Monday, September 14, 2015
Volume 100 Issue 7
www.studentprintz.com PAGE THREE
PAGE FOUR
PAGE EIGHT
PAGE SIX
NEWS
F E AT U R E
OPINION
S P O RT S
University plans week to prep students for legal careers.
Greek men welcome new pledges to their fraternities.
Child Nutrition Act is vital for this country’s health.
Monken calls out USM fan base for poor attendance.
Pre-Law
Bid Day
Congress
Football
Roberts finishes second in Miss America 2016 Julius Kizzee Printz Reporter
University of Southern Mississippi alumnus Hannah Roberts was named first runner-up in the 2016 Miss America pageant on Sunday night. If the new Miss America, Betty Cantrell of Georgia, fails to fulfill her obligations, then Roberts will fulfill her duties. Roberts graduated from Southern Miss in May 2015, winning pageants all throughout her collegiate career. She not only won Miss Southern Miss 2015, but she also won the award in 2013.
FOOTBALL
Nicknamed the “Chemistry Queen” back at school, Roberts graduated as a biochemistry major and an Honors College student. Although she has success in pageant showings, she hopes to become a reconstructive plastic surgeon. “I hope to become a pediatric plastic reconstructive surgeon,” Roberts said. “I would love to do residency and come back and work in Mississippi and serve the children in this area who have cancer, have been in car accidents or born with birth defects.” When a contestant wins the Miss America pageant, she travels
around the globe during the calendar year to spread diverse messages, including issues of race, financial equality and diversity of education, among other things. For three years in a row, New York dominated the competition. Miss New York won the competition from 2011-2014, a winning streak that the rest of America had to catch up with. Cantrell will be expected to traverse the globe, an estimated 20,000 miles per month, to spread a message of peace and prosperity. But if she cannot, it will be Roberts, and she will carry with her that USM pride that got her to the top.
Courtesy Photo/ Donald Kravitz Miss Mississippi Hannah Roberts attends the 2016 Miss America Competition at Boardwalk Hall Arena on Sept. 13 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
USM dominates Austin Peay for first win
Dylan Bradley sacks Austin Peay’s quarterback during the second game of the season. The Golden Eagles defeated the Governors 52-6 on Saturday.
Joshua Campbell Sports Editor
Southern Miss (1-1) dominated Austin Peay for their first win of the season, blowing the Governors out 52-6. The Golden Eagle offense was consistent and explosive while the defense was stingy and disciplined. Ito Smith was the star of the game with 203 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, despite coming off the bench to start the game. He showcased his speed and elusiveness on two huge plays that defined the game in a nutshell. Early in the second quarter, he took a handoff off-tackle, accelerated through the hole, hit the right sideline
and was gone. On USM’s second possession of the second half, he caught a middle screen and made the entire Governor defense look silly as he weaved and juked his way to a 49-yard touchdown. “Ito makes people miss,” said head coach Todd Monken. “He accelerates well and (it) is hard for people to get their hands on him.” Nick Mullens again played exceptionally well, throwing for 275 yards and three touchdowns and added another touchdown on the ground. He should have had a fourth touchdown pass, but Curtis Mikell dropped a perfectly placed pass in the back of the end zone on USM’s opening drive of the game. Casey Martin was Mullens’ go-to receiver with Michael Thomas out
for the game. Martin caught several third down passes and screens en route to a seven-catch, 81-yard game. D.J. Thompson and Korey Robertson each had touchdown receptions as well. The offensive line played its best game in recent memory. Mullens rarely faced any pressure throughout the game and was not sacked. It was even better in the running game, opening up huge holes all game long, leading to 239 yards and eight yards per carry. Defensively, the front was aggressive and swarmed to the ball all afternoon, holding Austin Peay to just two yards per carry. Dylan Bradley led the way with eight tackles, three for loss and two sacks. Linebackers Anthony
Swain and Brian Anderson were equally impressive, particularly in the running game, combining for 12 tackles and 3.5 for loss. “We are good up front,” Monken said. “Our defensive front and linebackers gave their offense problems all afternoon. If you are good up front, there is so much you can do. Our defensive line dictated how we were going to play on defense today.” The secondary was equally as impressive, holding Governor quarterback Trey Taylor to just 11 completions and 93 yards. Kalan Reed blanketed his receiver all game and had a 76-yard interception return for a touchdown. Although Picasso Nelson Jr. does not have as big of a role on defense
Courtland Wells/Photo Editor
as he did a season ago, he impacted this game in a huge way on special teams. With the game still scoreless midway through the first quarter, Nelson came through and blocked a punt, setting up the USM offense on the Austin Peay 6-yard line. Three plays later, USM scored their first points of the game on a 2-yard run by Mullens. The Golden Eagles played about as clean as a game as they possibly could. The only real hiccups were an interception thrown by Mullens on a 50/50 jump ball and two missed field goals by Stephen Brauchle. USM hopes it can keep the momentum going as they travel to San Marcos, Texas, to take on Texas State (1-1) Saturday. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.
Page 2 | Monday, September 14, 2015
INFORMATION MEET THE STAFF OF FALL 2015
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University Forum on Sept. 22
Opinions
Expressed in The Student Printz are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Student Printz, its publication manager, USM, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or the USM Board of Student Publications.
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The views represented in The Student Printz’s columns and editorials do not necessarily represent those of the faculty, staff, or administration of The University of Southern Mississippi. We welcome letters to the editor representing similar and contrasting opinions. To be eligible for publication, all submissions must include name, class distinction, major, phone number, and email address. Submissions should be emailed to printzeditors@gmail.com by 5 p.m. Friday. Please limit them to 500 words or less. The Student Printz reserves the right to refuse publication or edit any material on the basis of clarity, space, or journalistic ethics.
The 2015-2016 University Forum will kick off on Sept. 22 with Rick Bragg, the former correspondent for the New York Times, whose “elegantly written stories about contemporary America” were awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1993. Bragg has recently authored a best-selling biography of music legend Jerry Lee Lewis and a collection of essays titled “My Southern Journey: True Stories from the Heart of the South.” In June 2015, Rick Bragg was named one of 12 initial inductees, along with Zora Neale Hurston and Harper Lee, into the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame. A book signing will follow the talk. Bragg will be followed by five “thought leaders.” All events are on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 and are free and open to the public. A book signing will usually follow the speech.
NEWS
ON CAMPUS
Monday, September 14, 2015 | Page 3
Southern Miss revives Fiction Society Hiba Tahir
Printz Reporter Every Wednesday night at 7 p.m., an increasingly large group of University of Southern Mississippi students meets to critique original prose. The USM Fiction Society is a newly formed organization resurrected by professor Andrew Milward and led by USM students Jacob Kemp, president, and John Mark Gilder, vice president. It offers interested students the opportunity to have their creative work critiqued outside of the classroom setting among peers who also share a love for writing. Although it started with just nine people, it is expected to grow much larger. “Local writers don’t have enough opportunities to really hear feedback from peers on equal footing in the field,” said chief editor Charles Dunphey. “My biggest goal with the organization is to help authors become better writers and to also help them get published.”
ON CAMPUS
Dunphey is the founder of Gehenna Publishing House and the author of “Lazarus,” a science fiction novel published in 2012. He hopes his experiences in marketing and publishing will allow him to steer other authors away from novice mistakes. His advice may prove to be invaluable considering recent trends in traditional publishing. According to a recent Authors Guild survey, most writers who rely solely on income from writing live below the federal poverty line. There are many factors that have contributed to this decline, including everything from online piracy to more competition in the market. “I’ve learned through my endeavors that the publishing world is cruel and often difficult,” Dunphey said. For many, the solution lies in self-publishing ventures. According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, the number of authors seeking self-publication has grown dramatically in recent years, thanks to advances in technology
and shifting attitudes. Dunphey noted that publishing nevertheless remains a murky and complex topic. “It’s a very hard market to break into,” Dunphey said. “But with the right tools, it can become much easier than expected.” The Fiction Society was first started by former USM student Jake Johnson, and although it died once he graduated, its influence remained. “I read one of the Fiction Society’s published works when I was thinking about applying to USM. It really cemented my interest in the English department here,” said sophomore English major Madison Etheridge, who is now a member of the new society. Interested students can join at any time. Weekly meetings are held at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in room 205 of the Liberal Arts Building. The society critiques any creative work aside from novels and novellas. However, excerpts from longer stories are permitted as long as they do not exceed 30 pages.
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Students taste cuisine from around the globe Alexis Ware Printz Reporter
Welsh cakes/Courtesy Photo
The Office of International Programs hosted an international tasting session for students interested in studying abroad. Each dish included in the Exchange Your World taste session represented one of the countries students can go to for an exchange program. “It’s really important (that) students who are interested in going on exchange programs have a chance to meet other students who have gone on exchange programs or student who are from those countries because it gives them a better perspective a well-rounded things,” said Hannah Jones, study abroad coordinator. As students tasted the
foods they also learned more information about the country and the experiences of living in that country as part of an exchange program. Following the event sophomore graphic design major Alyshia Rodgers realized she would potentially like to study abroad in Spain. “I’m always interested in other cultures and I love food, so what better way to get in other cultures than by tasting all the cultures and getting to meet other people from other cultures and learning about their lifestyles,” Rodgers said. Amy Alston, sophomore exercise science major, will participate in the exchange program at Swansea University in the upcoming spring semester. For her, this event was a preview for what she will experience during her semester
in Wales. “I came to get an idea of what type of food I will be exposed to whenever I go to Swansea,” Alston said. “Food has always been very appealing to me,” Alston said. “It’s a very different way to get exposed to a lot of different things besides just seeing things.” In addition to the tasting event, the Office of International Programs plans to host many more events that will allow students to experience other cultures and show them ways in which studying abroad can enhance their college experience. The application deadline for spring 2015 exchange programs is Sept. 25. For more information on how you can study abroad visit usm.edu/study-abroad.
ON CAMPUS
Pre-Law Week to prepare students for future Nan Buti
Printz Reporter Several departments at The University of Southern Mississippi, including the Department of Political Science, International Development and International Affairs and the Department of Philosophy and Religion, will sponsor the inaugural PreLaw Week Sept. 14-17 in commemoration of the launch of the new pre-law track programs in the College of Arts and Letters. “The purpose of Pre-Law Week
is so students may better prepare their law school applications and be fully informed about different kinds of legal careers they can pursue,” said Edward Sayre, chairman of the Department of Political Science, International Development and International Affairs. While students who become political science majors are interested in law careers, Sayre said that students outside of the department often do not know much about law school or legal careers. “Students in this field need to
be exposed to insights on law and legal careers, and with the new pre-law emphasis and now this week’s activities, more people might even consider going into these careers,” said junior political science major Quentin Welborn. The various events scheduled for the week will help to educate students on careers in the legal world. Sessions on preparation for law school, such as tips for the LSAT, writing samples and writing letters of recommendation, will be held on campus. The schedule is as follows:
Monday, Sept. 14 • Law School Application Do’s and Don’t’s, 1-2 p.m., Liberal Arts Building, room 108 • Preparing for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), 3:30-4:30 p.m., Liberal Arts Building, room 203 • Practice LSAT, 5-8:30 p.m., Liberal Arts Building, room 103 Tuesday, Sept. 15 • Economists in the Courtroom: Forensics Economics, 12:15-1 p.m., Liberal Arts Building, room 103 • Mock Law School Class, Donald Campbell, associate professor of law, Mississippi College School of Law, 1-2 p.m., Liberal Arts Building, room 103
Wednesday, Sept. 16 • Meet The Law Schools, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Thad Cochran Center Atrium • A Day In The Life of a Lawyer Panel, Members from the Hattiesburg Young Lawyers Association, 4-5 p.m., Cochran Center Ballroom III • Lawyers at the Movies: “A Civil Action” (1998) starring John Travolta and Robert Duvall, 6-9 p.m., Cochran Center Ballroom III Thursday, Sept. 17 • Pre-Law Luncheon, Noon-1:30 p.m., Thad Cochran Center Ballroom II, cohosted by Hattiesburg Young Lawyers Association and Hattiesburg Area Bar Association, RSVP ONLY
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ON CAMPUS
FEATURE
Fraternities celebrate Beth Cunningham Printz Reporter
On the morning of Sept. 11, fraternity row at The University of Southern Mississippi was quiet. The flags flew at half-mast, and the respective Greek letters were proudly on display in front of the houses. The day the fraternity men of Southern Miss had been anticipating for weeks was finally here— Bid Day. At 3 p.m., pledges began cresting the top of the hill, sprinting with their brothers from the Payne Center to fraternity row. Ryan Worsham, a freshman pledging Sigma Alpha Epsilon, dubbed that moment his favorite part of the day. “The rush you get when you get to the top of the hill, look down and see the whole yard of your house filled with people going crazy was unforgettable,” Worsham said. The pledges were welcomed by the active members as well as sorority women who came out to show their support. The “sweethearts” of each fraternity were also heavily involved in the day. Sigma Chi’s sweetheart Betsy Mercier shared why boys’ Bid Day is so important for these men. “Boys’ Bid Day is a time to celebrate a lot of hard work,” Mercier said. “Every fraternity in our IFC works hard planning and hosting several events in the summer showing rushees what Greek Life is like. Bid Day is the chapters’ chance to finally let go of the stress and welcome their new brothers with pride.” Bid Day is a day to celebrate the brotherhood that is prominent in
Greek Life. For the new pledges, it is their first real taste of what they will experience throughout their time as fraternity members at USM. Worsham said the bonds between the members were what encouraged him to rush. “The brotherhood that a fraternity brings really appealed to me,” Worsham said. “The relationships and connections that I have and will make will last me a lifetime, and I love that.” For the active members welcoming their new pledges, the day is one filled with pride as they pass the torch to the future of their organization. Sophomore member of Kappa Sigma, Parker Andrews, said, “Bid Day is the best day on earth. I love our new pledge class—they’re the best on the row.” All upper-class members of the Greek system know the importance of recruiting quality pledges. All organizations look for potential members who will move their chapter in a positive direction, as well as uphold tradition and reputation. “I think the new pledge class will bring support and leadership to the Theta Delta chapter,” Mercier said. “They are all so enthusiastic about joining the Greek system and have shown that throughout the recruiting process. These new members have definitely joined the best of the best.” According to the USM Office of Greek Life, over 130 men accepted fraternity bids this semester.. These pledges have joined a community within their university that will greatly impact their time as students here at USM.
On Friday, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon pledges are welcomed by their brothers.
The Sigma Alpha Epsilon pledges run to their house on Friday.
Beth Cunningham/Printz
Beth Cunningham/Printz
FEATURE
Monday, September 14, 2015 | Page 5
new pledge classes
Betsy Mercier shows off her banner welcoming the pledges of Sigma Chi on Sept. 11.
Beth Cunningham/Printz Lauren Leonards, Anna Beth Weldon, Bailey Stokes and Rebecca Burnett show their support for Sigma Alpha Epsilon on Sept. 11.
Beth Cunningham//Printz
Beth Cunningham/Printz The men of Delta Tau Delta lower their flags to half-mast in honor of the anniversary of Sept. 11.
The men of Sigma Phi Epsilon celebrate their new members on Sept. 11.
Beth Cunningham/Printz
OPINION
Page 6 | Monday, September 14, 2015
MUSIC
Sex, drugs, ego among themes in The Weeknd’s album
Julius Kizzee Printz Reporter
Abel Tesfaye, known as “The Weeknd,” is a Canadian-born singer who recently released his second studio album “Beauty Behind the Madness.” The album touches on his personal life and his views on women. Although the album covers racy subjects, the musicality in his voice gives the album a fresh sound. The album is also enjoyable because it spans many different genres. The track list is as follows: Real Life 3:46 “Real Life” is a strong statement
NATIONAL
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for an album opener. Tesfaye opens up very descriptively in his vocals. The instrumental highlights his wavy vocal style. The dramatic, theatrical flow showcases an emotional delivery. Losers ft. Labrinth 4:41 As Tesfaye comes in with vocals, his stagnated, staccato singing flows well with the drums. This upbeat track is influenced by multiple genres, including techno, rock and hip-hop. Labrinth’s feature is half-hearted and gives a dark energy to the song, but it delivers a positive message. Both artists resent not giving enough effort to their romantic problems,
so they decide to change. Uniquely, both singers use the same lyrics, and put their own spins on them. Tell Your Friends 5:37 “Tell Your Friends” is a slow, descriptive song giving a selfreflection on women and the speaker’s habits. The simple beat gives more room for Tesfaye to speak about his growth as a person. He craves for people to talk about him. You get an in-depth look into Tesfaye’s life with the recognition that he is receiving. Often 4:12 “Often” is a robotic entry with a modern electronic feel. It is a song about sexuality and contains racy lyrics. Tesfaye try to do too much vocally in the song. He discusses getting famous and how he handles it. The Hills 4:05 “The Hills” is an auto-tune heavy track that with sexuallycharged lyrics. The speaker discusses his drug use and how it relate to his sexual tendencies. The song builds to a lighter tone, where showcases a wider vocal range. The track contains subtle messages and highlights his versatility as a modern-day artist. Although he covers his discrepancies in his relationship, the woman in question is not spared by his words. Acquainted 5:51 The song’s early message goes to falling for a girl for whom the speaker shouldn’t have fallen. He feels guilty for his actions towards the girl and resents his feelings for her, as her sex appeal
affects his emotions. Vocally, he is soft-spoken. Can’t Feel My Face 03:36 This one is more of a club jam and is light on the bass and treble. It’s vocally stagnated and staccato. The instrumental is heavy on the snare with a techno feel. The speaker covers his influence by women and his passion for drug use. Shameless 3:40 The speaker has no shame when telling his love interest that he is very unique in his love. He is irreplaceable. He can do whatever he can for the girl, but she’s never satisfied. There is an exemplary guitar solo at the 2:30 mark. He’s shameless as he talks about how great of a guy he is. There is a huge ego at work here. Earned It 4:40 “Earned It” is perhaps the most popular song on the album and is from the movie “50 Shades of Grey.” There is a good build-up into a pianovocal duet. The high-pitch moments in the song showcase Tesfaye’s range and his staccato and stagnated singing style. The track is very heavy on the orchestral instruments. In the Night 3:58 “In the Night” has a fast tempo and a techno feel. Tesfaye sings about a girl who is bad, but he makes excuses for her. She is young, lives in a big city and has great potential. The speaker expresses resentment for caring for her, but he understands her situation. Vocally, Tesfaye is more emotionally-charged.
As You Are 5:43 Soft, timely vocals set a light mood for this track. Heartbroken, the speaker pushes through the emotionally-charged vocals. Even though the girl he references is heartbroken, he knows her desires. He would like for the girl to recognize him as an individual, taking him as he is. They both know they are doomed as a couple. Dark Times ft. Ed Sheeran 4:23 Ed Sheeran gives the song a different and unique vibe in conjuction with Tesfaye. In their harshest times, the singers discuss who was there for them at their lowest points. They both want to give a fair warning to women whom they want to spare heartache. Prisoner ft. Lana del Rey 4:37 Tesfaye relaxes his tone while he gives his insight on being held back by a woman. Love is a fighting game, and he submits himself to the woman’s wishes. The background vocals carry the song heavily. Featured singer Lana del Rey creates an underlying harmony that works well. The speaker lusts for Lana while she lusts for a successful career. Angel 6:20 Even though the speaker loves the girl he references, he wants her to find someone who is better. Someone who can appreciate and love for her. The background drums help accent the emotions in Tesfaye’s voice as he creates the mood for the track.
Nutrition Act guides children to healthy lifestyle Camille Myrick
Printz Reporter Sept. 30 is the expiration date for a very crucial program in our nation: the Child Nutrition Act. Built on the foundation of the National School Lunch Program in 1946, this act has insured the health and nutrition of low-income children. Every five years, Congress must reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act. This year the program faces changes that could negatively impact millions of children. Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR) is critical not only for the health of children in the school system presently, but also the eating habits of future generations. “Eating patterns are set when we’re young and 31 million kids eat federally assisted school lunches,” said New York Times reporter Mark Bittman. “The school lunch program is more than just an opportunity to feed hungry kids. It’s an opportunity to shape how kids—and grownups—will eat in the future.” Schools participating in this program are required to place a serving of fruits and vegetables on each plate, demonstrating what a well-rounded meal looks like. It is an indirectly educational experience
for students who may not have the privilege of a balanced diet. Including these servings of healthy foods discourages bad eating habits. The School Nutrition Association is petitioning for a more lax rule book for the lunch room. The association wants to remove the requirement for serving whole grains, fruits and vegetables. In addition, they want to halt further sodium reductions. Bittman attacked this suggestion, saying, “Given what we now know about the effect bad eating habits have on our health, that’s nothing short of criminal.” GOP lawmaker from Indiana Todd Rokita tried to address the program from a student’s point of view. “The overregulation of what kids eat and how their meals are prepared is too tedious, so you see a significant amount of schools and children dropping out of the program,” said Rokita. “The president’s regulations are so bad that we have found in one of our hearings that kids are bringing contraband in the form of ketchup and salt to make what they eat edible.” Rokita visited a school that abides by regulations to share lunchtime with the students. What he found in the trash cans was “not pretty.” Rokita observed that most students threw away the servings of
vegetables and fruit. “If kids don’t eat the stuff, what is the point?” Shoving green beans and oranges down a child’s throat is not possible and there is no way to keep those servings out of the garbage can. This doesn’t mean the children who eat everything on their plate should stop being served nutritious meals. Schools that monopolize at least eight hours of a child’s day have a responsibility to that child’s health. Even McDonald’s makes a point to include slices of apples in every happy meal. As for the kids who throw all the good protein and fiber out and only eat the fun stuff — they are at least getting a visual of what a complete meal looks like, which can affect their eating habits as adults. If they are aware of good dietary patterns, then they are solely responsible for their own health. It is crucial that the Child Nutrition Act be reauthorized for the health and well-being of children in our nation. When President Harry Truman signed for National School Lunch Program, he said, “It is a measure of national security, to safeguard the health and well-being of the nation’s children.” These are the principles we are urging Congress to uphold at the end of this month.
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SPORTS
Monday, September 14, 2015 | Page 7
VOLLEYBALL
Eagles enjoy mixed success at Rebel Classic Deantae Smith Sports Reporter
The Southern Miss volleyball team travelled to Oxford, Mississippi, to compete in the Rebel Classic with an undefeated 9-0 record intact. The Golden Eagles faced Belmont to open the Rebel Classic. In the opening match of the tournament, the Golden Eagles continued their strong start, winning its opening match of the Rebel Classic 26-24, 21-25, 2519, 25-15 over Belmont. After splitting the first two sets of the match, Southern Miss closed the match with two dominating sets. The Golden Eagles hit a matchbest .300 in game three on 11 kills and coasted to a final-game victory collecting seven kills and taking advantage of nine Belmont hitting errors. The victory continued the Golden Eagles’ best start in school history by improving to
10-0. Stephany Purdue posted 12 kills while Rachel Johnson and Elise Ames added eight and seven kills, respectively. The Golden Eagles faced the tournament host Ole Miss in match two of the two-day tournament. Southern Miss dropped their first match of the season 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 2520) to Ole Miss, snapping their 10-match winning streak. As a team, the Golden Eagles had 31 kills on .184 hitting, 27 digs and six team blocks. Ole Miss scored seven of the first nine points to open the first set. Southern Miss then used a 7-3 run to close the gap to 10-9. Ole Miss scored eight of the next 10 points in stretching its lead to 18-11. Following a Southern Miss timeout, Ole Miss added three more points, pushing the the score to 21-12 before closing out the set on a 4-2 run for the 25-15 win. An evenly played second set
ensued for the first 10 points to start. Ole Miss pushed the lead to 18-14. The teams then swapped points, but the Golden Eagles were not able to cut into the lead before falling 25-21 in the second set. The teams went back-andforth to start the third set. The Golden Eagles established an 18-14 lead, but Ole Miss fought back to cut the lead to 18-17. After a Southern Miss timeout, the teams traded points before Ole Miss finished the set strong on an 8-2 run for the 25-20 win. The loss dropped the Golden Eagles to 10-1. Kelsey Chambers recorded a team-best eight kills while Purdue added seven kills of her own. Mary Pursell and Purdue had eight digs each, while Sarah Bell racked up 26 assists. On the final day of the Rebel Classic, the Golden Eagles got back in the win column with a win over Buffalo. Southern Miss
jumped out to a 7-1 lead to start the first set, but Buffalo buckled down on the defensive end down the stretch, coming back to take the 28-26 win. The Bulls carried momentum into the second set as they scored seven of the first 12 points. The Golden Eagles were able to fight back with an 8-2 run, capturing a 13-9 lead. The lead did not last long as Buffalo fought to a 13-13 tie. The teams went back-andforth with points before the Bulls took the final three points for a 25-22 win. Southern Miss opened the third set strong, running out to a 5-1 lead. The Bulls fought back to tie the game, but the Golden Eagles closed out the set using an 8-3 run for the 25-19 win. Southern Miss and Buffalo battled the fourth set with long rallies and tight scores; the set saw eight ties and four lead changes. Buffalo led 17-15 when Southern Miss ran off five
consecutive points to take a 20-17 lead. The Golden Eagles ended the set outscoring Buffalo 5-2 for a 25-19 win and forcing a fifth set. In the final set, it seemed as a fourth set encore, as Southern Miss took a 7-7 tie and scored three of four points for the 10-8 lead. The Golden Eagles managed to hold off the Bulls with a timely kill and block. Leading 12-9 after a Buffalo timeout, Southern Miss ended the set by scoring three of the final four points for the 15-10 win. Kylie Grandy and Purdue led the way with 14 and 19 kills, respectively. Johnson and Chambers added nine kills each. Bell just missed a double-double with 52 assists and nine digs. Pursell paced the defense with 19 digs. The Golden Eagles (11-1) will look to continue its historic start when they take on New Orleans Tuesday at 6 p.m.
SOCCER
Bama dominates field in 1-0 win over Golden Eagles
Southern Miss midfielder Hannah Abrams prepares to send a ball upfield during the game against University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Hattiesburg on Sunday afternoon.
Ashley Hickman Sports Reporter
After a week off, the Golden Eagles (2-2-3) traveled to Tuscaloosa Sunday, dropping a hard-fought game 1-0 to the Crimson Tide. It was the first time these teams have met since 2007. Three minutes into the game, Alabama threatened first with a shot on goal by Lacey Clarida,
but was saved by Southern Miss’ hot-handed goalie, Brittany Taylor. Taylor, a junior, has been more than impressive this season. She ranks third in career saves (221) and second in career goals against average. With 12 minutes remaining in the first half, both teams were playing physical and possessing the ball well, but neither able to put the ball in the back of the net.
Ashton Stennis drilled a shot on goal within the final minutes of the first half, but missed wide left. USM desperately needed to finish their shots to keep pace with Alabama. The score remained 0-0 heading into halftime. Alabama came out hot to start the second half, firing two back-to-back shots on goal from Christin Martensson and Hailey Brohaugh. USM’s Taylor held
her own, saving them both. A Southern Miss foul led to a free penalty kick for the Crimson Tide. Celia Jimenez stepped up for the kick, and Taylor came up with another clutch save for Southern Miss. Only a minute later, Alabama’s Brohaugh sailed a corner kick high and Clarida headed the ball in past Taylor for the first score of the game. That was also Clarida’s first goal of the season.
Mary Alice Weeks/Printz
The Golden Eagles had many opportunities to score in the second half. Within the final minute, USM’s Breann Hedin had a shot on goal, but was unable to capitalize. Taylor had nine saves on the evening while Alabama’s goalie had five. Southern Miss will try to bounce back Friday when they travel to Monroe, Louisiana, taking on Louisiana-Monroe at 4 p.m.
Page 8 | Monday, September 14, 2015
SPORTS
FOOTBALL
Eagle fans get rude awakening despite huge win Julius Kizzee Sports Reporter
The Southern Miss football team is on its way back to the top, but not without its bumps and bruises. “I thought our guys played awfully hard tonight,” coach Todd Monken said. “But are we going to be consistent. Are we going to be steady?” On Sept. 5, Southern Miss held a record crowd of 36,641 fans against Mississippi State; but, that crowd fell down to 23,042 against Austin Peay. The in-state rivalry between Mississippi State and USM is well documented and the rivalry spans generations. For Austin Peay and Southern Miss, it was the first time the two programs met on the gridiron. After the Golden Eagles dismantled Austin Peay 526, the buzz coming out of the game should have been seen as positive. The defense held the Governors to only 189 total offensive yards, combined with three sacks. Nick Mullens threw for over 250 yards on offense and the ground game produced 239 yards rushing. So why isn’t the game looked at as positive for the Golden Eagle fandom? “I didn’t come here to be the head coach to have that kind of showing today by our fan base,” Monken said. “Is our fan base going to be a thermometer or a thermostat?” The Golden Eagles had to rise up to the occasion and play a tough game against the Bulldogs, in which they proved they have the potential to make noise this season. The challenge was to follow up that effort this weekend against the Generals. “A thermostat controls its surroundings,” Monken said. “A thermometer goes up and down and we don’t control our surroundings.” Harshly, coach Monken took a direct stab at Golden Eagle fans. But can he blame them for staying home while they play such a weak opponent? The average attendance last season was 24,335 people in the stadium. The most attended game was opening weekend against Alcorn State, in which the attendance was 26,448. “Fans are fair weather,” said defensive lineman Dylan Bradley. “They come when they want to, they leave when they want to.” In the offseason, there was an abundance of hype growing for the opening weekend against Mississippi State. It was the first time that the Bulldogs visited Hattiesburg since 1989. To follow that was going to be hard to match for any opponent. With home games against North Texas, UTSA, UTEP and
Southern Miss Golden Eagles head coach Todd Monken greets fans at M.M. Roberts Stadium on Sept. 5 before the Mississippi State game.
Old Dominion left this season, it will be hard to intrigue fans to attend the games. “Are they going to be a part of this to the top, or not?” Monken said. “That’s what I bought into, The Rock and our fan base showing up and supporting our team that’s fought like hell for three years to get to this point.” The journey back to the top is not without its notable names. Over 20 recruits are transfers, with some coming from programs like Michigan, Miami, TCU and Auburn. Coach Zac Woodfin comes to Hattiesburg after coaching UAB from 2-10 to 6-6. Even coach Monken spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars and LSU, before mentoring star wide receiver Dez Bryant while he played at Oklahoma State. Monken has the pedigree to challenge his fans through his diversity of environments. “We come back to play North Texas, (if) they want to see this program get back to the top, we need everybody,” Monken said. “Myself, our players and our fan base.” While he may not influence the average fan to wake up for these games, Monken’s message definitely hit some nerves in the Southern Miss fan base.
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