Johnson returns for his seventh season

HOOVER | At his introductory press conference upon taking the Vanderbilt head coaching job, Bobby Johnson was asked how long he thought he would be there before he was fired.

Six years later he's still the coach of the Commodores and is optimistic about his seventh season in Nashville.

"We start practice next week and we have a huge challenge for our football team," Johnson said.

He is the longest tenured coach at Vanderbilt in the last 20 years. He is 20-50 in six seasons.

"I like the situation I'm in. I like the kind of student-athlete we have," Johnson said. "I don't think I'm going to coach anywhere other than Vanderbilt in my career."

Johnson said he is in favor of an early-signing period. Urban Meyer and Slyvester Croom both were against early signing while Les Miles is in favor.

Vanderbilt was 5-7 last season and will play Miami (Ohio) on Aug. 28.

"We were close last year," he said. "If a couple of games go the other way we’re in a bowl. It's tough in the SEC with the games we have to play. We think we can compete with anyone."