Vanderbilt football coach Clark Lea played Blaze Berlowitz and Jared Curtis against Austin Peay, and Lea was complimentary of both during his postgame news conference after the 28-9 win in the season opener on Sept. 5 at FirstBank Stadium.
Berlowitz was 11-for-16 passing for 149 yards. He also ran 11 times for 45 yards and one touchdown. Curtis was 7-for-9 for 60 yards passing and ran three times for 22 yards.
Lea acknowledged that the offense looked different with each quarterbacks. Berlowitz was more run-heavy, and Curtis ran more tempo and was able to throw the ball more. Two of the three touchdown drives were led by Berlowitz, while the third was a punt return touchdown.
Fans at FirstBank Stadium showered Curtis — who went to Nashville Christian School — with support, cheering loudly whenever he entered. They also chanted “Let’s go Jared!” when Curtis ran for a first down and trucked an Austin Peay defender in the process.
Lea did not criticize the fans for chanting for Curtis, but he emphasized that the fans’ opinions would not play into the quarterback decision-making.
“I appreciate the passion, I appreciate the energy, the interest. I don’t ever, ever put any stock in the external parts of this,” Lea said. “This is my job . . . I want our fans to show up, I want them to be passionate, I want them to have opinions.”
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
