Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

Vanderbilt’s 7-6 season and bowl victory a year ago had a lot of people dusting off the history books.

It was the Commodores’ first winning season since 1982 and their first bowl win since 1955.

If they can win this Saturday at LSU, it will send everybody digging even deeper into the history books.

The Commodores last beat the Tigers in Baton Rouge in 1951. In fact, that’s the only time Vanderbilt has ever won in Tiger Stadium. Vanderbilt legend Bill Wade threw three touchdown passes that day to lead the Commodores to a 20-13 victory.

The Commodores are 1-1-10 all-time against the Tigers in Baton Rouge. The two teams played to a 7-7 tie in 1933.

What’s it all mean to this Vanderbilt football team, which beat three nationally ranked teams a year ago? Not a lot.

“Our guys seem to relish the challenge of going to places like (Tiger Stadium) and going up against the very best people in the country,” Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson said. “That’s what we tell them when we recruit them. They will see on film that they’re going to have a great challenge, not only with the atmosphere, but the players they’re playing.

“What makes those stadiums hard is the players playing in them.”

Johnson said senior running back Jared Hawkins is doubtful for the game after missing the opener against Western Carolina. Hawkins has not fully recovered from offseason foot surgery. The Commodores will again go with freshmen Zac Stacy and Warren Norman, who each rushed for 100 yards in the opener and spearheaded a 433-yard rushing performance.