University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
50 Years of The Rock – Tulane 1987
7/23/2026 10:00:00 AM | Football
Editor's Note: M.M. Roberts Stadium celebrated its first 50 years for the 2025 season since its completion for the 1976 season that opened with a Sept. 25 game against Ole Miss. This summer, we will look back at some of the stadium's best moments over the last half century.
Video from Game - www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-JcjhAnmMY
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – On this hot, muggy September Saturday in 1987, a Golden Eagle football legend was born.
He wasn't even supposed to see any action on the field that day against Tulane during the third weekend of the regular season. The Golden Eagles had opened the year with a 38-6 loss versus Alabama at Legion Field and, after a bye, played their home opener against the Green Wave on Sept. 19.
A true freshman from south Mississippi, quarterback Brett Favre watched the action from the sidelines as his Golden Eagles fell behind 16-10 in the third quarter with no intention of seeing any playing time this day.
Favre, though, was inserted into the game with just under six minutes to play in the third quarter. He led the Golden Eagles to three scoring drives down the stretch, including two in the fourth quarter, as he finished the game with 85 yards passing on 6-of-10 throws and two touchdown passes.
"When I went into the game, I was scared to death," said Favre postgame. "I really didn't expect to get in the game. But after one series I think the butterflies went away and I kinda got in the flow of the game."
Southern Miss coach Jim Carmody commented following the contest on the greatness of this game in Golden Eagle lore.
"I think that was probably the best football game that has even been played here at Roberts Stadium," said Carmody. "Everyone played hard on their team and ours and I think everyone got his $14 worth."
After a three-and-out on Favre's first possession, fellow Golden Eagle freshman Kerry Valrie from Loxley, Ala., picked off a Green Wave pass at midfield and returned it to the Tulane 32, setting up the first scoring drive of Favre's career. It also marked the second interception for Valrie in the contest.
Two big runs opened Favre's scoring drive, one by Shelton Gandy for 10 yards and then one from Eddie Ray Jackson for 13 yards, putting the ball inside the Green Wave 10. Gandy then added another seven-yard run to the two, before the Golden Eagles were pushed back by a delay of game.
Then, Favre hit Chris McGee for a seven-yard touchdown score to help give the Golden Eagles a 17-16 lead following a Chris Seroka extra point.
The Green Wave took their final lead on the final play of the third quarter on a 52-yard run by quarterback Terrence Jones. The Tulane signal caller also had a 53-yard scoring run in the second quarter which gave the visitors a 10-7 advantage midway through the period.
After a converted two-point conversion, Tulane led 24-17, heading into the final 15 minutes. But it was Favre, who spearheaded the Golden Eagles, on the initial fourth quarter drive to push his team down the field 60 yards on nine plays to tie the game.
Favre went 2-for-4 on the drive for 29 yards, including a third-and-10 completion to Darryl Tillman for 17 yards to keep the drive alive. Jackson added a 17-yard carry on the drive and Gandy went for five yards and then two more for the score on the final two plays of the series to tie the score with 11:49 left to play.
After Tulane went 3-and-out on its next possession, the Golden Eagles drove 55 yards on six plays with Favre hitting Alfred Williams for 23 yards for the go-ahead score. After Seroka added his fourth PAT of the game, the Golden Eagles led 31-24, which ended up being the final score.
Seroka also collected a 54-yard field goal at the end of the first half, which is still tied for the fourth longest field goal in school history.
Gandy finished as the game's top rusher with 167 yards on 36 carries and his two scores on the ground.
Video from Game - www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-JcjhAnmMY
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – On this hot, muggy September Saturday in 1987, a Golden Eagle football legend was born.
He wasn't even supposed to see any action on the field that day against Tulane during the third weekend of the regular season. The Golden Eagles had opened the year with a 38-6 loss versus Alabama at Legion Field and, after a bye, played their home opener against the Green Wave on Sept. 19.
A true freshman from south Mississippi, quarterback Brett Favre watched the action from the sidelines as his Golden Eagles fell behind 16-10 in the third quarter with no intention of seeing any playing time this day.
Favre, though, was inserted into the game with just under six minutes to play in the third quarter. He led the Golden Eagles to three scoring drives down the stretch, including two in the fourth quarter, as he finished the game with 85 yards passing on 6-of-10 throws and two touchdown passes.
"When I went into the game, I was scared to death," said Favre postgame. "I really didn't expect to get in the game. But after one series I think the butterflies went away and I kinda got in the flow of the game."
Southern Miss coach Jim Carmody commented following the contest on the greatness of this game in Golden Eagle lore.
"I think that was probably the best football game that has even been played here at Roberts Stadium," said Carmody. "Everyone played hard on their team and ours and I think everyone got his $14 worth."
After a three-and-out on Favre's first possession, fellow Golden Eagle freshman Kerry Valrie from Loxley, Ala., picked off a Green Wave pass at midfield and returned it to the Tulane 32, setting up the first scoring drive of Favre's career. It also marked the second interception for Valrie in the contest.
Two big runs opened Favre's scoring drive, one by Shelton Gandy for 10 yards and then one from Eddie Ray Jackson for 13 yards, putting the ball inside the Green Wave 10. Gandy then added another seven-yard run to the two, before the Golden Eagles were pushed back by a delay of game.
Then, Favre hit Chris McGee for a seven-yard touchdown score to help give the Golden Eagles a 17-16 lead following a Chris Seroka extra point.
The Green Wave took their final lead on the final play of the third quarter on a 52-yard run by quarterback Terrence Jones. The Tulane signal caller also had a 53-yard scoring run in the second quarter which gave the visitors a 10-7 advantage midway through the period.
After a converted two-point conversion, Tulane led 24-17, heading into the final 15 minutes. But it was Favre, who spearheaded the Golden Eagles, on the initial fourth quarter drive to push his team down the field 60 yards on nine plays to tie the game.
Favre went 2-for-4 on the drive for 29 yards, including a third-and-10 completion to Darryl Tillman for 17 yards to keep the drive alive. Jackson added a 17-yard carry on the drive and Gandy went for five yards and then two more for the score on the final two plays of the series to tie the score with 11:49 left to play.
After Tulane went 3-and-out on its next possession, the Golden Eagles drove 55 yards on six plays with Favre hitting Alfred Williams for 23 yards for the go-ahead score. After Seroka added his fourth PAT of the game, the Golden Eagles led 31-24, which ended up being the final score.
Seroka also collected a 54-yard field goal at the end of the first half, which is still tied for the fourth longest field goal in school history.
Gandy finished as the game's top rusher with 167 yards on 36 carries and his two scores on the ground.
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