July 20, 2018
SEC MEDIA DAYS CENTRAL | MASON PRESS CONFERENCE
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
ATLANTA — LaDarius Wiley walked into Vanderbilt’s holding suite at the Omni Hotel at 7:47 a.m. on Thursday, the morning of the Commodores’ appearance at SEC Media Days 2018. The Vanderbilt safety didn’t need to say a word to elicit “oohs” and “ahs” from his attending teammates, quarterback Kyle Shurmur and offensive lineman Justin Skule. Wiley’s outfit did all the talking.
The senior’s grey three-piece plaid suit featured a red velvet vest, a velvet collar and a striking velvet bowtie, all on top of a grey dress shirt. A shiny watch, bracelet and dark brown shoes completed the ensemble.
“Wow, we just look like your bodyguards, LaDarius,” joked Shurmur, himself donning a solid blue suit.
Wiley grinned.
“I have to give props to my mom,” he said. “We got this suit before I even knew I was coming to Media Days.”
This week, Wiley was more than just a senior safety and a veteran leader on Vanderbilt’s defense. He was the best-dressed man at SEC Media Days, and as he made the rounds at the Omni on Thursday, few could ignore the velvet-clad star as he previewed the 2018 football season.
Wiley’s first stop of many was on radio row. He sat down with the morning show of 97.7 FM ESPN The Zone from Atlanta. As one host introduced Wiley, the other interrupted: “A sharp-dressed LaDarius Wiley!”
Wiley discussed Vanderbilt’s growth on defense during the offseason, an evolution that included the hiring of Jason Tarver as defensive coordinator. Wiley said Tarver brought with him new energy to West End, and the Dores’ defense has enjoyed a successful offseason as a result.
By the end of the interview, Wiley’s infectious attitude had one host prepared to lace `em up.
“Listening to you talk, you’d think the season started next week!” he said.
A half-hour later, head coach Derek Mason addressed the main interview room at the College Football Hall of Fame. Mason noted that Wiley returns as Vanderbilt’s leading tackler from a year ago. Still, the coach added, the senior isn’t getting the attention he deserves heading into the 2018 season.
The dapper Mason also tipped his cap to Wiley’s fashion game at Media Days.
“Nobody is really talking about him, but I am,” Mason said. “This dude’s a monster. He’s here today in probably the best-dressed suit here at SEC Media Days. He came in here and out-dressed me, and I’m all about it.”
All style, all gas… no brakes. #SECMD18 | #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/KFxOdS3HBn
— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) July 19, 2018
Later, Wiley settled down with Brian Jones of CBS Sports for a one-on-one interview. Wiley, a native of Los Angeles, chatted with Jones about living on the West Coast, his favorite restaurants back home and more. Jones, of course, couldn’t ignore Wiley’s wardrobe. “I’m bringing velvet back!” Wiley joked.
Jones prodded for the backstory on Wiley’s suit. Wiley said his mother, Sue, phoned him before he visited home last May and said it was time to purchase a new suit. When Mason later told Wiley he would represent the Commodores at Media Days, the senior knew his newest outfit couldn’t stay in the closet.
Jones wrapped his interview by asking Wiley to create his own personal hashtag heading into the season. How would he define his upcoming season? The safety scribbled on a whiteboard and flipped it around for the camera: #tooblessedtobestressed
“I’m always about positive energy, positive vibes,” Wiley said. “I’m too blessed to be stressed.”
Wiley made his final stop of Media Days in the main interview room, where he posted up on a stage surrounded by a gaggle of reporters. He fielded question after question about Vanderbilt’s upcoming season, from its hopes in the SEC East to Wiley’s own role as a leader on defense. He said the Commodores are motivated to get things rolling this fall. “We don’t need fuel from anybody,” Wiley said. “We know what we have and what we’re capable of.”
But when one media member asked Wiley where he was from, the Los Angeles product pointed to his suit.
“I’m bringing West Coast flavor with my suit today,” Wiley said.
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics.