Derek Mason proved his worth as a head coach with a convincing win over Ole Miss last week. On Saturday, he can endear himself to a fanbase that was ready to turn on him weeks earlier by beating Vanderbilt’s arch rival Tennessee.
Mason earned plenty of criticism as his Commodores dropped a winnable game at Missouri, seemingly dashing the team’s bowl hopes. He walked back the message board grumbling by dispatching Mississippi with ease and showing off an improved offense in the process. Vanderbilt didn’t just win its fifth game for the first time since 2013 last Saturday, it also looked as good as it ever has in the process.