1974 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

1974 Vanderbilt Commodores football
Peach Bowl, T 6–6 vs. Texas Tech
Conference	Southeastern Conference
1974 record	7–3–2 (2–3–1 SEC)
Head coach	Steve Sloan (2nd year)
Offensive coordinator	Rex Dockery (2nd year)
Defensive coordinator	Bill Parcells (2nd year)
Captain	David Lee
Home stadium	Vanderbilt Stadium

1974 SEC football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
#5 Alabama $	6	–	0	–	0			11	–	1	–	0
#8 Auburn	4	–	2	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
Georgia	4	–	2	–	0			6	–	6	–	0
#17 Mississippi State	3	–	3	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
#15 Florida	3	–	3	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Kentucky	3	–	3	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
#20 Tennessee	2	–	3	–	1			7	–	3	–	2
Vanderbilt	2	–	3	–	1			7	–	3	–	2
LSU	2	–	4	–	0			5	–	5	–	1
Ole Miss	0	–	6	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1974 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University in the 1974 college football season. The Commodores scored 313 points while allowing 199 points.^[1] Led by head coach Steve Sloan, the Commodores had their best record since 1955 and appeared in the school's second bowl game. Vanderbilt did not return to a bowl game until 1982.

Season

Vanderbilt defeated Florida, Ole Miss, Tulane, Louisville, Army, Chattanooga, and the Virginia Military Institute.^[2] Vanderbilt lost to Kentucky, Georgia, and Alabama. Vanderbilt's final two games ended in ties: the regular season finale against rival Tennessee and the 1974 Peach Bowl against Texas Tech.^[3] Vanderbilt's final record was 7–3–2 (2–3–1 in the SEC).^[4] After the season, head coach Steve Sloan left Vanderbilt to become head coach at Texas Tech, the team Vanderbilt had faced in the Peach Bowl to close the season.

Schedule

Date	Opponent^#	Rank^#	Site	TV	Result
September 14, 1974	Chattanooga*		Dudley Field • Nashville, TN		W 28–6
September 21, 1974	VMI*		Dudley Field • Nashville, TN		W 45–7
September 28, 1974	at #4 Alabama		Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL		L 10–23
October 12, 1974	#8 Florida		Dudley Field • Nashville, TN		W 24–10
October 19, 1974	Georgia		Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA		L 13–20
October 26, 1974	Ole Miss		Dudley Field • Nashville, TN (Rivalry)		W 24–14
November 2, 1974	Army*		Dudley Field • Nashville, TN		W 38–14
November 9, 1974	at Kentucky		Commonwealth Stadium • Lexington, KY		L 12–38
November 16, 1974	Tulane*		Dudley Field • Nashville, TN		W 30–22
November 23, 1974	at Louisville*		Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, KY		W 44–0
November 30, 1974	at Tennessee		Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN (Rivalry)		T 21–21
December 28, 1974	vs. Texas Tech*		Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium • Atlanta, GA (Peach Bowl)	ABC	T 6–6
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. ^#Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central.

^[5][6]

Team players drafted into the NFL

Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL Club
Mark Ilgenfritz	Defensive end	5	118	Cleveland Browns
Doug Nettles	Defensive end	5	129	Baltimore Colts

^[7]

References

1. "1974 Vanderbilt game by game results". Archived from the original on 2009-09-26. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
2. "1974 Vanderbilt game by game results". Archived from the original on 2009-09-26. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
3. "1974 Vanderbilt game by game results". Archived from the original on 2009-09-26. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
4. "1974 Vanderbilt game by game results". Archived from the original on 2009-09-26. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
5. "1974 Vanderbilt game by game results". Archived from the original on 2009-09-26. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
6. 1974 Vanderbilt Commodores Schedule and Results
7. "1975 NFL Draft Listing | Pro-Football-Reference.com". Archived from the original on 2009-09-26. Retrieved 2009-09-24.