Tide Anchored
Vanderbilt stuns No. 1 Alabama in a day of upsets and an incredible 'After Dark' finish
Taking a look at NIL lessons from Week 6 of the 2024 CFB season and how they can apply to sports, business and life.
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Forever the afterthought of the SEC—and perhaps all of CFB— the Vanderbilt Commodores have finished with three wins or fewer in four of the past five seasons.
The last time Vandy was relevant was when they went bowling in 2018. Coincidentally, I was covering the Texas Bowl for 247 Sports between Baylor and the Commodores in Houston. A classic that the Bears won 45-38.
Since then, Vanderbilt has returned to being the bottom feeders of the SEC; history makers with Sara Fuller becoming the first woman to play, and score, in a Power Five game; and a laughingstock for the ongoing construction of their stadium.
Lake the Posts
More construction will have to be done immediately as Vandy’s fans rushed the field, tore down the goalposts and marched them by the karaoke bars and tossed them into the Cumberland River after securing the program’s first victory over a No. 1 team.
Vanderbilt beat No. 1 Alabama 40-35.
There is an argument to be made that this is the greatest CFB upset of all time; right alongside DI-AA Appalachian State over No. 5 Michigan; Boise State’s victory over Oklahoma in the ‘07 Fiesta Bowl; Jim Harbaugh’s 41-point underdog Stanford beating No. 2 USC in 2007; and Notre Dame breaking No. 2 Oklahoma’s 47-game winning streak—including two national titles—in 1957.
New Mexico State transfer QB Diego Pavia had 252 yards and two second half touchdowns—the first an iconic 36-yard pass on fourth and one and the second with about five minutes left.
I most certainly did not expect this when writing about Vandy’s good vides after their week one overtime win over Virginia Tech, but the lesson remains. You can always change your fortunes.
Pavia gave a fired up post game interview and later tweeted his agent’s phone number to contact for NIL deals.
It is obvious how much his, and Vanderbilt’s fortunes have changed overnight.
SEC Rat Poison
Arkansas stunned No. 4 Tennessee 19-14 and also rushed the field and tore down the goalposts.
A letdown game, two weeks removed from Coach Josh Heupel returning to Norman, Oklahoma and beating the same Sooner team he led to a national title in 2000.
Clearly both ‘Bama and Tennessee were eating extra helpings of rat poison, which now media member Nick Saban helped contribute to.
The lesson: Avoid the rat poison.
Buckin’ Blue Bronco
The Alabama loss also squarely puts Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty in the Heisman driver seat over ‘Bama QB Jalen Milroe.
Jeanty had 186 yards and three TDs on only 13 carries all in the first half. He is up to 1,031 rushing yards and 16 TDs through five games this season.
This Heisman race—with Jeanty, Travis Hunter and others— could be one of the most interesting to play out in quite awhile.
The lesson: Run your own race.
Texas Dominance
Texas A&M upset No. 9 Missouri while SMU upset No. 22 Louisville on the road. Each played a dominant game, which resulted in a reminder of two lessons.
The Aggies’ fifth straight victory reminds us that you can be down early but never out. Stay focused on your season and, as alluded to above, running your own race.
The Ponies remind us that you should always do whatever it takes to challenge yourself and give yourself an opportunity for success.
SMU bet on themselves to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. They will forgo TV revenue for a near decade.
There will be plenty of money and other rewards coming though if they can win the conference and make the playoff.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Minnesota scored the go-ahead touchdown with only 56 seconds left vs No. 11 USC. The only thing left to do was to prevent a game-tying Trojan drive.
Yet, the Golden Gophers gave USC excellent field position after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was called for simulating the ‘brandishing of a weapon.’
I must be so unhip that I had always thought this celebration was to show off ones ab muscles, rather than pretend to carry a gun.
Having written about the negative consequences of guns and other vices in the past I will reiterate. These are things to stay away from.
Nevermind this celebration can nearly cost your team the game, but pretending to do these things on national television sends the wrong message to kids and brands alike.
It’s a triple whammy that puts compromises your team; your reputation as a role model; and your ability to monetize your NIL.
National Title Rematch
A day of upsets saw six top 25 teams lose—five who were in the top 11!
In a national championship rematch from last year, Washington upset No. 10 Michigan 27-17. Another field storm and the Huskies are re-positioned to battle for a playof spot.
Remember that circumstances change. Never be afraid to ask for a second chance; a rematch; or another opportunity to bid even if you lost or failed the first time.
You have grown and evolved since that point.
ACC After Dark
The Miami Hurricanes entered Bear Territory and were nearly knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten. However, Cam Ward orchestrated a 25-point comeback and threw the game-winning TD pass with 26 seconds to play.
No matter how bad the storm gets; you can always rebuild. Sending prayers to those who have been or will be impacted by recent hurricanes.