Vanderbilt suffered a tough, 22-17 loss to No. 8 Notre Dame on the road last week, and after the game, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly blasted the Commodores for playing “bad football.”

Kelly was upset that Vanderbilt kept cut blocking one of his offensive lineman, Alize Mack.

Check out what he said after the game on Saturday, courtesy of @mattrandall_ on Twitter:

During Wednesday’s Coaches Teleconference, Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason fired back at Kelly:

“I don’t care much about Brian Kelly’s comments about football… The game gets played on the football field. We are asked guys to lower their target, raise their targets… He can go on with his comments,” he said.

Vanderbilt kicks off SEC play this weekend at home against South Carolina, and Mason also spent time previewing his upcoming matchup with the Gamecocks.

When asked where Vandy is this year compared to last season’s fast start, Mason said, “I think it’s a better group of players than it was in 2017… We had a few players go to the NFL but this team is deeper, the leadership is better, player driven instead of coach driven. SEC play will give us a better indication of who we are… South Carolina is a good football team, coached well, it will be a good football team.”

South Carolina WR Deebo Samuel is one of the most versatile players in college football, and the ‘Dores will have to account for him every time he steps on the field.

“He’s getting back to himself coming of an ACL,” said Mason. “You have to find your bearings and he has had a chance to do that… They have two No. 1 receivers, their talent at WR is outstanding. They can beat you down the field, (Bryan) Edwards is as good as Deebo… It’s going to be a huge day at ‘the Dud.”