<p>I appreciate what coach Franklin did for Vanderbilt’s football program and wish him well. Vandy should be able to attract a quality coach & I hope they move quickly.<br>
I’m still am confused on why he took the PSU job. The Texas or USC jobs, yes I can see him leaving, but PSU???
Vandy is a higher ranked team, in a better conference, better recruiting area, better city, and it was his baby, he built it from nothing and he can where his Vandy sweatshirt with pride. PSU’s glory days are long gone, they have limited scholarships, no post season play, are in a small college town, they will forever be connected to the worst scandal and cover up in the history of college sports, and he will live in JoPa’s shadow.</p>
<p>my apologies if anyone thought I was addressing them in particular. I’m trying to see the big picture. College football is a cult activity. If there was ever any doubt, the Sandusky-Paterno-abused children disaster should erase those doubts. JoePa was the cult leader, and Happy Valley is the shrine. Having said that, you can hardly blame Franklin, a PA child indoctrinated in the cult as so many of us are when we grow up in PA football, for wanting to run from football wilderness at Vandy to the shrine of big college football to be the next cult leader. That his acolytes would follow the cult leader from wilderness to shrine is only natural.</p>
<p>He’ll find out as O’Brien did that it is really hard to be the successor of the alpha cult leader, but maybe he’s the man to win those Happy Valley apostles, those cult administrators, over. All I can do is wish such a man good luck and hope he has some idea of what he’s getting himself into. Vandy won’t have to wait long for the next would-be savior to step into Franklin’s shoes. After all, what does Franklin have that he doesn’t? Franklin’s not JoePa, right?</p>
<p>btw, the last thing I’m suggesting is that there are no other football shrines or alpha cult leaders, dead or alive. Happy Valley is not unique, unfortunately. Until Vandy finds a cult leader willing to stick around for a couple decades and develop a Vandy shrine, football coaches will run from Vandy to shrines at OSU, USC, UMich, Bama, etc. I wish Vandy and its fans good luck finding that person. You can help by filling the stadium with fans every home game. Adoration is what the cult feeds on.</p>
<p>DC of Stanford is now our new coach! I think he has a lot of resemblance to Franklin.</p>
<p>Derek Mason, DC from Stanford. Looks like a good hire in my opinion.</p>
<p>I think good is an understatement. Fantastic guy, great fit for Vandy.</p>
<p>Coach Mason welcome to Vanderbilt!</p>
<p>wouldn’t it be interesting if Coach Mason could bring some more of those Stanford recruiting lines to Vandy.</p>
<p>You know, Coach Mason commented on that. He said he will not try to steal Stanford recruits across the board, but he will go after recruits who were being recruited by both Vandy and Stanford.</p>
<p>I am a Vandy fan, but I am also a PSU fan. [I grew up in PA, but I now live in TN]. So this is very interesting for me. I hope Coach Mason does well and I hope Coach Franklin does well.</p>
<p>I’ve been reflecting on what made Coach Franklin succeed at Vandy when others could not. I think back to those games when Vandy would get down early and then come back to win or make it very close. In the old days the team would fold. However during the Franklin era I’d watch his demeanor on the sideline during those close games and he never seemed panicked. It was as though he knew something that other people did not. He was going to hold it together and his players were going to hold it together and eventually they were going to…win. This was the mysteriously great part about Coach Franklin: his unshakable will and ability to keep the ship pointed straight when the storm was raging around him. </p>
<p>This is the final and most elusive part of leadership, which is surely a critical part of being Head Football Coach at Vanderbilt. Coach Mason will recruit well and coach well and organize well. But how well will he manage the ineffable leadership part when he’s the “man”. </p>
<p>We’ll see of course. One cause for optimism is that he was closely scrutinized by the Chancellor and the AD, and he came out shining. The fact that these two guys, who I believe are excellent leaders in their own right, saw great things in Coach Mason should give an elevated sense of hope to Vandy fans.</p>
<p>yeah, it’s a big step from DC to “the man.” I love to see academically tough sports programs do well in athletically tough arenas like the SEC. Winning the SEC East is a good goal for Mason to set. It’s reach-able and will keep the alumni grounded.</p>