http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20080909/COL0508/809090360/1180/COL

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20080909/COL0508/809090360/1180/COL

https://www.cellularsouth.com/ProvatoContestExternal/ProvatoContest.jsp

Vote for Tyler Conn

I've never used it for football but i purchased the broadcast from yahoo sports
through southernmiss.com.  But i've heard people who use the CSTV All-access
like it.


----- Original Message ----
From: Patty Sparks <pattybraud@...>
To: southernmiss2@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, September 2, 2007 9:15:51 AM
Subject: [Southern Miss ] new to group w/ a question

Hi!! I wanted to introduce myself since I just joined the group. My name
is Patty and I graduated in 1983.wow, seems like yesterday. Anyway, I now
live in SC and would like to know if anyone can tell me how I can hear the
football games? I have searched online and can't find a radio station that
carries the games that I can listen to online.anyone got any ideas?? Thanks
and hope to hear from other USM fans!!! Go Eagles!!!

Patty

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]






________________________________________________________________________________\
____
Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for
today's economy) at Yahoo! Games.
http://get.games.yahoo.com/proddesc?gamekey=monopolyherenow

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I don't know about any radio stations covering Southern Miss sports
that have an online feed. I'll see if anybody else has heard of one. At
www.southernmiss.com there is an option to have Southern Miss CSTV All
Access. I am trying it this year but have no previous experience. I
registered and then when I tried to use an option it gave me paid
account options.

Hope that helps!

Kendall

Hi!!  I wanted to introduce myself since I just joined the group.  My name
is Patty and I graduated in 1983.wow, seems like yesterday.  Anyway, I now
live in SC and would like to know if anyone can tell me how I can hear the
football games?  I have searched online and can't find a radio station that
carries the games that I can listen to online.anyone got any ideas??  Thanks
and hope to hear from other USM fans!!!  Go Eagles!!!

Patty



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

from www.southernmiss.com

Southern Miss Football Season Tickets Hit All-Time Sales Record
The mark surpasses the 2004 sales number of 13,857.

Aug. 31, 2007


HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The University of Southern Mississippi has
established an all-time football season ticket sales record,
according to numbers released today by Director of Athletics Richard
Giannini.

This year's season ticket sales surpassed the previous mark of 13,857
tickets sold during the 2004 season.

"We are extremely pleased that our season ticket numbers hit an all-
time high." Giannini said. "With another day still to sell and
knowing that fans historically buy season tickets after the first
home game, we feel like we can break the 14,000 mark. We appreciate
the great fan support and outstanding game-day atmosphere we receive
from our faculty, students, alumni and friends of Southern Miss
football."

The continued success of Head Coach Jeff Bower's team is one of the
major reasons ticket sales continue to climb. The Golden Eagles are
one of just five teams in the nation that have collected winning
seasons in each of the last 13 seasons and his 2007 squad is ranked
No. 24 in the preseason by The Sporting News.

The Golden Eagles open the 2007 campaign, Saturday, with a 6 p.m.,
contest against Tennessee-Martin at Carlisle-Faulkner Field at "The
Rock." For tickets, call the Southern Miss Athletic Ticket Office at
1-800-844-TICK (8425) or via the internet at www.SouthernMiss.com.

During game day on Saturday, the Pat Ferlise Center, located at the
intersection of Fourth Street and Golden Eagle Ave. on the Southern
Miss campus, is open for ticket sales. The Ferlise Center will be
open from 10 a.m., until 5 p.m., Saturday.

The Stadium Ticket Office has moved its location to the northwest end
of Carlisle-Faulkner Field at "The Rock" for the 2007 season due to
construction. It will be open at 2 p.m., until halftime and can
provide ticket sales, will call distribution, and fan assistance
issues as it relates to tickets.

from www.hattiesburgamerican.com

Southern Miss basketball team hits the ground running and running


Saiquon Stone had an interesting first day of college.

It started with smiles and eagerness. It ended with a walk in the
rain, a bloody nose and burning lungs that begged for air.

There was no class, but the freshman from Brooklyn, N.Y. had his
first official practice with the Southern Miss basketball team.

A Larry Eustachy practice can change your spirits real quick,
especially if you're not used to them.

"It was real, real different, a lot of running," Stone said. "We did
a lot of running at my prep school, but nothing like this before.
There's a lot of aggression out there.

"I got my nose (darn) near broken on the first day."

Stone was like a healthy girl at Dairy Queen early in the practice -
the first of 10 NCAA allowed sessions since USM is playing in a
preseason tournament in the Bahamas on Labor Day weekend. The normal
first day of practice is Oct. 13.

Stone was almost giddy when he realized the water jugs were filled
with Powerade.

"There's Powerade in there?" Stone asked emphatically. "You know
you're in college now. It feels good to be in college."

But the excitement was gone when the 6-foot-6, 205-pounder hit the
floor after getting busted in the nose during a physical drill. And
it didn't help when Eustachy blamed Stone for not doing things right.

Any glimpse of a smile was long gone as the Golden Eagles ended
practice playing a full court, 3-on-3.

First to score two baskets wins. Losers stay on the court. And
anyone who has ever played basketball knows it's not easy to play 3-
on-3 full court.

And Stone knows it's not easy when you keep losing and have to play
a fresh team every couple minutes.

Let's just say he was tired.

Stone, along with the rest of the Golden Eagles, should actually
thank Eustachy. First of all, a trip to the Bahamas is pretty
gangsta. Second, Monday's practice was an early morning mall walk
compared to the U.S. Track and Field trials that kicked off the 2005-
06 season.

"With all these new guys, we want to take it slow," Eustachy
said. "We went for a long time, but not nearly as hard. It was a
real soft day by what we normally do.

"For some of these guys it was the hardest day of their life."

Eustachy did make the concession that everyone should be out of
shape considering the team usually goes through six weeks of
conditioning before the first practice.

Sophomore Courtney Beasley knows.

The 2005-06 Conference USA All-freshmen team guard remembers the
grueling workouts last fall. He was impressed by the nine newcomers
that practiced - Dewayne Green was held out awaiting papers from Mt.
San Jacinto College and should practice today - but knows what's to
come.

"I told them, this ain't nothing yet," Beasley said. "They responded
better than I did last year. They're better than I was my first
practice.

"They played defense, wasn't talking back. It was good."

Exhausted or not, the Golden Eagles looked more athletic and overall
talented than the previous version. JUCO transfers Demar Dotson and
Gjio Bain and Heidelberg freshman Andre Stephens rocked the
backboards with dunks on more than one occasion.

There's no way to tell how the group will react to Eustachy's
demands and the rigors of Division I basketball, but the promise is
there.

"I wish this was my first year," Eustachy said. "If we had this my
first year we'd really be having fun my third.

"We're going to have some real highs and lows and some real youth
moments. But that's OK."

In the meanwhile, Stone and his teammates are welcoming the 2006-07
school year at Southern Miss.

Well, when they're not bleeding and gasping for oxygen.

"It was a good day," Stone said with a smile creeping back
out. "This tempo is way different. I can't really explain it. It's
faster and everybody is strong. You've got to step your game up.

"It's going to be a good long season. I can't wait to get in shape."


Kareem Copeland is the Southern Miss beat writer for the Hattiesburg
American. He can be reached by phone at 601-584-3107 or e-mail at
kcopeland@...


Originally published August 23, 2006

It's been a while since I posted anything in this group. I hope to
change that.

Post and let us know where you are and what you are doing.

Kendall

March 7, 2006

Hull of a finish

But Eagles RB won't rest on his laurels

By Tim Doherty
tdoherty@...



File Photo/The Clarion-Ledger

Cody Hull, a junior from Oak Grove who enters spring drills as USM's
starting running back, scampers away from a couple of Tulane
defenders during the regular season finale last year, when Hull
rushed for 85 yards.

HATTIESBURG — One might think that a guy who ran for nearly 250
yards in his team's last two games of the season would feel fairly
secure with his spot atop the depth chart at running back.

Not Southern Miss' Cody Hull.

"I'm still going into the spring with same mindset I've always had,"
said Hull, who took over the main rushing duties in USM's final two
games of the 2005 season.

"Anything can happen, so I'm just going to try and keep doing the
things that let me be a starter in the first place."

For Hull, a junior from Oak Grove High, that means large doses of
hard-nosed, between-the-tackles running coupled with often nimble
footwork.

"He's our starter because he's earned it," USM coach Jeff Bower
said. "But like a lot of positions, there's competition there, and
that's a good situation."

The Golden Eagles open spring drills at 3:30 p.m. today. USM will
also work Wednesday and Friday afternoon before scrimmaging Saturday
morning.

USM will follow the same schedule the next two weeks, then practice
just twice the week prior to the annual Black-and-Gold Game on April
1.

Hull leads a running back corps that has gone from the untested
group of seven months ago to an intriguing confederation heading
into the spring.

Along with the 6-foot, 190-pound Hull, USM welcomes back junior
Larry Thomas, who started the first 10 games last season, and
sophomore fullback Cole Mason, who wound up taking carries at
running back by year's end.

Also returning are senior fullback Bobby Weakley and three other
running backs, junior Conrad Chanove, sophomore Tony Miner and
redshirt freshman C.J. Barrows.

Other than Thomas, the group is not blessed with an abundance of
blazing speed. But Bower said there was more to the position than
pure quickness.

"Sure, it's important to have speed, but some of the other qualities
are just as important," Bower said. "Making people miss, having good
field vision, doing the other things well, like pass protection and
receiving, all that's a big part of it."

And all of that can be found in Hull's game. While he won't wow
anyone with his breakaway speed, Hull has shown a knack for knowing
when to be patient and wait for blocks or when to just lower his
pads and blast into the hole.

That may sound simplistic, but it's often a fine line between
patience and dancing behind the line. Speed can be a tremendous
asset, but not if a back is hitting the crease before the blocking
has a chance to create one.

"I thought he did a good job with it last year," Bower said. "He
really came on."

Hull wound up rushing for 542 yards and three touchdowns on 130
carries, but nearly 46 percent of that production - 246 yards on 60
carries - came after he replaced Thomas as the starter for USM's
final two games.

In the regular season finale against Tulane, Hull rushed for 85
yards on 23 carries.

He followed that with a potential career-making performance against
Arkansas State, setting a pair of New Orleans Bowl records with 161
yards on 37 carries.

"It was just a great experience for me," Hull said. "But to have a
successful running game like we had wanted all season, that was the
big thing. Something like that, you want to use as a springboard
into next season."

While both Bower and Hull stressed that the running game will always
be emphasized at USM, a consistent ground attack would be a boon for
an offense breaking in a new quarterback.

Junior Jeremy Young, sophomore Travis Clark and Michigan State
transfer Stephen Reaves will be competing to fill the vacancy left
by the graduation of Dustin Almond.

"Yeah, we'll be less experienced there, so you might do some things
a little bit differently, but not a lot," Bower said. "No matter who
we have there, he has to be able to handle the entire offense and be
effective, and, obviously, that means throwing the football, too."

Like his fellow USM veterans, Hull has been rising at dawn for
offseason workouts. He's added a few pounds and been working at
improving his explosiveness with extra work in the weight room.

But for the most part, Hull said he has stuck with what has brought
him this far in his career.

"I try not to worry too much about things," Hull said. "I only worry
about what I can control. Running back is always going to be a
competitive position, and it's like (USM running backs) Coach
(Derrick) Nix says, you want to be as well-rounded as you can be.

"That's what I'm working toward, being as well-rounded as I can be."

March 7, 2006

Gimme 5: Southern Miss

By Tim Doherty
tdoherty@...


WHO WILL PLAY QUARTERBACK?

Junior Jeremy Young, sophomore Travis Clark and Michigan State
transfer Stephen Reaves are in a race to replace Dustin Almond, who
started 32 games over the past four seasons. USM coach Jeff Bower
said Young enters the spring listed as the starter, with Clark No.
2. Reaves, a part-time starter at MSU, is not 100 percent after knee
surgery last fall but will practice.

WHAT AREA IS THE BIGGEST CONCERN?

New coach Bill Wilt faces a major task with a defensive line that
was a major issue last year. Undersized end Matthew Chatelain
returns as the lone full-time starter. Youngsters, like ends Robert
Henderson and Ken Griffith and tackles Ryan Watson, Mam Nyang and
Martavius Prince, have to step up. Juco transfer Sean Merrill (torn
pectoral muscle) won't be allowed contact.

WHERE IS THE MOST IMPROVEMENT EXPECTED?

Linebacker. Leading tackler Kevis Coley is gone, but sophomore
Gerald McRath returns from a broken leg and junior Jerome Lyons from
torn knee ligaments. Sophomore Tokumbo Abanikanda had a huge New
Orleans Bowl. Junior James Denley and senior Wayne Hardy were
starters for most of 2005. Keep an eye on a pair of redshirts,
Marcus Raines and Justin Lewis.

WHERE WILL THE BEST BATTLES BE CONTESTED?

Competition at receiver will be keen, but the O-line will feature
heated skirmishing, with a starting slot open and depth to be
developed. George Batiste, Chris Clark and Robbie D'Angelo are back,
though a fourth starter, Travis Cooley, will miss the spring after
knee surgery. Look for touted 2005 signees Ryan McKee and Ryan
Hebert to bang at right tackle. An important spring for junior
Jonathan Landor and sophomore Wesley Housley.

MOVES AND FIRST STEPS

Britt Barefoot has first dibs at replacing punter Luke Johnson. The
sophomore has the leg, but has to develop consistency. ... Ed Morgan
and Ivory Bradshaw were moved from receiver to cornerback to bulk up
a position that lost one starter (John Eubanks) and will have
another limping into the spring (Caleb Hendrix, hamstring). ... C.J.
Barrows, who has been plagued by injuries in his first two years in
Hattiesburg, will be back at running back.

March 1, 2006

USM needs road win to delay 20th loss

By Tim Doherty
tdoherty@...


HATTIESBURG — Twenty was once a magical number in college basketball.

The Associated Press' national poll stopped there. Twenty wins all
but meant an invitation to a postseason tournament.

But 20 is the last number Southern Miss would care to see this
season, though the Golden Eagles are unlikely to do much more than
postpone the inevitable.

With at least three games left to play, USM has 19 losses. The 20th
could come as early as today, when the Golden Eagles (8-19, 2-10
Conference USA) visit Tulane (10-15, 5-7) at 7 p.m. at Fogelman
Arena in New Orleans.

Should that happen, it would be the first time USM has reached the
20-loss level in 21 years and only the third in program history.

And the only way that the Golden Eagles can avoid that fate would be
by ripping off 12 consecutive victories and winning the national
championship.

For a club that has not beaten Division I-A competition back-to-back
in a stretch of 45 games, the goal at the moment is much more modest.

"We haven't had a road win in a while," USM senior forward Jason
Forte said.

The last time USM defeated an opponent on the foe's home turf came
on Dec. 20, 2004, at South Alabama.

The last time the Golden Eagles won a C-USA road game: at Tulane, on
March 3, 2004.

And USM will be going against a team that it topped 67-55 on Jan. 11
in Hattiesburg in the conference opener for both teams.

"That's a game I'll never forget," first-year Tulane coach Dave
Dickerson said. "They just out-toughed us the entire game."

But the two teams have gone in different directions since. USM has
lost 10 of its last 11, while Tulane has managed to play .500 ball
in its last dozen games.

"They are playing great ball right now, a whole lot better than the
last time we played," Forte said.

Tulane can still finish even in C-USA regular-season play with wins
in its final two games of the season.

"We can finish with a good record in conference and give the second
half of our year some meaning to it," Dickerson said.

USM goes to Tulane with more losses than any Golden Eagle team since
the 1984-85 edition finished 7-21. But that doesn't mean that No. 20
can't be avoided on any given night.

"These last two games (Tulane and East Carolina), these are really
big games for us," USM assistant coach Ricky Noble said, "games
we've talked about, games that we feel like we have a chance to win.

" ... It'll be really, really hard, though, to go down to New
Orleans and get a game from them on their home court."

Kendall,

   Below is from the website....

           Location & Hours    What are restaurant hours?
We're open seven days a week, Sun - Thurs. 7:00 a.m. to 9:30/10:00 p.m.; Fri. &
Sat. 7:00 a.m. until 10:30/11:00 p.m.

Our business office is open Mon. - Fri. 8 am - 5 pm

Where is the restaurant located?
Prejean's Restaurant is set in north Lafayette, the heart of French Louisiana.
Our address is:
3480 I-49 North
Lafayette, LA 70507


Kendall Varnell <ktveagle@...> wrote:  I admit I have personal reasons for
looking forward to it. I'm
hoping to see and spend time with some friends I haven't seen in a
while and I will get to see my Eagles play.

It was not an easy season to make it through. Having leads and
losing hurts me far worse than just plain out getting beat. It looks
like the players we lost at the start of the season along with
injuries left our defense short on players. And poor Almond had some
bad times.

I've seen some fans post they would not attend the bowl game. I can
see that. I've seen some post that others should not want to attend.
That I can't understand.

Next year will be even more interesting. We have to break in a qb.

What time does Prejean's open?

Go Eagles!

Kendall





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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I admit I have personal reasons for looking forward to it. I'm
hoping to see and spend time with some friends I haven't seen in a
while and I will get to see my Eagles play.

It was not an easy season to make it through. Having leads and
losing hurts me far worse than just plain out getting beat. It looks
like the players we lost at the start of the season along with
injuries left our defense short on players. And poor Almond had some
bad times.

I've seen some fans post they would not attend the bowl game. I can
see that. I've seen some post that others should not want to attend.
That I can't understand.

Next year will be even more interesting. We have to break in a qb.

What time does Prejean's open?

Go Eagles!

Kendall

Southern Miss returns four players from last season's 11-17 team,
including seniors Jason Forte and Tyler Quinn, and juniors Mildon
Ambres and Jarekus Singleton. The roster also features a strong
group of newcomers, including Courtney Beasley (6-3, Fr., guard),
David Cornwell (6-8, Jr., forward), Craig Craft (6-3, Fr., guard),
Travis Hall (5-10, Jr., guard), Kyle Lamonte (6-3, Jr., guard),
Kendaris Pelton (6-6, Jr., forward), Shaun Simpson (6-8, Jr.,
forward) and Donatas Visockis (6-10, Fr., center).

above snipped from southernmiss.com article

2 seniors
7 juniors, most transfers
3 freshmen

I see where we were picked 8th in the C-USA coaches preseason poll.
How did we get picked that high? Coach E must have been wearing a
really nice suit.

Ok, that might sound like complaining and it may even be. It just
didn't hit me until now that the team had that much turnover. I knew
it was probably needed but it was still a shock. And I see the 8th
pick as a testament to the respect the other coaches have for Coach
E.

Anybody got any helpful info? Players look good? Coach E has a smile
that a crowbar can't remove? Anything?

Kendall

Falcons player news and notes

Dean Legge - Scout.com
October 13, 2005 at 10:14pm ET
FLOWERY BRANCH - News and notes from Atlanta's players.

One reason that WLB Michael Boley 's stock dropped in the draft was
a rap that he took plays off at Southern Mississippi. Falcons
president-general manager Rich McKay, who disputes the notion, was
delighted that Boley was available when Atlanta made him their first
pick of the fifth round.

"We were very lucky to get him in the draft where we got him," coach
Jim Mora said. "To have him fall to us in the fifth round and then
to be talking about a guy who is a potential starter for us in his
rookie year is a compliment to the kid."


--Credit McKay and his staff with making a similar move in 2004 when
Chad Lavalais was reportedly too heavy and out of shape at the NFL
scouting combine. Atlanta chose him in the fifth round, too.
Lavalais started five games as a rookie and now has a firm grip on
the nose tackle job.

--Whether Boley starts or plays a reserve role against the Saints
means little when you consider that he has yet to take a defensive
snap this year. All of his work has come on special teams.

"When you watch him play in the preseason games, you say that this a
guy who has some unique abilities," Mora said. "He can run, he is
long, he has long arms and long legs and he has length. He is a guy
that eats up space, and he's smart. He's very smart. He has
toughness.

--Mora and Saints coach Jim Haslett became close friends when both
worked under Mora's father, Jim E. Mora, in New Orleans during the
1995-96 seasons. When Haslett's wife and children were displaced by
Hurricane Katrina, Mora offered to let them move in temporarily with
his family in Duluth, Ga.

"He was gracious and kind enough to call during the hurricane, which
friends do," Haslett said. "He offered his support and offered to
take the family in. We had kept in touch, but the last couple of
weeks, we really haven't talked. I know we probably won't talk this
week for obvious reasons. One thing is that you have friends, and it
doesn't make a difference what happens during the week. You know
they will always be there for you. Jimmy is that type of guy."

--The Falcons had 116 rushing yards against New England, 93 less
than their average through four games, but they still lead the
league by a wide margin. Atlanta is averaging 190.4 yards, 46 more
than second-ranked Denver.

--Warrick Dunn (477), Michael Vick (233) and T.J. Duckett (178) make
the Falcons the NFL's only team with three players topping 150 yards
rushing.

--In six games as a Falcon against the Saints, Dunn has 587 rushing
yards, 197 receiving and three touchdowns.

--Whatever distance Vick and Aaron Brooks put between them as both
became multimillionaires in recent years vanished after Hurricane
Katrina wiped out New Orleans in August. Vick telephoned Brooks to
offer a helping hand. They are second cousins by marriage and both
grew up in Newport News, Va.

"We have talked a lot lately, more than usual," Vick said. "We had
to. He is hanging there. He is doing all right. He is going to be
ready to play on Sunday, so I have to make sure that I bring my A
game."

BY THE NUMBERS: 20-6 - Vick's record in domes, including a playoff
win last season. He has led Atlanta to eight straight victories
indoors. Since losing 38-7 at Indianapolis in Wade Phillips' first
game as interim coach in December 2003, Vick is 11-1 in domes. In
road starts indoors since the Falcons drafted him No. 1 overall in
2001, Vick is 2-2 with losses to the Rams and Colts and wins over
the Saints and Vikings.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We have made a decision. I have made a decision.
There is a thing called competitive advantage that we are trying to
preserve. If I could be 100 percent sure that Jim Haslett and the
New Orleans Saints weren't going to get this information, then I'd
love to tell all Falcon fans who was playing where. I'd even draw
plays for (them). I don't want our opponent to know who is playing
what spot until Sunday. You might say that it doesn't matter because
they will find out on the first play, and you are right because you
are going to find out on the first play, but it might affect the way
that they prepare. And it might not. But in the interest of trying
to preserve some competitive advantage, it's better for us to be
evasive at times." - Coach Jim Mora, when asked who will start at
middle linebacker.

--FB Fred McCrary now takes about 15 snaps a game in relief of
Justin Griffith . The moves work well for Griffith, who is fresher
and thus more effective to block. McCrary has great hands and gives
his quarterback a nice alternative on checkdowns.

--LG Matt Lehr needs to execute cut blocks precisely to keep Brian
Young off balance. If Young is on the ground when Warrick Dunn
explodes through a crease on the right side and cuts left, Atlanta
can gain big chunks of yardage.

--RG Kynan Forney , the team's best run-blocking lineman, will work
almost exclusively against Willie Whitehead . Forney's strength and
technique allow him to win matchups against a lot of outstanding
interior tackles. Dunn is fast enough that he only needs a small
crease from Forney to hit his hole and then cut to the backside.

--LDE Chauncey Davis will take a lot of snaps for the fourth
straight week. This time it's Patrick Kerney , not Brady Smith , who
is the hurting starter. Davis has done a decent job as a rookie. His
long arms give him an edge in getting off blocks of right tackles.

--RCB Jason Webster needs to prove he has a lot left in his
reservoirafter the secondary looked so porous last week. Webster's
knee has regained some lost strength, so he must jam Donte'
Stallworth and Az-Zahir Hakim hard at the line of scrimmage.

--SS Keion Carpenter looked totally out of place and confused last
week. He must make a proverbial statement that his career isn't over
with so many games left in the season.

--K Michael Koenen doesn't have to worry about Michael Lewis with
the Saints' outstanding kickoff returner on injured reserve. Koenen,
a rookie, needs to use his strong leg to put as many balls in the
end zone as possible.


---------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
For more great Atlanta stories click the Scout.com logo in the right
column or go here:
http://falcons.scout.com



Updated on Thursday, Oct 13, 2005 11:14 pm EDT

Email to a Friend | View Popular

Eagle Fanfare Set For Saturday


HATTIESBURG, Miss.— Fans will have an opportunity to meet the 2005
Golden Eagle football team, coaching staff and cheerleaders on
Saturday, at the 10th Annual Eagle Fanfare in the Payne Center,
hosted by the South Central Mississippi Alumni Chapter.



Dinner and silent auction will be held from 6-7 p.m., with a special
program beginning at 7 p.m.



Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door for adults; $8 in
advance and $10 at the door for children 5-12; and free for children
under five. Tickets can be purchased from the Pat Ferlise Center at
(601) 266-5418 or the Ogletree Alumni House at (601) 266-5013. Each
ticket purchased will qualify the ticket holder for a tailgating
package drawing courtesy of Campus Book Mart, one of the event's
sponsors. Other sponsors include the Hattiesburg American, Taylor
Rental and Rock104.



Southern Miss finished 7-5 in 2004, including a 5-3 mark in
Conference USA and a 31-10 Wyndham New Orleans Bowl victory over
North Texas. The Golden Eagles return 14 starters and 39
letterwinners from last season.



The team opens its season Sunday, Sept. 4, in a 3 p.m., nationally
televised ESPN2 contest, in the annual "Battle for the Bell" against
Tulane.

Note: forwarded message attached.

I've started a college football pick'em fans of
southern miss group and fans of CUSA group since yahoo
didn't respect us enough to put us on the list.

CUSA Group is Group ID is 2295    password is confusa
So. Miss group is Group ID is 2301   password is smttt

__________________________________________________
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The Football Writers Association of America has named defensive back
John Eubanks to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List for the 2005
season.  Eubanks has garnered All-America attention throughout his
career as a return specialist, but as a junior in 2004, he showed
those same elite skills in the defensive backfield for the Golden
Eagles. Eubanks earned first team All-Conference USA honors as a
defensive back and was named as an honorable mention All-America
selection by collegefootballnews.com and SI.com.
The Mound Bayou, Miss., native finished second on the team with three
interceptions in 2004, and led the Golden Eagle defense with nine
pass
breakups, finishing with 47 total tackles (31 solo, 16 assists),
while
also recovering a fumble. With Eubanks selection to the Watch List,
this marks the fourth-consecutive preseason that a Southern Miss
player has been nominated for the award.

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Posted on Tue, Apr. 12, 2005


BASKETBALL


Eagles plan to sign 6-10 Lithuanian

By AL JONES


HATTIESBURG - During his first press conference as the new basketball
coach at Southern Miss, Larry Eustachy said his team's final game of
the 2004-05 season would be the best.

He was right as the Golden Eagles knocked off Texas Christian 66-64
to finish the season at 11-17.

The former Iowa State coach also said his first recruiting class -
with proper time to study the players - would be for the 2005-06
season.

Once again, he appears to be correct.

"We have made a lot of progress," Eustachy said. "Last year we had to
settle on players without checking any backgrounds.

"This year we've been able to check references. The next 10 days will
show that we will be better than we were last year."

During the early signing period, Craig Craft of Raleigh signed with
Southern Miss. Craft is a 6-foot-3 point guard.

The biggest signee on Wednesday should be Donatas Visockis, a 6-10
Lithuanian player who played his junior season at Oak Hill Academy in
Virginia and his senior season at Cardinal Gibbon HS in Baltimore.

Despite reports that Visockis is not signing with Southern Miss for
various reasons, the 220-pounder will be a member of Larry Eustachy's
second signing class. To sign Visockis, a letter of intent will be
faxed to his mother who is currently living in England. It will then
be signed and sent back to the Golden Eagles coaching staff.

"It may take a couple extra days but we expect to get it back,"
Southern Miss assistant coach Steve Barnes said. "We don't expect any
other problems from the rest of the group.

"We're in a complete rebuilding process and we're not where we need
to be right now. But we're getting there."

As a senior, Visockis averaged 11 points and seven rebounds and
scored a career-high 33 points in one game.

The rest of the class expected to sign on Wednesday will be: Courtney
Beasley, 6-2 shooting guard from North Bridgton, Maine; Travis Hall,
a 5-11 point guard from Baton Rouge; David Cornwell, a 6-8 forward
from L.A. City College in Los Angeles; and Kyle LaMonte, a 6-3 point
guard from Marshalltown, Iowa.

Gino Smith, a 6-6 forward from Milwaukee who committed to Southern
Miss before Christmas, will not be offered a scholarship.

Eustachy said he plans to sign between eight and nine players in all
with five planning a final visit to Hattiesburg this weekend.
Southern Miss' football team will play its annual spring game on
Saturday at 1 p.m. while the baseball team plays Saint Louis at 4 p.m.

If Southern Miss signs nine, or even eight, a couple of players off
last season's team will not be in uniform for the 2005-06 opener.

One player, forward Dwayne Brown, is suffering from a second knee
surgery and isn't expected to recover.

Senior guard Rashaad Carruth, who led the team in scoring at nearly
13 points, is a lock to be back.

Carruth played junior college ball at Indian Hills with Cornwell.

"I really anticipate bringing four of the guys back," Eustachy
said. "I'm not running anyone off but there are some who will be
better off somewhere else."


----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
Al Jones can be reached at 896-2351 or at afjones@...

Football Completes Second Scrimmage, Bower Pleased With Offensive
Improvement


HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Southern Miss football team held the second
scrimmage of the spring season on Sunday, working through a two-hour
practice at M.M. Roberts Stadium.

Southern Miss Head Coach Jeff Bower was pleased with the offensive
improvement this time around, after a dismal performance in the first
scrimmage had him a bit disappointed.

"It went better in some respects," Bower said. "We made a lot of
plays and made some big plays. We had chances to make many more big
plays and didn't, but it was much better than the other day. We
didn't do a good job of taking care of the football, and that was the
biggest negative."

The scrimmage was the second of three for the spring season. The
Golden Eagles went through various situations, including third-down
and overtime scenarios.

"Offense had the better day as far as moving the football and making
plays," Bower said. "The best thing we did on defense was to create
turnovers, but we gave up too many yards rushing and too many good
plays."

The offense finished the day with two scores, one in the regular
session and another in overtime situations. Quarterback Dustin Almond
connected with Chris Johnson for an 18-yard score in the first
series, and then capped off the day with a 6-yard scoring pass to
Anthony Harris in the overtime period.

Offensively, running backs Larry Thomas and Cody Hull continued to
share the majority of the snaps for the first team, with Hull leading
the way with 59 yards on eight carries. Thomas added 26 yards on nine
attempts. Harris also had three rushes, finishing with 11 yards.
Against the second and third team defenses, Tony Miner chipped in
with 55 yards on 12 carries, while C.J. Barrows added 31 yards on 11
rushes. Cole Mason added 22 yards on four attempts.

Almond improved on his numbers from a week ago, finishing 9-for-19
for 112 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. Jeremy Young
finished the day 6-of-12 for 80 yards, including a 46-yard connection
with Shawn Nelson, and Travis Clark went 5-for-12 for 44 yards and
had one interception.

Johnson led all receivers with three catches for 31 yards and a
touchdown, while Tavarres Williams added two catches for 43 yards.
Nelson and Josh Barnes also had two catches each, for 54 and 11
yards, respectively.

On defense, Darrell Bennett led first unit with seven total tackles,
three of them being solos. Kevis Coley added five total stops and had
a sack for a safety, while Naton Stewart added four assists. Gerald
McRath had seven tackles in the second unit, while Chaz Richards
added five stops. Robert Henderson and Lance Moore each had four
tackles. Trevis Coley and Ladarius Webb both had an interception,
while Webb and Shadler Manning had fumble returns for touchdowns.

Darren McCaleb finished the day making good on two of three field
goal attempts, connecting on kicks from 47 and 36 yards out and
missing from 36. He also was 2-of-2 in extra points.

The Golden Eagles now take Monday off before opening the final week
of spring work on Tuesday. The spring season concludes with the
annual Black and Gold Spring Game on Saturday, April 16.

April 1, 2005
Filling USM's line holes easier due to 2004's depth


Young replacements have lots of experience; 2nd O-line must be found

By Tim Doherty
tdoherty@...

    Coming up


What: Black & Gold Spring Game


When: Saturday, April 16, 1 p.m.


Where: M.M. Roberts Stadium; Hattiesburg




HATTIESBURG — Chris Clark is a pretty big fellow, standing 6 feet, 3
inches, and weighing 280 pounds.

And that is a very good thing, because the Southern Miss sophomore
has some pretty big shoes to fill this spring, stepping in at the
left tackle slot vacated by the graduation of senior Chris White.

But Clark, a Conference USA All-Freshman selection last season, said
he's ready to make the move from reserve to starter.
"You've got to step up to the challenge," said Clark, a New Orleans
native. "That's what it's all about."

Clark is not the only Golden Eagle lineman who is being tested this
spring. USM lost both tackles,White and Jeremy Parquet, and center
Addaryl Edwards from its starting quintet of a year ago. Remolding
the unit is one of the key tasks facing the Golden Eagles this spring.

"We lost some good players," USM offensive line coach Mitch Rodrigue
said. "But we've got some good competition and good players we're
working with (this spring).

"The one thing that I don't think we're going to have (this year) is
the kind of depth we had."

Rodrigue played two lines last season, with the second unit playing
at least one series in each half.

"That was valuable for them," Rodrigue said. "It's helped them pick
up things a lot faster."

Clark was part of that second unit, as were tackle Neal Mead (6-4,
314) and center Robby D'Angelo (6-2, 277).

All three are in USM's starting unit this spring, joining returning
guards, George Batiste (6-5, 309) and Travis Cooley (6-3, 285).

"That's Division I football," Batiste said. "You lose good players,
but you recruit good players, too, so the backups are as good or
better as the starters were. The difference is experience."

Last year, USM allowed just 18 sacks and rushed for 143 yards a game,
but threw for just 175.4 yards a game while averaging 319.3 yards
total offense per game. USM finished with a 6-5 mark before rolling
over North Texas 31-10 in the Wyndham New Orleans Bowl.

Batiste, who started all 12 games last season, said the spring will
be crucial for meshing the newcomers in with the veteran starters.

"It's a time of learning," Batiste said. "The game is faster. Guys
are bigger. Fatigue sets in. You've got to know what you're dealing
with.

"You can have five great offensive linemen, but if everyone's on a
different page, you're not going to have a great offensive line."

Spring also is a time of experimentation. For example, Batiste played
right tackle through part of one practice. Backup guard Ricardo Clark
(6-3, 291) has taken snaps at both guard spots as well as center.

"The guard you see now, could be a tackle later," Rodrigue said.

But both Rodrigue and USM coach Jeff Bower said they expect to have
the first unit sorted out by the April 16 Black & Gold spring game.

"We've been moving some guys around, but you want to get your best
five on the field," Bower said. "You come out of the spring, hoping
you know, and I think we've got a pretty good idea right now."

Joining Ricardo Clark on the second unit are tackles Joseph Leech (6-
4, 301) and Greg Taylor (6-5, 317), guard Bradley Worthington (6-4,
314) and center Derrick Chapman (6-5, 275). Rodrigue also singled out
redshirt freshman Wesley Housely, a member of the scout team.

"After the first week, I'm feeling better about where we're
at,"Rodrigue said, "but we still have a lot of work left to do."

April 10, 2005
Johnson, rest of USM receivers must 'grow up'


Golden Eagles hope inexperienced foursome steps up during fall

By Tim Doherty
tdoherty@...

HATTIESBURG — Chris Johnson may be a relative newcomer when it comes
to taking snaps on the football field for Southern Miss.

But the redshirt sophomore from Rosedale is worldly-wise when it
comes to the expectations on him and the other fresh faces in USM's
receiving corps.

"There's no time to be young," Johnson said. "It's time to grow up."
That's been the message imparted to the likes of Johnson and fellow
sophomore Tavarres Williams, as well as juniors Damion Carter and
Anthony Perine.

Through the third week of spring, Perine and Williams have been
running with the first team. In fact, Williams was just bumped up to
the first-string, ahead of senior Antwon Courington.

"It's easy; he's playing better," USM coach Jeff Bower said of the
move. "He deserves it."

Williams and the other trio, which served in primarily back-up roles
during the 2004 season, were well aware of the expectations coming
into the spring. With USM losing two starting seniors — Marvin Young
and DaRon Lawrence — the Golden Eagles have had to turn to the
relatively inexperienced foursome.

"Anthony Perine is a guy that needs to make big plays for us, and he
has in the past," said first-year receiving coach Courtney
Messingham. "Now, it needs be an every day thing.

"Tavarres Williams, athletically, he's very good. But he's got to
understand the whole game, to be more nasty as a blocker, to make the
tough catch."

Messingham said that's been the biggest point of emphasis this
spring, focusing on aspects of the game that often get overlooked
from the stands.

"Carter and Johnson, the same as the others," Messingham said. "It's
just not about throwing it all over the field. It's 11-on-11
football, not a seven-on-seven (skeleton drill).

" ... They all have great talent. Now, it's about running crisp
routes. It's about finding the holes in a zone defense, working
against press (tight man) coverage."

All four played last season, with Perine finishing second on the team
with 24 catches for 332 yards and a touchdown.

Williams was next, grabbing 11 passes for 212 yards and two scores.
His 19.2-yards-per-catch average topped the team, and his 47-yard
catch in the Wyndam New Orleans Bowl was the longest reception of the
year.

"I don't really worry about the pressure," said Williams, who has
worked out of the slot some this spring after being split wide his
entire freshman season.

"I'm more comfortable about the whole thing. Everybody's working hard
and fighting for positions."

Carter, who split time at quarterback, averaged 14.0 yards on four
catches. Johnson was second to Williams at 15.2 yards per catch on
five catches.

They, and the rest of the Golden Eagles, will get a second major
chance to show their stuff at 2 p.m. today, when USM holds its
second, full-bore scrimmage of the spring.

"We all know we're competing for playing time," Johnson said. "All I
want is a chance, and I'm getting that, just like everybody else."

April 8, 2005
With Nelson, USM has tight end who can catch


Louisianian breaks recent trend at position, but can he block well
enough?

By Tim Doherty
tdoherty@...



Nelson


HATTIESBURG — One of the annual laments echoing from spring football
to preseason two-a-days around the Southern Miss practice field is
the too-often-ignored tight end in the Golden Eagles' passing game.

Redshirt freshman Shawn Nelson could turn the hope into reality this
fall.

Nelson, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound native of Gonzales, La., has been one
of the offensive bright spots over the first three weeks of spring
drills, catching the eye of his coaches by catching nearly everything
he can get his hands on.
    Next up


What: Black and Gold Game


When: April 16, 1 p.m.


Where: M.M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg




USM coach Jeff Bower singled him out after a Friday practice that was
part scrimmage, and Nelson had the long reception of the day (29
yards) in what was an otherwise miserable afternoon for the offense
this past Sunday.

"It's been going all right," said Nelson, who earned All-State honors
as a receiver at East Ascension High School and was rated a four-star
tight end prospect by Louisiana-based recruiting guru Max Emfinger.

"It's been a lot easier, as far as knowing the plays. This spring,
it's been memorization off what we did in the fall, mostly."

Last fall, Nelson was one of the blind among the lost. Moving onto
the line and starting plays from a three-point stance and practicing
with the scout team at a new position was taking a step into a brave,
new world.

"It wasn't really that bad because they'd hold the plays up on (a
grease board), but playing there, that was something I wasn't used
to," Nelson said.

Just as he's still getting used to what will be one of his primary
functions necessary to earn playing time: blocking.

"I hate it," Nelson said, smiling, "but if I'm going to be out there,
I might as well get the job done."

Nelson's learning. He's still running behind in the mix with senior
starter Pedi Causey and junior Jonathan Palmer, but his grace and
ability in the passing game may outweigh his lack of physical punch
at some point.

"He's just so athletic," USM tight ends coach Randy Butler said.

Nelson is built along the lines of lankier tight ends such as a
Kellen Winslow or Ozzie Newsome. Though that is strictly a surface
resemblance at this point, Nelson already has shown that he can
create matchup problems for defenders trying to stay with him one-on-
one.



Rick Guy/The Clarion-Ledger

Senior Otho Graves led USM tight ends with six catches in 2004,
including three in the New Orleans Bowl.


USM tight ends caught 11 passes last season, six by Otho Graves and
three of those came in a 31-10 win over North Texas in the Wyndham
New Orleans Bowl.

In 2003, Terrell Browden had 11 of USM's 13 catches by a tight end.

First-year coordinator Jay Johnson has said that he wants to make
better use of both the tight end and the fullback.

"Sure, that's part of it," Johnson said. "But you have to have the
players capable of doing what needs to be done. I think we do."

Nelson said his goal in the offseason is to add 10 pounds and gear up
for the season ahead. That should help him ward off defenders for
position in the short passing game as well as help his — ahem —
blocking.

"I should be able to do that without it being too much," Nelson
said. "That should be fine right there."

April 3, 2005
Tailback derby heating up

By Tim Doherty
tdoherty@...

HATTIESBURG — Not only was Derrick Nix one of the greatest running
backs in Southern Miss football history, he also became an in-house
legend for his work ethic on and off the field.

So perhaps it's only natural that USM's running backs usually have
been the last group of players off the practice field this spring.

"Just a chance to get in a little more learning," said Nix, who is
handling USM's running backs for the first time after coaching the
tight ends last season.

"Here in the early part, it's kind of the learning stages. The main
thing is, they're giving good effort."

The focus this spring has been on the four-horse chase to establish a
pecking order at tailback. Senior Anthony Harris, last year's leading
ballcarrier, was moved to fullback, opening up the starting job.

Sophomores Larry Thomas and Cody Hull, redshirt C.J. Barrows and true
freshman Tony Miner have been sharing repetitions, with Thomas having
the early edge.

But USM coach Jeff Bower said the spring scrimmages will go a long
way in sorting out the depth chart.

"They're all just kind of bunched up there," Bower said. "You can't
tell a lot about running backs until you put them under the gun in
scrimmage situations."

The first of USM's three, full-bore scrimmages will be held at 2 p.m.
today.

"It's going to be a major, major day," Bower said of the controlled
scrimmage that will feature between 120 and 130 plays. "The biggest
thing you're looking for is the effort, being physical, hitting
people, flying around and having fun.

"Sure, you'd like to see the execution, but that'll come in time. We
need to come out and run around, play fast. That's what you want to
see."

Thomas, who rushed for 340 yards while averaging nearly 7.0 yards a
carry in a reserve role last year, said the competition has been
stiff.

"We make each other better, though," Thomas said.

Hull, who also got playing time last season, had one of the biggest
plays of Friday afternoon's partial scrimmage. He blasted through two
would-be-tacklers at the 20-yard line on his way to a 60-yard scoring
run.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Barrows, who was redshirted after he broke
his hand two weeks before the 2004season opener at Nebraska, is the
biggest of the quartet. Miner has shown quick feet and knee-bending
moves.

"I think the starting job is pretty wide open," Barrows said. "I'm
just trying to get the kinks out after being out almost a year.

"Everybody in college is bigger and faster than you, it seems like.
If you don't keep up, you'll fall to the end of the bandwagon and
they'll forget about you."

March 18, 2005
USM's Palmer still searching for No. 3 starter in rotation

By Tim Doherty
tdoherty@...


What: C-USA opener, USM at TCU


When: Today, 7 p.m.




HATTIESBURG — Coming into the 2005 baseball season, Southern Miss
coach Corky Palmer had a pretty good idea that a pair of sophomores,
Patrick Ezell and Mike Cashion, would be two of the Golden Eagles'
starting weekend pitchers.

As USM (12-3) opens Conference USA play against No. 25 TCU (12-6)
today, Palmer still is searching for that third guy.

Junior left-hander Brad Owen will make the first start of his career
this weekend when the Golden Eagles and Horned Frogs tie up in a
three-game series at Lupton Stadium.

Owen, a Semmes, Ala., native who transferred from Pensacola Junior
College, doesn't have a decision in his four relief appearances. He's
allowed four runs on eight hits while striking out seven and walking
two.

Owen, who owns a 3.86 ERA, will take the place of another left-handed
junior college transfer, Cole Basinger, who had been USM's Saturday
starter in non-conference play.

"(Basinger) has been the most inconsistent (starter)," Palmer
said. "He'll go in relief and some in the middle of the week."

Palmer said Matt Caire had been considered for the starting nod.

"I really believe he's one of our top three pitchers, but I wanted to
keep him in the bullpen," Palmer said.

Owen's strong suit has been making batters earn the bases, Palmer
said.

"He hasn't walked a lot of guys," Palmer said. "He throws strikes and
gives our infield a chance (to make plays)."

To Palmer's mild surprise, fielding has been one of USM's strong
suits this season despite the loss of second baseman Jarrett
Hoffpauir and shortstop Matt Shepherd.

Freshman second baseman Trey Sutton and redshirt freshman Chris
Matesich have teamed with veteran corners, first baseman Marc Maddox
and third baseman Beau Griffin, to help the Golden Eagles to a
stellar .977 fielding percentage.

"We've been up and down a little with our pitching," Palmer
said, "but a big key has been our fielding. We've been catching the
ball really well."

Ezell (2-0, 4.12), C-USA's preseason pitcher of the year, will open
the series at 7 p.m. today, facing TCU ace Lance Broadway (3-1,
2.17). Broadway was named C-USA's and Pro-Line Cap Company national
pitcher of the week.

Cashion (2-1, 3.49) will move up a day, moving from his usual Sunday
slot to pitch Saturday's 2 p.m. contest. He will face Sam Demel (2-2,
4.50 ERA).

TCU will start Brad Furnish (2-2, 2.96) against Owen on Sunday.

The Horned Frogs are hitting .288 as a team, compared to USM's .311
batting average.

Catcher Andrew Walker has been TCU's big bat, hitting .393 with four
home runs and 13 RBIs. For USM, Maddox is hitting .379 with five home
runs and 20 RBIs.

March 17, 2005
Tulane has enough talent to contend for national title

By Tim Doherty
tdoherty@...

    C-USA preseason poll

1. Tulane (12)
2. TCU
3. East Carolina
4. USM
5. Houston
6. South Florida
7. Louisville
8. UAB
9. Charlotte
10. Cincinnati
11. Memphis
12. Saint Louis

(First-place votes in parentheses)



Take a sprinkling of juniors talented enough to be taken in last
spring's Major League Baseball amateur draft but instead opted to
play a final, collegiate season.

Add in your top-drawer, returning underclassmen to a signing class
that most observers ranked among the top five in the nation, and what
do you get?

Tulane baseball, the 2005 edition.

Under coach Rick Jones, the Green Wave has been an annual power, if
not the clear-cut C-USA favorite, then one of the clubs with a
legitimate shot at the championship, year in, year out.

But this year, Jones and the Green Wave have taken a step beyond
their usual slot in one of the preseason top 25 polls.

Not only is the Green Wave the hands-down conference favorite, but
Baseball America dubbed Tulane the top college baseball team in the
country.

"It's a unique situation," Jones said in a preseason interview on the
C-USA Web site. " ... We could have the kind of experience, depth and
talent that you need to play deep into the postseason."

Tulane did just that last season. After finishing second in the 2004
regular-season standings behind East Carolina, the Green Wave went
two-games-and-out at the C-USA Tournament.

But Tulane rebounded, winning the Oxford Regional before falling to
eventual national champion Cal State-Fullerton in a Super Regional.

That set the stage for this season. The Green Wave returned seven of
its top nine hitters and has jumped out of the gate with a 15-3 non-
conference mark that has included wins over No. 5 LSU and Cal-State
Fullerton.

Senior Brian Bogusevic, a preseason All-American, has twice been
named C-USA pitcher of the week. Micah Owens, a transfer from Georgia
Tech, also has earned preseason raves and teams with Bogusevic to
give the Green Wave the best 1-2 starting pitching punch in the
league.

"By far, they're the best team in Conference USA," Louisville coach
Lelo Prado said. "This is the best ballclub (Jones) has ever had.

" ... They've always had great-hitting teams before, but their
bullpen is really good. With their pitching, he's got a team that can
play for a national championship."

Tulane will find out where it stands in league play right off the
bat, welcoming defending C-USA champion ECU to Turchin Stadium.

Five other three-game sets mark the first week of C-USA action,
including Southern Miss (12-3) at No. 25 TCU (12-5); Houston (7-11)
at Memphis (5-6); Louisville (8-5) at Cincinnati (8-5); Saint Louis
(2-10) at UAB (11-5); and South Florida (12-10) at Charlotte (13-4).

"Conference is what you play for now, and you always want to get off
to a good start," USM coach Corky Palmer said. "But at the same time,
it's a 30-game season, so it's a marathon, not a sprint."

USM is among three other C-USA teams that prognosticators have pegged
as probable postseason possibilities. The other top candidates
include ECU, TCU and Houston.

Despite losing the heart of its batting order, the Pirates average a
C-USA-best 9.3 runs a game and are hitting .329 as a team.

Houston has lost 11 games, but eight of those losses have come
against ranked teams as coach Rayner Noble loaded up his non-
conference schedule as usual.

TCU features arguably the deepest staff in the league, including
starter Lance Broadway, who tossed a three-hitter at Rice this past
week.

Other teams also have shown some muscle. Louisville took two of three
from No. 12 Georgia. UAB has wins over Alabama and LSU.

"We're going to beat each other up pretty good this year because the
league is so balanced," Prado said. "If you can go anywhere and win
two games, be happy and get out."

Do you still want the mini helmet from the last silent auction?