Alabama football lessons from 2024 loss at Vanderbilt, Digi Mart USA News (Tuscaloosa, Ala.): Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack still keeps a block from Alabama’s 2024 loss at Vanderbilt in his office. The reminder has stayed with him for two years, and this week, with the Crimson Tide returning to Nashville after a 31-13 win at LSU, its lesson carries added relevance.
Wommack said the loss had a major impact on him. Alabama’s previous trip to Vanderbilt came one week after beating Georgia and climbing to No. 1 in the country.
The unranked Commodores handed the Crimson Tide a shocking 40-35 loss, their first victory in the series since 1984.
Wommack said the problem started with an urgency Alabama failed to carry into the matchup. “We came off of a big win.
I think we went up there two years ago, and we didn’t have enough guys on the sideline that had the same sense of urgency that you have to have in every single SEC game,” he said.
He said the block serves as a reminder of how relentless Alabama must remain in its preparation. The staff has drawn on that experience numerous times since the loss to reinforce the standard required to win conference games.
Head coach Kalen DeBoer described the LSU win as one of the more complete performances his team has delivered this season. He said the execution that produced the victory must be established again before Saturday.
“None of the plays, none of the stops, none of the points carry over,” DeBoer said. “Got to go do it again here in the SEC.”
In 2024, Vanderbilt made Alabama pay for the opportunities it did not take advantage of. The Commodores converted 12 of 18 third downs and held the ball for more than 42 minutes.
After Alabama pulled within five points with 2:46 remaining, Vanderbilt ran out the clock without giving the Crimson Tide another possession.
DeBoer recalled the loss on Monday and discussed how Vanderbilt set the tempo and controlled momentum in the upset. “They just out-executed us,” DeBoer said.
“Stayed on the football field, finished drives and put touchdowns on the board, and kept taking advantage of the momentum that they had.”
DeBoer credited Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea for the toughness and team football his program displays. He pointed to continuity within the Commodores’ roster and coaching staff, including players Alabama has faced since the 2024 meeting.
Wommack said preventing another difficult start is Alabama’s top priority, noting that Vanderbilt has taken the momentum early in each of the teams’ last two matchups. “So we have to do a much better job early and more consistently throughout the game,” Wommack said.
Alabama’s ability to get off the field will be part of the game plan. Against LSU, the Crimson Tide stopped all four of the Tigers’ fourth-down attempts.
Wommack credited his players’ situational understanding and execution, along with earlier stops that forced LSU into more difficult fourth-down decisions.
The offense also has a major role in controlling possessions. Alabama stayed ahead of the sticks in Baton Rouge and gave Keelon Russell manageable second-and-third-down situations.
DeBoer said Alabama must sustain drives against a Vanderbilt team that will try to keep the ball and limit the Crimson Tide’s opportunities.
DeBoer said the lessons from 2024 can help with preparation, but players and coaches bring different perspectives to the week. Some experienced the loss, while others were not yet at Alabama.
“My job as head coach is to take those experiences, the good, the bad, the ugly, to always apply them and make sure that we’re better because of it,” DeBoer said.
Wommack said the program has an opportunity Saturday to show how much it has learned since that loss. “It’s been two years since we’ve had an opportunity to go up to Nashville and win,” Wommack said.
“Certainly we’re going to do everything we can to make sure we maximize this opportunity this week.”
