Mason takes over a program that is in much better shape than the last time Vanderbilt hired a coach in 2010. Franklin took over a program that had gone 4-20 over the previous two seasons. Now Vanderbilt is 24-16 over the past three seasons, and the Commodores are 16-4 over the past 20 games 鈥?second in the Southeastern Conference only to Alabama.
Vanderbilt also has won consecutive bowl games for the first time in school history and finished in the final Associated Press poll each of the past two seasons,Fjallraven Kanken Saldi, including No. 24 for 2013. Vanderbilt hadn't finished in the final AP poll before Franklin arrived since 1948 under Red Sanders.