Netflix released a docuseries detailing the behind-the-scenes of SEC football programs on Aug. 5. The docuseries explores the atmosphere, players, coaches and fans that define the SEC. In the third installment, titled “Shock the World,” Vanderbilt takes center stage; as the episode traces the program’s journey in the 2024 season from being the “punching bag,” as journalist Paul Finebaum put it, to defeating No.1 Alabama 40-35.
Overall, the docuseries earned decent reviews, including a 7.1/10 rating on IMDb — a score I find accurate. The Vanderbilt episode offered strong insights into the program and the team’s “prove you wrong” mentality. Head coach Clark Lea, a Nashville native and Vanderbilt football alumnus, and general manager Barton Simmons, his longtime friend, shared their determination to turn Vanderbilt football around. Quarterback Diego Pavia has spread his “first one in, last one out” mentality with the team, reinforcing the team culture of hard work. The team used that mentality to silence its doubters, including former Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
“The only place you play in the SEC that’s not hard to play is Vanderbilt,” Saban said in an interview prior to the game.
Pavia acknowledged the snippet on “Any Given Saturday.”
“That fuels me,” Pavia said.
I appreciated these human insights into the program. They gave me a sense of the team’s dynamics and goals beyond the field. But there was still one main issue with the series: The narrative of Vanderbilt taking down Goliath was overdone.
“I didn’t watch it because I already experienced it,” senior Eliam Chang said. “I was on the field because I was part of the ROTC pushup team when that game happened, so I didn’t feel like I had to relive it through the documentary.”
I can see why, though. While interesting, the narrative was represented in hundreds of media sources before its release. Additionally, many Vanderbilt students got to experience the angle in person, making a docuseries about the same experience less captivating. Lastly, it was put out at an odd time — in the middle of summer — when college football relevance had died out. It was put out too late for any of it to be breaking news and didn’t dive deep enough into unknown information for shock value to occur.
Despite this, the docuseries helped generate hope for the upcoming season. It gave the public a chance to see Vanderbilt as a rising program to be taken more seriously.
“I like [Pavia]’s mindset, it’s good for the team,” first-year Maura Walldorf said. The docuseries made me hyped for the season.”
Even though I have my qualms with this documentary episode, it still provided 47 minutes of good entertainment, and I can’t resist being excited for this upcoming season. It offered hope to a fanbase that has long struggled and highlighted the mission driving the staff and athletes: to win, to be resilient, to be good people and, above all, to work hard.
