Sept. 22, 2008
RELATED LINKS: ‘Dores ranked No. 21 | Ole Miss Recap
Nashville, Tenn. – An ESPN national television audience will watch nationally ranked Vanderbilt try to go 5-0 on the season when the Commodores host powerful Auburn on Saturday, Oct. 4, according to Southeastern Conference officials.
The Auburn-Vanderbilt encounter will kickoff at 5 p.m., in Vanderbilt Stadium. The game matching two nationally ranked squads is sold out.
Coming on the heels of a 23-17 victory at Ole Miss, Vanderbilt is ranked No. 21 by the Associated Press and No. 25 by the coaches. It marks the Commodores’ first occasion in the national polls since 1984.
While Vanderbilt’s enjoying national status and first place in the SEC Eastern Division with an early 2-0 record, several of its top performers continue to earn accolades after the win against Ole Miss. Junior safety Ryan Hamilton and senior placekicker Bryant Hahnfeldt were recognized by the league and national organizations for their outstanding play.
One day after Hamilton earned National Defensive Player of the Week honors by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, he added the weekly defensive award from the SEC office Monday. Hamilton, a product of Wycombe, Pa., produced one of the greatest individual defensive performances in team history at Ole Miss, intercepting three passes, recovering a Rebel fumble and stalling an Ole Miss drive at the Vanderbilt 1-yard line with a solo tackle on fourth down.
Hamilton’s remarkable effort included a 79-yard interception return for a touchdown, the longest by a Commodore player in 41 years, and a game-clinching pick as time expired on the clock.
Hamilton became the second Commodore defensive player to earn national recognition in three weeks. Junior linebacker Patrick Benoist was named the Football Writers Association of American Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 9 for a 15-tackle effort in Vanderbilt’s 24-17 victory over No. 24 South Carolina.
Hahnfeldt, a four-year starter from Nashville, was recognized as one of three “Stars of the Week” by the Lou Groza National Collegiate Place Kicker Award, for his superb performance at Ole Miss.
Hahnfeldt has been perfect as a kicking specialist for the Commodores. He hit field goals from 34, 31 and 40 yards against the Rebels, providing Vanderbilt with its final nine points of the game. Hahnfeldt also connected on two extra-point attempts.
Three years removed from a serious knee injury, Hahnfeldt is 7-of-7 this season on field-goal tries, and has converted all 14 PATs attempted. Hahnfeldt became the Commodores’ all-time leading scorer two weeks ago, passing former standout John Markham.
The Commodores have a bye week this Saturday.