Vanderbilt Trio of Underclassmen to Captain 2003 Squad; Team Without Senior Captain for First Time Since World War I 6/9/03

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Though the 2003 Vanderbilt football team will not have a senior co-captain for the first time since World War I, Head Coach Bobby Johnson believes a trio of underclassmen provide an ideal fit to lead the youthful Commodores.

Junior Justin Geisinger, a two-year starter from Pittsburgh, Pa., and All-SEC candidate at left tackle, and a pair of key sophomores - quarterback Jay Cutler (Santa Claus, Ind.) and defensive end Jovan Haye (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) - will serve as Commodore co-captains for the upcoming season.

Vanderbilt Head Coach Bobby Johnson is not concerned about the quality of leadership his Commodores will receive next year from the trio.

“I feel very good about Justin, Jay and Jovan as our captains. I have witnessed their leadership abilities in the locker room and on the field since the day I arrived on campus. Each of these young men has the respect and support of their teammates,” Johnson said.

The last time Vanderbilt did not have at least one senior among its team captains was 1917 when junior Alfred T. Adams was selected captain by legendary coach Dan McGugin.

The move to underclassmen as captains reflects the youth movement underway with the team. In 2003, the Commodores are expected to dress as few as eight seniors. Only one, tight end Nick Getter, departed Spring Practice as a likely starter. Vanderbilt is expected to open the 2003 season with at least 10 sophomores, including the entire offensive backfield, in the starting lineup.

“This team simply does not have many seniors. But at the same time, we have some young guys who want to get on the field,” Johnson said. “All of our players are working hard and doing what it takes to get better. “

Cutler and Haye will be just the third and fourth sophomores to captain the Commodores in 113-year history of Vanderbilt football. The others were running back Jeremy McGrath in 1998 and Elliott Jones, who served as the team’s first captain and head coach in 1890.

Geisinger, Cutler and Haye do not lack of experience. Because of being redshirt freshmen, each has been in the program one year more than their remaining eligibility: Cutler and Haye are academic juniors; Geisinger is an academic senior. Geisinger, at 6-4, 328 lbs., is the leader of the Vanderbilt offensive line and has started more games than any current Commodore. Cutler and Haye both started 11 games as redshirt freshmen in 2002.

Vanderbilt, 2-10 a year ago, opens the 2003 season by hosting Ole Miss and Heisman Trophy candidate Eli Manning on Saturday, August 30, in Vanderbilt Stadium.

114 Years of Vanderbilt Football

Total Vanderbilt Football Captains: 191
Total Seniors: 174
Total Underclassmen (Juniors/Sophomores): 17

2003 Jay Cutler (So.); Justin Geisinger (Jr.) Jovan Haye (So.)
2002 Jamie Byrum (Sr.); Rushen Jones (Sr.) Dan Stricker (Sr.)
2001 Jamie Byrum (Jr.); Antuian Bradford (Sr.)
Nate Morrow (Sr.); Dan Stricker (Jr.)
2000 Ryan Aulds (Sr.); Elliott Carson (Sr.)
John Markham (Sr.); Matt Stewart (Sr.)
1999 Jeff Barnett (Sr.); Ainsley Battles (Sr.)
Lamont Turner (Sr.); Todd Yoder (Sr.)
1998 Rahim Batten (Jr.); Clay Condrey (Sr.);
Jared McGrath (So.); Fred Vinson (Sr.)
1997 Jamie Duncan (Sr.); Corey Chavous (Sr.)
Jay Stallworth (Sr.); Damian Allen (Sr.); John Bradley (Sr.)
1996 no permanent captains
1995 no permanent captains
1994 Gerald Collins (Sr.); Eric Lewis (Sr.)
1993 Gerald Collins (Jr.); Tony Jackson (Sr.); Eric Dahlberg (Sr.)
1992 Marcus Wilson (Sr.); Marcus Young (Sr.)
1991 Bobby Craycraft (Sr.); Rod Keith (Sr.)
1990 no permanent captains
1989 John Gromos (Sr.); DeMond Winston (Sr.)
Andy McCarroll (Sr.); Greg Smith (Sr.)
1988 Eric Jones (Sr.); Brent Turner (Sr.); Joe Gentry (Sr.);
Mike Johnson (Sr.)
1987 Chris Gaines (Sr.); Everett Crawford (Sr.)
Daryl Holt (Sr.); Carl Parker (Sr.)
1986 Thanh Anderson (Sr.); Mark Wracher (Sr.)
Mark Woehler (Sr.); Carl Woods (Sr.)
1985 Steve Wade (Sr.); Kermit Sykes (Sr.); Will Wolford (Sr.)
1984 Rob Monaco (Sr.); Steve McCoy (Sr.)
Chuck Scott (Sr.); Manuel Young (Sr.)
1983 Tom Moore (Sr.); Steve Bearden (Sr.); Phil Roach (Sr.)
1982 Whit Taylor (Sr.); Allama Matthews (Sr.); Joe Staley (Sr.)
1981 Rodney Gurley (Sr.); Ken Hammond (Sr.); Andrew Coleman (Sr.)
1980 Phil Swindoll (Sr.); Keith Phillips (Jr.); Rodney Gurley (Jr.)
1979 Mike Ralston (Sr.); Preston Brown (Sr.); Ronnie Myrick (Sr.)
1978 Randy Sittason (Sr.); John Wooten (Sr.)
1977 Ed Parrish (Sr.); Mike Birdsong (Sr.) Reggie Calvin (Sr.);
Mitch Lilly (Sr.)
1976 Tom Ballman (Sr.); David Hale (Sr.)
1975 Lonnie Sadler (Sr.); Tom Galbierz (Sr.)
1974 David Lee (Sr.)
1973 Mark Ilgenfritz (Sr.); Bo Patton (Sr.)
1972 Jim Avery (Sr.); Joe Cook (Sr.); Ken Stone (Sr.)
1971 John Carney (Sr.); John Drake (Sr.)
1970 Steve Fritts (Sr.); Mal Wall (Sr.); John Robinson (Sr.)
1969 Bob Asher (Sr.); Bill McDonald (Sr.)
1968 Mike Giltner (Sr.); Rex Raines (Sr.)
1967 Bob Goodridge (Sr.); Sid Ransom (Sr.)
1966 Dave Maddux (Sr.); Jim Thomas (Sr.)
1965 Lane Wolbe (Sr.)
1964 Dave Malone (Sr.); Bill Juday (Sr.); Willard Fuqua (Sr.)
1963 Sam Sullins (Sr.)
1962 Jule Crocker (Sr.); Mike Reese (Sr.)
1961 Cody Brinkley (Sr.); Ed Creagh (Sr.)
1960 Fred Riggs (Sr.)
1959 no permanent captains
1958 Billy Grover (Sr.)
1957 Bob Laws (Sr.); Phil King (Sr.)
1956 Don Orr (Sr.); Art Demmas (Sr.)
1955 Larry Frank (Sr.); Jim Cunningham (Sr.)
1954 Pete Williams (Sr.); John Hall (Sr.)
1953 Larry Stone (Sr.)
1952 John Cheadle (Sr.); Don Wade (Sr.)
1951 Bob Werckle (Sr.)
1950 Russ Faulkinberry (Sr.)
1949 Carl Copp (Sr.)
1948 John Clark (Sr.)
1947 John North (Sr.) ;Tex Robertson (Sr.)
1946 Alf Satterfield (Sr.)
1945 Dick Bostick (Sr.); James Hamilton (Sr.)
1944 Lee Austin (Sr.); Dick Bostick (Jr.)
1943 James Hamilton (Jr.); Bob Hamilton (Sr.);
Captain-Elect Bernie Rohling (Sr.) joined the U.S. Marine Corps
1942 Fred Holder (Sr.)
1941 Joe Atkinson (Sr.)
1940 John Ellis (Sr.)
1939 Raymond Andrus (Sr.)
1938 Marvin A. Franklin Jr. (Sr.)
1937 Carl C. Hinkle Jr. (Sr.)
1936 Herbert G. Plasman (Sr.)
1935 Charles W. Geny (Sr.)
1934 Eugene Beck (Sr.)
1933 game captains selected
1932 game captains selected
1931 Amos Leonard (Sr.)
1930 Joe Scheffer (Sr.)
1929 John Neil Brown (Sr.)
1928 James Armistead (Sr.)
1927 Vernon Sharp Jr. (Sr.)
1926 Neil Cargile (Sr.)
1925 Gil Reese (Sr.)
1924 E.E. Kelly (Sr.)
1923 Oliver W. Kuhn (Sr.)
1922 Jess C. Neely (Sr.)
1921 W.J. Wade (Sr.)
1920 John C. Floyd (Sr.)
1919 Josh Cody (Sr.)
1918 Herman Daves (Sr.)
1917 Alfred T. Adams (Jr.)
1916 Irby R. Curry (Sr.)
1915 H.R. Cohen (Jr.)
1914 Ammie Sikes (Sr.)
1913 Enoch Brown (Sr.)
1912 Lewie Hardage (Sr.)
1911 Ray Morrison (Sr.)
1910 W.D. Neely (Sr.)
1909 H.H. Williams (Sr.)
1908 J. Vaughn Blake (Sr.)
1907 R.E. Blake (Sr.)
1906 Daniel B. Blake Jr. (Sr.)
1905 Innis Brown (Sr.)
1904 Thomas B. Graham (Sr.)
1903 Frank Kyle (Sr.)
1902 H.W. Davis (Sr.)
1901 John E. Edgerton (Sr.)
1900 J.F.H. Barbee (Sr.)
1899 Walter H. Simmons (Sr.)
1898 Joe Goodson (Sr.)
1897 H.M. Boogher (Sr.)
1896 W.P. Connell (Sr.)
1895 W.P. Connell (Jr.)
1894 W.J. Keller (Sr.)
1893 W.J. Keller (Jr.)
1892 Elliott Jones (Sr.)
1891 Elliott Jones (Jr.)
1890 Elliott Jones (So.)