Vanderbilt has several streaks to consider when it does battle with No. 23 South Carolina Saturday at 6 p.m. CDT in Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.
Not only do the Commodores (2-5, 0-4 Southeastern Conference) want to snap a three-game slide and win their first SEC game of the year, but they also want the satisfaction of knocking off legendary Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks (5-2, 2-2) for the third year in a row.
Vanderbilt snapped a seven-game losing streak to the men in Garnet and Black (and a 14-game losing streak to Spurrier with three different teams) with a stunning 17-6 win over then-No. 6 South Carolina on Oct. 20, 2007. Seven sacks by the defense and two touchdown passes by quarterback Mackenzi Adams in his first career start keyed the upset and sent the Gamecocks' season into a tailspin.
The Commodores followed it up the next season in their home opener, coming from behind to beat then-No. 24 South Carolina 24-17, their first win at Vanderbilt Stadium over a ranked foe since 1992.
Vanderbilt has not beaten the same conference foe three times in a row since knocking off Kentucky five straight times from 1991-1995.
Look out for this guy: South Carolina linebacker Eric Norwood has never gotten the same press as a Brandon Spikes, but he is still one of the best defensive players in the conference.
The 6-foot-1-inch, 252-pound Norwood is one of 20 quarterfinalists for the Lott Trophy, given annually to the nation's best defensive impact player.
Norwood, who had 10 tackles, including a sack, in last year's loss to Vanderbilt, leads the conference with six sacks this year and is the current active leader with 28 career sacks.
Homecoming: Vanderbilt head coach Bobby Johnson is a native of Columbia, as is offensive lineman Kyle Fischer.
The versatile Fischer did not play two years ago when the Commodores upset the Gamecocks, so he's even more amped at the chance to win in his home town playing an active role.
Click here to read a feature about him in The Tennessean.
Pretty upset: South Carolina is led by a proud coach and has a loyal legion of fans, and it has burned them up that Vanderbilt has handled them two years in a row.
Click here to read a feature by The Daily Gamecock, South Carolina's student newspaper, about the team's attitude with the underdog Commodores coming to town.
