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SEC Football Media Days 2017: 5 notable quotes from Day 2

By Nathaniel Reeves

OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 24: Head Coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs talks with one of his players during a game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Rebels defeated the Bulldogs 45-14. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 24: Head Coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs talks with one of his players during a game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Rebels defeated the Bulldogs 45-14. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Derek Mason, Vanderbilt head coach 

“Vanderbilt football is on the rise. As I look at our program and where we’re at and what we’ve done, I thought in 2016, we took several steps forward to be a better program. You looked at how we finished the season, 4-2, got us to a Bowl game for the first time in my tenure. And that was an exciting time for us. Definitely not satisfied.”

Stating your team is on the rise is commonplace in media days, but Mason’s passionate opening remarks may help others around the conference realize that Vanderbilt is quickly improving.

The Commodores expected to fall off after successful head coach James Franklin bolted for Penn State in 2013, but Mason’s early tenure looked like a disaster. Mason was blown out by a middling Temple team to begin his head coaching career, and eventually finished his first two seasons with a 7-17 record.

Vanderbilt made a big leap in 2017 with a 6-7 record and appearance in the Independence Bowl, just the fifth postseason trip for the team since 1982. The last six games of the regular season were particularly encouraging, as the Commodores knocked off rival Tennessee, picked up a road win in Athens, and competed hard at Auburn in a 23-16 loss.

Losing star linebacker Zach Cunningham hurts, but the Commodores are expected to start 19 upperclassmen and have the potential to continue improving. Mason’s defense looks strong, and talented running back Ralph Webb has the potential to turn around an offense that hasn’t averaged more than 23 points per game under Mason.

While winning the SEC East with Georgia and Florida around might be too lofty of a goal, the Commodores looked poised to go toe-to-toe with most teams in the SEC.

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