Derek Mason Looking Like A New Man After Vanderbilt Win Over Missouri

Coaching any sport at the college and profession level is stressful, but even more so when your team is losing.

The strain of losing and the criticisms of he and his coaching staff were easily visible on Derek Mason's face following his team's ugly loss two weeks ago. 

My how time flies and things change.

When Mason spoke with the media on Wednesday following the Commodores practice session it was not the same face we had witnessed eleven days earlier.

An upset win over #22 Missouri was exactly what Mason, his coaching staf, his team and the Vanderbilt fandom needed, if only for two weeks.

That win provided an "I told you so" moment for Mason who took advantage of the opportunity to fire back at his critics.

"Last thing I'll say, because I think I need to say this,  and I said it to the media outside so I'll say it to you. Everybody thinks they want this job. Everybody thinks they want this job. But I can tell you for sure that I'm one of maybe a few men in this country that's built for this job the way it sits today," Mason said. "Man, I love this team, I love Vanderbilt. I'm a Commodore through and through. You can question me about decision making man, but don't question me about being a Commodore. Anchor down."

It was a strong statement to a question I asked him following the big win, and it was also the moment Mason seemingly began to breath again.

Since that moment, Mason has appeared to regain his smile and his enjoyment of being a head coach. 

It's nothing specifi that he said, it's just the expressions on his face when he talks about his team now compared to what we saw following the Vegas debacle.   

The team wrapped up this week's practice schedule and are now off to enjoy a bye and weekend away from football, at least for the players.

Mason and his staff will spend their off weekend recruiting as they look to the future of their roster.

There's still a lof of games left to be played this season, and the Commodores will be decided underdogs in some remaining games, but the improved play exhibited against Missouri lends optimism and hope that the rest will be better than the first half of the season

There are no guarantees that Mason won't lose his smile and once again feel pressured, but at least for now he looks calm and relaxed.