SEC Football Coach Stock Watch: Who’s Up, Who’s Down Headed into 2015
Nov 29, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Derek Mason during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Derek Mason – Vanderbilt Commodores
Stock: Down
You have to feel bad for Derek Mason. He only came in behind one of the best coaches Vanderbilt has ever had. It was a rough year one for Mason at the helm, going 3-9, winless in the SEC, and almost being topped by an FCS opponent.
That would be enough to put just about any coach on the hot seat.
Fortunately for Mason, at Vandy he’s going to get a pass and fans aren’t going to get on his case right away. Vanderbilt’s fan base may be smaller but they aren’t dumb, and they realize that a lot of top recruits went out the window when James Franklin left for Penn State. On the flip side, they’ve now tasted success and didn’t care for the steep drop off in wins.
Mason is basically starting from scratch, and he’s going to have fan support as long as there is improvement shown from year to year.