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In the wake of Vanderbilt firing coach Derek Mason, reaction poured in, including potential replacements.
The firing came after Vanderbilt lost 41-0 at Missouri on Saturday in a game where the Vanderbilt attention largely focused on the Commodores playing women’s soccer player Sarah Fuller at kicker.
The initial list appears to center on Charlotte coach Will Healy, 35, a Tennessee native and notable name in the coaching profession after he had success at Austin Peay before getting the Charlotte job. Coastal Carolina coach Jamey Chadwell, 43, who has been mentioned as a possible candidate at South Carolina, is known for having a creative offense.
A former defensive coordinator, others also speculated on Mason’s next job, and if he would return to Stanford and work for coach David Shaw.
Here is a sampling of the initial reaction from fans and media:
Butch Jones, Bret Bielema, Butch Jones, Derek Dooley, and now Derek Mason.
Mizzou is a head coach terminator.
— Austin Huff (@AustinHuff) November 29, 2020
Derek Mason gone in “things that should’ve happened a year ago”
— Bryan Bastin (@BryanBastin) November 29, 2020
With Vanderbilt parting ways with Derek Mason, you wonder if this opens the door for John Howse? The timing is perfect. Something to watch.
— Branden (@Go_Big_Red) November 29, 2020
It took getting utterly humiliated with the entire country watching to do it, but it finally happened: Derek Mason is gone. May we never speak of this era ever again.
— Luke 🤠 (@lukemukundan) November 29, 2020
Damn. Derek Mason fired. Vandy is a tough job. No town support. Standards of admission. Play gators, Georgia and tennesee every year. He’ll land a DC job for a few years and get another HC shot.
— JD Groover (@jdgroover) November 29, 2020
Derek Mason has been fired. His parting gift to Vandy was some positive publicity (since he never gave them wins).
— GA Bama Coaches (@GABamaCoaches) November 29, 2020
Sad to see Derek Mason go. He is an excellent defensive coordinator but was out of his depth as a head coach. Vanderbilt itself also failed him by giving him the worst facilities in the SEC.
— Alex Haddon Ferguson (@SECblog) November 29, 2020
Names you’ll no doubt hear for Vanderbilt
Notre Dame DC Clark Lea
Penn State DC Brent Pryand
Former Titans HC Jeff Fisher
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) November 29, 2020
This is spot on. Can’t speak directly to how good/bad of a coach Derek Mason is, but this isn’t on him. This is on the university. No one has had success there(aside from Franklin, one in a million) and a lot of that has to do with the ineptitude of the higher ups at the school. https://t.co/XwyjtoX7lO
— Noah (@dillydilly423) November 29, 2020
My nightmare as a Cal fan is David Shaw rehiring Derek Mason as DC.
Stanford finished 7th in S&P+ in defense in 2012, 10th in S&P+ in 2013 in Mason’s two years as DC. Knocked two playoff-caliber Oregon teams off their axis. https://t.co/5SibBVbOIK
— Avinash Kunnath (@avinashkunnath) November 29, 2020
Can not believe Vandy fired Derek Mason. I don’t think they will get any interest from SEC worthy coaches. It’s the worst job in CFB. Mason actually wanted to be there and was a decent coach. Hope I’m wrong, but if you didn’t think Vandy could be any worse, just wait.
— Adam Polston (@Polston23) November 29, 2020
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
