Every year we have one loss that is just a pure embarrassment, a loss that makes you literally blush when their co-worker asks you "how'd Vandy do last night?"

In the past, the "Most Embarrassing Loss Of The Year" Award has been pretty easy to point out, as they usually happen on CBS when the entire world is watching March Madness.

2008 Siena
2010 Murray State
2011 Richmond

Last year, i wasn't totally embarrassed to lose to Wisconsin (pissed to lose to a delta bravo like Bo Ryan? yes, but embarrassed? no), as we had at least beat Harvard. So, i think it was Cleveland State. Indiana State was also in consideration. I can't remember any awful losses in 2009, besides missing post-season play.

This year, (drumroll) I think we can already crown our MELOTY as Marist. They are now 4-14 overall and 1-6 in conference, and they drilled us 50-33. Good Lord, how did that ever happen? At least the game was buried in a holiday tournament, and didn't happen in March Madness, like our other MELOTYs.

We lost to Univ. of Chicago at home by like 20 one of those years (?)


NOTE: This post does not address or "take sides" in the topic of retaining or not retaining the current coaching staff of any sport at Vanderbilt University or at any other school or entity, collegiate or professional.

oh yeah.....i think that was 2008-09, so our list is complete since 2008.

Chicago State that is. UofChicago is D 3

Refreshing and thanks.  Not only is the season bad enough as it is, but let's talk about the program's worst failure of all times.  Thank you!

dore74 wrote: Chicago State that is. UofChicago is D 3

Incorrect again.  It was UIC.  University of Illinois-Chicago.  The Flames, not the Chicago State Cougars.

Guess we have had no bad loss prior to 08.

Yeah we do...the season that we got hosed vs. Georgetown in the Sweet 16, we lost to both Furman and Appalachian State before conference play.

Weren't they even pretty decent that year and the next?

Dores311 wrote:

dore74 wrote: Chicago State that is. UofChicago is D 3

Incorrect again.  It was UIC.  University of Illinois-Chicago.  The Flames, not the Chicago State Cougars.

Interesting topic; one that could apply to all sports in all seasons in which the 'Dores were not undefeated.

I nominate the 1974 Men's Basketball loss at the end of the season to a mediocre Florida team that finished 9-9 in SEC play. Vanderbilt had swept mighty Alabama (with Douglas, Dunn, Odums, Cleveland, Russell coached by C.M. Newton) and only needed to beat Florida for the outright SEC title.

The loss left Vanderbilt and Alabama with identical 15-3 SEC records, but the head-to-head tiebreaker sent Vanderbilt to the NCAA Tournament Southeast Regional in Tuscaloosa. Alabama fans had bought most of the tickets, expecting the Tide to be in the regional. Needless to say, tickets were plentiful and cheap after the first round.

Poor Alabama, despite a 22-4 record and an AP #14 ranking, stayed home. The N.I.T. would have been an option in other years (although equally good VU teams had been passed up by that "prestigious" tournament) and there was a new "Conference Commissioners Tournament" for second place teams. But the NCAA had a rule that if a university was hosting an NCAA game and its own team did not qualify that team could not play in another tournament.

On a related note, here are some Vanderbilt non-SEC Champs teams that did not make the National Invitation Tournament.  LINK to Sports-Reference.com web page


SEASON .... COACH ......... W-L ...... Final AP
1954-55 ... Bob Polk ..... 16-6 ......... 17 *
1955-56 ... Bob Polk ..... 19-4 ......... 12 *
1956-57 ... Bob Polk ..... 17-5 .......... 8 *
1960-61 ... Bob Polk ..... 19-5 ......... -- **
1963-64 ... Roy Skinner .. 19-6 ......... -- **
1965-66 ... Roy Skinner .. 22-4 .......... 8 **
1967-68 ... Roy Skinner .. 20-6 ......... -- **
1972-73 ... Roy Skinner .. 20-6 ......... -- *@

* Final AP Poll included only 20 teams.
**Final AP Poll included only 10 teams.
@ I am reminded by CharlieNickens in this VandyMania thread that Vanderbilt was ineligible by virtue of hosting the 1973 Mideast Regional.

vugun wrote: Guess we have had no bad loss prior to 08.

Wrong again as usual, Mr. Zero BBIQ

2000-2001 end the year with EIGHT straight losses

2001-2002 14 point loss to Monmouth

2002-2003 NINE game losing streak incl. 106-44 drubbing

2004-2005 14 point loss to Southern Ill.

2006-2007 losses to both Furman and Appy State.


NOTE: This post does not address or "take sides" in the topic of retaining or not retaining the current coaching staff of any sport at Vanderbilt University or at any other school or entity, collegiate or professional.

Sometime in the 1950's there was a gambling scandal involving the NIT.  Because of this the SEC would not allow it's teams to play in the NIT from the late '50's thru the 1960's.  Roy Skinner once said that even without the ban Vanderbilt would not be able to play in the NIT because the players would not be allowed to miss that many days of school (back then the entire tournament was played in New York and if you made to the championship game you would be there for a week).