Vanderbilt-Georgia On Television, Kickoff Moved to 11:30 a.m.; Coach Johnson To Appear Tonight on ‘5 Plus’ Sportsline Show 10/8/02

The Vanderbilt-Georgia football game on Saturday, October 19, will be played before a regional television audience in Athens, the Southeastern Conference announced late Monday.

In another media item, Head Coach Bobby Johnson will appear tonight with popular Nashville television sportscaster Hope Hines to discuss the Commodores prospects against neighboring Middle Tennessee this Saturday. Johnson is Hines’ featured guest on the one-hour SportsLine Show that airs on 5 Plus (channel 50 on Comcast systems). The show begins at 8:00 p.m.

Kickoff for the Georgia game has moved up 30 minutes to 11:30 a.m., CST, to accommodate the telecast by Jefferson-Pilot Sports.

The announcement pushes the Vanderbilt streak of consecutive road appearances on television to seven, dating back to the VU-Florida contest last November. It also marks the first time in four years that Georgia and Vanderbilt have played before a regional television audience. Prior to 1998, the two teams played on television for five consecutive years.

The Commodores are 1-4 overall and 0-3 in the SEC, with the two most recent conference games being tough losses to Ole Miss and South Carolina. Vanderbilt will attempt to bounce back - and avenge a 2001 season-opening 37-28 loss - when they face the MTSU Blue Raiders Saturday in Vanderbilt Stadium. Kickoff for the MTSU contest is 6:00 p.m.

Tickets remain for the Middle Tennessee game. For information, call the Vanderbilt Box Office at (615) 322-GOLD or toll-free at 1 (877) 44-VANDY. Tickets can also be purchased at Vanderbilt’s official website, www.vucommodores.com. Tickets are $22 for adults and $10 for youth.