Clark Lea - Defensive Coordinator

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I was kinda surprised his initial contract was for 6 years. Vandy must have known this would be a long rebuild.

If they had any kind of common sense, you'd give him that kind of time in this kind of job.

 

[zelezo vlk]

If they had any kind of common sense, you'd give him that kind of time in this kind of job.

I know that Mason was given a very long leash. I just figured the first contract for Lea would be more like 5 years than 6.

 

[forkbeard3777]

I was kinda surprised his initial contract was for 6 years. Vandy must have known this would be a long rebuild.

I wonder if it had to do with him being a Nashville native / Vandy alum?

 

[zelezo vlk]

I wonder if it had to do with him being a Nashville native / Vandy alum?

I think as Jiggafini said, it'd take a long time to rebuild that team so it's a show of trust in Lea.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I know that Mason was given a very long leash. I just figured the first contract for Lea would be more like 5 years than 6.

Rightfully so.

Lea may have had leverage as others were showing interest and he was interviewing. Six years at a school like Vanderbilt is fair regardless of his status as an alum.

The extension is probably a bit more of a gamble, but that depends on what the buyout now looks like.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

You look on paper and see a 7-17 record and think why on earth are they extending him...then you take a deep dive into how awful Vandy has been. 5-7 and winning two SEC games, effectively snapping a 26 game conference losing streak, in year two, is an impressive improvement for Lea and Vandy.

I know they return a ton of production this year, would be cool to see them get bowl eligible, but I expect that to even be an uphill clime.

 

[ab2cmiller]

I think as Jiggafini said, it'd take a long time to rebuild that team so it's a show of trust in Lea.

I think the original contract was less about showing trust in Lea and just the reality of coaching contracts being negotiated in this day and age. Almost every newly hired head coach recently is being offered a six year contract. You want a quality candidate?, you are going to have to offer a six year deal at a minimum.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I think the original contract was less about showing trust in Lea and just the reality of coaching contracts being negotiated in this day and age. Almost every newly hired head coach recently is being offered a six year contract. You want a quality candidate?, you are going to have to offer a six year deal at a minimum.

Six is the new five.

 

[dublinirish]

 

[FWIrish4]

May the stars align with Al headed off to the NFL after the 2024 season and Clark Lea looking for a D Coordinator gig?

 

[BeauBenken]

Wonder if Joey comes back to Muncie...

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

May the stars align with Al headed off to the NFL after the 2024 season and Clark Lea looking for a D Coordinator gig?

Lea just got an extension a few months ago. It appears he's doing a staff shuffle. Doesn't appear to be going anywhere for the time being.

 

[benneboy]

.

 

[dublinirish]

so Clark has lost a QB to LSU and now a WR to Georgia amongst others, rough portal season for Vandy it seems

 

[IRISHDODGER]

so Clark has lost a QB to LSU and now a WR to Georgia amongst others, rough portal season for Vandy it seems

They’re one of the many farm clubs for P5 contenders moving forward

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

These new rules are turning college football into the MLB.

Except these schools don't get the Yankee's top prospects when they lose their players.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

These new rules are turning college football into the MLB.

Except these schools don't get the Yankee's top prospects when they lose their players.

It’s more like MLB pre-free agency when the Yankees would use the Kansas City A’s as their farm club. Seriously, go look how many Yankees in the 50s & 60s had a stint w/ the A’s.

 

[stpeteirish]

It’s more like MLB pre-free agency when the Yankees would use the Kansas City A’s as their farm club. Seriously, go look how many Yankees in the 50s & 60s had a stint w/ the A’s.

True. Roger Maris is exhibit A

 

[Armyirish47]

so Clark has lost a QB to LSU and now a WR to Georgia amongst others, rough portal season for Vandy it seems

Short of a miracle he probably has one year left. Vandy is pushing new stadium work and investment in the program but I just don't see it mattering. Will be less of an eyesore perhaps?

 

[ColinKSU]

These new rules are turning college football into the MLB.

Except these schools don't get the Yankee's top prospects when they lose their players.

*A Pittsburgh Pirates fan has entered the chat*

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

*A Pittsburgh Pirates fan has entered the chat*

White Sox..... but I quit baseball two years ago.

 

[dublinirish]

nice pick up for Lea

 

[MacIrish75]

nice pick up for Lea

I went to college with Vandy’s current RB coach. It obviously is a long rebuild, but with the stadium overhaul and an ability to snag some good low CFP/FCS guys, they think consistent bowl eligibility could be possible soon. There’s a lot of money to burn in NashVegas for NIL if they can start winning a few games.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

I went to college with Vandy’s current RB coach. It obviously is a long rebuild, but with the stadium overhaul and an ability to snag some good low CFP/FCS guys, they think consistent bowl eligibility could be possible soon. There’s a lot of money to burn in NashVegas for NIL if they can start winning a few games.

I wouldn’t even call it a rebuild. It’s much more difficult than that. Vandy has had like 3 winning seasons in the last half century. Nobody has built anything there. Franklin left before the cement dried.


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[NorthDakota]

I wouldn’t even call it a rebuild. It’s much more difficult than that. Vandy has had like 3 winning seasons in the last half century. Nobody has built anything there. Franklin left before the cement dried.


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Nobody is going to win much there

 

[MacIrish75]

VA Tech - W?
Alcorn - W
GA State - W
Mizzou - L
Bama - L
Kentucky - W?
Ball State - W
Texas - L
Auburn - W?
USCe - W?
LSU - W
UT - L

I see 3-4 likely wins, 3 true toss ups. It’s not too far-fetched to think they could get to bowl eligibility.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

VA Tech - W?
Alcorn - W
GA State - W
Mizzou - L
Bama - L
Kentucky - W?
Ball State - W
Texas - L
Auburn - W?
USCe - W?
LSU - W
UT - L

I see 3-4 likely wins, 3 true toss ups. It’s not too far-fetched to think they could get to bowl eligibility.

3-4 sound about right. Some of those toss ups are still an uphill battle.

As a data point, South Carolina has beaten Vandy like the last 15 years in a row or something.


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[Rocket89]

VA Tech - W?
Alcorn - W
GA State - W
Mizzou - L
Bama - L
Kentucky - W?
Ball State - W
Texas - L
Auburn - W?
USCe - W?
LSU - W
UT - L

I see 3-4 likely wins, 3 true toss ups. It’s not too far-fetched to think they could get to bowl eligibility.

I think that's 9 teams that were top 50 in FEI last year. Vandy was 99th.

 

[T-Boone]

Should play the each year rather than Navy or stanford

 

[Irish#1]

VA Tech - W?
Alcorn - W
GA State - W
Mizzou - L
Bama - L
Kentucky - W?
Ball State - W
Texas - L
Auburn - W?
USCe - W?
LSU - W
UT - L

I see 3-4 likely wins, 3 true toss ups. It’s not too far-fetched to think they could get to bowl eligibility.

Not to be argumentative, but I don't see more than three wins. VT has been down, but I don't think they're Vandy bad. KY, Auburn, LSU and South Caro should be losses IMO. Having said that, I'd like for Lea to prove me wrong.