Vanderbilt won a bowl game for the first time in exactly 53 years when Bryant Hahnfeldt kicked a 45-yard field goal with 3:26 left to beat Boston College 16-14 Wednesday in the Music City Bowl. Vanderbilt hadn't even played in a bowl since 1982 and the win gave the Commodores (7-6) their first winning season since then, too. Boston College (9-5) snapped the nation's longest bowl winning streak after eight straight games in its 10th consecutive bowl appearance. The Eagles also missed a chance at finishing with at least 10 wins for a third straight season. Full story
UWIRE
David Rutz, Vanderbilt Hustler: It's New Year's Eve, so Vanderbilt was probably going to party anyway. But it'll be a lot sweeter with a bowl victory to cherish. Full story | UWIRE Bowl Coverage
Key Players
Dominique Davis, QB, Boston College The freshman quarterback rushed for 190 yards and threw two touchdowns with two interceptions in the victory.
Chris Nickson, RB/QB, Vanderbilt Nickson led the team in rushing with 57 yards on just eight carries. Nickson also played some quarterback, but was 0-for-3.
Team Reports
Boston College: That makes two straight years and consecutive title-game losses to Virginia Tech, a team Boston College beat during the regular season each season. So, the program still has gone to only one major bowl -- Doug Flutie's Cotton on Jan. 1, 1985 -- and has lost the game that would have created a BCS spot three of the last five seasons. More
Vanderbilt: The Commodores' 26-year bowl itch was officially scratched Sunday night, giving the Southeastern Conference's traditional doormats an extra "home" game in the process. While the Commodores limp into the bowl game at 6-6 after losing six of their last seven games, it doesn't diminish that they ended an embarrassing drought. More -- Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.
Photo Gallery
Vanderbilt's Bryant Hahnfeldt (8) and holder Thomas Carroll (50) celebrate Hahnfeldt's 45-yard field goal. (AP)
The coaching staff at BC didn't have this team ready in any way for this bowl. BC was down after losing the BCS bid and it showed. They looked pathetic. Boston College is a way better team, but when you play like that then you can't beat a high school team! Vandy is a decent team, but because BC was let down over missing the BCS bowl they gave up. I blame this loss on the BC coachese. Post your thoughts!
"I guess everybody can figure out we're pretty happy. We're thrilled to win the Music City Bowl right here in Nashville in our hometown ... We kept our composure and made some big plays when we had to. It may not have been the prettiest victory in the whole world, but it is for us now."
-- Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson
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