Joe Rexrode

USA TODAY NETWORK -- Tennessee

Since we’re about to start talking spring football soon, can we start by agreeing that spring football is garbage?

I mean, it’s essential for the teams. The coaches and players need the work. But for the outside world, there’s so little information of value to be had.

A few young players impressing here and there, a guy gaining 20 pounds, another guy dropping 20. Mostly, a big tease and we’ll see you in August when things start to matter.

But don’t worry, I’ll still write a bunch of spring football columns, because football fans would read The Long Snapper Diaries at this time of year. And today I’m here to tell you that Vanderbilt has the best spring game format going.

Yet somehow it’s not scheduled to be televised. And to hear coach Derek Mason tell it Friday, that was news to him when the SEC Network released its spring game schedule this week and Vanderbilt was the only one of the 14 SEC schools not listed.

“I haven’t talked to the SEC,” Mason said. “Hopefully here in the next couple of days I’ll get a chance to talk to the SEC. I never knew that they weren’t coming.”

But to be clear: He wants them to come. He said he’s “definitely inviting” the network to show up on March 25 for what he’s calling the Vanderbilt “spring showcase,” because like every other college coach whose job largely revolves around recruiting, he wants every ounce of free exposure he can get.

And the SEC Network should give it to him. He isn’t doing a traditional spring game this season, he said, because he doesn’t have the numbers on his roster and has several players banged up.

MORE VANDY FOOTBALL

Splitting his team into two squads for a fan-friendly “game” is risky and does not carry the same value as having a full practice on that day.

“My job as a head coach is to make sure I get us to the other side,” Mason said of managing things and maintaining health.

But here’s the thing: The Commodores will be scrimmaging first-team offense vs. first-team defense on that day, in addition to various practice drills.

No, there won’t be two “teams” and it’s not officially the Black & Gold Game anymore, but 10 minutes of ones vs. ones is more informative than two hours of a split-squad games with offensive line and defensive backfield reserves who are forced into action on both teams and are completely overmatched by starters.

Do you remember the score or winner of any spring game you’ve ever watched? Ah yes, that stirring 13-12 comeback victory for the Gold team in 2003. No. Of course you don’t.

You watch spring games to watch specific players. And if you can watch a starting left tackle block a starting defensive end, or a star receiver going against a young cornerback who is making a move on the depth chart, you’ve actually seen something of value (within the context of the overall garbage that is spring ball, of course).

Vanderbilt spokesman Larry Leathers said the school has “no expectation” that the SEC Network will change course and televise the March 25 event live. A spokesman for the network, reached Friday, did not immediately have an answer on whether that’s under consideration.

But Mason clearly hopes it happens.

“Let’s do it live,” he said. “If the SEC wants to do it live, let’s do it live. Let’s mic our coaches up, let us explain and go through (the drills). … To me, it’s a better show.”

He’s right, even if it doesn’t follow the format of the past, or of the other 13 SEC schools. Mason said he’d consider going back to the game format next year if the roster numbers look better, but I hope he holds off and sees how this goes.

I’ve covered ones vs. ones spring scrimmages and full-blown spring games and, though many fans like having a winner and a scoreboard, hard-core fans like the scrimmage format better. And let’s face it, Vanderbilt is always going to be different.

“We’ve always looked to be unique,” Mason said. “We look nothing like the 13 other schools in this conference, whether it’s roster, whether it’s how we practice or what we do.”

And they’re viewed differently, too. Let’s say Alabama or Auburn or Florida or Tennessee decided to do a scrimmage instead of a game. You think anyone at the SEC would dare consider not televising it?

Follow Joe Rexrode at jrexrode@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @joerexrode.