Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason: USA TODAY's ranking a 'slap in the face'
Coaches often look for any sort of material as a means to motivate their respective team. Motivation can stem from the opposing team, and it can also hail from the media.
USA TODAY published an article in which it previewed the upcoming SEC season. It ranked each division, and also offered a ranking for each team as it pertains to the rest of the country.
Vanderbilt was ranked as the last-place team within the SEC East. It also held the standing as the No. 113 team in the entire nation.
While a coach’s spiel against these sort of articles often happens behind closed doors, Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason didn’t hesitate to offer his opinions publicly (to The Tennesseean) on the matter:
“With that USA TODAY article, we’re mad. We’ve got a chip on our shoulder — offensively, defensively, special teams. That’s a slap in the face and a kick in the mouth.”
Cornerback Torren McGaster echoed these sentiments.
“They want to rank us 113th? Just like (Mason) said, it’s a punch in the mouth to our whole team. Of course, we hear all that. But our offense is going to prove the nation wrong. Our defense is going to prove the nation wrong.”
Vanderbilt opens its 2016 season against South Carolina on Thursday, Sep. 1.
#1 ranking teams before they play is wrong and ignorant and tabloid-like. #2 Vanderbilt had a very good team and well coached team last year. I’m not going to get baited here but Vanderbilt is much more likely to finish on the other end of the spectrum.
It’s not wrong or right..it’s just so we have something to talk about and to gauge teams’ potential talent, schedule, etc…I always like it because it helps fill in the time till the first games…on Vanderbilt, just like for South Carolina, that first game is crucial in my opinion..wouldn’t shock me if the winner makes a bowl and the loser doesn’t
Pre-season rankings do not matter, Coach.
If you disagree with them, prove them wrong on the field.
I see where he’s coming from, but it’s pre-season. These jokers are rarely right about who the #1 team is, let alone predicting the where the rest of the teams in CFB rank.
“You gonna do something, or just stand there and bleed?” -USA Today AKA Wyatt Earp to the commode crew.
No way Vandy is the 113th tm in the nation. Neither are they the worst tm in the East. They’re ahead of Mizzou and SC. Of those 3, Vandy is the most likely to make a bowl.
Once vandy finishes fourth in the east at 7-5, then wins their bowl game, he won’t have to worry about idiots like that.
Vanderbilt is currently favored by 3.5 points over South Carolina on opening night.
Sounds about right…
Only one thing to do to shut these people up coach………WIN!!!!