University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
50 Years of The Rock – Louisville 1990
7/9/2026 2:00:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – There must have been something with the moon on that late September night in 1990 that saw Southern Miss defeat Louisville 25-13 at M.M. Roberts Stadium in front of 20,545.
The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 22-0 lead over the first 5:51 of the game on just two offensive plays and never looked back.
After stopping the Cardinals on the game's initial drive, Tony Smith opened the scoring for the Golden Eagles by returning a UofL punt 45 yards for a touchdown. Following a two-point conversion, Southern Miss led 8-0.
Southern Miss then stuffed Louisville on its second offensive possession, and on the second offensive play for the Golden Eagles, running back Roland Johnson took a handoff and sprinted 47 yards for the home team's second score of the contest and a 15-0 advantage.
Next it was the defense's turn to come up big. On the Cardinals third possession, Southern Miss picked up a UofL fumble on the visitor's third play of the drive and Kerry Valrie returned it 42 yards for a score and the Golden Eagles went up 22-0.
Southern Miss added a Jim Taylor 34-yard field goal in the third quarter and withstood a Cardinal touchdown in each of the final two quarters for the final margin of victory.
The Golden Eagles registered the win despite getting outgained in the contest 347-142.
The unusual start of the game prompted legendary coach UofL coach Howard Schnellenberger to say after the game as told by the Louisville Courier-Journal.
"I've never been in a game like this before when three plays that happened so quickly early beat us. It's really unusual to lose one that way.
"I thought our football team was really ready to play. Maybe we were too tight. Maybe the moon down here in Hattiesburg was wrong, but it certainly was a most unusual thing."
After opening the season that year with a 10-10 tie at San Jose State, the Cardinals captured home wins over Murray State and Kansas, along with one at West Virginia, before dropping the contest at Southern Miss to finish their September slate on Sept. 29. The Cardinals then went on to triumph in their final seven games to end the year 10-1-1, defeating Alabama in the Fiesta Bowl 34-7 en route to a No. 14 final ranking by the Associated Press.
Then third-year Golden Eagle coach Curley Hallman said this following the contest.
"It was a game of big plays. I am very excited for our team, coaches and fans. This was an exciting game. Our crowd was really into the game."
The Golden Eagles, behind senior quarterback Brett Favre, went on to complete an 8-4 campaign, falling to North Carolina State 31-27 in the final All American Bowl in Birmingham. It marked the school's second bowl contest in three seasons.
The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 22-0 lead over the first 5:51 of the game on just two offensive plays and never looked back.
After stopping the Cardinals on the game's initial drive, Tony Smith opened the scoring for the Golden Eagles by returning a UofL punt 45 yards for a touchdown. Following a two-point conversion, Southern Miss led 8-0.
Southern Miss then stuffed Louisville on its second offensive possession, and on the second offensive play for the Golden Eagles, running back Roland Johnson took a handoff and sprinted 47 yards for the home team's second score of the contest and a 15-0 advantage.
Next it was the defense's turn to come up big. On the Cardinals third possession, Southern Miss picked up a UofL fumble on the visitor's third play of the drive and Kerry Valrie returned it 42 yards for a score and the Golden Eagles went up 22-0.
Southern Miss added a Jim Taylor 34-yard field goal in the third quarter and withstood a Cardinal touchdown in each of the final two quarters for the final margin of victory.
The Golden Eagles registered the win despite getting outgained in the contest 347-142.
The unusual start of the game prompted legendary coach UofL coach Howard Schnellenberger to say after the game as told by the Louisville Courier-Journal.
"I've never been in a game like this before when three plays that happened so quickly early beat us. It's really unusual to lose one that way.
"I thought our football team was really ready to play. Maybe we were too tight. Maybe the moon down here in Hattiesburg was wrong, but it certainly was a most unusual thing."
After opening the season that year with a 10-10 tie at San Jose State, the Cardinals captured home wins over Murray State and Kansas, along with one at West Virginia, before dropping the contest at Southern Miss to finish their September slate on Sept. 29. The Cardinals then went on to triumph in their final seven games to end the year 10-1-1, defeating Alabama in the Fiesta Bowl 34-7 en route to a No. 14 final ranking by the Associated Press.
Then third-year Golden Eagle coach Curley Hallman said this following the contest.
"It was a game of big plays. I am very excited for our team, coaches and fans. This was an exciting game. Our crowd was really into the game."
The Golden Eagles, behind senior quarterback Brett Favre, went on to complete an 8-4 campaign, falling to North Carolina State 31-27 in the final All American Bowl in Birmingham. It marked the school's second bowl contest in three seasons.
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