Mason Defers When Asked About New California Law

A New Law In California Stands To Change College Sports Across The Country

A new law in the stat of California stands to significantly impact college athletics, not only in its own state, but across the nation, including Vanderbilt". 

 The new law, which is scheduled to take effect in 2023, would allow college athletes to strike contract deals and earn money, rather than just a degree for playing sports. 

Vanderbilt head football coach Derek Mason was asked about his thoughts on the potential impact of the law on his Commodores program.

"I'm gonna defer, you know, where we are right now," said Mason. "I'm in the season and I haven't had the chance to look thoroughly at the bill and exactly what it speaks too. I know that it doesn't start till 2023."

"When you start to look at the elements of it, there's a lot of conversation that needs to go on and things that need to happen," added Mason. "Legislation needs to be talked about and really vetted before we start talking about a specific law that dowsn't come into play for a long time. We just need to be where are feet are, I'm in the midst of a college football season. I do believe it will impact the college athletes in a way that I think people have talked about for a long time. So what we have to do is be weary and be mindful of where we are today in terms of what we talk about and what's going on with the specifics of that thing.

I don't know enough right now so I can't speak intelligently, I just know it was passed in California and everybody's going to be talking about iot for the next year or so," concluded Mason.     

A follow up question drew a similar response from Mason, who answered without again adressing the specifics of the legislation or his thoughts on how it could affect his program. 

There's no doubt that this will not be the last time he hears this question, but in the future he will have to have formed some opinion.