"Nasty, ugly, gritty, grimy."
Those were the words Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason used to describe the Commodores first SEC win in nearly two years. They were accurate in characterizing a 10-3 win against Missouri on Saturday that proved to be a critical step for the program under Mason, its second-year head coach.
Aesthetics aside, it was an important victory because it was Vanderbilt’s first SEC win under Mason and its first such win since Nov. 23, 2013. It’s also a sign of progress, something that Vanderbilt (3-4) showed at times this season even if it hasn’t manifested itself in the win column.