Vandy's defense is ready for fall

Eight sacks and two interceptions highlighted a Black & Gold game primarily dictated by the defenses and sprinkled with trick plays Sunday night. About 3,000 fans watched the Vanderbilt intrasquad scrimmage that new Coach James Franklin reinstituted after a 14-year absence. No more than a few hundred came to watch the final spring practice in recent years. The Black squad, led by quarterback Larry Smith and much of the projected first-team offense, beat the Gold 19-7. The only points of the second half came on a 10-yard halfback pass from Zac Stacy to Smith on the game's final play. Stacy missed the chance to hit an open Smith on the same play in the first half.

"Actually, we don't call them trick plays. We call them money plays," said Smith, who completed 16 of 26 passes for 233 yards with one touchdown and one interception. "They're part of our regular offense, so we don't look at them as being trick plays. Coach isn't afraid to take shots."