University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Bower Says Illinois Better Than Missouri Game Showed
9/4/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Bower Says Illinois Better Than Missouri Game Showed
Hattiesburg, Miss. - Southern Miss continued preparing for Saturday's Illinois game today, and Head Coach Jeff Bower says his team has to do a good job against an Illini team that will be trying to make amends for last week's loss to Missouri.
"We're got to play a lot better than we did last week against Jackson State," he said. "We've got to play a physical game. We've gone good against good this week and gotten a lot done, but you just never know what's going to happen until you tee it up on Saturday.
"They have a lot of players back from last year's team that broke most of their school records for points and yards. I know they were disappointed by the way they played last week, and we look for a completely different team when they come in here this weekend. They're a physical team, solid offensively and defensively."
Bower says his defense has to be ready for a "outstanding" offensive team. "They have good receivers, but they also didn't have much in the way of rushing offense against Missouri. They will work hard on that this week, I'm sure, and we will have to do a good job of stopping the run first, maybe even trying to play a little zone coverage in order to help against the run," he said.
Bower also announced that senior linebacker Joe Henley's MRI Tuesday showed only a bruise to the tibia and that the Gainesville, Fla., native should be ready to play against Illinois. "It probably will be a slow heal for him, but he will be able to play," Bower said. Sophomore tight end Stuart Floyd will miss the game with a strained ankle.
Following the Illinois game, Southern Miss stays at home for a Sept. 14 game against Memphis, a game that will end the first season-opening, three-game home-stand since 1920. The
Eagles then play at Alabama (Sept. 21) and Army (Sept. 28) before finally taking a week off Oct. 5.
