WATCH: Derek Mason previews motivational locker room speech against Tennessee
By Keith Farner
Published:
Vanderbilt has won two straight against Tennessee, but if you ask Commodores coach Derek Mason, that’s no time to sit back and enjoy it.
During a visit on “Thinking Out Loud” on the SEC Network, Mason gave a preview of what his message will be on Saturday before his players take the field.
“For us right now, if it don’t challenge you, it don’t change you,” Mason said. “You got to make sure you’re up for the challenge. We worked hard to get here, but here’s the deal. You can’t just step out there and hope you’re going to get it. You got to take it. Football’s a game where it’s man whoopin’ man. So if you want to whoop a man, it’s got to be today. It’s got to be now. Let’s get ready to anchor down. Let’s do what we do. Let’s get it.”
Surprisingly, Vanderbilt has taken control of the in-state series recently, with four wins in the last six meetings, though Tennessee still controls the overall mark at 75-32-5. This year, a bowl bid is at stake. The Vols, for example, went 28-1 from 1983-2011.
Vanderbilt’s 45-34 victory over Tennessee in 2016 was believed to have cost the Vols a Sugar Bowl berth. Vanderbilt’s 42-24 win last year at Neyland Stadium meant Tennessee set a school record for losses and the Vols went winless in SEC play.
Tennessee is dealing with key injuries to QB Jarrett Guarantano and WR Marquez Callaway. Callaway reportedly has a bruised chest, while Guarantano is dealing with a head/neck injury.
.@CoachDerekMason has us ready to run through a brick wall. #TOL pic.twitter.com/KzPetZpNnZ
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 20, 2018
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
