Football Practice Report Day One: New Orleans Bowl
12/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 18, 2005
LAFAYETTE, La. - The Southern Miss football team held its first practice in Lafayette today, with a hour and a half practice at the ULL practice field, as the team held its final workout for Tuesday's New Orleans Bowl contest against Arkansas State.
The team will hold a 30 minute walk through on Monday, to wrap up final preparations.
"We had a good workout today," Head Coach Jeff Bower said. "The team is in good spirits and is ready to play and finish the season on a strong note. We're proud to be here in Lafayette."
Southern Miss enters the game with a 6-5 record, its 12th consecutive winning season. The Golden Eagles will play in their fourth consecutive bowl game, and eighth in the last nine seasons, as they play in the New Orleans Bowl for the second consecutive season.
Tuesday's game will be the ninth meeting between Southern Miss and Arkansas State, with the Golden Eagles holding a 6-2 series advantage. Southern Miss has won the past three meetings, including a 35-0 victory in Hattiesburg in 1980 in the last game. The first meeting was in 1960, with Arkansas State claiming a 14-13 victory. Southern Miss then won the next three games, 20-0 in 1961, 20-7 in 1962 and 25-0 in 1963. Arkansas State won 14-10 in 1977, before the Golden Eagles won 21-6 in 1978, 14-6 in 1979 and 35-0 in 1980.
Arkansas State enters Tuesday's game with a 6-5 record, and will make its first bowl appearance as a Division I-A program. The Indians are the 2005 Champions of the Sun Belt Conference.
"Arkansas State is a good football team," Bower said. "They won their conference, and you don't do that if you're not a good football team."
Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets from the Southern Miss Ticket Office. Premium sideline tickets are $40 each, Goal line tickets are $20 each and Southern Miss student tickets are $20 each. Priority ticket deadline is Fri., Dec. 9 at 1 p.m., and for ticket information call 1-800-844-TICK, 601-266-5418 or visit www.southernmiss.com.
Game time is set for 7 p.m., on Tuesday.