The Mount Rushmore discussion, which involves mimicking the presidential monument in South Dakota by picking the four most influential people related to a subject, is always a fun debate.

Today, we’ll take a look at a Mount Rushmore for the Vanderbilt football program, which has had its ups and downs.

The early years under coach Dan McGugin were full of wins and featured a Commodores team that was considered a national power. But some dark decades followed, with Vanderbilt unable to win consistently in the Southeastern Conference. Things took a turn for the better in recent years, with the Commodores playing in more bowl games since 2008 (four) than in the previous 118 years (three).

Given that history, to whom do turn to when looking for four faces to go on a monument in tribute to the program?

For the sake of simplicity of the discussion, we have limited the search to coaches and players.

Dan McGugin

The winningest coach in the history of the program is a slam-dunk selection for the Vanderbilt football Mount Rushmore. His 197-55-19 record in 30 years of service as the Commodores head coach from 1904-34 (he missed the 1918 season for military duty in World War I) is a combination of winning and longevity that likely will never be approached again.

McGugin’s Commodores went unbeaten in 1904, 1910, 1921, and 1922. He also led Vanderbilt one-loss seasons in 1905, 1906, 1907, 1911, 1912, 1915, 1916, 1919, 1926, 1927 and 1932. Only once, a 2-6 season in 1914, did he suffer a losing season. All of this at Vanderbilt. Enough said, right?

Bill Wade

Former Commodores QB Bill Wade holds the distinction as the only Vanderbilt football player to ever be selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft. He went as the first pick to Los Angeles in the 1952 draft after a record-setting career at Vanderbilt. Most of the 1951 SEC player of the year and All-American’s passing records have since been passed over, but the legend of his time in the black and gold remains.

Wade went on to have a successful 14-year career as a professional, which was highlighted by quarterbacking the Chicago Bears to the 1963 NFL championship.

Jay Cutler

If we are judging him solely by wins and losses during his tenure as the starting quarterback, Jay Cutler may be a head-scratching choice. The Commodores won just two games in each of his first three years as the Vanderbilt quarterback, but that had more to do with deficiencies everywhere else on the field.

Cutler owns the Commodores’ career records for passing yards (8,697) and passing touchdowns (59), and finished his Vanderbilt career by ending a 23-year losing streak to rival Tennessee. Now an NFL veteran, Cutler is the most prominent Vanderbilt football figure on the national landscape.

Jordan Matthews

Vanderbilt fans would kill me if former Commodores coach James Franklin appeared on this Mount Rushmore. Hard feelings still exist. But if we can’t feature the man who turned the Vanderbilt program around in 2011, we can certainly highlight the player who best personifies the achievements of that three-year time period.

Matthews, who would be the first to remind you that he was a two-star recruit in a Bobby Johnson signing class, became everything Vanderbilt values in its student-athletes as an exemplary student, teammate and competitor. He was a two-time All-American, setting SEC records for receptions (262) and receiving yards (3,759) while leading the Commodores to three consecutive bowl games and a pair of nine-win seasons.

Others considered: RB Zac Stacy, DB Casey Hayward, DB D.J. Moore, WR Earl Bennett, LB Jamie Winborn, LB Jamie Duncan, LB Chris Gaines, QB Whit Taylor, QB Kurt Page, coach Bobby Johnson, coach James Franklin, coach George MacIntyre.