University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Houston Bowl Practice Is All Done
12/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Houston Bowl Practice Is All Done
Hattiesburg, Miss. -- Southern Miss' football Golden Eagles went through their final day of preparation for Friday's Houston Bowl game that will start at noon, and will be televised by ESPN.
Activities today included a bowl luncheon attended by team members from both teams, and fans and dignitaries from both squads, along with bowl officials and sponsors. The luncheon featured brief remarks by both head coaches, along with a player representative from both teams, a community service award to well-known former Houston Cougar and NFL coach Jack Pardee, along with guest speaker, Houston Heisman Trophy winner Andre Ware.
Immediately afterwards, the Golden Eagle coaches and players did a quick walk-thru at Reliant Stadium, where tomorrow's game will be played. Unique stadium construction, including a retractable roof, natural grass and a host of other features that rank the new facility among the best in the nation, was the talk of the Southern Miss squad during the brief early-afternoon visit.
Speaking with media members at that walk-thru, Bower said that sophomore quarterback Micky D'Angelo's status for Friday's game will be game-time decision. D'Angelo pulled a muscle shortly after the team came back from a semester-end break. "We also have to be able to control the line of scrimmage and try to make them (Oklahoma State) a one-dimensional team," Bower said. "That means we have to control the line of scrimmage."
Bower also said it was important that his Eagles be able to run the ball, even in the absence of Derrick Nix, who is with the team but who will not play. "As you would expect, we will miss Derrick, but we still have to be able to make that aspect of our game work, and we feel that we can do that. Oklahoma State played really well late in the season, has the ability to score points quickly and in large numbers, so it will be equally important that we play one of our better defensive games of the season."
Bower also says the Houston Bowl experience has been a good one for the Golden Eagles. The people here have done an outstanding job of entertaining the teams and making the game a real reward for the players. They're to be commended for their efforts.
The team will return to Hattiesburg immediately following the game.
