University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Eagles Conclude 'Bama Preparations
9/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Eagles Conclude 'Bama Preparations
Hattiesburg, Miss. - Southern Miss used Thursday afternoon to put the finishing touches on preparations for Saturday night's first road game of the season, a 6 p.m., contest at longtime rival Alabama. This year's game will be played in Tuscaloosa.
Head Coach Jeff Bower says the practice week has been a good one, that his Golden Eagles are in good shape physically, and that he expects the same hard-fought game that has become the norm for the contest. "We need to be really sharp mentally for this game," he said. "There are a lot of things we have to do well, and much of it starts with stopping their run. They want to run the ball, we want to run the ball, and it all starts right there. Whoever controls the line of scrimmage really controls the game. The run sets up their play-action game, the same is true for us, so it really is an important part of the game."
Southern Miss won 21-0, in Birmingham two years ago, and played the Crimson Tide tough last season before losing 28-15 in a game that was postponed from early in the season until late in the season because of the 9/11 tragedy. The 2001 game also was played in less than ideal conditions, rain the strong wind throughout. "We have a lot of respect for Alabama and what their program means," he said. "We go into the game with a lot of confidence, and we know what we have to do to win, play really well, be physical and take care of the ball. Our guys know that."
Bower says he doesn't expect the recent announcement regarding the denial of Alabama's appeal of NCAA-imposed sanctions will have any effect on the game. "It has been around for so long that they've learned to not let it bother them," he said. "Once the game starts, all those distractions really don't matter."
Southern Miss will depart Hattiesburg mid-morning Friday, lunch in Meridian, and work out in Tuscaloosa, Ala., mid-afternoon, before moving on to Birmingham where the Eagles will headquarter Friday night.
This game is the first of three-straight road games that will see the Eagles go from Alabama, to West Point, N.Y. (Army), to Tampa, Fla. (South Florida), before finally returning home for an Oct. 19 homecoming game against Cincinnati.
