After Tennessee's failed and ill-advised fourth down conversion attempt virtually guaranteed a Vanderbilt victory, Commodores head coach Derek Mason began dancing like a man whose team just got bowl-eligible by beating its arch rival.
kevinmcguire: You've earned this moment, Derek Mason! SEC Network SEC Now https://t.co/prMJRx2gY7 pic.twitter.com/2DEufaHUyB
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) November 27, 2016
Mason's team played incredible football down the stretch, and getting to a bowl game is a pretty special accomplishment for someone who had been written off by most everybody a year ago after going 7-17 in his first two seasons. As a result, Mason was pretty fired up in the post-game interview.
D-Mase: You better fear the V pic.twitter.com/vHmrBk4E3P
— FootballScoop Staff (@FootballScoop) November 27, 2016
Vanderbilt is now 6-6 and headed to a bowl game. They probably would have gone to a bowl anyway because there won't be enough 6-6 teams to fill the bowl slots and Vandy's high APR will give it the tiebreaker over other 5-7 teams. But Mason is happy it didn't come down to that.
Mason on getting to a bowl: "We didn't want to sneak in the back door, we wanted to kick in the door" (setting aside that they're the Dores) pic.twitter.com/75PowTFuqZ
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 27, 2016