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Derek Mason wasted no time shutting down what he thought was a question about a possible quarterback controversy for the Vanderbilt Commodores. 

Appearing in his weekly spot on the popular morning radio show, The Wake Up Zone on 104.5 The Zone,  show co-host Mark Howard asked the Commodores head coach a question about quarterback Riley Neal. 

While the question as posed to the average listener seemed innocent and without intent to stir the pot, Mason apparently felt otherwise and was quick to emphatically state that Neal was the starting quarterback and would be going forward. 

He did share that backup Deuce Wallace, who saw playing time late in the Commodores season opening loss to Georgia could also see more time as well, but there is no question as to who the starter is for Vanderbilt. 

Later during his midday press conference at Vanderbilt Stadium Mason spoke about Neal and the team improving this week.

"That dude’s a good football player,” said Mason. “I like his (Neal) temperament. I like his demeanor. I mean he never seemed rattled, OK man, or out of sorts in terms of frustration, and that’s what you want from a quarterback."The reality was we’ve got to do a better job all the way around. He’s (Neal) going to do his job. Everybody’s got a job to do, and so we’ll be better this week.”