program and always had faith in the Commodores.

And I know there are more of you out there like him. Congratulations to all of you and thank you for supporting the best student-athletes in the country.

Daniel posted a video of the final minute of celebration from section 207 at LP Field. It will definitely give you chills.

If you have a fan video from the game, let me know, and I'll put it in the blog.

Music City Bowl Championship Gear

Celebrate the Commodores victory in the 2008 Music City Bowl with this short sleeve championship t-shirt.

CLICK HERE to order merchandise from the Vanderbilt Bookstore.

Sweet Victory!

After watching the previous video, it made me think of Spongebob's "Sweet Victory" song.

Amazing, simply amazing.

(Oh, Patrick's performance on the drums stands right up there with Keith Moon.)

Music City Bowl Video Highlights

Watch ESPN Gameday's highlights (below) of Vanderbilt's bowl win plus the crew talks about D.J. Moore's announcement to enter the NFL Draft.

Thursday's Bowl Articles

Read Thursday's news articles on Vanderbilt's victory over Boston College in the Music City Bowl.

The Tennessean
Hahnfeldt hits the kick
Vanderbilt hears musical cheers
VU finishes 2008 as a winner
Moore says he will go pro now
Freshman gives spark
VU benefited from late penalties
Music City Bowl report card

Nashville City Paper
Vanderbilt rallies for 16-14 victory
Special teams play a big part
Moore says he's headed to NFL
Quarterback combo works ... sort of

The Associated Press
Vanderbilt gets 1st bowl win

The Jackson Sun
Everything Vanderbilt-like
Lewis' INT seals historic win

The Leaf Chronicle
Kicker, punter made difference

Chattanooga Times Free Press
Vanderbilt makes a statement

The Champ is Here

Bowl Final: Vanderbilt 16, Boston College 14

Here are some postgame football links definitely worth checking out:

*John Russell's outstanding game photos of the Music City Bowl Champions - Click Here.

*Send a message to the team by submiting comments here.

*Schulz's column on the impact of Vanderbilt's special teams

*And plenty of free interviews and more inside the recap.

Notes on Boston College

Here are some tidbits from Boston College's game notes:

*Boston College owns the nation’s longest winning streak in bowl games with eight straight victories.

*Vanderbilt and Boston College have met twice, in 1962 and 1963, with BC taking both games.

*Head Coach Jeff Jagodzinski has an impressive 20-7 record in two season with the Eagles.

*BC scored a non-offensive touchdown (defense of special teams) in seven-straight games, which is the longest streak in the country this season. The Eagles accomplished this feat a total of eight times on the year, tied for the most in the nation.

*BC is among the least penalized teams in the country. BC’s 4.38 penalties per game ranks ninth in the nation and its 36.92 yards penalized per game is 10th.

*Boston College ranks sixth in the country in total defense (273.38) and red zone defense (.71) and seventh in rushing defense (92.2) and pass efficiency defense (98.71).

*Boston College has recorded an FBS-best three shutouts this year (tied with USC).

*BC also leads the nation with 36 turnovers gained.

*The Eagles have recorded 26 interceptions on the season, which leads the nation. It's also the third highest total in ACC history. Senior SS Paul Anderson and junior LB Mark Herzlich lead BC with six picks apiece.

*Herzlich was a finalist for the 2008 Butkus Award, given annually to the nation’s top linebacker. The Wayne, PA native leads the team with 105 tackles, 79 solo stops, seven pass break-ups, six interceptions, and a pair of forced fumbles.

*Seniors Ron Brace and B.J. Raji combine to form one of the top defensive tackle duos in the country. Brace has racked up 25 tackles on the year and has nine TFLs and three sacks. Raji has 37 tackles on the season and leads the team with 13 tackles for a loss for 69 yards and seven sacks. He also has four pass break-ups and three QB hurries.

*Redshirt freshman QB Dominique Davis is coming off of his first loss (to Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship) and will lead the BC offense in his third-career start. Davis replaced senior QB Chris Crane after Crane fractured his right collarbone at Wake Forest on November 22. Davis went 17-for-43 for 263 yards with two interceptions and a touchdown against Virginia Tech.

*The Eagles starting offensive line averages out at 6-5, 307 pounds.

*BC features two true freshmen at tailback. Montel Harris has recorded five 100-yard games and broke the freshman rushing record at Boston College vs. Maryland. Harris and Josh Haden are the second-most prolific true freshman running back pair in the country with an average of 105.9 yards per game.

* Senior WR Brandon Robinson leads the team with 606 receiving yards, a 46.6 per game average, and a 15.5 per catch average. He ranks fourth all-time in program history with 138 receptions.

Langford excited about final game

Twenty-one Commodores will suit up for the final time in today’s Music City Bowl matchup with Boston College (2:30 p.m. CT).

One of them will be fifth-year safety and co-captain Reshard Langford.

The Tanner, Ala., native has been a staple in the Commodores' lineup throughout his career, starting every game since he redshirted in 2004. Langford leads all active Vanderbilt position players with 47 consecutive starts and 237 career tackles. He was also named to the SEC Community Service team this year for his work as a mentor for inner city youth at the Martha O’Bryan Center.

Emotions were high for Langford after his final walk-through practice yesterday, knowing Wednesday would be his last game wearing the black and gold.

“I have a lot of excitement built up,” admitted Langford, “and I'm trying to keep my nerves together right now.”

Through all of the ups and downs, Langford will be a part of a Vanderbilt team that earned its first postseason appearance in 26 years. What better way to end a career than with a bowl victory, an accomplishment only one other Vanderbilt team (1955) can claim.

“We're trying to come out with a win, of course, to start something, start a tradition and get something going and keep building on this program that we've been turning around for years.

“It's my last time with these guys who've I've spent so much time with and working five years straight, just grinding it out with some great quality guys. I'm just excited to really go out and play this game.”