Vanderbilt Hires Their New Head Coach And It's Derek Mason

Derek Mason, thanks AP-Damian Dovarganes

[HT: The Tennessean]

And those of us in the OSG HQ think Vanderbilt made a great choice.

Derek Mason is the new head coach at Vanderbilt.  The Tennessean cites Vanderbilt donor and search committee member John Ingram who confirmed the hire.

Vanderbilt is expected to make the formal announcement Saturday morning at a press conference.

For the past three seasons Mason has been the defensive coordinator at Stanford.  Mason led the Cardinal defense to a top 20 finish nationally in total defense and third in the NCAA against the run giving up less than 100 yards per game.

The first order of business for Mason will be to save Vanderbilt's recruiting class which has been gutted following former head coach James Franklin's departure to Penn State.

Here's early returns out of Nashville...
((HT: WTVF-TV))
NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather

"Derek Mason is the leader we trust to continue the challenging but exciting work that has elevated the Vanderbilt football program to unprecedented heights," said Vanderbilt Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos. "He embodies integrity, strategic thinking and a demonstrated commitment to success. He understands the important role that athletics plays in the life of a vibrant university, and that outstanding scholarly pursuits and top-notch sports are integral parts of the Vanderbilt experience. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Vanderbilt community."
"I am so excited to be at Vanderbilt," Mason said in a release. "This university combines the best of what's good about college athletics and academics. We expect to be competitive and look forward to competing for an SEC East crown."

Players Committing To James Franklin And Not Vanderbilt

It was predictable that when James Franklin announced he was leaving Vanderbilt to become the new head coach at Penn State that the Commodore recruiting class fall apart.

It has.

A trio of Vanderbilt commitments have changed their minds and are following Franklin to Penn State. 

That trio is offensive lineman Brendan Brosnan from Park Ridge, Illinois, defensive end Lloyd Tubman from Louisville, Kentucky and another offensive lineman Chance Sorrell from Middletown, Ohio.

Those recruiting services that rank such things as top classes have dropped Vanderbilt considerably.

24/7 Sports.com is one such service that has Vanderbilt ranked 49^th nationally and 14^th, dead last in the SEC. 

Rivals.com has dropped Vanderbilt to 64 from the mid-20’s before Franklin’s departure.

Thursday Franklin was a guest on the Dan Patrick radio show and he was asked about the etiquette of taking recruits from one school to the other.

Franklin is dead on.  The relationship with the coaching staff will trump the academic reputation of any institution of higher education that competes in major college football.

Vanderbilt is a great school, its academic standing is exceptional but the University competes at the highest level in college football and in the football rabid SEC.

Franklin not only sold the school but those players felt a bond with their future head coach and Vanderbilt’s coaching staff before taking a class on campus. 

You can’t blame those commitments for following Franklin.

Vanderbilt will find a new head coach who will try to stop the bleeding with their recruiting class of 2014.

They better make a decision fast.

Vandy Stuns Vols On Fake Jump Pass

((HT: XOS Sports/SEC))

It is painfully obvious to the HQ that both Lane Kiffin and Derek Dooley have poisoned the Tennessee Volunteer water until further notice...

And the most immediate confirmation of that fact was last night as Vanderbilt drove 92 yards in 12 plays culminating in a Patton Robinette shotgun snap, fake jump pass, bootleg for a score with 12 seconds left in regulation for the 14-10 win

IN KNOXVILLE...

BY VANDERBILT...
Here's your highlights...


Vandy is now 7-4, Tennessee is the opposite...

Here's Butch Jones postgame...
((HT: Knoxnews.com))


Joshua Dobbs finished 11-of-19 passing for 53 yards and Tennessee generated only 237 yards of offense.

Vandy now has a two-game winning streak against UT for the first time since the 1920's.

The HQ is in agreement that Jones is the right guy to bring the program back to where it should...
It may take 15 years or so...

Boyd Dismissed From Vandy, Will Testify Against Ex-Teammates

((HT: NewsChannel 5 WTVF))

Vanderbilt announced it has dismissed Chris Boyd from both the football team and athletic program.

Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs Beth Fortune said, in a prepared statement, that the decision came after a review that included information that came out in open court as a part of his plea bargain hearing.

"Vanderbilt's athletic administration, in conjunction with its head football coach, today dismissed Chris Boyd from the university's football team and athletic program. The action came after an ongoing review that included information disclosed during a hearing September 13 in Davidson County Criminal Court.

The review concluded that Mr. Boyd's admitted actions are clearly inconsistent with the high standards of behavior expected of our student-athletes." said Fortune.

Boyd entered a conditional guilty plea to a role in attempting to cover up the rape of an unconscious student in a dorm on the school's campus that also allegedly involved a handful of other Vanderbilt football players.

Boyd received a suspended sentence on a misdemeanor charge of "criminal attempt to commit accessory after the fact." If he completes probation, his record is cleared. Surprising no one, he is also cooperating with prosecutors and is set to testify against the four other former football players charged in the case.

Brandon Vandenburg, Jaborian "Tip" McKenzie, Brandon Banks and Cory Batey each face five counts of aggravated rape and two counts of aggravated sexual battery. They are scheduled to be in court Wednesday, October 16th.

McKenzie was kicked off the Alcorn State football team after one game and transferring from Vandy- which was a big no-no.
((HT: WKRN-TV))
WKRN, Nashville News, Nashville Weather and Sports

DEVELOPING: Vandy WR Boyd Pleads To Lesser Charge, McKenzie's Alcorn Career Over After 1 Game...

((HT: WSMV-TV))

Suspended Vanderbilt WR Chris Boyd pleaded guilty to lesser charges in a local criminal court appearance this morning- a misdemeanor charge of "criminal attempt to being accessory after the fact."

Boyd was given an 11 month, 29 day suspended sentence. He has been placed on probation and won't serve any more jail time right now. He was suspected of helping to cover up the alleged sexual assault inside a dorm room at Vanderbilt.

Before the sentence was handed down, prosecutors read text messages between Boyd and one of the rape suspects in open court about what may have happened on the night in question. Vanderbilt suspended Boyd from the football team upon learning of his initial indictment.

Here was the court appearance...
WSMV Channel 4

The HQ's guess is that Boyd cut a deal to inform authorities about the others who are allegedly involved in the case...

Speaking of ex-teammates, JaBorian "Tip" McKenzie's career at Alcorn State lasted one game. McKenzie, after being banned from the Vanderbilt campus as a result of the accusations, transferred to Alcorn and could play immediately because of Alcorn's FCS/Division I-AA status. He wasn't listed on an active roster, but played last Saturday.

In a statement, Alcorn State University President M. Christopher Brown II, said:

"Alcorn failed to sufficiently examine the allegations against McKenzie before allowing him to participate in our football program ... In an effort to provide educational opportunities to a Southwest Mississippi student, Alcorn State University made an error in judgment."

1 Of 4 Ex-Vandy Players To Plead Not Guilty

((HT: WSMV-TV))

One of the four ex-Vanderbilt football players charged in the allegedly rape of an unconscious student in June has waived his right to appear at his arraignment and intends to enter a not guilty plea.

Jaborian "Tip" McKenzie along with Brandon Vandenburg, Cory Batey, and 19-year-old Brandon Banks have all been charged. McKenzie and Banks are currently free on bond.

McKenzie is free on a lesser bond than the other three defendants- a recommended $50,000 by the District Attorney's office.

Here's the latest from this afternoon...
WSMV Channel 4

Conventional wisdom is that McKenzie may be the one who is going to flip on his three ex-teammates...

McKenzie's attorney, Jodie Bell, volunteered nothing...of course...

"On behalf of Mr. McKenzie, out of respect for the victim, in light of the pending litigation, and the ongoing investigation, we are not making any comment at this time."

Vandy's James Franklin Calls Nick Saban "Nicky Satan"

((ht: wmaz.com

Whoa!

What is this? The head coach at Vanderbilt talking smack about perennial national championship coach Nick Saban?

Yup, that's exactly what he appears to have done.

James Franklin was speaking to Central High School in Macon, Georgia when called Alabama's head coach, Nicky Satan.

Really?

It was spoken within the context of outworking "The Man" himself, but hmmmm...wonder how that will go over in Tuscaloosa?

Granted, we don't think Saban really will care one way or the other. But you can be darn skippy that the 'Bama fanbase is going to bring it up. As will the Alabama media who pretty much report on even the smallest of slights.

Vandy's been making some noise in the SEC, with back to back bowl seasons in, well, the first time ever. And it's probably not such a bad thing Vandy and Alabama don't play this upcoming season either.

Props to Franklin for being aggressive and aiming high. We don't know if the Nicky Satan thing was such a good idea publicly, but nice set of cojones there James.

Here's your video:

Joker Phillips Would Like to Stay... But...

((HT: Scott Anderson))

This is what the head coach of the University of Kentucky said when he was asked about his job security and/or future after the 40-0 loss to Vanderbilt...


It was the worst loss to Vanderbilt since 1916- which can't go over well in Lexington...

The players are standing by Joker Phillips regardless of the end result on the field...

From WKYT-TV and their post-game:

"Joker means a lot. He's our head coach," linebacker Avery Williamson said. "I like him personally, as a guy, outside of coaching. He's going to stay strong for us, so we're going to stay strong for him."

"It's just not a good feeling," quarterback Jalen Whitlow said. "You've got to love your coaches. We've got good coaches."

The loss sent UK to 1-9 and 0-7...

Samford is next on their schedule on the 17th- the HQ guesses it's the homecoming game when Pat Sullivan comes to town...

So, it looks like the Wildcats may go 2-10 and Phillips will, probably, join Gene Chizik, and Derek Dooley with buyouts and/or unemployment come the end of the season.

UPDATED: Todd Grantham goes nuts as Georgia holds off Vandy

Sometimes football is a weird game. The universe tilts and teams that used to be good aren't and teams that normally aren't....are.

None of that happened in Saturday nights Georgia/Vanderbilt game.

Georgia was playing to stay in first place in the weak SEC East and Vandy was looking for their 1st win in SEC play. In fact, Vandy was looking for their 1st TD in 3 weeks, Georgia hadn't been giving up touchdowns..to anyone.

Georgia won the game, 33-28. The game featured 3 missed field goals by Georgia, a kickoff return for a TD by Vandy, a blocked punt by Georgia and inexplicably, Georgia unable to run out the clock at the end of the game and allowing Vandy to block a punt with less than a minute to go that nearly led to the Commodores winning the game.

What happened afterwards was far worse.

Somehow Vanderbilt Head Coach James Franklin and Georgia Defensive Coordinator Todd Grantham got into a rather angry shouting and threatening match. That same incident led to a near or arguably a real brawl at the end too.

Franklin said since he couldn't find UGA Coach Mark Richt in the crowd, he went to congratulate one of the Assistant's. That assistant was Grantham, who was angry about something, though nobody is sure exactly what it was.

You can bet some discipline will be involved.

Here are your game highlights (thanks Fox Sports South):



And here is slow motion video of Grantham going somewhere north of ballistic: