Takeaways from an Exclusive Conversation with Clark Lea; Just a Minute

Vandy on SI caught up with Vanderbilt football coach Clark Lea for an exclusive conversation ahead of SEC Media Days. The Vanderbilt football coach took over 30 minutes to articulate his vision regarding his program and to update the media on the status of his team.

Perhaps Lea' comments in late June indicate the confidence level he has in his team and how he'll articulate that as he takes the podium on Monday at the Omni in Atlanta.

Here's a few stories based off of Lea's comments earlier this summer:

Talked with Clark Lea in regards to Vanderbilt's revenue sharing strategy and how that fits in with the idea that NIL is still important.

"I think there’s certainly opportunities for our guys," he told @VandyOnSI.

More: https://t.co/MQS1eL3XnX
— Joey Dwyer (@joey_dwy) July 8, 2025

Clark Lea’s deliberateness has often been mistaken for him lacking fire. He believes his team doesn’t have that impression, though.

“They know how I bleed out when I’m cut open,” he told @VandyOnSI.

More on Lea’s quiet edge that sometimes comes out: https://t.co/pz6ExilYGE
— Joey Dwyer (@joey_dwy) July 6, 2025

Clark Lea wants Diego Pavia and Eli Stowers to get the needed reps in fall camp, but also knows that they've got to be balanced with rest.

"We have to make sure we're doing the things we need to so that they're available," he told @VandyOnSI.

His plan:https://t.co/C8Z2za3oAr
— Joey Dwyer (@joey_dwy) July 5, 2025