From the Sidelines: Scouting Vanderbilt

The top-ranked Florida Gators return to The Swamp on Saturday for their annual contest with SEC East foe Vanderbilt.

ABOUT VANDERBILT
Coach: Bobby Johnson
Last week: The Commodores were handled by Georgia Tech in Nashville 56-31. It was the first time this season Vandy has allowed more than 34 points in a game.
Web site: VUCommodores.com
Stat leaders: Running back Warren Norman, 104 carries for 593 yards and three touchdowns and has also scored three touchdowns on kickoff returns; QB Mackenzi Adams, 21-of-37 for 239 yards; Wide receiver John Cole, 24 catches for 245 yards; Defensive back Myron Lewis, three interceptions.
Fun fact: Undergraduate tuition at Vanderbilt for 2008-09 was $36,100.
Coaches' quote: "He does a great job of seeing the hole, getting in it, and busting through before anyone has a chance to converge. He just has a little knack there." — Bobby Johnson on Norman, who is a freshman.

THREE QUESTIONS WITH ...
Junior offensive lineman Mike Pouncey

Talk about what was said after the Mississippi State game. What did you guys talk about and how did that carry over into last week's practice?
Basically, the coaches and players had a talk after the game trying to get better. It was a whole bunch of guys talking. I said what I had to say, just being a leader. Everybody's just trying to get better after that game.

Is that maybe a turning point for this season? That and all the things you guys went through this week?
Oh, I think it was a turning point. We didn't play our best ball that game and we came out this week and played real well.

Was it a matter of just little things being off or a little bit of focus being off?
I think we were just frustrated — the whole team. We let the media get into our heads and we weren't putting up that many points. We were just trying to get better after that game and we did. There was just a lot of stuff, man. It was just frustrating we weren't putting up the numbers we're used to putting up, but we played real good on Saturday.

— Edward Aschoff

GATOR TRIVIA
Who was the Florida quarterback the last time Vanderbilt beat Florida?
He was a two-sport player who was better in baseball than he was in football. Herbert Perry played quarterback for the Gators when they lost 24-9 in 1988. Perry was pressed into service when Kyle Morris was injured in a loss to Memphis State the previous week.

QUESTION OF THE DAY
With the losses mounting again, does Steve Spurrier hang it up after this season?
Pat Dooley: I don't think so. He took a year off after the Redskins debacle and was bored. Spurrier has some really good, young talent and he thinks the big years are around the corner. I think he'll be around long enough to become South Carolina's winningest coach.
Robbie Andreu: The head ball coach is not quite ready to ride off into the sunset. He's got a quarterback he can work with now in Stephen Garcia, and he's put together some pretty impressive recruiting classes. He's improved the talent level, and I think he thinks he's getting closer to turning this program into a contender. Spurrier loves golf, but he'd get bored without coaching. This is a guy who plans to live to 100, so he's way too young to retire.

DR. FOOTBALL'S E-MAIL BAG
Whatever happened to the rule (enforcing) against "pushing the pile"? It's ridiculous. Offensive linemen usually slam into five or six guys in the direction they want the pile to go. If they are hitting an opposing team's player, it should be 15 yards for "blocking in the back." If it's their own guy it's "pushing the pile." I haven't seen it called, at any level, since the '70s. — Joe in Dunnellon
Dear Joe: Don't bring this up around a Notre Dame fan. They're still bitter about the Reggie Bush push of Matt Lienart that beat them in 2005 on the last play of the game. According to the rules, you are not allowed to aid a runner, but there is no rule against pushing a pile.