Why Vanderbilt is the only SEC team without a televised spring football game, again

Vanderbilt football will be the only SEC team without a televised spring football game, just as it was last year.

Why is that? Because Commodores coach Derek Mason prefers a spring showcase rather than a spring game. And the ESPN family of networks will only be airing traditional spring games.

According to ESPN's programming guide, 13 of the 14 SEC schools will play their spring games on ESPN, ESPNU or SEC Network. Vanderbilt is the only one left out.

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On Tuesday, Vanderbilt spokesman Kyle Parkinson confirmed that the Commodores will play a spring showcase rather than a spring game for the second straight year. The start date of Vanderbilt's spring practice will be announced later this week, and the spring showcase date will be announced at a later date.

For those who attended the spring showcase last year, there didn't appear to be much of a difference between a spring game and spring showcase. Group work and individual drills were emphasized more than a spring game, but there was still an intrasquad scrimmage.

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However, the scrimmage portion was abbreviated, and it focused on the first-team offense facing the first-team defense rather than reserve players playing against starters.

Last year, Mason explained his reason for changing to a spring showcase format.

“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 following last year's spring showcase, Mason was pleased that he changed to the new format. So the Commodores will do it again this spring.

Reach Adam Sparks at asparks@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @AdamSparks.