Filed under: Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Big 10, SECNASHVILLE -- Vanderbilt changed coaches, but the Commodores continued to find unique ways to lose football games. After scoring a fourth quarter touchdown to slice Northwestern's lead to 23-21, Robbie Caldwell's Vanderbilt Commodores lined up for a two-point conversion that could have tied the game. Instead, quarterback Larry Smith fumbled the shotgun snap, leaving Northwestern with a two-point lead.
But the drama was far from over. On the ensuing series -- facing a third and six -- Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa (right), who was the best player on the field all night, rushed to his right. In hot pursuit came Vanderbilt linebacker Jay Fullam. Just shy of the first down marker, Fullam made contact with Persa, stoning him on the field with a strong tackle.
As the partisan Vanderbilt crowd roared with glee, believing that the Commodores would get one more possession to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, a referee's yellow flag floated down to the green grass. A high hit on the quarterback was the call, a 15-yard personal foul penalty to decide the game.
The Vanderbilt sideline was apoplectic. On the other sideline, Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald skipped at least 20 yards in the direction of the purple cheering section behind his bench. Eventually, he extended his arm to signal a first down and pumped his fist in glee.
After 59 minutes of virtually even football, the controversial personal foul call ended the game.
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