| Year: | 2011 |
| Team: | Vanderbilt Commodores |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southeastern Conference |
| Short Conf: | SEC |
| Division: | Eastern Division |
| Record: | 6–7 |
| Conf Record: | 2–6 |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Bowl Result: | L 24–31 vs. Cincinnati |
The 2011 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Commodores played their seven home games at Vanderbilt Stadium at Dudley Field in Nashville, Tennessee, which has been Vanderbilt football's home stadium since 1922.[1] The team's head coach was James Franklin, who was in his first year at Vanderbilt. Hired at Vanderbilt on December 17, 2010, he was previously the offensive coordinator and "head coach in waiting" at the University of Maryland.[2] Vanderbilt has been a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) since the league's inception in 1932, and has participated in the conference's Eastern Division since its formation for the 1992 season. Vanderbilt completed the 2011 regular season with an overall record of 6–6 and a mark of 2–6 in conference play, finishing in a tie with Kentucky for fourth place in the SEC East. They were invited to the Liberty Bowl where they were defeated by Cincinnati 24–31 to finish the season 6–7. 2011. The seniors of the 2011 Vanderbilt football team became the first class in program history to qualify for two bowl games while at the school. Vanderbilt had only been to bowls in 1955 VS Auburn, 1974 VS Texas Tech, 1982 VS Air Force, and 2008 VS Boston College.
At the end of the 2010 season, head coach Robbie Caldwell resigned from Vanderbilt.[3] After a long nationwide coaching search, in which Gus Malzahn, Auburn's offensive coordinator, nearly accepted the job,[4] James Franklin was hired as the 27th head football coach at Vanderbilt University.[5] Franklin proceeded to hire John Donovan as the new offensive coordinator and Bob Shoop as the new defensive coordinator. Franklin also retained Herb Hand as offensive line coach from the previous Vanderbilt staff, and hired Chris Beatty from West Virginia, who had been Percy Harvin's high school coach, as the new wide receivers coach.[6]
On February 2, 2011, Franklin announced a football recruiting class of 21 athletes. The class has been hailed as one of the best in Vanderbilt football history,[7] especially because Vanderbilt was able to persuade several prospects from larger and nationally known schools, such as Lafonte Thourogood from Virginia Tech, Dillon Van der Wal from Arizona State, and Barron Dixon from Mississippi State.[8] Lafonte Thourogood and Dillon van der Wal were both rated as four star recruits by Scout.com.[9]
| Name | Position | Years at VU |
| Head coach | 1st | |
| John Donovan | Offensive coordinator / running backs coach | 1st |
| Bob Shoop | Defensive coordinator / safeties coach | 1st |
| Charles Bankins | Special teams coordinator / tight ends coach | 1st |
| Chris Beatty | Wide receivers coach | 1st |
| Offensive line coach | 1st | |
| Wesley McGriff | Defensive backs coach | 1st |
| Ricky Rahne | Quarterbacks Coach | 1st |
| Brent Pry | Co-defensive Coordinator / linebackers coach | 1st |
| Defensive line coach | 1st | |
| Andy Frank | Assistant Director of football operations | 3rd |
| Jemal Griffin | Football Chief of Staff | 1st |
| Michael Hazel | Director of football operations | 3rd |
| Defensive Quality Control Coach | 1st | |
| Norval McKenzie | Assistant Recruiting Coordinator | 3rd |
| Joey Orck | Offensive Graduate Assistant | 3rd |
| Tom Bossung | Head Athletic Trainer | 13th |
| Kevin Colon | Associate Director of student athletics | 1st |
| Dwight Galt | Football Strength and Conditioning Director | 1st |
| Chuck Losey | Football Assistant Strength Coach | 1st |
| Kevin Threlkel | Offensive Administrative Assistant | 1st |
| Luke Wyatt | Head Equipment Manager | 29th |
See also: 2011 Elon Phoenix football team. This game marked the first meeting between these schools.
See also: 2011 Connecticut Huskies football team. This was the third meeting between these schools. Vandy holds a one-game lead in the series at 2 wins to 1 loss.
See also: 2011 Ole Miss Rebels football team. One of college football's oldest rivalries, Vanderbilt and Old Miss have played 85 times since 1894. Vandy won the first 19 of those games, and Ole Miss did not score in the first ten games. Vandy trails at 37–47–2 Vandy won last game 30–7.
See also: 2011 South Carolina Gamecocks football team. Vandy first played USC in 1961, but they did not play each other again until 1992. They have played each year since, with Vandy losing the first seven games. Vandy trails the overall series 4–16, and USC has won the last two games. The score of the most recent game was 3–21 in favor of South Carolina.
See also: 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team. Vandy has played Alabama 78 times since 1903. Vandy won the first five games, but have only won ten more times since. Vandy trails the all-time series 15–59–4. Alabama has won the last 20 games (the 1993 games was forfeited). They last played in 2007, with the result a 10–24 Alabama win.
See also: 2011 Georgia Bulldogs football team. Vandy has been playing Georgia almost every year since 1893. Vandy trails 18–51–2 all-time. Georgia has won the last three games, and the last game was 10–34 Georgia.
See also: 2011 Army Black Knights football team.
Army and Vandy have played eight games since 1968. The series is tied at 4 games each. In 2009, Army won their last meeting in overtime, 13–16.
See also: 2011 Arkansas Razorbacks football team. Vandy has played Arkansas eight times since 1949. Vandy trails the series 2–6, and Arkansas has won the last two last games. The last game was an Arkansas win, 14–49. Vanderbilt had a chance to tie the game with :12 left in the 4th quarter, but Carey Spear missed a 27-yard field goal and hooked it right. The Hogs survived their second upset of the season, with Ole Miss being their first.
See also: 2011 Florida Gators football team. Vandy and Florida have been playing since 1945. Vandy trails 9–33–2, and Vandy has lost the last 20 games. In their last meeting, Florida won 14–55.
See also: 2011 Kentucky Wildcats football team. Vandy and Kentucky have played 83 times since 1896. Vandy won the first nine games, and Kentucky did not score on Vandy for the first eleven games. Vandy trails 38–41–4, and Kentucky has won the last two games. The last game was a 20–38 Kentucky victory.
See also: 2011 Tennessee Volunteers football team. Vandy and Tennessee have played 105 times. Vandy did not lose for the first 12 games, but since 1928 UT has dominated the series. Overall, Vandy trails 27–72–5. Tennessee has won the last five games in the series, and the last game was a 10–24 Tennessee win.
See also: 2011 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team. Vandy and Wake Forest have played 13 times since 1964, and this is the only series in which Vandy plays during the 2011 football season that Vandy holds the all-time lead in, at 7–6–0. Wake, however, has won the last three. The last game was a 13–34 Wake Forest win.
Vanderbilt and Cincinnati had met six times, dating back to 1898. Cincinnati holds the lead with 4 wins.
See also: 2011 Cincinnati Bearcats football team and 2011 Liberty Bowl.