SEC Network analyst, Vandy alum, Jordan Rodgers reacts to Derek Mason’s firing
By Keith Farner
Published:
For years, many people have said that Vanderbilt needs to make significant changes in its view of the football program. Now that the Commodores fired coach Derek Mason, a prominent alumnus has weighed in on the direction.
SEC Network analyst Jordan Rodgers tweeted that a “complete overhaul” is needed on the West End, and the program won’t change until Vanderbilt, “realizes that NO coach will be successful w/o their full and TOTAL support. Facilities need a COMPLETE overhaul, not just “sprucing up the locker room” as is the norm. Mizzou just thumped you by 41, after a HUGE investment in facilities & new coach.”
Rodgers pointed out that the city is in a class by itself, along with the academic reputation of the school.
“The city recruits itself, the academics recruits itself, the facilities anti-recruit. Coach Mason never had a shot to be successful. And the next coach won’t either without somewhat even ground in recruiting,” Rodgers tweeted.
Mason became Vanderbilt’s coach in 2014, after he was Stanford’s associate head coach and defense coordinator. He was the second coach in Vanderbilt history to lead two Commodore teams to postseason bowls. Mason was also the first Vanderbilt coach since the 1920s to beat Tennessee in three straight games.
Mason, the sixth-winningest coach in program history, was 27-55 overall record at Vanderbilt.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
