Ex-Notre Dame football DC led his team to biggest upset of 2024 season
Back in 2020, we here at Slap The Sign knew that former Notre Dame football defensive coordinator Clark Lea was coaching his way into a head job. Having said that at the time, it’s almost a surety that everyone rooting for him was rooting for him to take on a better job than Vanderbilt. However, he’s managed to take one of the worst jobs in FBS and made it America’s team after Saturday afternoon.
Lea’s Vanderbilt Commodores got themselves on the map in the first week of the regular season thanks to an upset victory over a Virginia Tech squad that were expected to be an ACC Title contender. However the ‘Dores lost some luster when they themselves were an upset victim to Georgia State in Week 3. It was thought the team was back to being the same old Vanderbilt that always struggles to win even three games a season.
But then something interesting happened. The former Notre Dame football defensive coordinator (coaching the Irish from 2017-2020) almost pulled off the upset against then-No. 7 Missouri. The Commodores lost in overtime but raised some eyebrows by taking the Tigers to the limit.
And then, on Saturday, Lea’s squad finished off the biggest upset of the year. Finished off what might have been the biggest upset of the decade. Perhaps the biggest upset of the SEC considering the histories of Alabama and Vanderbilt.
Ex-Notre Dame football coach leads team to historic upset
Not only did Vandy beat Alabama 40-35 on Saturday, but his team never trailed. They took a 13-0 lead before anyone really noticed what was going on. They grew it to 23-7 and college football fans all over the country wondered if it was possible something special was going to happen.
Twice, Alabama made it look like they were just playing with the food. When it was 23-21 and then 30-28, people assumed the Tide were finally going to take control.
And then Vandy made it 40-28 and held on for the 40-35 win. And suddenly a ‘Bama team that looked like the best team in the country by a long shot just a week ago. And it wasn’t just Vanderbilt fans that were excited about the victory.
Notre Dame football fans got to claim one of their own as someone who pulled off the massive upset. In fact, with the win over Alabama it’s unlikely Lea will ever have to buy himself another meal in South Bend, should he ever come back.