How little old Vanderbilt is starting to thrive in the big, bad SEC

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NASHVILLE -- It's a memory that flashed through Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea's mind more than once when the program was in the throes of a 26-game SEC losing streak in 2022, his second season as coach.

The memory presented itself again a year ago as Lea guided Vanderbilt to its first winning season since 2013, its first-ever win over a No. 1 team and a bowl victory over Georgia Tech, all culminating with Lea being named SEC Coach of the Year by his peers.

"I remember watching [assistant coach] Robbie Caldwell and my other coaches line the practice field and mow the grass when I played here," said Lea, a fullback on head coach Bobby Johnson's first teams at Vanderbilt from…