Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Several minutes after what some where already calling the biggest win in Vanderbilt football history, the players returned to Vanderbilt Stadium for a curtain call.
"It was just to say thanks," said Vanderbilt receiver George Smith. "A lot of them have been right there with us during all the tough times. This was for them.
"I hope they enjoyed it, too, because we're taking this program to another level."
Smith, a sixth-year senior, has seen it all at Vanderbilt.
He's been around for multiple two-win seasons, witnessed the Commodores coming painfully close to breaking through when Jay Cutler was on campus in 2005 -- and most importantly -- fought back from a rare neurological disorder that nearly took his life soon after arriving on campus.
Smith, as much as anybody who was at Vanderbilt Stadium on Saturday night, probably has the best perspective on what Vanderbilt's 14-13 win over Auburn truly meant to the black and gold masses.
"We're changing the whole atmosphere at Vanderbilt," said Smith, one of the team captains. "A lot of teams and people out there look at us like we're the nerds or the team that gets lucky in a few games, but I think we're proving that we can really dig deep and win these games in the fourth quarter."
The Commodores (5-0, 3-0 SEC) have been impressive in the second half this season. They've outscored their first five opponents by a 58-10 margin after halftime. Their last three opponents haven't scored a point after halftime.
"It goes back to the whole attitude of this team," Smith said. "Coach (Bobby) Johnson is always reminding us that we're good players, great players. As long as we stick to the details and the little things, some of the things other teams ignore, we'll come out on top."
There's also one other thing to come out of Saturday's historic win for the Commodores, according to Smith.
A statement, if you will.
"We do both here. We can go to class and we can also win football games on Saturday," he beamed.
Chris Low joined ESPN.com in 2007 after 10 years with The (Nashville) Tennessean covering the University of Tennessee and SEC. The Rock Hill, S.C., native lives with his wife in Knoxville and has three sons.
