'It was a daunting place': Vanderbilt coach's memory of UA not so good

FAYETTEVILLE -- Vanderbilt Coach Derek Mason is hoping for a better outcome in his second visit to Reynolds Razorback Stadium than the first.

Mason was an assistant coach at New Mexico State when the Aggies played on the road against the University of Arkansas on Sept. 4, 2004, and the Razorbacks won 63-13.

"I think [Darren] McFadden and somebody else was in that backfield at the time," Mason said. "It was a daunting place. It was a difficult day for the Aggies."

It actually was the season before McFadden and Felix Jones arrived at Arkansas in 2005 as freshman running backs.

The star for the Razorbacks against the Aggies 14 years ago was senior quarterback Matt Jones, who completed 13 of 16 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 38 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game after the first drive of the third quarter.

Mason will experience his second game at Arkansas when the Commodores (3-5, 0-4 SEC) play the Razorbacks (2-6, 0-4) at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

"We're looking for our first conference victory. They're looking for theirs," Mason said. "It's going to be a good ballgame."

The game will be televised on the SEC Network, and Mason was asked what is the appeal of watching two teams that are winless in conference play.

"This is SEC football," Mason said. "We play in the best conference in college football, and if you want to see good football, tune in."

Commodores senior quarterback Kyle Shurmur -- the son of New York Giants Coach Pat Shurmur -- has completed 146 of 246 passes (59.3 percent) for 1,845 yards and 12 touchdowns with 5 interceptions. He plays behind an offensive line that returned every starter.

"Kyle Shurmur has been there and is a senior and has been through the battles," Arkansas Coach Chad Morris said. "Very well respected in this league, and he's done a lot of good things."

Sophomore running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn, who leads Vanderbilt with 72 carries for 514 yards and 5 touchdowns, returned to practice Tuesday. He's expected to play against Arkansas after missing the Commodores' 14-7 loss at No. 12 Kentucky last week because he was in concussion protocol.

Vaughn also has seven receptions for 131 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown against Florida.

"It will be nice to get Ke'Shawn back," Mason said. "I think it's a welcome event for this football team considering we need every weapon possible."

Junior Kalija Lipscomb is Vanderbilt's top receiver with 54 catches for 588 yards and 6 touchdowns. Junior tight end Jared Pinkney has 25 catches for 392 yards and 3 touchdowns.

The Commodores are averaging 376.5 yards and 23.1 points.

"It's a really good scheme," Arkansas defensive coordinator John Chavis said. "We're going to see a lot of shifts, motions. It's going to be a little more pro-style than what we've seen.

"I'm not taking anything away from the quarterback -- because he's a veteran quarterback who does a really good job -- but when you've got a No. 5 [Vaughn] back there you can hand it to or throw screens to, then it makes their offense a lot more difficult to defend."

Vanderbilt senior inside linebacker Jordan Griffin leads the SEC with 86 tackles -- four more than Arkansas' De'Jon Harris.

"I think a lot of it is him as a player. I think a lot of it, too, is their scheme," Arkansas offensive coordinator Joe Craddock said. "They're very multiple up front and do a lot of things that can create some havoc, and he seems to find the football a lot.

"He's doing a really good job, and he's going to be a guy that we're going to have to account for at all times."

Senior outside linebacker Josh Smith leads Vanderbilt with 7 tackles for losses of 22 yards. Junior cornerback Joejuan Williams has a team-high two interceptions.

Vanderbilt's kicking game has been inconsistent with junior Ryley Guay hitting 8 of 14 field-goal attempts, including misses from 25, 27, 31 and 43 yards. His longest makes are two 42-yarders.

The Commodores, who opened the season by pounding Middle Tennessee State 35-7 and Nevada 41-10, have lost four games to teams currently ranked -- No. 3 Notre Dame, No. 7 Georgia, No. 9 Florida and No. 12 Kentucky -- along with South Carolina.

Notre Dame had to hold on for a 22-17 victory over Vanderbilt, and the Commodores led Florida 21-3 before the Gators rallied to win 37-27. Kentucky scored its game-winning touchdown on Benny Snell's 7-yard run with 5:39 left.

"I talk to our guys about the work, the commitment level, the communication, the execution," Mason said. "You can identify it by talking about third down. You can identify it by talking about red-zone offense and defense. You can identify it by not turning the football over. You can talk about a lot of things.

"But I told this group an inch-and-a-half in any of those areas -- or all those areas -- and the opportunity to win is right there for you."

Mason said there is "no quick elixir, there is no pixie dust" to help the Commodores win.

"Really, it squarely comes back to us. So that's the good thing," he said. "You can't point the finger at one guy. You point it to a football team and say, 'Man, you've got to play better.' That's where the winning will be done."

Saturday’s game

VANDERBILT AT ARKANSAS

WHEN 11 a.m.

WHERE Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville

RECORDS Vanderbilt 3-5, 0-4 SEC; Arkansas 2-6, 0-4

TV SEC Network

Sports on 10/24/2018