Clark Lea and the Vanderbilt Commodores are on bye this week after a loss to South Carolina, 47-6. The Commodores have lost 9 straight.

But Clark Lea can do this all day.

He told reporters at the SEC’s weekly teleconference that he and the Commodores are anxious to get back on the playing field with Tennessee on the docket for Week 13.

Here’s what he had to say Wednesday:

“We’re just anxious to get out and play again. Whoever the opponent is, obviously I’m from Nashville, played at Vanderbilt,” Lea said. “I get excited about this game and I think those things are kind of embedded naturally in this program, and playing your in-state opponent in the league. But for me right now, big-picture-wise, it’s just to get out and have one more opportunity and hopefully — the way we finished that South Carolina game left such a bitter taste and it was so frustrating. Just want a chance to go out and to play better and to see the kids out there competing and knowing what to do and playing with confidence.”

Lea continued by saying Vanderbilt has a better team than results may show. It brings up the question: What would Vanderbilt’s record be in a league such as the ACC or the Big 12?

Here’s the rest of Lea’s comments:

“We have a better team than our results have shown and we just haven’t played to a level yet to allow us to eat into some of those margins. It’s frustrating. So certainly we’re excited to get one more opportunity with this group to go out and hopefully make something happen.”