Monday, October 31, 2016 Volume 101 Issue 17
student printz SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927
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USM celebrates 2016 homecoming
Kenyatta Ross | Printz Young Southern Miss Fans who participate in the Cheer Clinic hosted by USM cheer during Eagle Walk on Oct. 29.
Kenyatta Ross | Printz Southern Miss defensive back Picasso Nelson, Jr. smiles during Eagle Walk on Oct. 29.
JULIUS KIZZEE
sports editor
Southern Miss celebrated another homecoming week with festivities at both the Hattiesburg and Gulf Coast campuses. All week, students celebrated their school’s traditions by participating in events such as “Bring it on Eagle Style” in Reed Green Coliseum on Monday and the “Fountain Sit” on Friday afternoon. Students were able to get involved in any way that they saw fit. “The hardest part about this is not the questions, but the games that they play,” said junior marketing major Ryan Delmas, who participated in the Fountain Sit on Friday from 1-5 p.m. “You’re always kind of moving around. There are fake keys too. You get happy, then it kind of bums you down.” In recent years, the USM
community has taken into account social media’s involvement in homecoming preparation. Organizations spanning from Greek to academic clubs participated in team events. Each team competed by taking varying pictures and videos showcasing their school spirit. On Friday night, each team was tasked with decorating a billboard that would be presented at the front of the Hattiesburg campus for all visitors, students and staff to see to celebrate the occasion. This led into Saturday’s events, as the influx of visitors and the rest of the USM community was able to watch their Golden Eagles play against the Marshall Thundering Herd, and see the annual parade at 11 a.m. Homecoming culminated with the football team taking the field against a Marshall team that had defeated Southern Miss in the last five contests. Although the game was particularly close, Nick
Kenyatta Ross | Printz Dixie Darlings march through the Quad during the Eagle Walk on Oct. 29. Mullens guided his team to a 24-14 victory over the Thundering Herd as he set several career records. “We have had great atmospheres at ‘The Rock,’ we really have,” said Head Coach Jay Hopson. “Eagle Walk [is] fantastic on weekends. It
uplifts these guys. You notice the only game we lost [against Troy in rain-filled fashion] we didn’t have Eagle Walk. To say our fans aren’t our 12th man is an understatement. We need those fans, that really gives us some help.”
The homecoming festivities, sponsored by the Southern Miss Student Government Association, went under the theme of “Forever Gold,” used to inspire commonwealth among the entire Southern Miss community.
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INTRODUCTION MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
Meet the Staff Fall 2016 Cam Bonelli
FIND US ON THE WEB The Student Printz
Executive Editor
catherine.bonelli@usm.edu
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studentprintz.com
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OPINIONS
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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.
Julius Kizzee
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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. on the Friday before publication. 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.
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NEWS MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
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College student runs for election commissioner
Courtesy Photo |
NAN BEAUTI
copy editor
Tyler Wood of Hattiesburg is an average outdoor-loving Southern boy who enjoys football. What makes him distinct from most 18-year-olds is his special interest in politics. Wood is running for the 2017 Forrest County Election Commissioner and is the youngest person in United States history to run for the position. On Election Day in November,
Wood hopes to take the spot of incumbent election commissioner, Charles Phillips, who has held the job in District 1 of Forrest County for five terms. Phillips is running for his sixth term. “You get to know the people, number one, and you get to know the locations of everybody,” Phillips said. “You recognize the people that are moving in and moving out, the locations. It’s some vast experience needed to run this
office.” Wood serves as a member of the Forrest County Republican Executive Committee. When the committee was looking for someone to run against Phillips, Wood took the stand. “The republican executive committee is completely behind me, and they were looking for somebody to run, but nobody else would step up to the plate and run,” Wood said. “And when I entered, I was the laughing [stock] of the entire election. Nobody thought I had a chance. Now, guess what?” Wood said he has a chance to win. “If I’m elected, I’m not after this job for the benefits,” he said. “I’m after it to bring fair elections back to Forrest County.” Wood said that the executive committee is in charge of the primary elections whereas election commissioners are in charge of general elections. “Have you ever heard of a ballot box missing in primary elections?” Wood said. “I used to work with my opponent on election night, and I’ve seen some crooked and shady stuff that he’s done,” Wood said. “He did some stuff that he shouldn’t do, but the tax payers are paying him. I’m hoping that I’d be better to serve better in that capacity and take on that role.” Wood’s mother serves as the state treasurer of the Republican
party, which is an influencing factor in how he became involved with politics. “That’s how I got my little input,” Wood said. “I served alongside my mother for five years on the Forrest County Republican Executive Committee.” As soon as Wood turned 18, he was voted on to the executive committee. Wood said he registered to vote the day of his birthday. “I just want to see fair elections for all candidates,” Wood said. “I don’t care if they’re republican, democrat, independent, third party – whatever they are – each candidate deserves a fair and honest election.” “I’ve watched this young man grow up and he has been involved in politics since he was 8 years old,” said Gina Musgrove of Hattiesburg. “He has more experience and knowledge than most candidates running.” Wood said that he gets people to vote for him through the belief that dishonest people are controlling the election process. “People know that these elections are not being done properly, and they’re willing to vote for anybody else but my opponent,” he said. “I know that seems a little cruel, but people who know about the election process and not are the regular folk who just vote and don’t care about anything else. These people who are hardcore voters look at how the
elections been processed.” Wood has been endorsed by Republican Charlie Sims, who is running for Forrest County Sherriff, and Alisha Nelson McElhenney, who was a Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi in the 2015 elections. “If I am elected, I guarantee not one box will go missing,” Wood said. “I’m not [only] going to guarantee that. I’m going to step it up a notch. I guarantee not one box will be submitted late.” After 2015’s Tuesday election, the ballot box from Dantzler Community Center in Forrest County’s District 1 arrived late to the Forrest County Courthouse. Wood aspires to reach the national level in a political position. “I’ve always grown up with adults and politicians,” he said. “Everything I do, I give it 110 percent.” Wood said he is focusing on his campaign and will return his focus to school after the election. Wood said his supporters are what motivate him in throughout the campaigning and election process. “I’ve had an enormous number of people come thank me and show me their gratitude about my running,” he said. “I get them from republicans, democrats, independents, libertarians – everybody.”
Faculty, students present at history conference ARLICIA JORDAN southern miss now Faculty and students from The University of Southern Mississippi recently attended the 34th Annual Gulf South History and Humanities Conference in Mobile, Sponsored by the Gulf South Historical Association, the Gulf South History and Humanities Conference promotes the history and cultures of the Gulf South through an exchange of research before interested public. This year, researchers and scholars attended the conference to present papers focusing on the theme “The Gulf South in Peace and War.” “I am most appreciative of the University and the Center for the Study of the Gulf South for their continued support of the Gulf South Historical Association,” said Associate Dean for the College of Arts and Letters and Executive Director of the Association Deanne Nuwer. “The faculty and students from USM who presented at the conference in Mobile did an outstanding job.” Representing Southern Miss were six faculty members and three students: John Mangipano, doctoral student
of history, presented “William Walker, Cholera, and the Regeneration of Nicaragua, 1855-1860;” Olivia Moore, graduate student of history, presented “The Whole Roof Fell In: J. Ralph Noonkester and the Struggle Toward Integration in Hattiesburg, Mississippi;” Adam S. Rock, graduate student of history, presented “When Harakiri Goes Haywire: The Forgotten Story of Japanese Prisoners of War in America;” Douglas Bristol, associate professor of history, presented “Mass Incarceration in the Military: The Treatment of African American Service Personnel by the U.S. Military Justice System during World War II;” David Davies, professor and director of the School of Mass Communications and Journalism, and Jennifer Brannock, professor and curator of Rare Books and Mississippiana, presented “Help! Help Keep America American: The National Anti-Communism Crusade of L. E. Faulkner’s Bill Smith Letters;” Andrew Haley, associate professor of history, presented “Coca Cola Salad’: Working Women, Convenience Foods, and Community in the Mid-20th Century Gulf South;” Rebecca Tuuri, assistant professor of history, on “The National Council
Courtesy Photo | of Negro Women: Waging Peace in Mississippi during the War on Poverty;” The Gulf South Historical Association is a consortium of Gulf
South colleges and universities from the states of Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. The association is headquartered at The University of Southern Mississippi.
For more information about the Department of History at The University of Southern Mississippi, visit www.usm.edu/history.
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FEATURE MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
Social smoking alleviates anxiety, not hazards CAM BONELLI
executive editor
A feeling of one’s chest tightening and heart plunging into one’s stomach due to being surrounded by a swarm of unfamiliar faces commonly assaults those who face social anxiety. The feeling lifts with the lighting of a cigarette as one exhales in silent relief. These students do not feel they are addicted to cigarettes, as they nonchalantly classifying themselves as “social smokers.” According to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (AJPM), social smokers usually partake in non-daily smoking behavior and smoke primarily in social contexts or situations. “Most published studies of social smokers have characterized them as affluent, Caucasian, experimenting college students who smoke socially to gain peer acceptance,” the study stated. “The limited data in the public health literature indicate that social smokers – unlike other nondaily smokers – tend not to smoke alone and restrict their use to social situations such as parties, bars or nightclubs.” University of Southern Mississippi graphic design alumna Julie Gore
AKA
said she exclusively smoked when she went out with friends during her college years. “I used to smoke when I first got to college only because I felt very uncomfortable in the ‘bar scene,’ and smoking allowed me to somewhat escape outside and interact with people as I smoked,” Gore said. “When I learned there were people outside talking and smoking, I latched onto that for a year or so until I realized I didn’t have to ‘go out’ with people anymore.” Gore said she would not have smoked if she had not been a part of the bar scene, and that she bought cigarettes specifically for the occasions when she went out. “I think if I never was a part of that scene, I wouldn’t have ever smoked,” Gore said. “I’m not [a social smoker] anymore, but I definitely was then. I would keep a pack in my purse exclusively for when I went out with friends. I never bought more than five packs because I just used them to talk to people.” AJPM’s study suggested many social smokers view themselves as non-smokers and do not assess the health risks of smoking or their own personal addictive behavior. “Public health has only recently started to focus on social smokers,” the study stated. “In a 2004 cross-
sectional study of 10,904 college students, 51 percent of the 2,401 current smokers were classified as social smokers. Consistent with the research described in the tobacco documents, many college social smokers believed that they would not continue to smoke outside of a social environment.” Like Gore, former USM student Ashlyn Ervin said she began smoking because of the social aspect. She said the first time she smoked was due to others smoking near her. “We were all hanging out at my friend’s house playing “World of Warcraft,” and literally all the guys – like five of them – went outside to smoke,” Ervin said. “I was the only one that didn’t smoke, so I said ‘f*** it.’ I smoked a Camel Crush, and it was so good that I started giggling and couldn’t stop. I started saying, ‘I love cigarettes. Why doesn’t everyone do this?’ And I really haven’t ever stopped saying that.” Ervin said anyone who smokes will say they do not want to quit. “I’ve always said that,” Ervin said. “Whether or not I can is never the question. Of course I can, but I don’t want or need to quit. I love cigarettes. It’s part of my personality. It’s a hobby. It’s part of who I am. Honestly, I’m not the type of person that needs a cigarette. It’s nice when I
Cam Bonelli | Printz get stressed out to have one. I go days without smoking if I’m just at home and don’t leave the house.” Social smoking may not be seen as a health risk to those who participate in the activity or an issue, but it is considered a stable cigarette consumption pattern, according to AJPM’s study. “Previously considered a transient behavior, social smoking is also a stable consumption pattern,” the
study stated. “Focused clinical questions to detect social smoking are needed and may include, ‘Have you smoked any cigarettes or used any tobacco products in the past month?’ as opposed to ‘Are you a smoker?’” Social smokers may not recognize their health risks, and with their label, they eliminate the symptoms of social stigma. This does not, as studies suggest, eliminate the hazard.
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OPINION MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
‘The Flash’: strong acting, stagnant characters
Courtesy Photo |
GARRETT MINTA
news editor
Normally, I write opinions based on real-world events and current events, but lately, I have been bingewatching “The Flash.” The following opinion and review is riddled with spoilers, so be warned. Between seasons two and three, as the show wraps up the classic comic book “Flashpoint Paradox” storyline, I see some interesting
things in “The Flash” television universe that I hope continue into the movie adaptations. If you’re unfamiliar with the show, Barry Allen is the Flash (which is the worst kept secret in comics other than Superman’s Fortress of Solitude), and he fights crime using his super speed and super healing abilities to save Central City from villains such as Gorilla Grodd and Reverse Flash all the way to Zoom and Mirror
Master. That is a good summation of both the show and the comics, because as much as things change with comics, some things tend to stay the same. In both the show and the comics, Iris West is the continual love interest of Barry Allen. However, Allen attains different friends and companions throughout. “The Flash” television series births famous portrayals of these characters, like Tom Cavanagh as Harrison Wells and Carlos Valdes as Cisco Ramon. The characters all have such an organic feel, like they’re people you might meet in everyday life. They have interesting dynamics that fit as a cohesive unit. Let’s look at Barry himself. What makes him truly a hero? What makes him all that interesting? It’s not the powers, even though it seems to be on first glance. It’s how he interacts with everything, powers or not. He himself says that the powers “don’t change who you are, they
just amplify who you already were.” This makes us ask, who is Barry Allen? Barry is, quite simply, a nerd. Barry loves science and studies physics and chemistry, he is a cinephile who is able to recite lines of dialogue of the movie “Wrath of Khan” back at Cisco to prove he isn’t an imposter and he shows himself to have a flare for the dramatic during fights such as with the King Shark and his childhood bully Girder. There have been only two main complaints that I have heard and tend to share myself. The first is the villains’ and the characters’ personalities. They all seem to hit one note and just keep hitting it. Barry is courageous, but he still gets scared and discouraged at the start of every fight and needs a pep talk from the character of the episode to help him get through the challenges. This kind of thing happens with Multiplex, Grodd, Dr. Light and a lot of others.
Having this a few times wouldn’t be that bad, but on repeat it gets grating. The show also repeats dialogue throughout the episodes where characters will have the same conversations four different times. This trend has been toned down as the show continues to improve. The other gripe is that the overarching villains have the same motivations. Zoom and Reverse Flash both simply hated the Flash and wanted him dead, with Zoom having the side-goal of wanting to be the fastest speedster in the universe. This gripe too has been corrected with a new villain known as Dr. Alchemy working behind the scenes. The Flash is a great show. In fact, I can’t recommend it enough. The characters are fun and complex, the villains are just as dastardly as one can imagine and the powers look great and make you wish that you had them. The CW hit it out of the park again.
Cultural appropriation: It’s my culture, not your costume ALYSSA BASS
printz reporter
As October is ending, I can’t help but wish that I had written this article sooner, because by the time most of you read this, you will have engaged in an ignorant act: cultural appropriation. According to Susan Scafidi, lawmaker at Fordham University, cultural appropriation is the taking of intellectual property, traditional knowledge or cultural expressions or artifacts from a minority group that has been oppressed or exploited. By now you will have gone to a Halloween party dressed as a “sexy Indian” with a DIY Native American outfit and Pinterest-inspired headdress, your favorite rapper in blackface sporting gold chains and maybe a few escorts with “Khloe cornrows” and butt-padded booties that will be used to (attempt to) twerk or maybe even a sombrero-wearing, maraca-bearing Mexican in all your I-love-Mexican-food-and-Cinco-deMayo glory. It’s all in good fun – for you at least – but for the cultures being appropriated, it’s simply insulting. Moreover, cultural appropriation is an everyday occurrence. Unfortunately, some of our favorite artists have normalized the distasteful act through performances. Selena Gomez wore a bindi, Katy Perry wore a kimono, Lady Gaga wore a burqa and Iggy Azalea used a blaccent. The examples are endless. The problem with these costumes and actions is that they show the artists’ ignorance of the culture they are representing. Gomez was criticized by the
Universal Society of Hinduism for using the bindi (a spiritual symbol) as a decorative prop. Perry’s portrayal of a geisha further perpetuated the stereotype of Asian women being timid and subservient. Gaga sexualized the Muslim burqa, which symbolizes modesty. Lastly, people got fed up with Azalea’s obviouslyfake accent mimicking black dialect – oh, and the fact that she once rapped about being a slave master, but that’s a story for another day. Nonetheless, even when the appropriator is confronted, they are often praised for starting a trend for which other cultures would be criticized. In July of 2015, Kylie Jenner posted a picture of herself with cornrows on Instagram. Amandla Stenberg (also known as Rue from “The Hunger Games”) criticized Kylie for appropriating black culture, commenting, “When u appropriate black features and culture but fail to use ur position of power to help black Americans by directing attention towards ur wigs instead of police brutality or racism #whitegirlsdoitbetter.” To no one’s surprise, millions of Jenner’s supporters rose to defend Jenner, including Justin Bieber, who commented, ”[Instead] of fighting over something stupid lets do something about equality, but it doesn’t start here blasting a 17-yearold kid for wearing braids smh.” So basically, Kylie is too young to be educated about cultural appropriation but is old enough to date a 26-year-old rapper with a child. Oh, Justin, what do you mean? Sure, a hairstyle is just a hairstyle at the end of the day, but when white people use black culture as a fashion statement while black
people get berated for their “ghetto” style, it’s not just a hairstyle anymore. It’s an example of a power imbalance. Responses like Bieber’s stop minority groups from speaking out. Think back to 2004. Remember when Gwen Stefani and her posse of four Harajuku girls were teaching you how spell B-A-N-A-N-A-S? Well while you were busy taking a spelling lesson, Gwen was driving the Japanese community bananas for using the Harajuku girls as props and naming them like they were her pets. On this controversy, comedian Margaret Cho said, “I want to like them, and I want to think they are great, but I am not sure if I can. I mean, racial stereotypes are really cute sometimes, and I don’t want to bum everyone out by pointing out the minstrel show.” Stefani and the many artists who followed her have made caricatures of the cultures they borrow from, failing to consider those cultures’ responses. Despite some stubbornness, people aren’t giving up on educating others on cultural appropriation. White artist Roger Peet addressed the tricky topic in his series of prints titled “In//Appropriate” at Littman Gallery in Portland. In the gallery, Peet printed large banners of examples of cultural appropriation, included Miley Cyrus twerking, a hipster wearing a Native American headdress and even Elvis Presley dancing. Behind each appropriator was a violent red image. Behind Miley stood the Ferguson police. Behind the hipster was a mountain of buffalo skulls. And behind the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll was a policeman with a baton in hand. Guests had the opportunity to avoid the violent background images with Peet’s “Whiteness Goggles.”
Courtesy Photo | “When you put on the Whiteness Goggles, the colonial, military and police violence that underpins casual cultural consumption literally disappears,” Peet said. By using his platform as a white artist, Peet was able to make white audiences consider cultural appropriation in the context of the history of violence. Without that red backdrop of history, acts of cultural appropriation may not seem hurtful. We all know how tempting it is to wear things of other cultures as costumes, but we must set our temptations aside to respect other cultures. I think the Native American tribe Turtle Mountain Chippewa put it best when they said, ”When people know of us only as a ‘costume,’ they stop thinking of us as people, and this is incredibly dangerous, because every day we fight for the basic human right to live our own lives without outsiders defining our identities.”
In a time when Native Americans especially are fighting to be acknowledged as their respective tribes, spectacles like DIY “sexy Indian costumes” that put all native people in one massive clump are unacceptable, as are more serious acts of erasure like the Dakota Access Pipeline, which could potentially destroy sacred burial and prayer sites and culturally significant artifacts. We have to be more considerate – not just of Native American culture but of all minority cultures. I’m not saying that we can never partake in another culture’s things, but we must consider the context of that culture and what our costume actually represents. Make Halloween and every other costume-themed social gathering easy for everyone involved by staying in your cultural lane and not using a culture as your costume.
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OPINION MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
Newly released emails unlikely to sway voters JD RIMANN
printz reporter
The crazy 2016 presidential election cycle is playing out like a bad episode of “Game of Thrones.” This week saw a character that everyone had thought was dead return for an encore: The Federal Bureau of Investigation is back. This past Friday FBI Director James Comey, formerly Republican Public Enemy Number 1, showed just how fickle the wheel of fortune can be. The director sent a letter to Congress informing them of new developments in an FBI investigation that might be pertinent to the Clinton email investigation, which the FBI wrapped up in July without recommending any charges be brought against the former Secretary of State and current Democratic presidential candidate. In the process, Comey pivoted from being the public official every Republican likes to bash to becoming the new Democrat Enemy Number 1, while also demonstrating just how hypocritical politics can be. Now many Washington insiders and Democratic officials are slamming a man they characterize
as a politicized and partisan FBI director, who just a few short months ago they praised as the epitome of non-partisanship. Comey was actually nominated to his current position by President Obama. When the President Obama appointed Comey, he praised the former federal prosecutor’s “fierce independence and deep integrity.” Looks like those are two qualities the president and the Clintons may be wishing Comey did not actually demonstrate after all. In this writer’s opinion, Comey was wrong not to bring any charges against Hillary Clinton. Her use of a private server was completely illegal and should serve to disqualify her from the presidency. (In fact he even said that “To be clear, this is not to suggest that in similar circumstances, a person who engaged in this activity would face no consequences. To the contrary, those individuals are often subject to security or administrative sanctions.” This is basically admittance that a crime was committed by the former Secretary of State.) However, it did appear at the time and is somewhat confirmed now that Comey did believe he was doing the right thing. In the first
“Pirates of the Caribbean” movie, Captain Jack Sparrow memorably quips, “I’m dishonest, and a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly. It’s the honest ones you want to watch out for, because you never know when they’re going to do something incredibly stupid.” This letter and potential reopening of the Clinton email investigation appears to be an example of Comey being that honest man. He apparently felt like he should send this letter to Congress, and he did, just as he felt that Hillary should not face charges and therefore did not recommend that she do so. Both decisions proved to be Comey following his own conscience – even if it meant going against what the book might recommend, it should be noted – in the face of resistance and pushback from both sides of the aisle. Particularly, though, he was slammed for near dereliction of duty for refusing to recommend charges for Clinton in July. Since then, WikiLeaks has published thousands of Clinton’s emails on the internet (demonstrating the inability of the server to keep the emails private in the first place and rather explicitly
showing that this illegal private server was in fact a security issue). Additionally, since July, and the reason for Comey’s letter, is that former New York congressman and the most tragicomic figure in American politics Anthony Weiner allegedly committed criminal behavior online. The former representative is currently under investigation by the FBI for an incident/relationship involving him sending numerous sexually explicit text messages to a 15-yearold girl in North Carolina. Weiner is married to Clinton éminence grise Huma Abedin, Hillary Clinton’s closest assistant, and it appears that in the course of investigating the congressman’s digital trail, FBI investigators turned up potentially incriminating evidence related to the Clinton investigation. At this point, this revelation will probably not change much about this election. We the American people are choosing between the two least liked (by the numbers), least ethical and least responsible presidential candidates in American history. Polarization is higher than it has ever been, and there is almost nothing the candidates could do at this point to sway their hardcore voters one way
or the other. The two-party system may not have completely failed at governing our great nation just quite yet, but it has completely failed to produce acceptable candidates in this election cycle. At various times this year, James Comey has been called an honest man by Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Paul Ryan and Donald Trump. That recognized honesty is exactly why neither party is happy and why official Washington does not seem to care very much at all for the current director of the FBI. Regardless of who wins the election, I suspect that Comey will be looking for a new job come 2017.
Courtesy Photo |
SPORTS MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
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Mullens’ record shines as true commodity
Hunt Mercier | Printz Southern Miss quarterback Nick Mullens (9) hands the ball off to running back Ito Smith against Marshall in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on Oct. 29, 2016.
JULIUS KIZZEE sports editor
He did not know how close he was to the record. It was just another game for him against a Marshall team that had beaten Southern Miss the past five meetings. Every year since 2005, ranging from scores such as 61-13 in 2013 and as close
as 26-20 in 2011. This year, had to be different. “It feels great, not going to lie,” said senior quarterback Nick Mullens. “Marshall has had our number the past couple of years. I have a lot of respect for the game. Definitely a rival. These players are really happy they got the victory.” Nick Mullens was just 136 yards shy of the all-time Southern Miss record on the
night, with only Austin Davis in front of him for the milestone. With an 11-yard pass to Ito Smith in the second quarter down to the Marshall 30, Southern Miss moved into enemy territory before a Mullens fumble gave it back to Marshall. “That’s just bad luck,” Mullens said. “My mindset didn’t change. If I could just do my best to keep my energy high,
I just do my best to keep having fun. I tried to bring that energy tonight [for my teammates].” But even as the game kept going, Mullens’ record stood above the rest. Pass after pass, Mullens’ record kept on climbing as the record grew in his favor. His favor is one that led Southern Miss down to the finish line, going into the game and winning 24-14 in homecoming fashion, as the game was much tighter than anticipated. “Nick [Mullens] is what you see,” said senior defensive lineman Dylan Bradley. “He’s just nonchalant. That’s what we love about him. That’s why he’s the leader of the team. I didn’t know he broke the record until after the game. Congratulations to his career and his legacy that he leaves here. We go as far as he goes.” Through the midst of the changing in coaching staff and receiving core among other things that have changed his environment in Hattiesburg, Mullens has been the steady arm that has led the Golden Eagles to a C-USA West Division crown last year and hoping for bigger aspirations this year. “The reason I committed to Southern Miss is because I knew they were going to win,” Mullens said. “Those years of winning are back. Every day, we’re writing our legacy.” This game, like the school record and
like so many other factors in the Golden Eagles’ journey rise to prominence, was there for the taking as both teams were held in a 10-7 deadlock from the second to the beginning of the fourth quarter. But, through the resiliency that he says that he has learned in the four years that he has been here, Mullens just had the trust in his teammates and gave them a chance, specifically on the four-yard touchdown pass to receiver Allenzae Staggers that put the Golden Eagles up 17-7 in the fourth quarter. “Just kind of give him a chance,” Mullens said. “Sometimes, luck goes on your side. If you can trust your playmakers that they can make a big play, you have a chance for some success. Big time players step up in big time situations.” Even when the wheels change around him, Mullens has always been consistent and stuck to his football instincts. It may not have been the prettiest game for him as he went 22-of-40 passing for 300 yards and a score, but it got the job done. That is the most he can ask for. “I’m just glad we won,” Mullens said. “It definitely wasn’t the easiest. Pretty exciting but a stressful game. We kind of knew we were the only ones stopping ourselves. No football game is going to be absolutely perfect.” No game is perfect for Mullens, and neither is the journey.
Golden Eagles bounce back at homecoming, 24-14 ANDREW ABADIE
printz reporter
On Oct. 29, Southern Miss came into homecoming looking to bounce back from their two-game road skid, losing to LSU and Texas-San Antonio in back-to-back. Both Marshall and Southern Miss play with nearly parallel styles, each having a high-scoring offense and a struggling defense. However, the game was a defensive stalemate. The Golden Eagle offense showed aggression early after the team converted a fourth down on its first drive. Despite aggressive passing plays on the first drive of the game, the running game was led by Ito Smith, who ended the night with 189 total yards and punched in the first points of the game. Yet, the fast start would be slowed by the defensive battle between the two teams. “Ito [Smith] is a guy that turns something into [anything],” said Head Coach Jay Hopson. “He is that guy that can run inside, outside, pass protect, gets it out of the backfield [and] is a multitalented back.” The Golden Eagle defense held Marshall to just a touchdown in the first half. However, Marshall’s punter, Kaare Vedvik, kept the Golden Eagle offense at bay. Vedvik pinned them inside the Golden Eagle five-yard line with a 72-yard punt. This cycle would continue for the majority of the first
half with Southern Miss remaining within their 20-yard line. In the final seconds of the first quarter, Chase Whitehead temporarily broke the stalemate by snagging a 25yard pass. Yet, the Golden Eagles wasted an opportunity that yielded great field position and were forced to kick a field goal. Parker Shaunfield hit on a 44-yard field goal, putting the Golden Eagles up 10-0. Marshall answered the touchdown when the Golden Eagles’ secondary had a breakdown, leading to running back Keion Davis punching in a touchdown making the score 10-7. On the first play of the following Golden Eagle drive, Ito Smith broke out a 15-yard run to try and answer the Marshall touchdown, but it would be another wasted opportunity as the offensive line began to fail at protecting quarterback Nick Mullens who would get sacked to end that drive. The Golden Eagles made a key defensive stand at the Marshall 45-yard line which seemed to show shift in the tide of the battle. The Golden Eagles began to drive from their five-yard live with less than three minutes left in the half. Nick Mullens would connect with Julian Allen who would be off to the races before being caught at the Marshall 44yard line making it a 52-yard snag. Another offensive line mistake ended the drive with Mullens getting hit and fumbling the ball stopping all
hopes of scoring before the end of the half. The second half began almost parallel to the first half, with the defensive stalemate continuing and Vedvik keeping the Golden Eagle offense unproductive. Southern Miss would develop another drive but the offensive line would again have problems with Mullens having more pressure being put on him. Shaunfield would attempt a 41-yard field goal but would miss his first field goal of the season but would again compile to another missed opportunity. Again, the defense made another stand with a sack made by Dylan Bradley stopping another Marshall drive. Neither team found any opportunities and kept the 3rd quarter at 10-7. After two scoreless quarters the Golden Eagles finally found some light and started the 4th quarter with a touchdown with Mullens firing his lone touchdown of the night finding Allenzae Staggers for a four-yard touchdown pass giving the Golden Eagles a two possession lead at 17-7. Notably, Mullens would go on to break the school all-time passing record by the end of the night. “It was an honor to break it but I was just happy to get the win” Mullens said. Marshall attempted a late rally with a field goal attempt but the senior defensive lineman Dylan Bradley blocked the kick killing the potential Marshall comeback. Smith broke
out a 40-yard run putting the nail in the coffin for Marshall. Despite a late Marshall touchdown the Golden Eagles left homecoming with a 24-14 win.
“He is all about the next game, his mindset is to beat Marshall, his mindset is to win the conference championship,” said defensive lineman Dylan Bradley. “I’m proud of him.”
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SPORTS MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016
USM concludes first winning season in 13 years KYLE WILLIAMS
printz reporter
Southern Miss concluded its 2016 season with a 5-0 loss to UTEP. Despite ending the season with a shutout loss, Southern Miss would finish the season above .500 for the first time in 13 years with its 8-7-2 record. While the trip to El Paso, Texas may not have been what the Golden Eagles predicted, they did not let the Miners claim the victory without a sweat. Southern Miss recorded 17 shots, seven in the first half and 10 in the second, with seven being on target. The biggest fault of the night for Southern Miss was shots not finding the back of the net, leading to chances for the Miners to capitalize. In the 14th minute, Southern Miss’ Breann Hedan would have a shot on target saved by Alyssa Palacio. That save would lead to five shots for UTEP in the next nine minutes. The sixth shot in the nine minute stretch would be the golden ticket as Aleah Davis headed the first goal of game for UTEP. Momentum would stay on UTEP’s side as they went into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
Courtesy Photo |
Early in the second half, Southern Miss would record three shots, two on target and one wide, yet again giving the Miners chances to counter. A corner kick from Nicole Lindsey would assist
Bri Thomas for the third goal of the game for the Miners and somewhat solidify the win for the night. Southern Miss would have three players with multiple shots.
Monica Maldonado, Ashton Stennis and Hannah Abrahms would all have three shots. Southern Miss’ goalie Brittany Taylor would add her name to USM records in saves, goals,
against average and shutouts. The Golden Eagles finished the season with 26 goals and allowed 18 goals against them, en route to its first winning season in 13 years.