University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Football Continues Houston Preparations
11/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 10, 2005
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Facing a quick turnaround for Sunday's game at Houston, following Tuesday's Marshall game, the Golden Eagle football team practiced for two hours today at the Joe P. Park practice facility.
Sunday will be the final game of a four game road stretch, and the final road game of the regular-season.
"It's a big game," Head Football Coach Jeff Bower said. "We've got to go down and win if we want to do what we hope to do. That's it. We've had nine games, three at home and six on the road. We knew we had to do it. We know what we've got to do."
Southern Miss enters the game with a 5-3 overall record, 4-1 mark in Conference USA. Houston is 4-4 overall, 2-3 in Conference USA. Sunday's meeting will be the ninth meeting between the two schools, with Southern Miss holding a 6-2 series advantage, winning the past six meetings. The Golden Eagles have won three of four meetings against the Cougars in Houston.
"They are balanced on offense," Bower said of Houston. "Most people don't realize how well they run the football. Defensively, they've given up some yards, but they are young, have good linebackers and play extremely hard. They'll be ready to play."
Bower also talked more about the team's fourth quarter performance against Marshall.
"I know we are in condition," Bower said. "Look at a few games ago, we just didn't make tackles. I'm not making excuses. We're not getting it done. Marshall made some unbelievable throws and catches against us. They had one ball batted at the line of scrimmage that goes for 15 yards downfield right into the hands of another player. We've got to make more plays to finish the game."
Game time is set for 4 p.m., on Sunday.
