TigerBait.com - LSU-Vanderbilt pre-game notebook

September 12, 2009

Bryan Lazare
TigerBait.com Senior Writer

LSU has a 20-7-1 overall record against Vanderbilt. Only two of the previous 28 games in the series were played in September (1990 and 1991).

The Tigers have a ten-game winning streak in September with their last loss coming at Auburn on Sept. 16, 2006. This week's game is LSU's earliest Southeastern Conference home game in five years when it played host to Mississippi State on Sept. 10.

The Tigers have won 13 of their last 14 home openers with the only defeat coming against Tennessee in 2005. LSU has a 2-2 record in SEC openers under coach Les Miles. The other loss in a league opener came against Auburn three years ago.

Under Miles, the Tigers have an 8-6 record against SEC Eastern Division teams. LSU has an 11-5 record in SEC games at Tiger Stadium since Miles became coach in 2005. Miles' LSU teams have lost just three times against unranked opponents.

The Tigers have won 30 straight Saturday night home games. Miles has a 19-0 record in those games. LSU has won 24 of its last 25 night games regardless of the site. The Tigers have lost their last four SEC home games - their longest such losing streak since 1999.

Entering Saturday's game, the Tigers have won 17 straight games on the ESPN family of networks. This week's game will be LSU's first on ESPNU.

Jordan Jefferson became the fourth LSU quarterback to throw three scoring passes in a season-opener. The others were Rohan Davey (Western Carolina/2000), Matt Mauck (Louisiana-Monroe/2003) and JaMarcus Russell (Louisiana-Lafayette/2006).

Jacob Cutrera was the first Tigers linebacker to return an intercepted pass for a touchdown in four seasons. Kenny Hollis had a 3-yard interception return for a score against Tennessee in 2005.

The last LSU defensive player to have an interception return for a touchdown was Jonathan Zenon against Tennessee in the 2007 SEC title game.

Brothers Rahim Alem (defensive end) and Chad Jones (safety) started against Washington. The last time brothers started for LSU was 2005 when Kevin Steltz started at fullback and Craig Steltz started at safety against Appalachian State.

Charles Scott needs seven points to move into a tie with Mike Conway for tenth place on the Tigers' all-time scoring list. With a 100-yard rushing game, Scott can tie Harvey Williams for fourth place on the school's rankings.

Scott can tie Rondell Mealey for fifth place on LSU's all-time rankings with one touchdown run. Scott has rushed for 28 touchdowns.

Richard Dickson can become the all-time school leader in touchdown catches for a tight end with one scoring reception. Dickson can tie David LaFleur for fourth place on the Tigers' all-time rankings for a tight end with one catch.

Brandon LaFell needs one touchdown reception to tie Tony Moss for ninth place on the school's all-time list. LaFell can tie Larry Foster for tenth place in career receptions for LSU with three catches.

Vanderbilt has lost five consecutive games against LSU with its last victory coming in 1990. The Commodores scored just 33 points in those games. Vanderbilt has won just once in Tiger Stadium - 20-13 in 1951.

The Commodores used seven true freshmen in its season-opener against Western Carolina. The lone true freshman starter was running back Zac Stacy, who rushed for 133 yards against the Catamounts.

Vanderbilt's shutout of Western Carolina was its first in ten seasons when they beat The Citadel 58-0. The 45-point margin of victory was the Commodores' greatest in a season-opener in 59 years.

Western Carolina was 0-for-13 on third-down conversions against the Vanderbilt defense. The 115 yards allowed by the Commodores were the fewest in six years when Chattanooga gained just 93 yards.

Stacy and Warren Norman each rushed for more than 100 yards against the Catamounts. The last time two Vanderbilt backs ran for more than 100 yards in the same game was 2002 against Ole Miss when both Kwane Doster and Norval McKenzie had 101 yards.

Since the SEC expanded to 12 games in 1992, the Commodores have won two league openers on the field - 2005 at Arkansas (28-24) and 2008 against South Carolina (24-17). Vanderbilt was awarded a forfeit victory against Alabama in 1993.

Commodores starting wide receiver Alex Washington was a high school teammate of LSU's Perry Riley and Kelvin Sheppard at Stone Mountain (Ga.) Stephenson. Washington caught two passes against Western Carolina.

Vanderbilt has beaten five nationally-ranked teams - two on the road - in the past three seasons. The Commodores won at No. 16 Georgia in 2006 and at No. 6 South Carolina in 2007.

Last season, Vanderbilt knocked off No. 24 South Carolina and No. 13 Auburn at home. Then, the Commodores beat No. 24 Boston College in the Music City Bowl, which was played at the Tennessee Titans' stadium in Nashville.

Vanderbilt has posted a 6-16 all-time record on the ESPN family of networks. Five of those victories came in 2008. The Commodores lost to LSU 34-6 on ESPN2 in 2005 and 34-27 on ESPN in 1984.

Coach Bobby Johnson needs one victory to tie Ray Morrison for fourth place on Vanderbilt's all-time victories list. Johnson has won 28 games as Commodores coach.

Since the start of the 2005 season, Vanderbilt has a 14-4 record in September games. The Commodores have a seven-game winning streak in September with their last setback coming against Alabama on Sept. 8, 2007.

In the opener against Western Carolina, quarterback Larry Smith completed 10 of 18 passes for 153 yards and one touchdown. The top receivers were two tight ends - Brandon Barden and Austin Monhan, who made three receptions.

The top tackler against the Catamounts was tackle T.J. Greenstone, who had five stops, including one sack. Cornerback Myron Lewis broke up three passes last week. Linebacker Chris Marve forced two fumbles.

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