WORTH MONITORING: Hard jobs in the SEC got distinctly harder with Oklahoma and Texas entering the league. It is tougher to fight into the middle class for addresses like Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State and South Carolina. (Things can change fast in either direction -- check the 2023 preseason hot seats for casual Missouri references.)

Vanderbilt is fresh off a winless SEC season under Clark Lea (9-27) as he enters Year 4. It's hard to imagine that school stomaching another massive buyout. The firing of basketball coach Jerry Stackhouse this spring, after he'd been extended in the fall of 2022 without reaching the NCAA tournament, is believed to be one of the biggest in college basketball history. (Reports vary but have started at $15 million.) Lea is an alum projected to be owed in the neighborhood of $18 million, and he was extended prior to the 2023 season through 2029. That's five years after the current season as the school pushes through a massive facility build.

It is one of my favorite sayings and I have said it often in the past year but this morning I realized that I can say it and really mean it: "It's Good To Be Gold!"

On ESPN 5 for Heisman, #5 was just about every SEC QB so a little tongue in cheek but:

But let's put the spotlight on Vandy quarterback Diego Pavia, who threw for 190 yards, ran for 140 and accounted for three touchdowns in a stunning upset of Virginia Tech. In three starts in SEC stadiums in his career, the New Mexico State transfer has embarrassed the Hokies and Auburn and combined to account for 656 yards and six touchdowns.

Here’s who I can remember just from member:

Glen Seabrooks
Johan Cardenas
Dontae Carter

Anyone else?

I'd have Pavia voicing ads in Spanish on Spanish radio in Nashville starting this week. I'd also have him record 30-45 second hits for Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, Twitter. The offer is for $10 tickets that includes a characterized Diego Pavia "Los Commodores" t-shirt starting Saturday night.

We're going to sell out multiple times this year - use the money to promote Vandy football brand via Pavia. I'd spend $100,000 a week on socials, radio, and maybe a billboard or two around town (though I hate billboards) until the end of the year promoting Vandy football using Pavia. Or until we crash and burn.

It's a total shot in the dark. I have no idea if it would work. But Pavia is clearly a character we havent had in decades (if ever). Other than James Franklin. He's incredibly marketable. Need to strike while the iron is hot.

I'd also have him on Nashville sports radio paid spots all week with a similar offer in English. And non paid interviews. He should push ticket offers.

And I'd even throw in 5-$1,000 giveaway winners every week at every game. Maybe for students or tickets bought through the promotion.