University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Bower Honored with "Hub Award"
11/6/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Bower Honored with "Hub Award"
The award was started in 1979 when a group of community leaders decided to honor Bobby Lee Chain, who was at that time serving as president of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. Bobby L. Chain Day was planned in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the community, committment to excellence, and dedication to public service.
Observance of Bobby L. Chain Day evoked an awareness that Hattiesburg has the distinction of being the home of many outstanding citizens whose achievements and contributions should be recognized and that it would be appropriate and desirable to honor one such person each year. Thus, the "Hub Award" had its orgin.
An important part of the annual "Hub Award" event is the establishment of a scholarship fund in honor of the "Hub Award" reciepient. This year's scholarship monies were added to the already established "Kristen Bower Endowment" at Southern Miss.
From its origin in 1979 through 1999, scholarship funds generated total funds of $336, 241. The University of Southern Mississippi has received total funds of $298, 957, and 235 students have been awarded scholarships. William Carey College has received funds of $37,284, and 17 students have been awarded scholarships.
In his 11th season as head coach and his 24th with the Southern Miss program, Jeff Bower has been associated with the Golden Eagles? program for well over one-fourth of its entire, 85-year-long football history.
First as a record-setting quarterback, then as a successful assistant coach, and in his 11th season as head coach, Bower has played a role second to none in the school?s athletic history, and it is appropriate that Bower has been at the helm of the program at his alma mater when it was a founding member of Conference USA, and now during a time when it is enjoying unprecedented success. In fact, his success in C-USA has set standards other coaches in the league seek to emulate.
His current 11-year record stands at 71-50-1. He has guided the Golden Eagle football program to five-straight seasons of seven or more victories, four-straight bowl appearances with victories in three of those, and was awarded the Conference USA Coach of the Year award in 1997 and 1999.
He has had many all-conference honorees, several Conference of the Year award winners, All-American selections and has had 16 players drafted in the NFL and others sign free agent contracts. There are currently 15 Southern Miss football players playing in the NFL at this time.
Bower also has made valuable contributions to the University and in the community. He set up the "Kristen Bower Scholarship Endowment" in honor of his daughter, which is the largest athletic endowment. It is given to former walk-ons that have made valuable contributions to the football program.
He, along with the USM football team, has volunteered time to visit hospitals and serve at the Dubard School for language disorders as well as other community service projects.
