Life sure is good on West End these days.

After its 23-17 victory over Ole Miss on Saturday, Vanderbilt (4-0) finds itself ranked in the top 25 for the first time since 1984. The Commodores are No. 21 in the AP and No. 25 in the coaches poll.

“We’re proud of the ranking. It reflects our guys being 4-0, but I think voters are also seeing a team that plays hard and one that does everything it can to win games,” said VU coach Bobby Johnson. “As a coach, that’s all you can ask.”

The Commodores should be ranked for at least two weeks as they have an open week before hosting Auburn on Oct. 4 when they’ll try to move to 5-0 for the first time since 1943.



“It feels amazing,” tailback Jared Hawkins told Brett Hait of The Nashville City Paper.  “It’s great for our team and our program. “I’m really excited about it and the rest of the guys are, too.”

Even Johnson didn’t downplay the victory’s significance.

“We’re not trying to tone it down,” he said.

The Commodores have trailed in every one of their four wins, but have allowed just 10 points in the second half, including two straight shutouts.

“Our guys really gutted it out and made plays when we had to,” Johnson said.

Vanderbilt is now 13-12 in its past 25 games dating back to 2006 and 8-9 in its last 17 road games. The national poll voters are noticing.

“The Vanderbilt name gets out there,” Johnson said. “Hopefully that will help recruiting, ticket sales, everything. We’re not against it, believe me, but it won’t help us win the next game.”




The bye week couldn’t come at a better time for the newly-ranked, but banged-up Commodores.

Chris Nickson left Saturday’s game with a shoulder injury, but his status remains in question.

“We just know it’s a sprained shoulder,” Nickson said. “We don’t know the extent right now.”

The fact that Vanderbilt was able to withstand several injuries against Ole Miss speaks to its increased depth.

“We had a lot of people play hurt and a lot of people go in for people that could not play and did very fine jobs,” said Johnson, who loves that the Commodores’ two open weeks come at the perfect time (after four and eight games).



Props to VU safety Ryan Hamilton, who was named the National Defensive Player of the Week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation after turning in a performance for the ages on Saturday.

Hamilton intercepted three passes, returning one 79 yards for a score, produced a huge goal-line stop on fourth down to hold the Rebels and recovered a fumble on an Ole Miss punt return.

“I’ve had a few go through my hands, so I guess I’m breaking even now,” Hamilton said. “It felt really good to get them.”

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