The team's head coach was Dan McGugin, who served his first season in that capacity.

Members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the Commodores played six home games in Nashville, Tennessee and finished the season with a record of 9–0.

Sportswriter Fuzzy Woodruff once wrote "The plain facts of the business are that McGugin stood out in the South like Gulliver among the native sons of Lilliput...

End is his position; he is heavy, weighing about 170, is fast, a good tackler, advances the ball well, and is a fair punter.

"[13] McGugin remains the only coach in NCAA history to win his first three games by 60 points.

Ed Hamilton and Manier alternated against Jones Beene, easily taking care of him.

Capt Biddle of the Nashville team said "We were outclassed too far in weight, besides were not as aggressive as Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt faced rival and previously undefeated Sewanee Tigers for the championship of the south.

[21] A postseason match between Vanderbilt and Auburn to decide a Southern championship was forbidden by the SIAA.

[22] The following chart provides a visual depiction of Vanderbilt's lineup during the 1904 season with games started at the position reflected in parentheses.