‘Finest program in the country’? Maybe not, but Clark Lea

• Pete Thamel, ESPNJul 18, 2023, 08:00 AM ET NASHVILLE, Tenn.– If they released Vegas odds on coaches more than likely to dish a viral media day quote, Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea would not exactly be amongst the favorites.Lea is so certainly practical and normally thoughtful that his players have actually joked with him over the years that he profiles more as an approach teacher than a fire-breathing football coach. A copy of the book” 101 Essays That Will Modification the Method You Think”rests on his desk.In other words, they ‘d pass Restriction laws on Broadway in Nashville prior to Lea would earn a credibility as a carnival barker.Last year at SEC media days, however, Lea provided a quote that was the most remarkable one

  of the event and got aggregated everywhere from Fox News to Bro Bible:”We know in time Vanderbilt football will be the very best program in the nation,”Lea declared from the podium.At a program that once went a half-century in between bowl wins– from the 1955 Gator Bowl to the 2008 Music City Bowl– the quote went viral due to the fact that it strained credulity.Editor’s Picks

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A year later, a few of the root of Lea’s boundless Commodores optimism is coming to life. There’s a massive, vast and noisy athletic facility overhaul underway at Vanderbilt– known as Vandy United– that tasks to cost somewhere between $600 million and $700 million. It needs to deliver Vanderbilt the kind of facilities that match the quality of the education on campus.While Vandy United

will touch every sport at Vanderbilt, the considerable upgrades to every element of the football program’s infrastructure and stadium are indications that, finally, Vanderbilt is dedicated to being more than an attractive weekend getaway for opposing SEC fans.”I would not have actually chosen to come here if I didn’t know the commitment would exist, “Lea told ESPN in his workplace on Monday, the very same day he agreed to a three-year contract extension through 2029.” I believe in some cases since I know what that commitment is and I believe in it, sometimes it feels a little lonely when you’re pressing that story without the visual representation of. So I think the building and construction is something that we can point out externally to state this is happening, now’s the time.” The visual and audio evidence was apparent out Lea’s window. A crane nearly eight stories high marked the

skyline at the far end of the stadium. A minimum of four different backhoes clawed the ground, as the horseshoe at the end of the stadium had actually been gutted. Enough building and construction devices was scattered around the stadium– only about 60 yards of which is functional for football in the meantime– that it looked like something out of a young child’s fever dream. AP Photo/John Bazemore The corresponding construct has actually currently begun on the field. Vanderbilt showed meaningful enhancement from Lea’s very first year to his second– the Commodores went from 2-10 and winless in the SEC to 5-7 and winning at Kentucky and over Florida. Lea explained that no one ought to toss a celebration for 5-7, but the development has actually been significant.”I think we have actually got to draw some lines at the idea that we’re celebrated for 5-7, “Lea said.”That’s not what we’re in this for. And we can take a look at development and acknowledge that it’s being made, however we’re not going to be left pleased with that.” While the Commodores still have a methods to go on the field, there’s a long past due plan in place for Lea and athletic director Candice Floor Lee to assist fix one of the previous century’s most vexing riddles: Why can’t Vanderbilt football’s brand name desire the same unusual air as the university’s brand?The huge facility overhaul is a considerable sign of that commitment and Lee’s vision. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey points to Chancellor Daniel Diermeier being bullish on athletics in his brief period and Lee’s decision to see it through. “You now see the motion,”Sankey told ESPN.”It’s exciting for the future.”The pitch is basic, as Lea calls it “among one”in college football: the brand of Vanderbilt’s elite academics, the competitive platform of the SEC and the boom that Nashville is going through all integrating for Vanderbilt to finally become a destination for top football employees. Vanderbilt is building, with the hopes they will come.”It talks to the level of commitment the university has for our program,”Lea said over the construction rumble. “That football is necessary here. And that’s a hell of a statement. But it also just pushes this even more down the line of stating you do not have to make compromise in your options.”There are some quality players in place for the Commodores to catch a bowl quote on the field in 2023. A lot of appealing is sophomore quarterback AJ Swann, who revealed the moxie, arm skill and production– 10 touchdown

passes and two interceptions in six starts– to win the job as a true freshman and cement himself as the program’s quarterback of the future.He’ll be tossing to a strong crew of receivers, including Will Sheppard, who is one of the SEC’s the majority of productive returning receivers with 9 goal catches last year.( That was good for second in the SEC.)There’s also a feeling that the built up skill on defense, including junior taking on device CJ Taylor and rangy security De’Rickey Wright, will put up more resistance. Vanderbilt completed No. 124 in scoring defense in 2015, which included being near the bottom of the country in almost every pass defense category. “I hope that this season reveals the power of retention, keeping players, maintaining systems, retaining personnel familiarity, deepening relationships, deepening understandings,”Lea stated.”That’s truly what makes me most excited about what leads us.”For the players and fans

, there will be momentary inconveniences. The capacity for FirstBank Arena at Vanderbilt this season will be almost 30,000, down from 40,000. When the whole task is completed around 2026, there will be a huge selection of premium ticket experiences available in an arena of

around 34,000 that better fit with the home entertainment and sports alternatives in Nashville.Vanderbilt deputy athletic director Tommy McClelland, who is running point on the Vandy United task, said the alignment at the school in between the chancellor, board and sports has enabled such significant change to happen so rapidly. And one byproduct is the Frist Household Athletic Town, which is the umbrella name for the massive structure overhaul.He indicate the success that Tim Corbin’s baseball program has had– 2 national titles in the past years– as a blueprint for what can be done when all the forces at Vanderbilt are lined up.”We are positioned so uniquely geographically in the conference that we’re in. The city that we have is a growing, vibrant city,”McClelland said.”It is a first-rate education.

When you combine the experience of elite sports, elite academics and the capability to pursue all your athletic dreams, what’s possible is accomplishing at the highest level.”Not unexpected for a coach who keeps extra copies

of the book”The Mountain Is You”to provide to his players, Lea is more about outcomes than rhetoric. However as the ground moves around at Vanderbilt, it’s significantly apparent that for the first time in school history, there’s a clear desire for Vanderbilt to buy football so the program matches the school’s scholastic brand.” We tremble at the thought of being a scholastic school that plays

football,”Lea said. “We want to be called a really good football school. That implies we take our football really seriously.” Those signs are finally noticeable on campus. If you want to see them up close, a hard hat is required.