I am trying to find the obscure NCAA Records that you likely are not aware of and then couple it with the school that set the record really not celebrating it. You may know about this record, but you likely don’t. If you do know about this record, awesome, but keep it quiet so you don’t spoil it for anyone else. Sometimes the records are ones you may want to forget ever happened too, and this may just be the case for this NCAA record. Because I don’t think you want to celebrate being the last team to complete a season without throwing a touchdown pass.

Before I start this one, I need to clarify what it says in the NCAA Record Books. This one is only in the FBS Version of the NCAA Record Book, too.

I attempted to find the five previous seasons after 1975 but before 1993, but I failed. Maybe our favorite account Quirky Research can find the other five seasons. They are much better at me searching for things, after all.

I am considering this Seemingly Forgotten NCAA Record in the same way you consider the last ever Tie Game. It’s likely something you’ll never see again. (Besides a weather forced tie)

I dug through all the box scores for every game in this season and will highlight the all the 157 passing attempts and try to make sense on how they never threw a touchdown pass in an ENTIRE SEASON.

Time to set the scene.

SEPTEMBER 4, 1993, THE SEASON BEGAN

The Number 1 song that week was on the soundtrack of a Sharon Stone movie called Sliver, and the song was a remake of the Elvis Presley song “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by a British reggae band called UB40. Yes, that is an absolutely strange group of words. I’ll listen to the song while I write this post. Enjoy the video here.

Commish enough about the British Reggae band, who also sang Red Red Wine. We're here to talk about the last team in NCAA history to go an ENTIRE SEASON WITHOUT THROWING A TOUCHDOWN PASS.

Ok, I’ll let you guess what team it is.

There is no doubt it is a service academy.

Well, you’re wrong.

It has to be a school in a smaller conference.

Well, you’re wrong again.

Could it be a school in the SEC?

Yes, it is.

Well I have to assume it would be this team who has this record now I know it is an SEC School.

Yep, it’s Vandy.

The 1993 Vanderbilt Commodores were led by Head Coach Gerry DiNardo in his third season. Their offense was based out of the I-formation and ran an offense called the I-Bone. They were a full triple option team out of the I-Formation, and their Quarterbacks did run the ball a ton.

Their starter was Ronnie Gordon, who ran the ball 91 times in 1993, but he attempted more passes than rushes. The other two QBs, Cedric Douglas and Kenny Simon, both ran more than nearly double the amount they passed. Cedric Douglas ran 62 times and Kenny Simon ran 74 times on the season.

The Commodores started their season on the road at Wake Forest. They ran all over the Demon Deacons for a 27-12 win. It also made Deacons new Head Coach Jim Caldwell the most animated I have ever seen him.

Vandy ran the ball 67 times for 431 yards! They only passed seven times, going 2-7 for a whopping 12 yards.

Next week, they faced #2 Alabama at home. Needless to say, they didn’t rush for 400+ yards again. They lost 17-6. They did however pass 10 times, completing six but threw two interceptions. Their started Kenny Simon ran 17 times for 91 yards and their only score. But alas, no passing touchdown.

The Nashville papers wanted Vandy to pass the ball more and stop running it so much. They thought Vandy could have beaten #2 Alabama! Crazy! Like, Vanderbilt could ever beat a top ranked Alabama team? 😉 

Next week, the Commodores traveled to Oxford to take on Ole Miss. Vandy was crushed 49-7. I am starting to think John Bibb was wrong, asking for more Vandy passing.

Vandy ran the ball 36 times for 32 yards! They passed 14 times, only completed one to their team and three to Ole Miss. One pass completed for 19 yards.

Vandy welcomed #23 Auburn next week and nearly took out another ranked team. Vandy ran for 217 yards. Vandy only passed four times, going 1-4 for four yards and an interception. You’d think they could catch the defense off guard once with a pass since the triple option was working so well.

Vandy welcomed in Cincinnati in next week. They earned their 500th win as a football program with the 17-7 win. Did the Tennessean celebrate this momentous achievement? Nope.

I don’t think Larry Woody was a fan of the Gerry DiNardo I-Bone offense.

Larry, you got to understand. Vandy didn’t seem to be able to do much passing.

Vandy ran for 267 yards in the win. They went 2-10 passing for 30 yards and two interceptions.

The next week they welcomed in Georgia. It did not go well for them as they lost 41-3. They passed the most they ever did all year long, too! They had two QBs combined for 8 for 24 for 96 yards and only one interception.

Vandy is sitting at 2-4 and 0-4 in the SEC. They travelled to South Carolina to play the Gamecocks. The ‘Dores lost 22-0 falling to 2-5 and 0-5 in the SEC. The Tennessean was not pleased with the Quarterbacks.

Next week, Vandy welcomed in Kentucky and got their first SEC win of the year. Apparently, Gerry DiNardo owned Kentucky while he was with Vandy.

Vandy ran for 251 yards in the win. However, they only passed for 33 yards, going 4 for 9 with one interception.

Vandy won back to back games for the first time this year. They crushed Navy 41-7. You’d think they could have gotten a touchdown pass here but nope. They ran the ball 75 TIMES. They went 5 for 8 passing for 57 yards but alas no touchdown pass. Hey, they are 4-5 on the season, though!

Next week, they had to travel to The Swamp to face Steve Spurrier and the #8 ranked Florida Gators. Vandy was crushed 52-0, but they matched their season high in passing attempts! They went 9 for 24 for 81 yards and two interceptions.

The final game of the season, Vandy had to face their rivals #6 Tennessee. The Vols took a 48-0 lead through three quarters. Come on Vandy, get a garbage time touchdown pass. If only they were so lucky. They go two rushing touchdowns to make it 48-14. Tennessee added two more touchdowns to make the final score 62-14.

Vandy’s last game, they went 11 for 24 passing for their most yards in a single game this season! 120 yards passing! They did throw one interception. The Commodores completed the last season in NCAA Division I Football History without throwing a Touchdown Pass.

Let’s summarize the season passing statistics in a fancy graphic.

Thank you for reading!