Vanderbilt to Renew Football Series with UT-Chattanooga;
2003 Schedule Now Features Seven Games on Campus 9/18/02

Nashville, Tenn. - Vanderbilt will host seven football games in 2003 for the second consecutive year after athletic department officials announced today that the Commodores would play the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Mocs on September 6, 2003 in Nashville.

The announcement also finalizes the Commodores’ plans for a second consecutive 12-game regular season. This season, in the midst of its first 12-game schedule, Vanderbilt is 1-2 under first-year Head Coach Bobby Johnson as it prepares for an SEC game at Ole Miss Saturday.

Vanderbilt will now open the 2003 season with three home games. The Commodores play Ole Miss in the opener, then UT-Chattanooga and Auburn on Sept. 13 before hitting the road at Texas Christian University. In addition to UT-Chattanooga and TCU, the Commodores’ non-conference schedule next year features home games against Georgia Tech (Sept. 27), and Navy (Oct. 11).

“We are delighted to announce the addition of UT-Chattanooga to our 2003 football schedule,” Vanderbilt Director of Athletics Todd Turner said. “I think it benefits both universities. The game will be our seventh at home, yet it is close enough for the fans of UT-Chattanooga to comfortably make the trip and support their team. It is a win-win situation for both universities.”

The Vanderbilt-UTC gridiron rivalry dates to 1927. While Vanderbilt has won 16 of the 17 games played, the series has featured several close contests. The margin of victory in the last eight meetings is eight points. In the most recent game, Vanderbilt won 7-0 in 1985.

The athletic program at UT-Chattanooga is directed by first-year Athletic Director Steve Sloan, the former University of Alabama quarterback who served as a successful head coach for the Commodores in the 1970s. Sloan was 13-9-2 in 1973-74 at Vanderbilt, and guided the Commdores to 1974 Peach Bowl, one of the team’s three post-season appearances.

The Commodores will also play seven home games this year. The remaining home schedule includes South Carolina, Sept. 28; Middle Tennessee, Oct. 12; Connecticut, Oct. 26; Alabama, Nov. 2; Florida, Nov. 9; and Tennessee, Nov. 23. The VU-UT game will be held at the Coliseum in downtown Nashville.

Season and individual game tickets remain available for upcoming games. For tickets, contact the Vanderbilt Ticket Office at (615) 322-GOLD or 1 (877) 44-VANDY. Tickets can also be purchased at the Commodores’ official website, www.vucommodores.com.