TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN
FOOTBALL EDITION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2015/VOLUME 100 ISSUE 5
A look at USM’s 1977-1983 winning streak against in-state rival Mississippi State, pg. 14 PAGE THREE
ANALYSIS
PAGE SEVEN
FEATURE
PAGE TEN
OPINION
PAGE THIRTEEN
FLASHBACK
Thursday, September 3, 2015 | Page 2
MEET THE
STAFF
INFORMATION LETTER FROM EDITOR
Football edition celebrates USM’s past and present Alan Rawls
Executive Editor
The Student Printz annually does a football special edition that analyzes offense and defense, predicts the football season and highlights key players. This year we decided to do not only that, but also to highlight USM’s past. And the best part about this edition is that the history glimpsed in these pages is but a morsel of our university’s rich football history. No amount of pages or ensemble of words could paint an adequate picture of what Southern Miss football and pride has been like in the last century. We did not
have enough time or room to tell you about the many great USM victories. In 1981, USM went into Tallahassee and defeated Florida State 58-14. The next year, they spoiled “Bear” Bryant’s last Alabama home game as head coach by beating the Tide 38-29. Just 12 years ago, USM beat Nebraska 21-7 on the Huskers’ own turf. Our hope for this 2015 edition is twofold. We hope that fans young and old will be intrigued and made proud by their university’s historied program. If you have the time, do your own research about USM. Find out more about legends like Sammy Winder, Reggie
Collier, Ray Guy, Brett Favre and so many more. Immerse yourselves in the past before looking ahead to a bright future. Our second hope goes deeper. To head coach Todd Monken, the coaching staff and all the USM players: realize that you are a part of a strong tradition. Do not dwell on three bad years; rather, dwell on 100 years of greatness and know that you carry on that legacy. Know that you are Golden Eagles, proud and powerful and ready to soar. Know that you have the support of so many fans and alumni. But most importantly, know that we believe.
Prospects
Newcomers on the rise:
Thursday, September 3, 2015 | Page 3
Southern Miss signees who will make an impact
Julius Kizzee Sports Reporter
Through the first two years of the Monken era, Southern Miss has won a total of four games. However, this has not stopped Southern Miss from recruiting well. This past recruiting period, USM recruited 11 junior college and FBS graduate transfer players. That sense of immediate help
will propel the Golden Eagles to the next level. For the signing period, Southern Miss made a valiant effort to address several needs on the roster for their depth along the defensive line and the offensive line. They also secured several commitments to fill out the holes in the
Julian Allen, TE Allen comes to Southern Miss as one of only two tight ends on the roster. Allen last played at Lackawanna College, where he racked up 14 receptions for 191 yards and four touchdowns in the two years he played at Lackawanna. Allen will be competing for playing time with fellow signee Taylor Marini. In the spring, Marini held the edge, but Allen has worked in with the first team as well in fall camp. Allen will have to showcase his athleticism and reliable hands to uplift that position group, as he is a vital cog to the Golden Eagle offense. Allen held offers from Central Arkansas, Buffalo, Akron and Florida Atlantic. He also visited Mississippi State and was visited by Ohio State.
Taylor Marini, TE Taylor Marini comes to Southern Miss after spending one year at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Fulton, Mississippi. Marini saw action at both tight end and halfback, grabbing nine receptions for 96 yards in his lone season at Copiah-Lincoln. With Marini on the roster, the Golden Eagle offense becomes that much more versatile by having a target that can catch and block. A short-to-intermediate target for the Golden Eagles, he will open up the field in ways that traditional receivers cannot. Marini was originally a member of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights before transferring to Copiah-Lincoln in 2014.
Devonta Foster, DB
Foster is also from Coffeyville Community College. As a junior, Foster has two years left on campus to make his mark. At Coffeyville, he played in ten games, tallying 59 tackles on the year. He also added three interceptions and three pass breakups. Recently named the starting safety opposite Antoine, Foster will have his hands full protecting the back side of Southern Miss’ defense. According to CBS Sports, Southern Miss ranked 102nd nationally in defense in the FBS. Foster received offers from Arkansas State, Bowling Green, California and Georgia State.
Justice Hayes, RB Jalen Richard and Ito Smith are returning USM vets, so the running back rotation could be by committee. Even though Smith may get the start in the opening weekend, do not expect Hayes to stay on the sideline for long. Hayes is a fifth-year transfer coming from Michigan as a graduate transfer. At Michigan, he only had 302 yards on 68 carries. The optimism around Hayes is warranted, but there are the worries surrounding his arrival. Did Michigan not use him enough because he could not burst through the Michigan lineup in four years? Or does he have fresh legs coming down to Hattiesburg? Hayes’ potential will be put into the spotlight this season.
defensive backfield. Monken secured commitments from players who can step in and play immediately. Twenty players on the roster came from the JUCO ranks, all hoping to secure playing time; but, only a certain number will get on the field consistently.
D’Nerius Antoine, DB D’Nerius Antoine played at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas, and was a First-Team National Junior College All-American as he recorded 69 tackles, three forced fumbles and two interceptions. The coaches are very excited about the 231-pound safety from New Iberia, Louisiana. Antoine is usually the fastest one to the ball and is big enough to withstand a collision. During the spring, Antoine played with the first-team defense on every down and rarely took a break. Antoine held offers from Oklahoma State, Troy and South Alabama before committing to the Golden Eagles.
Ricky Parks, DL
Parks is no stranger to Division I football, having two separate stints with Auburn. He was later dismissed after just a year on campus for violating team rules. He was a highly sought-after tight end recruit and was used as an H-Back in the Tiger offense. Ricky comes from Coffeyville Community College in Kansas, where he made the transition to the defensive line. Parks was the seventh-rated JUCO prospect in the country by Scout.com, recording 25 tackles and nine sacks in his lone season. Parks will be able to contribute immediately on the defensive line, filling in at defensive end with NFL-caliber potential.
Naim Mustafaa, Bandit Mustafaa is a football enigma since coming out of Alpharetta, Georgia. Ranked a four-star recruit by ESPN, Mustafaa came into the collegiate ranks with all of the hype in the world. In high school, he was named All-State, AllDistrict, All-Region and All-Metro in Georgia. As of Aug. 31, Mustafaa is listed as the backup “bandit” linebacker behind junior Dylan Bradley. He has an exceptional burst off the edge and could be a force on passing downs. Mustafaa committed to the Oklahoma State Cowboys in 2013, then transferred to Miami. He had to sit out in 2014, due to NCAA transfer rules.
Andrew Bolton, DL
Andrew Bolton comes to Southern Miss after playing in 11 games for Kansas. He finished the year with 16 tackles and 1.5 sacks to his name. Bolton is able to immediately jump into the defensive line rotation among Parks, Dylan Bradley, Michael Smith and Wil Freeman, among others. The defensive line will be a strength this year with serious depth. No matter who starts, Bolton will have an immediate impact on this team. Bolton is an original Mississippian, hailing from Clinton, just outside of Jackson. His return to Mississippi will be heartwarming, but he will only have one year to prove his worth to his home state.
Page 4 | Thursday, September 3, 2015
season stats for
2014
19 1,149
PPG
rushing
yards
41% touchdown rate
in the red zone
249 first downs
OFFENSE
USM offense searching for explosion Ashley Hickman Sports Reporter
The Golden Eagles have been working hard all offseason and are eager to show it this weekend. The offense is looking to make strides this year in explosive plays, which is something they lacked in producing last season, ranking 121st in explosiveness, according to SB Nation. Head coach Todd Monken went out and signed a crowd of experienced players and many are expected to be difference-makers this season. There will be a mix of returning starters and fresh faces ready to get the Golden Eagles back to their winning ways. “I’m excited about the team we’ve put together,” Monken said. “I’m not worried about who we don’t have; I’m worried about who we have and finding a way to get better.” The big plays were almost nonexistent this past season, as the run game produced just 42 rushes of 10-plus yards and only one of 40-plus. That has to change for USM to go into games confidently with teams on their schedule like Mississippi State, Nebraska and conference rival Rice. Senior wide receiver Michael Thomas has become a very reliable target in the passing game, averaging 14.4 yards per catch. After coming in late last season, Thomas feels as confident as ever with more time to learn the plays and better his routes this year. “Everyday I am looking for things to improve on and also help get these young guys on board so they know what they are doing when I come out,” Thomas said. “I set a goal to myself to leave a legacy. We are going to surprise some people this year.” Another wide receiver that should see more touches is junior Marquise Ricard, who averaged
13.9 yards per catch. Two stud tight end transfers, Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Taylor Marini and Lackawanna College’s Julian Allen, will also add less predictability to USM’s offensive. “Southern Miss hasn’t had a tight end in a couple of years so I think I can help a lot,” Allen said. “My main goal is to help this team win football games.” Running backs Ito Smith, Jalen Richard, George Payne and Tez Parks showed potential last season in the open field. Michigan transfer Justice Hayes will also be in the rotation. The challenge will be to get these guys a chance to explode in the open field for huge chunks of yardage. As they gain more experience, they will also gain more opportunities to hit big plays. Smith became USM’s go-to running back last season, rushing 45 times in the first two games. He was injured, however, in the middle of the season, and Payne was the next man up for the starting spot. Jalen Richard was a late star for the USM offense, as he averaged 6.7 yards per carry over the last four games of the season. During an “under the lights” scrimmage this summer, Monken was most impressed with his experienced senior running back. Richard had the play of the night with a 52-yard touchdown run in which he broke several tackles, refusing to be stopped and outran a number of defensive backs. Richard is becoming what Monken always knew he could be: an every-down back. These running backs are all returning for the Golden Eagles along with nine of the ten members of the offensive line. USM’s experienced offensive line is led by junior center Cameron Tom. Tom stands at six-feet, four-inches and is the heart of the Southern Miss offense. Luke Meadows, USM’s offensive line coach, is confident in Tom’s mental
and physical abilities to anchor the offense. “It doesn’t matter who the quarterback is and shouldn’t matter who the running backs are,” Meadows said. “It shouldn’t matter who the guards and tackles are around him. But (Tom has) done an excellent job.” As a freshman, Tom earned Conference USA All-Freshman honors at right tackle in 2013. He moved to center his sophomore year and was nervous about learning the different techniques, but Tom adjusted well to his new position. Southern Miss will also depend on Rashod Hill, Oliver Bates, Devin Farrior, and Norman Price up front to protect their quarterback and create holes for the running backs. For the receivers, three starters are returning this year, with the addition of Tyre’oune Holmes. Holmes, a redshirt sophomore, led USM in 2013 with 53 catches, but missed 2014 with an injury. Holmes should make an impact in the Golden Eagle offense this year. Casey Martin is another wide receiver that should not be overlooked. He and Holmes are very efficient, combining to catch 70 percent of their targets in each of their most recent seasons. “These guys (the receivers) have to make a decision every day to come out here, get after it and play with a little bit of an edge,” Monken said. “You have to build on that everyday. You don’t just show up with an edge.” USM will have more options and depth this season at every position on offense. This offense has potential, and experience will lead to efficiency. Monken believes his football team will win at least six games this season. He is constantly letting his players know about the confidence he has in them. “We’ve got the right kind of guys here,” Monken said. “Now we just have to have an edge.”
Source: ncaa.com
Ito Smith
Michael Thomas
Casey Martin 55 catches,
136 carries,
41 catches,
536 yards,
592 yards,
531 yards,
3.9 YPC,
14.4 AVG,
9.7 AVG,
2 TD’s
5 TD’s
2 TD’s
OFFENSE Joshua Campbell Sports Editor
Southern Miss head coach Todd Monken has quite a conundrum on his hands. Does he start Nick Mullens, the incumbent who has started 16 games over the past two seasons, or Tyler Matthews, a former four-star recruit who was ranked the sixth pro-style quarterback in the nation by Rivals and top player in the state of Kansas? That question has been looming since the spring and the competition has remained in a dead heat every step of the way. In the Spring Game, Matthews had the better day, leading the White team to 22-14 victory while throwing for 326 yards and two touchdowns. He was not perfect, however, throwing an interception and completing just 51 percent of his passes. Mullens threw two touchdowns as well, but struggled mightily aside from those two throws. Both plays went for over 70 yards, but the majority of yardage was picked up after the catch. Outside of those plays, he completed 15-of-27 pass attempts for just 53 yards and two picks. His last pass of the game was a terrible throw that was not within 15 yards of any receiver and
Thursday, September 3, 2015 | Page 5
Mullens vs. Matthews: Consistency or upside
was intercepted by Deshadrick Truly. While he struggled in the Spring Game, he has looked just as sharp as Matthews in every fall scrimmage and practice. Both have worked with the first and second team every practice and have both consistently made plays. In USM’s scrimmage Aug. 15, both quarterbacks threw a touchdown without being intercepted. The following week, Matthews threw three touchdowns, but was also picked off twice while Mullens threw a touchdown and an interception. While the interceptions are alarming for both quarterbacks, they have shown the ability to lead this team. Mullens has shown the ability to get hot and complete several passes in a row, sustaining long drives, but can struggle with decision making. Matthews has the bigger arm, can stretch the ball downfield to pick up big chunks of yards and has flashed some scarily good accuracy with tight-window throws, but lives dangerously. In the season opener against Mississippi State, Monken has said both quarterbacks will get a chance to lead the offense. “We anticipate both to play, because both are good players,”
he said. But eventually someone will have to force Monken’s hand into choosing “the guy.” Dual-quarterback systems simply do not work unless one of the quarterbacks only comes in to run. So which quarterback is it going to be? Two years ago, it was clear that Mullens was the right guy for the job. He took over the job as a true freshman and provided a spark to the offense, ultimately ending the program’s 23-game losing streak in a record-breaking sixtouchdown performance. However, he was given the keys to lead the team last season and just did not take a big step forward in his progression. He threw for just 12 touchdowns in 9 starts last season as the Golden Eagles fell to a 3-9 season. At this point in his career, it is fair to question Mullens’ upside despite being just a third-year junior. He simply just does not have the pedigree as only a two-star prospect with less than a handful of scholarship offers. While scouting services are far from perfect by any means, they do provide a good indication of a player’s natural talent. This is not to say that Mullens simply cannot succeed or that he is not talented. He has proven that
he can be successful and is more talented than his scouting ranking and scholarship offer list. But how far can he really take this team? We know what we are going to get from Mullens at this point. He may have a great game from time to time and flash some impressive stats, but he will also have games when he just simply looks overmatched by the defense. He had three games last season where he completed fewer than 55 percent of his passes and three games with multiple interceptions. He only had one game last season in which he threw more than two touchdowns—a three-touchdown performance against Middle Tennessee State, which was easily his best game of the season. He threw for 426 yards that day, completing 36 of his 54 pass attempts. One could make the argument that he was finally turning the corner at that juncture of the season, leading the Golden Eagles to a 30-20 win over North Texas and completing his first four passes against Louisiana Tech before injuring his foot. But in the final two games, he was once again inconsistent and struggled to move the offense. Simply put, Mullens’ ceiling may only be high enough to lead USM
into mediocrity. Matthews is the wildcard. Everyone always loves the backup quarterback or the new guy in town who just might be the answer. He has certainly generated a ton of buzz throughout both the spring and the fall with his plus-arm strength. He originally attended TCU, but decided to transfer after a quarterback battle with Trevone Boykin and spent last season sitting out due to undergraduate transfer rules. With only a handful of snaps in real game action, Matthews’ true ability has not been tested. Sure, he has teased with his big arm in practices and scrimmages, but there is no real way to judge whether he is ready to take this team past mediocrity. His upside is what makes him an intriguing option. Being a former top recruit means that at one time, just about everyone in the country agreed he was a stud. He definitely has the potential to be a star in a smaller conference like Conference USA. While both quarterbacks are going to play and both deserve to play, Monken has to make Matthews the full time quarterback sooner than later. He simply has too much upside to sit on the bench. He is the type of guy who has all the ability to lift this program from the doldrums.
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DEFENSE
Depth will impact Golden Eagle defense early Jacob Kemp Sports Reporter
Going into the 2014 season, the Golden Eagles’ defense had eight returning starters and seemed to have one of the more formidable front-sevens in Conference USA. But that was last year. Gone are defensive leaders Alan Howze, Emmanuel Johnson and Rakeem Nunez-Roches from the 2014 Golden Eagle defense. Those left behind, mainly linebackers Elijah Parker, Brian Anderson and defensive lineman Michael Smith, will have to pick up the slack quickly in order for Southern Miss to compete this year. Despite overwhelming odds, such as an average defensive performance and the departure of several starters, there is a belief the 2015 defense could improve. Brian Anderson returns after a solid junior campaign and must become more vocal to help lead the young Golden Eagle defense. “Being here for the second year and being comfortable with the system has helped a lot,” Anderson said. “I had to put in a lot of work during the spring and in the summer to have myself better prepared for my teammates. I have to get everybody lined up and know each position as well.” One of many impact players could come in the form of D’Nerius Antoine, a JUCO from Trinity Valley Community College. Antoine started out at Oklahoma State where things did not work out for him, and he is looking for another opportunity with the Golden Eagles. Antoine played safety and linebacker at Trinity Valley and will play a similar hybrid role for USM after bulking up from 200 to 230 pounds in the offseason. Antoine spent most of spring transitioning to linebacker, but after several players like Parker, Terrick Wright and Sherrod Ruff stepped up, defensive coordinator David Duggan says that Antoine is now back at safety and will be a game changer on defense. “D’nerius Antoine will be a dynamic player no matter where we play him,” Duggan said. “Whether it’s at linebacker or safety, he’s going to make plays.” While impressed with Antoine, Duggan says that he has been most impressed with the improvement of his linebackers and that was the main reason he moved Antoine back to safety.
“I think our linebackers have improved tremendously and there’s a confidence with them now,” he said. “There’s depth that was not there before, there’s competition and all of them are just practicing with confidence.” Another huge addition is the transfer from Auburn, linebacker Anthony Swain. Swain graduated from Auburn early and left their program in the spring. Swain not only provides depth for USM, but also some size that has not been here since Jamie Collins. The Golden Eagle defense suffered many losses along the defensive side of the ball, but none bigger than along the defensive line. Nunez-Roches, the anchor in the middle for the Golden Eagles last year, is gone, along with Dasman McCullum and Adam Williams. Lack of depth along the defensive line will not be a major concern for the Golden Eagles even with the aforementioned departures. In the spring, Wil Freeman and Michael Smith have garnered the most time inside after bulking up in the offseason. However, redshirt seniors Andrew Bolton and Quincy Russell have been rotating in for Freeman and Smith as well. Bolton and Russell are both graduate transfers from the Big 12 and provide depth behind Freeman and Smith that the Golden Eagles did not have last year. Russell and Bolton also have the traditional size for defensive tackles, with both weighing in over 300 pounds and standing over six-feet, three-inches. Smith and Freeman, both defensive ends last year, make the move inside with Dylan Bradley and Ja’Boree Poole getting the most reps at the ends with JUCO transfer Ricky Parks getting a lot of reps as well. Bradley and Poole, both with experience from last year, are both undersized, but have speed and will have to use their quickness to set the edge. With so many players rotating in along the defensive line, it will keep guys fresher and prevent injuries in the long run. Bradley, a major force in rushing the passer last season, says that competition in camp has been incredible with both the offensive and defensive lines making each other better. “I love it, and to me, we have a whole different vibe out there,” Bradley said. “The offensive line brings it. They’re more physical and more vocal. If we don’t help
each other get better in practice then we are not doing our job.” Another key transfer for the Golden Eagles is defensive end Naim Mustafaa. Mustafaa has impressed since arriving and will be a major force at defensive end with his rare combination of size (six-feet, four -inches) and speed. The secondary was a bright spot for USM last season as they were among top ranked units, not only in the conference, but also in the nation. However, they were led by safeties Emmanuel Johnson and Jacorius Cotton, who were the lone returners from the secondary a year ago. Now, the situation is reversed with Picasso Nelson, Jr., and Kalan Reed the lone returners in the secondary. Nelson, Jr., will move to safety to help cope with the loss of Cotton and Johnson and says he has tried to implement some of Cotton and Johnson’s game into his own. “Flying to the ball is something I learned from,” Nelson, Jr., said. “He always came down hill and I try to be even better and hit even harder than he did.” Devonta Foster and Antoine, who are both over six feet and weigh in over 190 pounds, have the size to be big forces in the run game. Antoine also does a bit of everything. He will come up in the box and make tackles. He snagged three interceptions and even tacked on three sacks while in junior college. Duggan will have fun thinking of new ways to use Foster and Antoine and has been raving about them since the spring. Foster originally was not the starter at free safety, but after a lot of hard work and a slight hand injury to Nelson, Jr., Foster has taken over and looked impressive in camp. Foster will complement Antoine well with his height and speed going nicely with Antoine’s size and tenacity. At cornerback, Jomez Applewhite and Cornell Armstrong will battle it out to replace Nelson, Jr., at the corner opposite of Reed after getting a lot of playing time last season. Reed has the most experience and will be relied on heavily by Duggan as the boundary corner. Trae Collins will also push for playing time. Regardless of how young the Golden Eagles will be on defense in 2015, one thing is for certain: they will be a high-energy group that will undoubtedly improve as they play together more as a unit.
season stats for
2014
28
ranked red zone defense
th
9
forced fumbles
s e v e n
interceptions
14
sacks
Page 6 | Thursday, September 3, 2015
ranked
109
TH
in
rushing defense
Source: ncaa.com
Brian Anderson
Kalan Reed
Dylan Bradley
36 tackles, 65 tackles,
11 Passes
29 Tackles,
38 solo tackles,
Defended,
5 TFL,
3 TFL
2 INT’s
3 Sacks
FEATURE
Thursday, September 3, 2015 | Page 7
Monken’s loyalty huge for Julian Allen Jacob Kemp Sports Reporter
Julian Allen takes a breather at practice, Aug. 20.
Hunt Mercier/Printz
It has been an interesting three years for tight end Julian Allen. Allen, a JUCO transfer from Lackawanna Community College in Scranton, Pennsylvania, is one of two newly appointed tight ends to a USM team that has not had a true tight end in Monken’s tenure. However, Julian Allen just is not your typical tight end; he is a special player. In high school, Allen played defensive end and wide receiver for Washington Township High School in New Jersey and was then offered a scholarship by Lackawanna. While at Lackawanna, Allen built a name for himself and quickly became one of the most sought after JUCO tight end prospects, being named the seventh-ranked tight end by 247 Sports and the number four by Rivals. Thanks to his pass catching ability as a tight end, Allen quickly moved up recruiting boards and also has more range than most tight ends. Allen can also move out and play some wide receiver, while also being a force blocking on the perimeter. All of these abilities earned Allen a total of 13 scholarship offers, including Buffalo, FAU, UAB, Eastern Michigan and South Alabama. Halfway through his sophomore season, he committed to South Alabama and began drawing interest from Mississippi State. Despite having grown close with ex-South Alabama offensive coordinator and former Southern Miss coach Robert
Matthews, Allen withdrew his commitment to the Jaguars. “He told me that it was not the place for me,” Allen said. “Even he told me he did not want me to go to South Alabama and said this (USM) was a wonderful place. He wanted me to come here to Southern Miss.” Allen said despite what his recruiter said, he still would have gone to South Alabama out of loyalty, but during the season, Matthews was fired by South Alabama and that did not sit well with Allen. “Once he left, it was just a huge turnoff for me,” Allen said. “I did not really know who was coming in and I was just uncomfortable.” Allen then took his visit to Mississippi State before he went to Southern Miss, but he knew right away he wanted to be a part of the Golden Eagles. “(I) just felt the passion here,” Allen said. “When I heard all the coaches speak about how this program used to be, it just made me want to be a part of it.” The Golden Eagles then offered Allen while Mississippi State hesitated. Unfortunately for Allen, there would be a major hurdle coming. During week five of his sophomore season, the team had a road game that week and as Allen got off the bus and bent down to pick up his travel bag, he found he could not even lift it. He woke up the next morning and could not even get out of bed. “There was really no specific hit and I can’t even remember if there was a specific game that it happened,” Allen said. “I had just had back pain and
kept fighting through it and fighting through it and it just progressed.” Allen was diagnosed a week later with a herniated disk in his back that would require surgery. As soon as teams found this out, Allen found most of his scholarship offers were being taken off the table. But there was one team and one man that stuck by his word and kept a scholarship open for Allen. Allen later found out that nearly all 13 of the scholarship offers he had received his sophomore year were pulled off the table, all because of his injury. But Monken did something that has been his staple since he has been at USM. He stayed loyal to Allen when everyone else was turning him away. Monken’s ability to welcome rejected players with open arms is what stood out to Allen, and he says it is what made him pick USM. “To know that (Monken) stuck with me and kept his word made me want to come and be a part of this program,” Allen said. Allen said not only was loyalty one of his biggest factors in choosing Southern Miss, but he also values loyalty in general, very highly. Now on the team and getting first team reps, Allen is a major playmaker for USM in the passing game and has become one of Mullens’ and Matthews’ go-to targets on third down. Monken’s loyalty has not only earned respect with Allen, but respect with other players as well. That loyalty may have landed Southern Miss one of the best tight ends in Conference USA.
Chuck Cook/Printz Southern Miss Golden Eagles head coach Todd Monken runs onto the field before their game against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at M.M. Roberts Stadium September 20, 2014.
Page 8 | Thursday, September 3, 2015
FEATURE
Behind the feathered suit Ashley Hickman Sports Reporter
A constant presence at Southern Miss football games is the Golden Eagle mascot, Seymour. Jamie Arrington grew up coming to USM football games and loved the university so much that he knew he had to leave a legacy behind. He was not suiting up on game days in a football uniform, but in a gold-feathered Seymour costume. Arrington served as USM’s mascot from 1999 until 2002. Arrington loved being on the field for the football games the most. “Everything that a fan wants to do, I could do, like high fiving players after a touchdown,” Arrington said. “I also loved taunting the opposing teams.” There was only one thing Arrington did not like about being the mascot at USM. “Being inside that suit in South Mississippi was something I will never forget,” Arrington said. “The temperature of my first game in 1999 was about 110 degrees.” Arrington’s game day routine began with the Eagle Walk and then he would start plotting out things to do to keep the crowd entertained. He believes the core fan base in Hattiesburg has gotten better since he was the mascot. “Everything from tailgating to the black and gold street signs have improved the overall game day experience and atmosphere in Hattiesburg,” Arrington said. The duties of the mascot have changed over the years. There are more rules and restrictions on what Seymour can and cannot do, due to liabilities. “After every touchdown we used
to run into the end zone and high five the players, but that would never be allowed today,” Arrington said. He also made many lifelong friends throughout his four-year journey as Seymour. Arrington was close with the Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi State and Delaware mascots. In his second and third year of being Seymour, USM qualified to compete at the UCA mascot national championships in Orlando, Florida, finishing in tenth and seventh place, respectively. In 2002, USM made the CapitalOne All-American team with only two other teams, Alabama and Tennessee. Arrington believes those accomplishments were important in establishing a tradition for Southern Miss. “Being (the) mascot was a great experience where I got to meet a lot of people and had a lot of fun,” Arrington said. “It takes a lot of commitment, but the experiences you get from it are priceless.” Arrington has connections with tons of Seymours, and even knows the current Seymour, Brad Penny. Penny is a second-generation Seymour at USM. His father, James, wore the mascot suit from 1989-1993. Penny is one of the five current mascots at Southern Miss and has been a Seymour since 2012. With three years of mascot duties under his belt, Penny sees himself as a leader for the other four Seymours. “We actually have a boot camp for them, but most of it is just them learning by watching us during the games,” Penny said. “They are going to make mistakes, but when you’re in the suit there isn’t much that will make you look bad.”
Penny grew up watching USM football and loves being on the field to enjoy the atmosphere on game days. From Arrington’s time as mascot to now, not much has changed about the temperature inside those hot-feathered suits. “It’s about 40 degrees hotter inside the suit,” Penny said. “So August and early September can be kind of rough, but I’ve gotten used to it.” Mascots of both teams usually share the same locker room, so they are able to meet each other before the game. They sometimes even plan a dance battle for onthe-field to entertain the crowd during a timeout or commercial break. Penny has also experienced many different stadiums and fans throughout his journey as Seymour. He has enjoyed seeing all the different college stadiums, but Nebraska was by far his favorite. “Their stadium seats 90,000 people so it was amazing and loud,” Penny said. “They have the nicest fan base, and I had more Nebraska fans wanting to take pictures with me than our own fans.” He encourages anyone who has passion for USM and is energetic to give it a shot, but it is tiring and a mascot must be committed. Penny hopes to continue the Seymour tradition with his own family one day. “I don’t know what I would do if I wasn’t Seymour,” Penny said. “It’s just a lot of fun.” Penny is anticipating graduation, where he will walk across the stage wearing the feet from the Seymour costume, a Southern Miss tradition.
McCain Library Special Collections
McCain Library Special Collections
FEATURE
Thursday, September 3, 2015 | Page 9
Zac Woodfin: Changing the culture Julius Kizzee Sports Reporter
Aaron Rodgers. Joe Horn. Ray Lewis. Andre Johnson. All these greats are connected to a man who has come onto the Southern Miss campus and changed the culture. Zac Woodfin can be classified as a journeyman with all the lessons he has learned over his many football stops. Having won three games last season, the coaching staff at Southern Miss needed something to push them over the top. With an improvement from 2-10 to a bowleligible 6-6, Woodfin was widely known as being the reason for the quick turnaround of fortune and the vast improvement of the UAB Blazers’ coming of age. Woodfin only spent one season with the Blazers before coming to USM after the UAB football team was disbanded. Woodfin was named the 2014 Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year by FootballScoop.com. “I see this team, having the players and the coaches, to be special. It was a great opportunity (on choosing Southern Miss),” Woodfin said. “I knew it was going to be a great opportunity to influence the players and a lot of young men.” Reaching a bowl game has been something that has evaded USM since the 2011 season, when Southern Miss defeated Nevada in the Hawaii Sheraton Bowl. Since then, Southern Miss has won a total of four games in three seasons. “Our goal is to win a championship, nothing less,” he said. “Win a championship, go to
Zac Woodfin stretches out a player before practice on Aug. 20.
a bowl game—that’s what we’re reaching for. We’ve got to work to make that happen.” It’s fairly easy for Golden Eagle fans to get discouraged about the future. Never has the Southern Miss fan base seen such despair and negativity surrounding its beloved football team. The general hope is that Woodfin is the guy, after seeing former coach Ellis Johnson not win a game in his lone season as the Golden Eagle head coach. That is where Woodfin’s experience comes into play. During Woodfin’s NFL career, he made stops for the New Orleans
Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers and the Houston Texans as a linebacker in the league. Woodfin never started in a game, which only made him find other ways to stand out from the rest of the league. “Strength and conditioning is why I achieved a lot of my goals,” Woodfin said. “I wasn’t a great athlete but I used the weight room, speed, work, nutrition (and) recovery. I used all those things to level the playing field.” His football experience did not just stop in the NFL, as he was selected in the first round of the
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2007 NFL Europe Draft by the Frankfurt Galaxy. Woodfin’s career was a successful and swift one. The Galaxy lost in World Bowl XV—and it was Woodfin’s only year in the league. After his stint in the European NFL, he moved on as a player to become a coach. Some players have been hurt in the spring, rehabbing a malady of injuries. Whereas common practices around the college football world is that the players rest, Woodfin feels differently. “We’re still going to set a culture of ‘we’re going to win,’” Woodfin said. “We’re going to work
regardless if you’re on the sideline. You’re never going to just stand around. There’s always something to do and ways to get better.” With the disbandment at UAB, several players and coaches needed a place to go. Former UAB kicker Nick Vogel signed with Southern Miss this spring after taking a redshirt for the Blazers. Coach Woodfin did not necessarily follow in Vogel’s footsteps, but felt like the players are what led him to Hattiesburg. “My goal for now is where can I be used the most, not necessarily a destination,” he said. “It’s just about where can I be used the most and where do I have the most influence on athletes and other coaches and make the biggest impact. I just really wanted to listen to my heart and my heart said Southern Miss, for the players.” Arriving at campus in January, Woodfin had a direct impact on the players and the team. He led most practices during the summer break, giving him plenty of time to influence the players’ bodies and diets. “I think we’re bigger,” said defensive coordinator David Duggan. “(Woodfin) has just been a positive influence (on the team).” During spring practices, you notice Woodfin jumping around, actually interacting with the players during drills. Woodfin can be seen as giving off an image that mediocrity will not dig the Golden Eagles out of the hole they have been put into the last couple of years. “Hopefully through a culture change and a mindset shift, mediocrity is not acceptable,” Woodfin said. “Doing everything with complete effort, from the smallest of tasks to practice and lifting. Hopefully we’ve shifted the culture to expect (success) and work harder than ever before.” Sometimes, bringing in a new coach can have a negative impact on the players on the team. With Woodfin, the players have come to accept him right out of the gate. The players seemed to have grown on Woodfin and they have changed the culture around the program also. “They’re buying into the nutrition, they’re buying into the sleep, they’re buying into the hydration program,” Duggan said. “(Woodfin) has done a great job and has had a positive influence on them.” Even though a newfound optimism has filled up the Southern Miss fan base unlike recent seasons, only one question remains. What can Woodfin provide for the future of Southern Miss football? He has already transformed the bodies of several players and gave them the chance to succeed. “Wil Freeman, who has added a lot of body weight, he has had a very good camp,” Duggan said. “Michael Smith as well—we decided to move him inside to defensive tackle.” Perhaps with a stronger team the Eagles will return to their mantra, “Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime.”
Page 10 | Thursday, September 3, 2015
OPINION
FAN POLL
STUDENTS WEIGH IN ON 2015 SEASON
Student Printz sports reporter Ashley Hickman ventured out and asked 20 random Southern Miss students for their opinions on a myriad of topics regarding the upcoming football season. While some students did answer rather optimistically, there were plenty who were down on where the program stands.
Will USM have a better season than 2014? Will USM beat Mississippi State? Do you like the new football uniforms and mascot logo? Will the third year be a charm for head coach Todd Monken? Will Junior College transfers make an impact this year? Will USM win the C-USA title this year?
FAN TWEETS @mississihippie16
Am I crazy to predict a bowl game in December? And perhaps an 8-4 record? #SMTTT
@csgwe70
50% 7-5 25% 6-6 25% 8-4 Bahamas Bowl Competitive in every game Much improved and crowds thruout year
*20 RANDOM USM STUDENT POLLED
The Student Printz sports twitter page, @PrintzSports, asked followers for their opinions and predictions for the Golden Eagles in 2015. Many followers weighed in and we selected some of the best tweets we received.
@MrFitzter
The culture has changed. It’s a new day at Southern Miss. Bigger, smarter, faster. 6 wins. Bowl presence. SMTTT!
@timsgolf TITLE HERE It’s time!
Time to BELIEVE again!
OPINION
Thursday, September 3, 2015 | Page 11
Why year three is pivotal for Monken Jacob Kemp Sports Reporter
Expectations for Southern Miss’ 2015 season are higher than ever during head coach Todd Monken’s tenure as he enters his third season. While hopes are tempered, there is the belief that this year’s team will be different and make its first bowl game in three seasons, which should be the expectation every year. Monken has now been at the helm for three years, which has given him adequate time to surround himself with not only the right players, but also the right staff. He has had all his coaches in place now for three years and has had three years to recruit his guys to fit his system, not previous coaches’ players. These are now his guys, not Ellis Johnson’s and not Larry Fedora’s. This is his team. His players have been in his system, have heard the same voices, and the continuation and stability have been crucial. The rebuilding is over now and it’s time for Monken to show his worth. With incoming players like Ricky Parks, Anthony Swain, Devonta Foster and D’Nerius Antoine on
the defensive side and Julian Allen, Tyler Matthews, Justice Hayes and Taylor Marini on the offensive side, talent is no longer an issue. The Golden Eagles now not only have the talent to compete with anyone in the conference, but also have the experience, which will pay dividends. Take most of last year as an example. In several games last season, the Golden Eagles were in a lot of close games with the chance to win, but let them slip away, most notably against Middle Tennessee State (37-31) and UTSA (12-10). It was not due to poor coaching; it was because of the lack of depth and turnovers. Both of those weaknesses were rectified in the offseason. Another important factor is the maturation of the players that not only got playing time last year, but the year before in Monken’s first year. A lot of players who were young and inexperienced are now seasoned veterans, ready to play in pressurepacked situations. Players are also not only smarter and more mature, but bigger and stronger with another year in the weight
room under the guidance of newly hired strength and conditioning coach Zac Woodfin. Woodfin has been lauded by fellow coaching staff members and players alike. However, after all these factors, there is still one glaring mark that will make year three the year USM gets back on track: its schedule. For several years, the Golden Eagles have had one of the toughest schedules in Conference USA. Some might argue that things do not look easy with two of the first four opponents being Mississippi State and Nebraska. But looking past those games, there are several winnable games for USM, such as games against North Texas, UTSA, Charlotte, UTEP and Old Dominion. All of these teams are near the middle or lower in the conference with two more winnable games mixed in with Austin Peay and Texas State, two lackluster programs. That leaves eight games for the Golden Eagles to possibly win, with a few hiccups along the way. Even if they drop two of those games, that still leaves them with six wins, good enough for a bowl berth.
Monken has proven he knows how to win. He came from Oklahoma State, where he was under head coach Mike Gundy when they were national title contenders in 2011. Also, year three is usually the year head coaches turn their programs around and at least get to a 6-6 record. For example, in Jim Harbaugh’s first two years at Stanford, his best record was 5-7. However, in his third year, Harbaugh went 8-5. Some might think that it is a fluke, but let us look at legendary Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz. Ferentz only managed four wins in his first two seasons. Sound familiar? In Ferentz’s third season, the
Hawkeyes went 7-5. However, both Ferentz and Harbaugh were in the Big 10 and Pac 10 respectively, so let us look at an SEC caliber coach who turned things around. Missouri head coach Gary Pinkle started off very sluggishly going 9-16 his first two years, but in his third year, he guided the Tigers to an 8-5 record and a bowl game. So history seems to be in Monken’s favor. Todd Monken’s third year at the helm will be a wild one with plenty of ups and downs, but regardless of the win-loss column in 2015, know that Todd Monken is turning the program around.
Optimistic alumni share thoughts Ashley Hickman Sports Reporter
Alumni are guaranteed to give their honest opinion about their former school, and these two are hopeful for a better football season. Recent 2015 USM graduate Colby Parker believes this team is more established and grounded than it has been in years. “I’ve been watching Southern Miss football since I was young and I remember the Conference USA championship days,” Parker said. “I’m ready for my (Golden) Eagles to get back to that.” Parker is looking forward to the home opener against the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Sept. 5 the most, because he believes this will be an exciting time for the city of Hattiesburg to host such a big game. Parker is anxiously waiting for opening night, but is also eager to see who the starting quarterback will be. Nick Mullens and Tyler Matthews have been battling it out for the starting spot all offseason. Ultimately, Parker gives the edge to Mullens. “Nick Mullens knows the system so he has an edge, but I don’t think the quarterback
battle will be decided before the season.” Parker said. “They will both get their chance to play.” Rewind to 26 years ago, to a time when Southern Miss football was never overlooked. Debbie Ramey, a Southern Miss graduate from the class of 1989, offered her thoughts. Ramey believes successful teams in the past for USM had dominant quarterbacks leading the way, like Brett Favre or Austin Davis, for instance. “I think for this 2015 team to be great, they will need either Matthews or Mullens to step up and be that dominant quarterback Southern Miss has been looking for,” Ramey said. Ramey is rooting for Mullens to be that guy for USM, due to his injury last season and overall experience with Todd Monken’s system. She is very optimistic that the Golden Eagles will have a better team than the past couple of years. Being alumni for over 25 years, Ramey has seen many different logo changes, but believes this one really makes a statement for USM football. “It has been hard to get used to,” Ramey said. “But I think it looks sharp and if they look sharp hopefully they will play sharp, too.”
Ramey is looking forward to opening game against Mississippi State as well because anytime Southern Miss plays an SEC team, there will be a lot of publicity and attention for both teams. “I just got my season tickets and I am really excited for the season,” Ramey said. “No matter the score or record, I will always support USM.”
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OPINION
Page 12 | Thursday, September 3, 2015
MISS. STATE SAT 9/5 - 9:00 p.m.
Bulldogs will be too much for Eagles Joshua Campbell Sports Editor
AUSTIN PEAY SAT 9/12 2:30 p.m.
The season opener against Mississippi State on Saturday most likely will be a rough one for the Golden Eagles. Although there are some factors that bode well for Southern Miss, there are a lot that do not. Starting with Bulldog quarterback Dak Prescott, MSU is outfitted with some of the
nation’s most talented athletes. Prescott himself is a one-man wrecking crew, ready to shred any defense that opposes him. Last season, he scored 41 total touchdowns, including four against USM, and over 4,000 total yards. While he has lost some key pieces around him, he is still an alpha male in college football and will continue to dominate defenses this season. The Bulldog defense did
lose a lot of talent from their defense a season ago, namely Preston Smith and Benardrick McKinney, but do not let their big name losses fool you. This is still an SEC defense, capable of shutting the Golden Eagle offense down. After losing 15 total starters, eight on defense and seven on offense, it is easy to see why some point at this game as being a perfect storm for MSU. The
Golden Eagles are returning nearly their entire offense and replaced their key defensive players with former blue-chip prospects. But the reality is that MSU is superior in terms of talent at every position on the field and will eventually run away with the game. USM has a chance to hang around going into halftime, but look for the Bulldogs to pull away. Bulldogs 41, Golden Eagles 17.
TEXAS STATE SAT 9/19 6:00 p.m. NEBRASKA SAT 9/26 11:00 a.m. NORTH TEXAS SAT 10/3 TBD MARSHALL FRI 10/9 6:00 p.m. SAN ANTONIO SAT 10/17 6:00 p.m. CHARLOTTE SAT 10/24 11:00 a.m. UTEP SAT 10/31 TBD RICE SAT 11/14 2:30 p.m. OLD DOMINION SAT 11/21 2:30 p.m. LA TECH SAT 11/28 TBD
Susan Broadbridge/Printz Archives
Austin Peay After the Golden Eagles take on Mississippi State, they will be slated to host a porous Austin Peay squad. The Governors are an FCS school that went just 1-11 last season and nine of those losses came by at least 26 points. Simply put, if USM fails to dominate Austin Peay, then it will be in for another long season. But look for USM to take care of business and win by at least three touchdowns. Texas State USM will then travel to San Marcos, Texas, to take on Texas State, who is coming off an impressive 7-5 season in the Sun Belt Conference and nearly won a few games against formidable teams like Navy and Georgia Southern. The Bobcats return junior quarterback Tyler Jones and senior running back Robert Lowe who form a dynamic backfield. This will be a true litmus test for USM, but the Bobcats are just further into their progression at this point. Texas State will win a one-score game. Nebraska USM will then return to Lincoln, Nebraska, once again to take on a Nebraska Cornhusker team that has outscored them 105-33 in their two recent meetings. This game is simply a mismatch and the Cornhuskers will once again prevail by several scores. North Texas USM will begin its conference schedule the following week when
North Texas comes to town for a night game. The Golden Eagles topped the Mean Green last season 30-20 in a game in which they had their way offensively. Although the Mean Green return a strong running game, look for a similar outcome as USM should win by two touchdowns. Marshall Then the true test in Conference USA begins. USM will travel to Huntington, West Virginia, to take on Marshall who annihilated USM 6317 last season. But Rakeem Cato, Marshall’s prolific quarterback, has finally graduated and a new era has begun for the Thundering Herd. It is Michael Birdsong’s turn under center. Birdsong will not be the key to Marshall’s offense though. That will be Devon Johnson, a powerful running back who ran for 1,767 yards and 17 touchdowns on an absurd 8.6 yards per carry. Johnson did not play against USM last season due to injury, but he will definitely test the Golden Eagle front seven this season. Look for USM to compete, but fall late by around ten points. UTSA A week later, the Golden Eagles will return home for their Homecoming game against TexasSan Antonio, who beat them last season on a last-second field goal 12-10. It was a sloppy game for both sides. USM could not run, but had some success through the air while UTSA could run, but struggled throwing the ball.
But UTSA is not the same team as their defense has lost a lot of talent with only one of their top seven tacklers from last season returning. The Road Runner defense set the tone for UTSA, but without that senior leadership and experience, they are in for a transition year. The Golden Eagles will avenge the heartbreaking loss from a year ago and win easily. Charlotte USM will go back on the road to play Charlotte, who will be in their first season as an FBS school. The 49ers have struggled in their only two season against lowly competition, going 5-6 in both seasons. With the step up in competition, they will likely have a hard time in C-USA. Although Charlotte is likely to struggle, they return all of their key members on offense and most on defense so they are an experienced team, just not against FBS schools. Charlotte will make things interesting for a half or so, but the Golden Eagles will pull away to win by a couple of touchdowns to earn their first winning streak since 2012. UTEP USM will return home for a matchup against UTEP, who have the difficult task of replacing do-it-all quarterback Jameill Showers. Junior running Aaron Jones is back and is one of the most dynamic runners in the conference. The Miner defense lost its leader in Wesley Miller, but have a ton of young talent coming back. However, the UTEP offense is going to struggle to move the ball against a faster and
more physical USM defense. The game will be a defensive struggle, but USM gets the edge with more offensive firepower. Rice Then the Golden Eagles will run into a buzz saw when they travel to Houston, Texas to take on the Rice Owls. Rice is one of the better teams in the conference and is led by fifthyear quarterback Driphus Jackson. Rice will take care of business at home and end USM’s three game win streak. Old Dominion Returning home for the last time of the season, Old Dominion will come to town. It will be the first time the Monarchs and Golden Eagles take the field as opponents and should be a good game. ODU has been rather impressive in its short stint in C-USA and has most of its core back, but lost its best player in Taylor Heinicke. The Monarchs will yet again have an explosive offense and the game will be a shootout. ODU will probably have the upper hand as it forces USM to play its game. La. Tech The Golden Eagles will close the season against Louisiana Tech, who narrowly lost the C-USA championship game a year ago to Marshall, 26-23. However, La Tech lost its dynamic backfield partners in Cody Sokol and Kenneth Dixon. But this Bulldog is still a little further along than USM is at this point and will win convincingly in Ruston, Louisiana.
FEATURE
Thursday, September 3, 2015 | Page 13
USM’s golden years: 1958, 1962 Deantae Smith Sports Reporter
Southern Miss football reached the pinnacle of college football on two occasions in the program’s history. The Mississippi Southern College, which later became Southern Miss, went a combined 18-1 in their 1958 and 1962 championship seasons. The “Fabulous Fifties” were truly fabulous for Southern Miss football. As Mississippi Southern College, the Southerners tallied 9 consecutive winning seasons under the leadership of coach Thad “Pie” Vann. The pinnacle of the decade was during the 1958 season. The 1957 season ended on a sour note for head coach Vann and his team. The Southerners lost their final two games of the 1957 campaign, ending the season 8-2. The final loss marked the second consecutive Tangerine Bowl loss. In 1958, Vann and the Southerners opened the season against Louisiana Tech. MSC escaped a sloppy game with a 14-0 victory. Following the win, the United Press International released its inaugural College Division poll, and that first poll had MSC sitting at the top. After a week two win of 15-0 versus Trinity on the road, the Southerners returned home to face Memphis State. MSC trailed by one, with nine minutes remaining in the game. Due to injury, coach Vann had to resort to sophomore backup quarterback Billy Larson of Pascagoula. Larson drove the Southerners down the field to the Memphis State 15-yard line. With the drive stalled at the 15, Vann chose to attempt a field goal with 43 seconds re-
maining. Vann called on junior end Hugh McInnis to attempt the field goal. McInnis, attempting the first field goal of his college career, kicked the 22yard game-winning field goal through the uprights to give the top-ranked Southerners the 2422 win over Memphis State. Following the close call versus Memphis, the Southerners would go on to tally victories over Southeastern Louisiana, West Texas State and Abilene Christian. MSC was 5-0, winning their previous three games by a combined score of 70-6. Next up for the Southerners was North Carolina State, Virginia Tech and University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. MSC would go on to defeat North Carolina State 26-14, Virginia Tech 41-0 and UT-Chattanooga 20-13. MSC remained the topranked team in the nation all season and finished in the top spot, claiming the national championship. On Feb. 22, 1962, Mississippi Southern College became The University of Southern Mississippi. Sept. 15 of that year marked the first appearance of the Southern Mississippi Southerners, when USM traveled to Arlington State and defeated them in dominating fashion, 28-7. The following week, the Southerners hosted the Richmond Spiders, treating the Faulkner Field crowd to a 29-8 win. After the Southerners’ third consecutive win, the UPI released its first college division poll of the year. The first UPI rankings of the season had the Southerners placed at No. 2, only behind Florida A&M. FAMU opened their first three weeks with blowout victories,
winning by a combined 146-18. The AP poll ranked USM at the No. 4 position. In week four of the 1962 season, the Southerners secured coach Vann’s 100th victory as the school’s head coach. USM traveled to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to face the UTChattanooga. After going backand-forth early, USM secured the win with three scores in the second half to win 31-13. The win pulled the Southerners into second place in the AP poll. One of the sloppiest games of the season, in regards to the team’s play and weather, came at Memphis State. After a safety on a blocked punt gave Memphis State a 2-0 lead, the Tigers scored their only touchdown moments later to take an 8-0 lead. The Southerners had a stroke of good luck as a botched punt resulted in the offense taking over with the ball on the 1-yard line. Following three failed attempts, fullback George Sekul jumped over the top for a touchdown. A failed 2-point conversion allowed the Tigers to hold on for the win. The loss dropped USM’s record to 4-1, but it did not hurt the team much in the polls as the team retained the No. 2 UPI ranking and fell to only fifth in the AP poll. Following the loss to Memphis State, the Southerners went on to shutout their next two opponents, North Carolina State and Abilene Christian, to the tune of 30-0. As the Southerners traveled to Arkansas State, USM boasted a 6-1 record and a No. 2 UPI ranking. The Southerners left Jonesboro, Arkansas, with a 20-7 victory, and USM’sv ranking remained the same in the polls. The next week, the
McCain Library Special Collections
McCain Library Special Collections
Southerners rolled over Trinity with a 33-6 victory, moving to 8-1 for the season. At 8-1, the Southerners were ranked No. 1 in the UPI and ranked third in the AP poll. To close out the season, the Southerners played host to Louisiana Tech. USM prevailed in a close 29-18 victory. The win secured the No. 1 ranking in the final UPI college division poll of the season. At 9-1, the University of Southern Missis-
sippi was crowned college division national champions for the second time in school history. In the AP poll, after climbing as high as No. 2, the Southerners ended up ranked fourth. In 2011, the 1958 and 1962 College Division National Championship teams were inducted into the Legends Club. The two teams are regarded as the best teams in the program’s history.
McCain Library Special Collections
Page 14 | Thursday, September 3, 2015
FLASHBACK
in a
ROW 1970s Printz Archives
1977 USM 14 MSU 7 1978 USM 22 MSU 17
Alan Rawls
Printz Archives
1979 USM 21
MSU 7
Executive Editor Last season the Mississippi State Bulldogs whooped USM 49-0 in Starkville. That rainy day was more than a slap in the face; it was a punch that hit Golden Eagle fans hard. But rather than dwelling on the obviously bad years, The Student Printz decided to celebrate the years when Southern Miss dominated not only Mississippi State but all of Mississippi as well. To this day, the best winning streak of the USM-MSU series is the Eagles’ seven-game streak of the 1970s and 1980s. This was more than a win streak for USM. It was an era of dominance and joy. It was also at a time that preceded Mississippi State’s desire for “tougher” schedules—resulting in dropping USM from their schedule. The Bulldogs ceased playing the Golden Eagles in 1989. With a rivalry renewed, let us not point to the past and smile in a stupidly optimistic way, but rather remember a beautiful past in the hopes that USM is restored to its former glory. Printz Archives
Printz Archives
FLASHBACK
Printz Archives
Thursday, September 3, 2015 | Page 15
1980s 1980 USM 42
MSU 14
1981
MSU 6
USM 7
1982 USM 20 MSU 14 1983 USM 31
MSU 6
Printz Archives
Printz Archives
Printz Archives
Printz Archives
Printz Archives
Page 16 | Thursday, September 3, 2015
CLASSIFIED