Compass Bowl 2014 LIVE Radio Broadcast: Vanderbilt and Houston Meet For First Time Ever
ByJames Franklin will look to lead the Vanderbilt Commodores to their second-straight nine-win season against the Houston Cougars in the 2014 BBVA Compass Bowl.
In the Vanderbilt football team's 120-year history prior to Franklin's hiring in 2011, the team reached four postseason games. Saturday, the Commodores play in their third in as many seasons under Franklin, according to ESPN.
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Last season was the first since 1915 the team won nine games and a win against Houston would make it two years in a row. Fraklin's turnaround has been quick and impressive given the team plays in the SEC.
"It's dramatic," James Franklin told reporters, according to ESPN. "From a cultural standpoint, from an expectations standpoint, it's a 360-degree difference. We still have a long ways to go, as a whole organization and program. But to think that we have a chance to go to our third straight bowl game, got a chance to have another nine-win season."
Vanderbilt will have to be without their starting quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels, who tore his ACL in the Oct. 19 win over Georgia. Houston has allowed an average of 20.2 points per game this year, but plays in the American conference. While Vanderbilt may have a tougher schedule, the loss of a starting quarterback is never easy to overcome.
The Cougars will also be led by freshman standout quarterback John O'Korn, who threw for 2,889 yards and 26 touchdowns this year.
"It was just an amazing experience and such a blessing to start as a true freshman for the majority of the season," O'Korn told reporters. "Going into the season, our motto was 'Something to Prove' and I think we proved a lot, as coach preached by our entire body of work. Those close to the program know we haven't even reached our full potential yet, so we are really excited about this coming game obviously and next season moving forward."
Houston ended the season losing three of its last four, whereas Vanderbilt, who never lost two games in a row this season, ended theirs on a four-game win streak.
As a head coach, Franklin is 1-1 in bowl games and 23-15 overall. The two teams have never met before and Houston is 1-1 in bowl games against an SEC opponent.
In order to win, O'Korn will have to step up on the national stage and, on the other side, Vanderbilt will need to generate offense without their starting quarterback.