When Vanderbilt and Arkansas step off the field Saturday, one team will have its first SEC victory.
Commodores coach Derek Mason hopes it’ll be his team that wins the matchup, which he previewed during the SEC Coaches Teleconference on Wednesday. Vanderbilt has come close to its first SEC win over the last two weeks, giving away a big lead against No. 9 Florida before falling at No. 12 Kentucky by just a touchdown.
The Commodores (3-5, 0-4 SEC) visit Arkansas (2-6, 0-4) at noon ET on Saturday. Here’s everything Mason said about the rare cross-division matchup between the schools:
On playing Arkansas being such a rarity, how have you scouted them?
- I know Chief (Arkansas defensive coordinator John Chavis) well. We’ve spent time together. I’m more familiar with the coaches on staff than I am the team. It will be a great opportunity to see a team we don’t get to see very often in the West.
On Arkansas defense:
- De’Jon Harris has been balling; we’d love to have him. Santos Ramirez is another one. They are starting to take on Chief’s system, but college football is a junior and senior sport; sometimes it just takes a while.
On Arkansas’ offense:
- (Quarterback) Ty Storey is tremendous. He is working out how to be consistent. They won with Connor Noland, so I plan on seeing all three quarterbacks if that’s what they plan to do.
On Vandy and Arkansas playing nine consecutive weeks without a bye:
- Nine games in nine weeks, for us, is a challenge. Even with the new redshirt rule, you can’t substitute the deal with an early break and a late break. Midterms are tough. It will come at the right time now. Would I have taken it a few weeks ago? Sure, but it’s coming at a good time now.
On the 11 a.m. kickoff:
- We’ve had it two or three times, so it doesn’t bother us. I don’t put much into it. The team has to be ready to play. You got two teams looking for their first SEC win; being tired won’t be a deal for anyone. It just means at the end of the day, we aren’t a premiere game and I’m fine with that. It’s not a primetime slot.
Marcus covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
