History and Tradition
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Southern Miss G o l d e n E a g l e s History and Tradition The school’s record of 519-347-27 includes 17 Bobby Holmes (10) and Cliff Coggin (88) bowl games, two college division national champi- onships, a long list of national rankings, an equally long list of NFL standouts and enough football memo- ries to fill volumes. Over the years, there have been many memorable games, but the ones that stand out most are the games the Golden Eagles were not sup- posed to win, but instead, with determination and an unrelenting drive to succeed, turned into victories. Those games – 2004’s victory over Nebraska; stunning wins over Auburn in 1990 and 1991; over Alabama in 1982, 1990, and 2000; over Florida State in 1981 and 1989; several wins over archrivals Ole Miss and Mississippi State; and victories over LSU, Georgia, and a host of others, including 2003’s thrilling victory over previously undefeated and top 10 TCU – have contributed to the Golden Eagles’ tradition of being a program second to none. The school’s impressive list of bowl games dates back to 1952 and includes appearances in three Liberty Bowls – the 2003, 1999, and 1997 – the 2004 and 2005 New Orleans Bowl’s, the 2002 Houston Bowl, the 2000 and 2007 GMAC Bowl, the 1998 Humanitarian Bowl, the 1990 All-American Bowl, the Tradition and Southern Miss Football – 1980 and 1988 Independence Bowls, the 1956, 1957 and 1981 Tangerine Bowls and the 1952 and 1953 They Go Together Sun Bowls. t has been said that in the South, football is a way Southern Miss President Dr. William McCain per- George Sekul Iof life. Generations upon generations have devel- haps expressed that relationship best when he said: oped a passion for football that is rivaled by no other “The intercollegiate athletic program is important sport. It’s one that can turn brother against brother if in the history of any educational institution. It can either happens to cheer for the other team. It’s a game gain recognition for a school in the region and that fans live for year in and year out. It’s a game that, national press, stimulate alumni support, be an for some, people think about night and day. effective recruiting device, be an entering wedge for It’s no different at The University of Southern increased legislative support, and change the whole Mississippi. For at Southern Miss, football truly is a tone of the life of an institution.” way of life. Each year, the Golden Eagle faithful foam The 2007 football season will mark the 91st at their collective mouths for the next season, the season of competition on the gridiron for a pro- next game. Each year, parents and grandparents tell gram that has grown from ever-so humble begin- stories of the legendary moments in Southern Miss nings to one of considerable national stature, one football, each time relaying more and more of what it that is looking for its 14th-straight winning season, means to follow the program with every bit of pas- an 11th season in 12 years with seven or more vic- sion as those who don the jerseys play the game. tories six-straight bowl invites and 11 bowl The tradition that is associated with Southern appearances in the past 12 years. The list of Miss football continues to grow stronger and builds schools with 13 straight winning seasons is a short on the foundation that has been laid through the one, but one that reads like a who’s-who of college years. Tradition and the Golden Eagle football pro- football’s elite – Florida, Florida State, Michigan, gram go hand in hand. That relationship is one of Virginia Tech and SOUTHERN MISS. long standing, and may well be the single most important ingredient of the successes the program Memorable Moments has produced almost since its inception. Founded in 1910 as Mississippi Normal College, The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has Southern Miss started its football program two years later enjoyed continuing support from the University fami- when modern language professor Ronald J. Slay was ly and has, in turn, been responsible for helping appointed as athletic director and head coach and led his make Southern Miss the well-known and widely- team to a winning season (2-1). In the ensuing 88 sea- respected institution that it is today. Former sons, winning seasons have been very much the norm. 146 2007 Southern Miss Football Southern Miss G o l d e n E a g l e s History and Tradition in 20 seasons. He was at the Winder to NFL MVP quarterback Brett Favre – whose P. W. Underwood and Thad “Pie” Vann helm of the then-Mississippi jersey, No. 4, was retired in 1993 – Hattiesburg and Southern College through a Southern Miss has provided the National Football period that saw the program League with a host of talented players. That pipeline emerge from the “small” col- has continued in recent years and is one that saw lege ranks into a program that two players get drafted and several others sign free earned respect nationally. Prior agent contracts from the 2004 unit. Year after year, to Vann, the Eagle program had NFL scouts make their way back to the Hub City in an 11 different coaches, five of effort to track down the best players available. those coaching only one season The trail of success left by Southern Miss players each, one two seasons and two is unquestioned. Collier was the first Division I-A more three seasons each. quarterback in NCAA history to rush and pass for Vann’s predecessor, Reed 1,000 or more yards in each category in a single sea- Green, was, until Bower came son. His 1,005 rushing yards in 1981 still ranks on the scene, the second- among the best single-season rushing performance longest tenured coach in school by a quarterback in NCAA history. history. He went on to serve as Tailback Sam Dejarnette was fifth among the athletic director until the mid- nation’s rushing leaders in 1982 (140.5 yards per 1970s and oversaw overall pro- game) and was second in all-purpose running with gram growth that equaled the 180.2 yards per game. He also was eighth in kickoff The Golden Eagles also have taken their show on successes generated by Vann’s football squad. returns that year with a 25.3 yard average. In 1990, the road more than most successful teams. They The tradition of winning championships has con- the Eagles’ Tony Smith finished as the nation’s top have played from as far south as Havana (Cuba) and tinued during Bower’s tenure, with the team’s addi- kickoff return leader with a 32.5-yard average. Florida, at several sites bordering on the northeast, tion to Conference USA in 1996. With a fourth The Eagles’ punt returners also have achieved at a variety of far-western stops (Hawaii, California, championship in the 10 years of the conference, national recognition over the years. In 1983, Louis Lipps Utah, Idaho, and Nevada, among others), throughout Southern Miss has become the model program, and finished 13th in the nation with an 11.5 yard average, the nation’s heartland (Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Bower is considered the coach of the decade. That and in 1987 James Henry averaged 13.6 yards per Pennsylvania, and Nebraska, among others), and success continued in 2003, one that saw the Golden return, earning him fifth in the nation. Henry also tied against almost every team in the southeast. Eagles win a league-record eight games, finish with an NCAA record by returning punts for touchdowns in another perfect conference mark and adding another three consecutive games and broke the NCAA mark by Legendary Coaching Lineage championship trophy to the already-stellar collection returning four during that stretch. During his career, Southern Miss’ football history is dotted with great of hardware. Henry returned six punts for touchdowns, which placed coaches – those who have led the Golden Eagles, as him second among career leaders, and he added two well as those the Golden Eagles have played against. Golden Eagle Gridiron Greats punt return scores in the 1988 Independence Bowl to List National Football Foundation Hall of Famer Thad Another major part of the tradition of Southern establish yet another record. Tony Smith followed in “Pie” Vann and current Head Coach Jeff Bower at the Miss football has been the great players. From the Henry’s shoes and in 1990 finished ninth in the nation top of the Golden Eagle list, and the list of opposing legendary Ray Guy – whose jersey, No. 44, was the in punt returns with a 13.34 yard average, and Eric coaches reads like a who’s-who of college football, first number to be retired by the Golden Eagles – to Booth led the nation in kickoff return average during starting with the legendary Bear Bryant, and running the days of multi-talented Reggie Collier and Sammy the 1996 season at 34.8 yards per return. through such names as Joe Paterno, Bobby Bowden, Johnny Vaught and a host of others. 1997 Liberty Bowl Champions Now in his 17th season, Bower continues to re- write Southern Miss coaching records. His associa- tion with the Golden Eagle program covers more than a quarter century, first as a player, then as an assistant and now as head coach. His 112-77-1 record, impressive in its own right, is even more impressive by the fact that his teams have played only 78 of his 190 games as a head coach at home.