SEC PRIMER (Week 11): The dilemma that is Vanderbilt football
Compiled by GRAHAM DUNN
There has been plenty said about the Vanderbilt Commodores football program the last few days.
Some of it is actually truthful.
This includes:
The team introduced a woman kicker – Sarah Fuller – as the first to play in an FBS game in the history of college football.
The Commodores lost to the Missouri Tigers, 41-0.
Derek Mason was fired a day after the loss.
That’s about it. The rest of the information being floated about the Internet or among national reporters is not exactly on the up and up. Or at least complete.
Earlier in the week, River Region Sports interviewed Chris Lee, who covers Commodores athletics for Rivals. (Hear the interview in the link below). He gave a somewhat scathing review of the situation revolving around Fuller’s accolades last week. While it was certainly a special moment for college football, it came with a price.
In this case, the postponement of the Georgia game this weekend.
Lee explained that while Fuller was granted the opportunity to kickoff to start the second half of the Missouri game, her inclusion was not received as some have surmised.
“It’s been total chaos,” Lee stated. “I don’t think is because any player hates Sarah Fuller. If Sarah could have helped them, they would have welcomed that. If she is kicking 50-yard field goals, that would have certainly helped. But if you don’t think the coaching staff has the team’s best interest at heart, you don’t think the staff is doing the things to win games, there really is no alternative but to lose the team, and that’s what happened.”
To provide the actual narrative, Fuller was added to the Vandy football team for a PR move. As Lee and others have contested, she was not the best kicker available after the group of kickers on the team all were extracted due to COVID last week.
Lee reported that any talk of a “tryout” for kickers last week was erroneous. Fuller was basically handed the job despite the protest of several members of the football team.
That has apparently led to players opting out of participating this week. While COVID-19 has been provided as the culprit for the postponement, according to Lee, it has more to do with the fact that so many players chose to sit out which it left the Commodores with a lack of bodies to field a team.
“I was told they couldn’t field a competitive scout team (during practice this week),” Lee said. “You don’t have enough to field a position group. I’m told they were loading the bus when it was called off. They were at one point where they didn’t have a backup at one position. I don’t know how after everything had happened – and by the way next week is Exam Week – but what I know, I don’t see how this can continue.”
He continued with the idea of the Vanderbilt not finishing the season.
“I would bet not (that the games with Georgia and Tennessee) would be played,” he said. “I need more information than what I have at the moment, but I would not be surprised.”
Most of this is due to poor administration. Lee said the new athletic director, Candice Storey Lee, has not proven to have what it takes to lead the program.
No one other than Chris Lee has been reporting the sordid side of this story since it has “political” overtones. But the facts are it has nothing to do with the race or sex or political aspirations of Sarah Fuller but the frustration of players who want to put the best possible product on the field, even if it is one that hasn’t been able to win a game this season.
Eventually something will shake this to the point that the right influence will allow the football team to complete the regular season without the “Clown Show” of political correctness.
That would likely mean removing the cause of it which, unfortunately for her, is Sarah Fuller.
Then again, it is 2020.
SEC VOICE
Chris Lee of Rivals-Vanderbilt gives a candid interview regarding the difficult situation the Commodores’ football program is in at the moment… and it doesn’t have to do with looking for a new football coach. Hear this exclusive interview from RRS Radio.
DEC 5 Schedule/Notes
GAMES POSTPONED
Alabama (8-0) at Arkansas (3-5) – Rescheduled to Dec. 12
Ole Miss (4-4) at LSU (3-4) – Rescheduled to Dec. 19
Missouri (4-3) at Mississippi State (2-6) – Rescheduled to Dec. 19
Vanderbilt (0-8) at Georgia (6-2) – Rescheduled to Dec. 19
IDLE
Mississippi State (2-6)
Ole Miss (4-4)
Arkansas (3-5) at Missouri (4-3)
11 a.m. CST (SEC Network)
Farout Field – Columbia, MO.
Series: MIZZOU, 8-3 (Last: 2019 - MIZZOU, 24-14)
Last Week: Missouri def. Vanderbilt, 41-0; Arkansas did not play
5 Things about ARK/MIZZOU
Missouri enjoyed its largest margin of victory in an SEC game last week against Vandy.
Arkansas lost a key component on the offense when running back Rakeem Boyd chose to opt out for the remainder of the season. He was second on the team with 309 yards rushing on 82 attempts.
The Razorbacks are averaging 176 yards rushing in last five games after averaging just 86 yards in the first three.
Cornerback Jalen Catalon leads the FBS among freshmen in tackles with 86.
Missouri has had seven playing dates altered during the season, the most in the conference.
RRS PREDICTION: Missouri 28, Arkansas 24 (MIZZOU favored by 2.5)
Texas A&M (6-1) at Auburn (5-3)
11 a.m. CST (ESPN)
Jordan-Hare Stadium – Auburn, AL
Series: Tied, 5-5 (Last: 2018 - AU, 28-20)
Last Week: Alabama def. Auburn, 42-13; Texas A&M def. LSU, 20-7
5 Things about AU/A&M
Auburn has played just one home game in December – the first-ever game against Alabama at Jordan-Hare in 1989.
AU kicker Anders Carlson had his field goal streak of nine-made end against Alabama.
Kellen Mond needs 48 yards passing and 47 yards rushing to become just the third quarterback in SEC history to pass for more than 9,000 yards and rush for more than 1,500 yards in a career. The others Tim Tebow and Dak Prescott.
The A&M defense limited LSU to just 36 yards rushing, the second lowest number and second time held below 40 yards (Auburn).
A&M’s 53 percent conversion of third downs is fourth nationally.
RRS PREDICTION: Texas A&M 28, Auburn 20 (A&M favored by 6.5)
Florida (7-1) at Tennessee (2-5)
2:30 p.m. CST (CBS)
Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn.
Series: UF, 29-20 (Last: 2019 - @UF, 34-3)
Last Week: Florida def. Kentucky, 34-10; Tennessee did not play (postponed)
5 Things about UT/UF
UF’s Kyle Trask became the second player in SEC history to have three TD passes in eight consecutive games. The other – Drew Lock of Missouri in 2017.
Tennessee is looking to end a five-game losing streak but the Vols’ last win over FLA was in 2016.
With the win last week, Dan Mullen passed Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer for the best 34-game start by a UF coach. Mullen is 28-6 while Spurrier and Meyer were 27-7.
Tennessee is playing its first regular-season game in December since playing in the SEC Championship in 2007.
Tennessee has not played a home game since Oct. 24 or 42 days. The Vols did not play a game at home in November, a first since 1891. Their lone home game against Texas A&M was postponed. It is scheduled to be played next week.
RRS PREDICTION: Florida 35, Tennessee 16 (UF favored by 17.5)
South Carolina (2-7) at Kentucky (3-6)
6:30 p.m. CST (SEC Network)
Kroger Field – Lexington, KY
Series: SC, 18-12-1 (Last: 201 - @SC, 24-7)
Last Week: Florida def. Kentucky, 34-10; Georgia def. South Carolina, 45-16
5 Things about SC/KY
Both teams will complete the regular season this weekend, the only two teams in the conference to have made it through the schedule without an interruption.
Kentucky is playing just its seventh game in the month of December in school history (regular season).
South Carolina had eight starters on defense which began the season against Tennessee not in the lineup against Georgia last week. Ernest Jones was the only player to start at the same position (linebacker).
South Carolina has played 18 true freshmen with four starting at one point in the season.
South Carolina has given up the most sacks in the league (26) while Kentucky is tied for the least amount of sacks with 11.
RRS PREDICTION: Kentucky 27, South Carolina 21 (KY favored by 11.5)
Alabama (8-0) at LSU (3-4)
7 p.m. CST (CBS)
Tiger Stadium – Baton Rouge, LA
Series: UA, 53-26-5 (Last: 2019 - LSU, 46-41)
Last Week: Texas A&M def. LSU, 20-7; Alabama def. Auburn, 42-13
5 Things about BAMA/LSU
This is the third time Bama and LSU have met in December but first time since 1928.
LSU (2010-11) is one of two teams to beat a Nick Saban Alabama team in back-to-back years (out of 19 opportunities). Ole Miss (2014-15) is the other.
Devonta Smith became the fourth player in Alabama history to record 1,000 yards in receptions in multiple seasons. He joins Jerry Jeudy, Amari Cooper and DJ Hall.
Alabama has been the No. 1 team in the CFP poll 20 times, which is more than all other teams combined (19).
LSU continues to be perfect after a loss under Ed Orgeron, 13-0 with last win coming against Arkansas after loss to Auburn.
RRS PREDICTION: Alabama 48, LSU 13 (Bama favored by 29.5)