The Southern Miss Golden Eagles
represent The University of Southern Mississippi in Division I athletics. The teams compete in Conference USA.
The school's earliest nickname was Tigers. Thereafter came such nicknames as Normalites (from Mississippi Normal College, the early name of the University), Yellow Jackets, Confederates, and Southerners. Golden Eagles was selected in a student/alumni vote in the early 1970s. Seymour d'Campus is the name of the modern-day mascot eagle.
Southern Miss has a long history in the NCAA, and its intercollegiate sports teams operate under the auspices of the university's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics sponsors. Bowl games, conference championships, and All-American athletes have all been frequent occurrences at Southern Miss. Among notable alumni is NFL quarterback Brett Favre and former NFL punter Ray Guy.
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SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES TICKETS
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Football
National Championships
The University of Southern Mississippi has won the national championship in football, as voted by the UPI, in both 1958 and 1962 of what was then know as the "Small College" Division. At that time, Southern Miss was known as Mississippi Southern College.
[1]
250px.
Rivalries
Tulane
The rivalry between Southern Miss and
Tulane was born on born on the evening of October 13, 1979
[2] and is known as
The Battle for the Bell.
As members of
Conference USA the two teams played each other every year until 2006, when the league was split into Eastern and Western Divisions. Following their 2006 meeting, Southern Miss leads the series 21-7.
Memphis
The long-standing rivalry between Southern Miss and Memphis dates back to October 26, 1935
[3] and is often referred to as the
Black and Blue Bowl.
This yearly classic garnered its name from the intense competitive nature of the contest, as well as the competing schools' colors: the black of Southern Miss and the blue of Memphis. Both teams are members of
Conference USA in the Eastern Division, and the teams play each other every year. Following their 2008 meeting, Southern Miss leads the series 37-21-1.
[4]
UAB
Southern Miss leads the all-time series with
UAB, 9-0.
News & Notes
Southern Miss' illustrious foobtall history currently includes 15-straight
[5] winning seasons, six consecutive bowl appearances and four league championships
[6] in the 12-year history of Conference USA. In 2007, the Golden Eagles and Coach Jeff Bower were selected as conference team and coach of the decade
[7] respectively.
2008
Under first year head coach
Larry Fedora, the Golden Eagles posted a 7-6 record after a dismal 2-6 start. The Golden Eagles won five straight games to finish the season, including wins over 2008
C-USA champion
East Carolina and a
New Orleans Bowl win over
Sun Belt Conference champion
Troy University. Also in 2008, the Golden Eagles football team boasted an 80% graduation rate
[8] and the men's program was awarded the 2008 David M. Halbrook Award
[8] for Academic Achievement Among Athletes having the best graduation rate of any of the eight public universities in the state of Mississippi.
2007
After 17 years as head football coach, 14 of those being consecutive winning seasons,
Jeff Bower was forced to resign.
[10] Former
Oklahoma State University offensive coordinator,
Larry Fedora, was named as his replacement.
[11]
Seasons
Basketball
The 2007-2008 men's basketball team finished 15-17 under
Larry Eustachy.
[12]
Softball
The Southern Miss Lady Eagles softball team made it to the
Women's College World Series in 1999 and 2000 behind the arm of Courtney Blades.
[13]
Baseball
250px game.
The Southern Miss Golden Eagles baseball team made its first ever appearance in the
College World Series in 2009.
Traditions
Eagle Fever
,
Anyone. Anywhere. Anytime.
and
Go Gold!
are the rallying cries that Golden Eagle students and fans have used to help create such traditions as Homecoming and EagleFest, tailgating in
The District
,
Friday Night at the Fountain
pep rallies, the
Eagle Walk at The Rock
, the game-day Eagle Walk parade, the Painting of the Eagle Walk, the Junior Eagle Club Tunnel, the band's Fifth Quarter Concert, featuring a hallmark rendition of
Amazing Grace
.
The
Southern Miss Golden Eagles football
team participates as a member of
Conference USA and plays its home games in
M.M. Roberts Stadium. In 2008, after 17 years at the helm of the USM Football program,
Jeff Bower was replaced by
Larry Fedora. Fedora is charged with continuing a tradition that has seen Southern Miss be the model of consistency for the past 20 + years. While
The University of Mississippi and
Mississippi State University have had of seasons finishing last in their divisions various times, Southern Miss has put together 14 straight winning seasons as well as reached a bowl game 10 of the last 11 years. The football program has seen two players come through that have gone on to become known as the best to ever play their professional position with
Brett Favre and
Ray Guy.
Notable alumni
- Jimmy Buffett - singer, songwriter
- Michael Boley - NFL linebacker, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants
- Jeff Bower - Former head football coach, The University of Southern Mississippi
- Jeremy Bridges - NFL lineman, Carolina Panthers
- Mack Brown (Grad degree '76) – Head Football Coach, University of Texas Longhorns
- Rod Davis - NFL linebacker, Minnesota Vikings, AFL Linebacker, Philadelphia Soul
- John Eubanks - NFL Defensive back/Return Man, Washington Redskins
- Brett Favre - Most wins, touchdown passes and interceptions all time for a quarterback in NFL history, played with four teams: Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings.
- Don Fuell - CFL Defensive Back, Toronto Argonauts
- Ray Guy '78 - NFL punter and college football hall of famer
- Bobby Hamilton - NFL defensive end, New York Jets
- Louis Lipps - Former NFL Pro-Bowl Wide Receiver and 1984 AFC Rookie of the Year, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Derrick Nix - Running Back Coach, University of Mississippi
- Tyrone Nix - Defensive Coordinator, University of Mississippi
- Todd Pinkston - Former NFL Wide Receiver, Philadelphia Eagles
- Jeff Posey - NFL Linebacker, Washington Redskins, Buffalo Bills
- Patrick Surtain - NFL Defensive Back, Kansas City Chiefs
- Adalius Thomas - NFL Pro-Bowl Linebacker, New England Patriots
- Chad Williams - NFL Defensive Back, Kansas City Chiefs
- Sammy Winder - Former NFL Pro-Bowl Running Back, Denver Broncos
- Fred Cook - Former NFL Defensive End Baltimore Colts
- Brandon Sumrall - NFL Defensive Back Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Chris Clark - NFL Offensive Lineman Minnesota Vikings
- Torrin Tucker- NFL Offensive Guard/Tackle Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans, AFL TackleNew York Dragons Was Ranked #3 Guard Coming Out of College in The Nation
- Gerald McRath- NFL Linebacker Tennessee Titans
References
- http://southernmiss.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/110608aaa.html
- http://www.ncaawiki.com/index.php/Battle_for_the_Bell_%28Southern_Miss_vs_Tulane%29
- http://www.ncaawiki.com/index.php/Black_and_Blue_Bowl
- Southern Mississippi vs Memphis
- http://myespn.go.com/blogs/others/0-2-394/Southern-Miss-continues-15-season-winning-streak.html
- http://conferenceusa.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/080108aab.html
- http://www.ticketcity.com/college-football-tickets/conference-usa/southern-miss-golden-eagles-footba
- http://southernmiss.cstv.com/genrel/101408aaa.html
- http://southernmiss.cstv.com/genrel/101408aaa.html
- "It's going to be emotional" - Golden Eagles coach bows out with bowl game
- Southern Miss Hires Fedora As New Coach
- http://southernmiss.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031209aaa.html
- http://awards.honda.com/?p=9&Year=2000