NASHVILLE, Tenn. — After a whirlwind of a nonconference schedule, one that presented the Commodores with some joy, some adversity and some confidence, Vanderbilt now stares straight ahead into the Southeastern Conference portion of its slate.
And the first test will be about as tough as it can get.
“My message to our team is to continue to focus on us. It’s about our highest level,” Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea said. “It’s not about who we’re playing against. When you’re in this league week-in and week-out you know you’re going to face the best.
“Our singular focus is on how we enhance our performance, continue our growth, continue our evolution as a program so we’re able to work toward results on Saturday. We have a ton of respect for Alabama, we have a ton of respect for everyone in this conference and everybody left on our schedule. We’re excited for this week and we’re excited to go down and compete with them. But again, our interest is in what we’re doing and how we manifest that best performance and that performance that we’re capable of.”
Vandy (3-1) heads to No. 2 Alabama (3-0) hoping its first four games have prepared it enough for another step up in competition.
The Dores won three of their first four games in three different ways – a blowout at Hawai’i after a week-long trip on the island state, a hold-on-for-dear-life triumph in the home opener over Elon and a comeback victory Saturday at Northern Illinois. Vandy was also defeated soundly by visiting No. 23 Wake Forest earlier this month.
Lea’s team has already won one more game than his first squad did in 2021. But the program is also still looking to snap a 21-game losing streak against league competition.
It will also be facing a reigning conference champion for the third week in a row.
“This is building and growing the program. This is what we signed up for. To me, I think there’s kind of generally a buzz around the program right now and excitement,” the second-year head coach said. “That doesn’t meant these games aren’t challenging. We’re going to learn a lot about ourselves on Saturday, but I think we have a competitive team that has a belief in what we’re building and we know that ultimately this program wants to measure up against the best in the country, the best in our conference and so we’re looking forward to it more than anything.
“This is an opportunity for growth. This is the opportunity for growth for us….