The Athletic (premium): If Vanderbilt football dropped the ‘Vanderbilt,’ no one would question the progress

[BrentVU]

Joe Rexrode writes a VERY positive piece about VU football... teaser quotes...

Also because, for those who haven’t noticed, Vanderbilt has in a couple of years vaporized the obstacles it spent decades placing in the way of all who dared wear the whistle on West End. And because the guy who does now is as committed as his support is transformative. Clark Lea said Vanderbilt will be “the best program in the country” a year ago at SEC media days, and on Tuesday at the same event, he trotted that out again along with terms such as “dominant program” and “toughest team in our conference.”

Lea’s 7-17 record in two seasons at his alma mater has a long way to go to catch up with those forecasts. They sound hyperbolic for a program that was last nationally relevant when the Model T was Ford’s best seller. But Vanderbilt fans shouldn’t let grandiose visions or time-tested insults distract from what he’s actually doing: building a winner.

How big, how fragile, how sustainable, these are all great questions. Based on actions and no words, though, I’ll make a prediction that is bolder than it may sound given Vanderbilt’s competition: Lea’s Commodores will soon stack together three straight winning seasons. That last happened at Vanderbilt from 1957-59 under Arthur Guepe.

More...

The Athletic: If Vanderbilt football dropped the ‘Vanderbilt,’ no one would question the progress
(by Joe Rexrode)

[BrentVU]

From the Tennessean's Gentry Estes:

The Commodores aren’t ready to go beat the best opponents. But in 2023, a bowl game shouldn’t be too much to ask. Or that Vanderbilt at least appears to belong on the same field with some of those best opponents.

Lea has quietly raised the talent level more than most in this sport are realizing. Vanderbilt has some pieces. It has experience in some of the right places – offensive line, receiver, defense – along with a legit quarterback in AJ Swann, who was promising last year as a freshman.

This team doesn’t look like an SEC doormat, but that shouldn’t be surprising.

Vanderbilt stopped being one last season.

Tennessean: Clark Lea is still saying what Vanderbilt football coaches aren't supposed to say
(by Gentry Estes)

[BrentVU]

If you want to hear Rexrode and others do a decent discussion of VU football 2023, plus an interview with Jaylen Mahoney...

Click the link below, look for Robby & Rexrode, and "Hour 3: Looking to Vanderbilt football"... skip to about 10 minutes in...

https://www.thegamenashville.com/podcasts/

[BrentVU]

St. Louis: Look out, Mizzou, Vanderbilt is becoming less terrible in football
(by Jeff Gordon)

[geeznotagain]

I WANT to believe. I really do. But as a fan of Vandy football for 5 decades, going on 6, it’s not easy to do.

Trust the blueprint.