After a 7-point win over Hawaii, a 5-3 lead after one quarter that became a 12-3 halftime lead had the natives feeling restless. The frustration in the stadium was palpable. The Commodores were not imposing their will for the second straight week. Dreams of a bowl game seemed to be fading as fans were forced to wake up to an all-too-painful reality.
A quick, assertive TD drive to start the third quarter made the home fans perk up. However, Alabama A&M would answer with a 62-yard TD pass before traded punts brought back the exasperation. The punt would prove to be the only time Vanderbilt would not score in the second half with the exception of the final drive of the game where Walter Taylor and Drew Dickey would split snaps as the clock’s final moments were exhausted.