Chris Kuehnhold
Author
As a Vanderbilt football fan who’s been cheering from the stands since the early ’90s – back when we were still dreaming of consistent bowl games and the occasional upset over a ranked opponent – I’ve witnessed more heartbreak than highlights.
Remember the 1990s? We had flashes of being headed in the right direction under head coach Gerry DiNardo, but it was a decade of losing seasons and empty seats at Dudley Field (now FirstBank Stadium).
In 2012 and 2013, we had more flashes under James Franklin, but that quickly ended when he left for Penn State. Fans had the nagging sense that it was never going to happen.
Vanderbilt, the SEC’s perennial underdog, the “Harvard of the South” in football terms, often felt like the punchline in a league dominated by football factories like Alabama and Georgia, Florida and Tennessee. Even schools like Kentucky, South Carolina, and later Missouri were leaving us behind.
Fast-forward to today, and something extraordinary has happened. Over the past two years (from September 2024 to now), Vanderbilt football has changed in ways never dreamed of.
Driven by bold administrative investments and a savvy navigation of the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era, the Commodores aren’t just competing – they’re winning. From a shocking 7-6 record in 2024, complete with victories over Alabama and a bowl win against former SEC rival Georgia Tech, to an explosive offense averaging 44.5 points per game coupled with a defense allowing just 11.5 points per game in 2025, this isn’t a fluke. It’s the payoff of a strategic overhaul. Let me break it down, drawing from my decades of fandom and the real changes unfolding on West End.
Administrative Investments That Finally Match Our Ambition
For years, Vanderbilt fans like me lamented the lack of commitment to athletics. We’d point to our peers – Northwestern, Stanford, and Duke – and wonder why Vanderbilt, with its massive endowment, couldn’t do more. But in 2021, under Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and Athletic Director Candice Lee, the administration launched the Vandy United Fund: a historic $300 million investment in athletics, the largest in school history. This wasn’t just talk; it was a major shift from those in charge.
Fast-forward to the past two years, and the results are tangible. Major upgrades to FirstBank Stadium have been underway since late 2022. In 2023, the school caught flack on social media regarding a scoreboard hung up by a crane in an active construction zone. The north and south end zones got complete redesigns, including new locker rooms, dining facilities, and premium seating options like loge boxes and field-level seats. No state funding here – unlike some SEC rivals – just pure Vanderbilt grit and private donations.
As a fan who’s tailgated in parking lots that felt like afterthoughts, seeing cranes give way to state-of-the-art facilities in 2024 and 2025 has been cathartic. It’s not just about football; basketball, baseball (our two-time national champs), and even tennis have benefited. But for football, this $300 million infusion has been the foundation for Clark Lea’s vision. Lea, an alumnus, was hired in 2020 from Notre Dame. This build is personal for him. Now, in year five, he’s breaking through the “cynicism” with facilities that are more on par with most in the SEC.
Ah, NIL – the great equalizer (or divider) in college sports. When it kicked off in July 2021, Vanderbilt was caught flat-footed. As Coach Lea admitted in 2024, our 2023 NIL budget was “minuscule,” leaving us behind in recruiting high schoolers and losing portal battles. I’d watch rivals like Missouri (who passed a state law favoring in-state NIL) poach talent.
However, the past two years have been a complete 180.Enter the Anchor Impact Fund, launched in 2023 as Vanderbilt’s official NIL collective, headed by D’Juan Epps (former associate AD). Unlike early collectives elsewhere, Anchor Impact branded itself as a “fund” to build trust with skeptical donors.
By SEC standards, we weren’t competitive pre-2023, but AD Lee encouraged donors to step up, and they did. Renewed NIL investments post-2023 fueled a portal spree: QB Diego Pavia (from New Mexico State), who led the 7-6 turnaround with wins over Alabama and Auburn, turned down a $4 million offer to leave in 2025. That’s huge – Pavia’s swagger embodies the chip-on-the-shoulder attitude we’ve needed.
In 2024, NIL tripled from 2023 levels, mostly for transfers, helping retain starters and add offensive firepower. By 2025, it feels like we are able to attract official visits from players once thought untouchable by the lowly Commodores program. Fans like me have seen the impact: roster retention off the 2024 bowl team, explosive plays (Pavia’s NIL valuation is among the top QBs), and a GM like Barton Simmons using data to evaluate portal fits. NIL has leveled the playing field – allowing us to compete without compromising our degree prestige.
The numbers don’t lie: From 2-10 in 2023 to 7-6 in 2024 (Birmingham Bowl win), and now a 3-0 start to 2025. Transfers like Pavia and offensive linemen (Jordan White, Isaia Glass) have stabilized the roster. Attendance is up – from 23,450 average in the early 2020s to our first sellout in a game that did not involve Tennessee or Alabama – thanks to better facilities and wins. As a 35-year fan, I’ve endured just three winning records since 2000, but this feels different. Lea’s process-driven culture, combined with NIL retention, has us becoming a major story with our first ranked road win since 2007.
This is our moment! After 35 years of mostly pain – from the 2008 Music City Bowl high to the endless SEC beatdowns – Vanderbilt’s transformation is vindicating. The administration’s $300 million bet, paired with NIL savvy, has turned us from pretenders to contenders. We’re not Alabama yet, but with Nashville’s energy and fans stepping up (join Vandy United!), the future is bright. Commodore Nation, we’ve waited long enough. Anchor down – and let’s make Clark Lea’s vision of being a national championship contender a reality. For now, I am enjoying this vibe on West End!!
In the series history, the Tigers have outscored the Lions 79-7 and own a 2-0 record.
The preseason brought us way too much hype and unreasonable expectations
D.B.U. was back as the Tigers picked off five passes on Saturday night
