Southern Miss Continues Bowl Preparation
12/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Southern Miss Continues Bowl Preparation
Hattiesburg, Miss. - Southern Miss continued an all-too-familiar football workout pattern today by working in the rain, as Head Coach Jeff Bower and his Golden Eagles continue to prepare for their Dec. 27 Houston Bowl game against Oklahoma State.
Following today's morning session, Southern Miss will practice at 3 p.m., Friday, at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, and wrap up on-campus work with a 3 p.m., Sunday workout. The team is scheduled to depart the campus at 6:30 a.m., Monday.
Bower says the decision to hold a morning practice was a good one. "We were going to practice this afternoon," he said. "But because of the rain threatening, we thought we could beat it if we worked in the morning. It did rain, but at least we got it in, so that was good. We started out a little sluggish, but I think the further we got into the practice, the better we got. We?ve been off for four days, so it was good to get back into a rhythm." Bower said the practice was about what he expected, in that it improved as the workout progressed. "Anytime players have some time off, it just takes a little while to get back in the swing of things."
The Eagles also worked without two of their key performers, one on each side of the ball. Bower said that senior running back Derrick Nix was in Birmingham for additional tests. "His situation remains day-to-day, and we just have to wait and hear how that comes out. He?s meeting with another specialist up there."
Bower says the coaching staff is working to fill the void if Nix isn't able to play in the bowl game. "We'll use (James) Walley, (Anthony) Harris and (Steel) Adams," Bower said. "Or Walley, and Adams/Harris, something like that. But we?ve got to get them all ready to go, and that?s the way we?re planning right now. We?re assuming Derrick won?t be with us for the ball game. I think that?s the way you have to plan, and if he should be ready, that?s a bonus for us."
And linebacker Rod Davis didn't practice today also. Said Bower, "He was in a car wreck and hurt his back. We don?t know to what extent he was hurt, but we?re hoping he?ll be at practice tomorrow (Friday). He?s just a little sore, but he feels like he could possibly come back out tomorrow. He ran a good bit and did different things for conditioning today.
"He means a lot to us. He?s played well and has been productive for us. I think he?s been a good leader too. In that position, we?ve expected a lot out of him and making a lot of plays. He?s stepped up and has been a good influence, and as I?ve mentioned he?s done a good job in leadership for us."
Bower says most of the hard practice work will have to be completed on campus. "When we get down there, we?re only looking at basically two practice sessions, Tuesday and Wednesday, Bower said. "Thursday we probably won't do anything other than our regular routine the day before a game, just meet and have walk-through."
The team will travel on Monday, and by the time the travel party arrives, bowl-related functions will take up most of the remainder of the day. But Bower says the decision to bus to the game has advantages. "We made that decision because we?ll have the opportunity to take the whole team," he said. "It probably would have cost an additional $50,000 to charter a plane, and we?ve got an opportunity to take everybody on the football team. The bowl should be a reward for the whole team. No matter what a player's role is, and everybody played an important role. It?s always good to take the entire squad."
As has been the case since the bowl pairing was announced, Bower continues to be impressed with this year's opponent. "They are playing really well," he said. "In the last six games they are averaging almost 44 points a game, they are scoring a lot of points, and their receiver is a heck of a player. I think what really helps them offensively is their ability to run the football, so it?s critical that you can stop their running game."
Bower says offensively his Eagles have to have some balance. "We have to be able to run the football, because it helps set up the passing game. If you?re one-dimensional it?s pretty tough to win the ball game."
And while Bower has nothing but praise for the Cowboys, he says there are certain things he feel his team can match up and have a chance to make some big plays. "We'll try to get some matchups and there are some things we feel we can do to execute in the ball game, but I think it all goes back to the fact that we?ve got to really prepare hard for this ball game. You?re not going to play well unless you practice hard and prepare hard. That?s always the key in ball games. And while bowl games are fun, and a reward for your players for doing a good job and having a good year, at the same time, you?ve got to keep your priorities straight and keep your perspective. We?re going down there to win a football game, and we?ve got to do what it takes between now and then to get it done."
Ticket sales for many bowl-bound teams have been slow this bowl season, but Bower says he thinks sales will pick up as the game nears. "We have a lot of great fans out there," he said. "It?s going to be important that we support this bowl, because it has implications of us being in future bowls. We?re being invited based upon how many tickets we sell. We want the fans there to support our football team, and I?ll think they will come."
Bower also announced that redshirt freshman linebacker Chris McNair (Gulfport, Miss.) had been suspended by the University for academic reasons and will miss the bowl game.