Bower Earns Conference USA Coach of the Year Honors
12/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Bower Earns Conference USA Coach of the Year Honors
Jeff Bower |
CHICAGO -
After leading his team to an unbeaten Conference USA season and the school's fourth regular-season championship in eight years, Southern Miss head football coach Jeff Bower has been named the C-USA Coach of the Year, as selected by the league's head coaches and media members in each conference city."It's an honor to be selected as the Conference USA Coach of the Year, but there are two groups of people who deserve a lot of the credit," Bower said. "First our players have worked hard each and every week, fought through the early adversity and grew together to win the championship through a total team effort. I can't say enough about our seniors and the leadership they provided all year. Second is our coaching staff. They have done an outstanding job, and they never really get the credit they deserve. They played a big part in getting our team prepared for each game, providing leadership and helping to build the team chemistry. Both groups have really made this year a special one."
The dean of Conference USA coaches, Bower led the Golden Eagles to its first C-USA title since 1999. After opening with a 3-3 start that included losses to bowl-bound teams California and Nebraska, USM reeled off six consecutive wins to close the regular season, highlighted by a 40-28 victory over previously unbeaten and then-ninth-ranked TCU on November 20. The Golden Eagles' win at East Carolina assured them of the outright league title and a trip to the AXA Liberty Bowl in Memphis, where Southern Miss will face Mountain West Conference champion Utah.
"Coach Bower never gave up on us," redshirt-sophomore quarterback Dustin Almond said. "He pushed us harder when we were down. He is a great motivator and pushed us each day in practice and every game to improve. It's great to see him win this award."
Under Bower's direction, 15 Southern Miss players earned All-Conference this season, including eight first team choices. Included was Defensive Player of the Year Rod Davis, who becomes the fourth USM player to win that award during Bower's tenure.
Southern Miss produced the top scoring defense (17.3 ppg) in Conference USA this fall, holding six opponents to 14 points or less. The Golden Eagles led the league in pass defense (178.2 ypg) and forced 30 turnovers (second-best in C-USA).
Since Conference USA began football competition in 1996, Southern Miss has posted a 42-11 mark in league play, the sixth-best conference mark among Division I teams over that span. With four regular season championships over the last eight seasons, only Florida State (7), Marshall (6) and Miami (Fla.) (5) have produced more.
"The honor is well-deserved," senior tight end Terrell Browden said. "Coach Bower expects the best out of us, and he never settles for anything but the best."
In his 13th season as head coach at Southern Miss, Bower has led the program to 10 consecutive winning seasons and seven bowl appearances. A part of the USM program for 25 years as a quarterback, assistant coach and head coach, he has produced an overall record of 89-61-1 during his tenure leading the Golden Eagles. Only six coaches in Division I-A have been head coaches at their current program longer than Bower.
Bower is the eighth consecutive coach to earn Coach of the Year honors after winning the regular season Conference USA championship.
"Coach Bower is a hard-working coach, and he is very deserving of this honor," junior wide receiver Marvin Young added. "He's always honest with us and tells us the truth. He always does what he can to help us out and is always there for us."