If you look around the SEC — and country for that matter, it’s an ongoing arms race of football facilities … except at Vanderbilt.

In a detailed report by Adam Sparks of The Tennessean, sources told the outlet that university administrators undercut efforts to raise funds for the football stadium in lieu of focussing on other campus structures.

When I think of Vanderbilt football and how it compares to other programs around the country, Northwestern is a team that immediately comes to mind. The difference between Vandy and Northwestern is the Wildcats are willing to pump money into new facilities. Northwestern just opened a $260 million lakefront athletics center.

Vanderbilt Stadium is decades behind the other 13 SEC schools, and there’s no upgrade or new-build in sight.

Derek Mason touched on the subject at SEC Media Days.

“I think we need to address it now because the skyrocketing costs of building are not going to go down in Nashville,” Mason said. “We have to be smart and strategic and also work with a sense of urgency.”

Put yourself in a head coach’s shoes. Even if he wins eight games, there’s little desire to build a program because the support isn’t there from within. Until Vanderbilt makes a commitment to a project like this, the program will unfortunately be viewed as a stepping-stone job, at best.

You should really read Sparks’ detailed story here.