Junior Ronald Hatcher replaced Norval McKenzie as the starting tailback, but broke his right leg in the first quarter.
The injury, which will likely end Hatcher's season, occurred on Hatcher's third carry as he tried to make it around the left end. It is the second time the Commodores have lost a player with a fractured leg in two games this season. Starting right guard Jordan Pettit broke his leg against Georgia Tech last week.
Hatcher played in all 11 games last year, but only started against Auburn at wide receiver. Hatcher lasted six plays last night and was replaced by McKenzie, the original starter. Freshman Grant Brigham replaced Hatcher as the punt returner.
''Ronald was really running well,'' Coach Bobby Johnson said. ''You feel bad because he has worked so hard and to have that taken away from his is tough.''
Option game: Jay Cutler was given two choices. Did he want to be an option quarterback who can pass or a passing quarterback who can run the option?
''I like the second one better,'' he said. ''I don't want to be labeled as an option quarterback. When I think of option quarterbacks, I think of guys playing at Nebraska or Army or somewhere like that.''
Cutler turned one option keeper into a 61-yard touchdown run. He also scored on a 12-yard run on a quarterback draw and a 1-yard sneak. Also, his first touchdown pass to Dan Stricker came on a play where the Commodores faked the option.
Coach Bobby Johnson noted that the option can be something of an equalizer, especially against defenses that are not prepared.
''If people aren't willing to practice against it, the option has the chance to make some big plays,'' Johnson said.
Official injury: Head linesman Lea Rutter injured his leg and limped to the sideline with 10:23 left in the first half. He was tended to by Vanderbilt doctor Eric McCarty and replaced by alternate Richard Rooker.
QB on the run: Cutler's 61-yard scoring scamper lifted the Commodores to a 35-6 lead. The last time a Vandy quarterback had three touchdown runs was when Ronnie Gordon three times in a win at Georgia in 1994.
Freshman following: Nearly the entire freshman class at Furman attended last night's game. About 850 students boarded 19 purple tour busses and made the 350-mile trip and returned to Greenville. Every one of the freshmen wore purple T-shirts.
Passing Paladins: New Furman Coach Bobby Lamb said earlier in the week that his offense would throw the ball more than when Johnson was the coach. The Paladins put the ball in the air on 12 of their first 19 plays.
Seeing double: Both squads went through the same warm-up drills. Johnson introduced the drills to Vanderbilt this season and Furman is sticking to what he installed there.
Beard returns: Brett Beard, hobbled by an injured foot much of last season and then a separated shoulder and sprained ankle in the preseason, saw his first action during Furman's third drive.
Also, linebacker Brandon Walthour, sidelined in the opener with a broken thumb, started last night wearing a large cast on his left hand.
Gee join bands: Vanderbilt Chancellor Gordon Gee stepped in with the Vanderbilt band in the second half and played a drum.
Blown chance: With less than two minutes remaining in the first half Furman quarterback Billy Napier tossed a short pass to Isaac West, who raced past the defense and down the sideline for a 54-yard to the Vandy 10. The play, however, was called back for illegal procedure. The Paladins were flagged for the second time in the half for not having enough men on the line.
Jersey switch: The Commodores were set to wear their gold jerseys and white pants earlier in the week. But when they came out last night they wore their black jerseys and stuck with the white pants.
Purple pride: Less than a half-hour before kickoff, Furman, a Division I-AA school with an enrollment of 2,630, had about the same number of fans already in the stadium than Vanderbilt.
Remembering 9/11: A giant American flag was unfurled at the 50-yard line as the national anthem was sung by a sergeant major from the U.S. Marines. Also, a representative from each of the armed forces stood on the sideline with flags of each branch.
On target: Vandy freshman QB Jay Cutler completed only 10 passes for 73 yards in his debut last week. By halftime last night he had already completed nine passes for 191 yards.
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