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Clark Lea blasts national perception of Vanderbilt football: 'I'm tired of it'

Danby: Daniel Hager08/16/25DanielHagerOn3
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© Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The 2024 season was the best in over a decade for the Vanderbilt Commodores, as they compiled a 7-6 record and downed Georgia Tech 35-27 in the Birmingham Bowl to earn their first seven-win season since 2013 (James Franklin‘s last season before departing to Penn State).

Prior to last season’s success, it had been a dark decade for the program. Following Franklin’s departure, Vanderbilt went just 12-69 in SEC play from 2014-2023 with just three wins coming against a ranked conference foe (No. 24 Tennessee in 2016, No. 22 Missouri in 2019 and No. 24 Kentucky in 2022).

Last season, the Commodores downed No. 1 Alabama 40-35 at home in what was one of the biggest upsets of the college football season and lost 27-24 to No. 5 Texas just three weeks later. They won three SEC games for the first time since 2018 and helped wash off some of the negative stigma the program had accrued in the past 10 years.

Clark Lea ‘tired’ of the perception of Vanderbilt Football

Head coach Clark Lea blasted the “old” national perception of Vanderbilt Football during an appearance on “Outkick Hot Mic” Saturday.

“Honest to God guys we’re just tired of it. I’m just tired of it,” Lea said about the disrespect. “I told the guys this too, like I get it. Like, hey we’re gonna talk about Vanderbilt‘s past and say this and make a joke about it but that pisses us off. I get pissed. So at the end of the day, I’m tired of it and I want the team to know. There’s only one way to earn respect. You go out and play a certain way.”

In turning around the program, Lea was named the 2024 SEC Coach of the Year. His quarterback Diego Pavia (who returns this season) was also named 2024 SEC Newcomer of the Year.

“I don’t know that it even matters guys. You say those things and the guy gets put on the tee and put in the air and you’ve got to play the game. The game is certainly emotional and passionate, but it’s about execution and focus.”

Looking to build on an exciting 2024 campaign, Vanderbilt opens the 2025 season at home against Charleston Southern on Aug. 30. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM on ESPN+/SEC Network+.