Sept. 13, 2014
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Patton Robinette went to one knee to seal Vanderbilt’s first victory of the season. Then the quarterback went looking for his head coach.
Robinette jumpstarted the Commodores’ comeback when he entered in the second quarter and rallied the team to a 34-31 victory over Massachusetts at Vanderbilt Stadium on Saturday. But for as big a part the redshirt sophomore played in the victory, he wanted someone else to have the game ball.
“I have a lot of faith in Coach (Derek) Mason and what he brings to this team,” Robinette said. “I know this has been a trying first month for everybody in the program but we put in a lot of hard work and we persevered. He deserved that ball for getting us to this point because he persevered. He has been going through a lot. He deserved that.”
Mason’s first win as a head coach, and at Vanderbilt, came in thrilling fashion. It wasn’t easy and, at times, took the Commodore faithful on a roller coaster of emotions. But one of the nation’s youngest teams showed signs of growth in rallying from 11 points down in the fourth quarter.
“I’m just so proud of these kids, proud of these coaches and proud of our fan base in helping us get through this,” Mason said. “You could see the change and ebb and flow of this game was wild. It just kept rising. For me, (the win invoked an emotion of) joy. Excitement and joy for these kids and our program. This one is special for me.”
Vanderbilt (1-2) has played 31 true freshmen or redshirt freshmen through the first three games – the most of any FBS team in the country. Saturday’s game was riddled with signs of a growing program taking a big step forward after two tough losses – namely in the young players grabbing hold of the spotlight.
Robinette rejuvenated the team and crowd. Redshirt freshman running back Ralph Webb scored the game-winning touchdown and had a career-high 116 yards on 26 carries. Sophomore outside linebacker Stephen Weatherly sparked the fourth-quarter rally with a blocked punt and return for a touchdown. Another redshirt freshman, C.J. Duncan made a tremendous catch in snatching away an interception from a defender at the 4-yard line to set up the game-winning touchdown.
Youth was being served and, against UMass, the young Commodores rose to the occasion.
“Any time you have to fight, scrap, and struggle while you’re down builds character,” Mason said. “These guys grew up today. It’s a performance they’ll grow up with and continue to build on.”
True freshman Wade Freebeck made his first career start, but, after one quarter, Robinette, only a sophomore, entered the game and immediately led the team on a scoring drive, which he culminated with a one-yard plunge into the end zone.
He cut into the halftime deficit with a jump pass touchdown to Steven Scheu with seven seconds left in the first half. And, finally, he led the game-winning drive. He kept his calm when an unexpected snap hit him in the hand, causing a fumble.
Robinette picked up the ball, rolled to his right and unleashed a 36-yard pass to Duncan, who made an incredible catch at the 4-yard line. One play later, Webb scored the game-winning touchdown.
“He is a winner,” Mason said of Robinette. “Patton had the look in his eye that he wanted this game and he wanted the opportunity. Once he got in and he got on a roll, you could see the energy flowing through this team. That energy was contagious.”
For Robinette, it was another win in a career already filled with big wins. Last year, as a redshirt freshman, he came off the bench and led Vanderbilt to wins against Georgia and Tennessee. And he was the starter in Vanderbilt’s historic win over at Florida.
But, for Robinette, the personal accomplishments on Saturday were far inferior to the team’s achievement.
“It was personally satisfying, but I think the most satisfying thing is getting the win,” said Robinette, who was making his first appearance since being replaced in the season opener. “We aren’t used to losing the past two years. The first two games were trying. Coming out today and fighting for a total team game, defense got some points up, offense got some points up, it was incredibly satisfying.”
At the end, he wanted to share that satisfying moment with his head coach.
And Mason won’t soon forget that moment or peering up into the stands and “seeing the best crowd I’ve ever seen.”
“That type of passion (from the fans), that type of caring has gotten this group, my staff and these players through a rough patch,” Mason said. “Everyone hits one. You have to stick to your process. You have to understand that your day is going to come. You just have to continue to fight and we fought.”
