University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Accepts Bid to R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
12/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 3, 2008
• R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Central
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The University of Southern Mississippi announced Wednesday that they have accepted a bid to the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. The game will be played Dec. 21, at 7:15 p.m., at the Louisiana Superdome.
The Golden Eagles will play the Sun Belt Champion, which will be either Troy or Arkansas State. The two schools are slated to play, Saturday, to determine the league crown.
"What a tremendous job that Coach Fedora and this team did to get us to a bowl again by winning the last four games," said Southern Miss Director of Athletics Richard Giannini. "We are looking forward to going back to New Orleans as we have not played in the city since facing Tulane in 2006 during the regular season. I know this was a destination that our fans really wanted and we hope to see the city of New Orleans decorated in Southern Miss Gold that weekend."
The Golden Eagles, which are vying for its 15th-straight winning season, will be playing in its seventh consecutive bowl game and 11th postseason appearance in the last 12 years. Southern Miss has appeared in 18 bowls all-time and posted an 8-10 record.
"We are extremely excited about going to the New Orleans Bowl," Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora said. "This is a tremendous bowl setting we hope that our fans will come down and support us and the bowl. I know our team is excited about this opportunity to get down there and represent Conference USA."
This will be the Golden Eagles third appearance in the New Orleans Bowl. They are 2-0 in the event, having defeating North Texas 31-10 in 2004 and Arkansas State 31-19 in 2005. The 2005 game was played in Lafayette, La., due to Hurricane Katrina.
Tickets for the game are $40 for sidelines and $20 for students and can be purchased through the Pat Ferlise Athletic Ticket Office on West 4th St., from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, over the phone at 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or online at SouthernMiss.com. The priority ticket deadline is Thursday, Dec. 11, at 5 p.m.
Fans looking for accommodations can stay at the team hotel, the Hilton New Orleans Riverside (2 Poydras St.). The nightly rate is $89 and the number to call is 504-584-3959. Please mention the New Orleans Bowl Fan Rate or code "N.O.F."
"The Southern Miss payout for the bowl game comes directly through our ticket sales and we encourage all Southern Miss fans to purchase their tickets through the USM Ticket Office and hope they make plans to stay with us at the team hotel," added Giannini.
The game will be televised on ESPN and will be broadcast on the Southern Miss ISP Sports Network.
- SouthernMiss.com -
