by Leathers
Eugene Henderson, a counselor in the Office of Academic Support, presents the first honor – the Dr. Henry Tyler Award for outstanding academic achievement. And the winner recipient is senior linebacker and co-captain Patrick Benoist.
The Lifter of the Year Award goes to redshirt junior defensive tackle Adam Smotherman.
Top offensive and defensive scout honors go to offensive lineman Wesley Johnson and linebacker Marc Panu, respectively.
Freshman returner Warren Norman and senior Brett Upson shared the team's Specialist of the Year recognition.
Other Commodores earning special recognition were:
• Receiver of the Year Award – John Cole, redshirt freshman wide receiver
• Offensive Lineman Award – Bradley Vierling, redshirt senior center
• Defensive Lineman Award – T.J. Greenstone, redshirt sophomore tackle
• Linebacker Award – Chris Marve, redshirt sophomore
• Defensive Back Award – Casey Hayward, sophomore cornerback
Showing posts with label vierling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vierling. Show all posts
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Nice praise from a captain
by Barca Blog - So what is Bradley Vierling's assessment of the freshmen tailback trio of Warren Norman, Zac Stacy and Wesley Tate after their first week of practice at Vanderbilt."They're awesome," Vierling commented earlier this week. "Zac Stacy is really showing out. He can pick up blitzes, which to me that's more impressive than him running the ball for 15 yards. They're all doing great, but him imparticular, he's really, really doing well."
Nice praise indeed from the Commodores' two-time captain and senior center.
The freshmen backs have been one of several glaring positives in camp, displaying the ability to explode on any given carry during two scrimmages. All three should contend for playing time this season.
Vierling went on to say that Vanderbilt's o-line is focused on reducing the amount of sacks allowed this year (ranked ninth in the SEC with 26 in 2008), but also noted another tidbit of motivation for the front five.
"Personally, I think we want a 1,000-yard rusher, just one of them," Vierling added. "I know we're going to have a lot of different guys running the ball but I want one legitimate 1,000-yard rusher. That's what we want up front to show we're a unit that can move the ball."
The last time a 'Dore accomplished that feat was in 1995 when Jermaine Johnson rushed for 1,072 yards, which stands as the second-highest single-season total behind Corey Harris' 1,103 yards in 1991. The only other Commodore to break into four digits was Frank Mordica in 1978 with 1,065.
If you missed intern Travis' entire interview with Vierling on Tuesday, listen to it here.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Vierling... front and center
David Rutz will have a feature on each of Vanderbilt's three captains over the next week on VUcommodores.com. His first spotlight is on the only returning captain, senior center Bradley Vierling. Read the complete story here.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The future
By Barca Blog - The opening of spring football practice was different Tuesday. Usually the coaches and players are peppered with questions from the press on whether or not this will be the year the Commodores break the bowl drought.Well, those storylines are history now... but according to center Bradley Vierling, so is the talk about last year's Music City Bowl championship.
"To be honest with you, this is a new team and a new year," Vierling stated prior to spring drills. "We won the bowl game, and we're happy about that, but that's in the past. It’s just a trophy now; it’s just a part of history now. It's about making a legacy around here. It's about doing it, and doing it again, and doing it again, and making it a tradition around here. It's not just about winning it one time. That's not what we're about."
Monday, December 29, 2008
Interview with Bradley Vierling
I had a chance to catch up with junior center Bradley Vierling for a quick Q&A after Sunday's practice.
First, talk about the mood of the team right now as you prepare for the bowl game.
“Oh, we’re just excited. It’s a new experience for us. A lot of us haven’t been to the Opryland Hotel. It’s a big, nice place. There is a good feel to it because we’re not in class. Just strictly concentrating on football is fun for us.”
How refreshing was the time off during the holidays, especially with how much of a grind the SEC regular season schedule is?
“It’s always good to get away from football for a little bit. Obviously we were all watching other games. But the grind of the season really takes a toll on you. I know especially for guys like myself who don’t really ever come out. It’s good to get the rest and have your knees save up and regenerate everything. Your body kind of gets back to how it used to be.”
Does this almost feel like a new season?
“Yeah, it does have a different feel. We’ve never been here before. Obviously, practice is the same for us. But it’s December, and coming back and having breaks in between practices makes it different.
“We definitely still have a chip on our shoulder from losing that last game (at Wake Forest). We’re 0-2 against the ACC this year, so we’ve got to get 1-2. That’s our goal.”
Is this a statement game for Vanderbilt?
“Yeah, I’ve seen in a poll that over 90% of America has picked Boston College to win. We’re always the underdog anyway, so that’s nothing new for us. And that’s the position we like. Count us out every time. Go ahead.”
What will this win do for the program?
“This is huge. This is make or break. The bowl game will make us 7-6 or 6-7 which means a winning season versus a losing season. That means everything to this program from recruiting to the morale of the team. This is an enormous game and we know that. And I know the fans know that, too. I just want to make sure that we understand that, and we do.”
You also have the chance to do something only one other Vanderbilt team has done… win a bowl game.
“Just the fact that we’re at a bowl game is pretty special. But to win the game would be unbelievable. This team was counted out from the get go. We were picked to win maybe two games this year. We fought through a lot of adversity even with several guys injured. We had the four-game losing streak, and came back to get that sixth victory (at Kentucky). We’re going to fight through anything.
“We’re just excited to be here, and we are going to try to do everything we can to win the game.”
First, talk about the mood of the team right now as you prepare for the bowl game.
“Oh, we’re just excited. It’s a new experience for us. A lot of us haven’t been to the Opryland Hotel. It’s a big, nice place. There is a good feel to it because we’re not in class. Just strictly concentrating on football is fun for us.”
How refreshing was the time off during the holidays, especially with how much of a grind the SEC regular season schedule is?
“It’s always good to get away from football for a little bit. Obviously we were all watching other games. But the grind of the season really takes a toll on you. I know especially for guys like myself who don’t really ever come out. It’s good to get the rest and have your knees save up and regenerate everything. Your body kind of gets back to how it used to be.”
Does this almost feel like a new season?
“Yeah, it does have a different feel. We’ve never been here before. Obviously, practice is the same for us. But it’s December, and coming back and having breaks in between practices makes it different.
“We definitely still have a chip on our shoulder from losing that last game (at Wake Forest). We’re 0-2 against the ACC this year, so we’ve got to get 1-2. That’s our goal.”
Is this a statement game for Vanderbilt?
“Yeah, I’ve seen in a poll that over 90% of America has picked Boston College to win. We’re always the underdog anyway, so that’s nothing new for us. And that’s the position we like. Count us out every time. Go ahead.”
What will this win do for the program?
“This is huge. This is make or break. The bowl game will make us 7-6 or 6-7 which means a winning season versus a losing season. That means everything to this program from recruiting to the morale of the team. This is an enormous game and we know that. And I know the fans know that, too. I just want to make sure that we understand that, and we do.”
You also have the chance to do something only one other Vanderbilt team has done… win a bowl game.
“Just the fact that we’re at a bowl game is pretty special. But to win the game would be unbelievable. This team was counted out from the get go. We were picked to win maybe two games this year. We fought through a lot of adversity even with several guys injured. We had the four-game losing streak, and came back to get that sixth victory (at Kentucky). We’re going to fight through anything.
“We’re just excited to be here, and we are going to try to do everything we can to win the game.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)