OLD VandyMania.com (ARCHIVE)

I didn't see this when it aired, and I've heard no announcement about it, but Derek Mason (who resigned as Oklahoma State defensive coordinator after last season) apparently is back now as an analyst for the SEC Network, and appeared on camera at Media Days. He gave Texas and Oklahoma a warning that, based on his experience as a coach in the SEC, the competition is going to be fierce.

Based on the clips shown later during Finebaum's show yesterday, I thought he did a good job. He certainly has the personality for it.

Being on TV is a much better gig than being a head coach, at least from a quality of life aspect. Maybe not financially, but in terms of predictability, its much better. Good for him!

After his severence, he can do this on a volunteer basis.

He was once on the coaches commentary broadcast of a National Championship game while he was our coach. He did a very good job then.

He has come a long way since he started with us. Those early days of pressers were a shambles.

And kudos to him and his agent for taking him from where he was in those early press conferences to being an analyst on SECN.

vandy05 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 23, 2023 6:33 pm And kudos to him and his agent for taking him from where he was in those early press conferences to being an analyst on SECN.

Maybe part of it was PR training, but equally or moreso, I think he's just a deep down football guy and when he's talking about blocks and tackles and reads he's in his element - versus talking about hiring a staff or upgrading facilities, or setting goals for a program, or which aren't his strong suits. The same day he came off clueless as the new CEO of a football program, he won the players over just talking football.

vandy05 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 23, 2023 6:33 pm And kudos to him and his agent for taking him from where he was in those early press conferences to being an analyst on SECN.

He received additional assistance.

Coach Mason will be a color commentator on a three-person team calling games for SEC Network this season that includes play-by-play veteran Dave Neal and sideline reporter Taylor Davis.

He will probably have at least one Vanderbilt game before the season is out, and likely several.