University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
50 Years of The Rock – Cincinnati 1996
8/13/2026 9:46:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – In its first season of Conference USA on the way to the first of five championships in the 26-year history of that league, Southern Miss met Cincinnati at M.M. Roberts Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 2, for homecoming during the 1996 season.
The Golden Eagles were ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press rankings heading into that contest and looking to avenge a 16-13 loss the previous year to the Bearcats.
Golden Eagle quarterback Lee Roberts threw three touchdown passes, including the game winner with 5:12 remaining, a 29-yarder to Kendrick Lee, as Southern Miss defeated the Bearcats 21-17 in front of 25,241 at The Rock.
The win helped the Golden Eagles clinch at least a share of the C-USA title in the school's inaugural campaign after competing as an independent since 1951. On the prior play before the game-winning score, Southern Miss converted a fourth-and-three play when Roberts hit Sherrod Gideon for a 9-yard gain.
Cincinnati, which had five turnovers, had one more chance after Robert Tate returned a punt 42 yards to midfield with 2:18 left. After two incomplete passes and a penalty, Adalius Thomas sacked Brent Petrus for a 23-yard loss to seal the victory.
The game marked the play of two outstanding defenses and UC outgained the Golden Eagles 245 to 191 and each team had five sacks.
UC led 17-14 after scoring on three consecutive third-quarter possessions with the visiting Bearcats going to Petrus in replacing starting quarterback Chad Plummer.
Southern Miss had led 14-0 after scoring on first-quarter drives of just 22 and 21 yards with Bearcat turnovers leading to both touchdowns.
Harold Shaw, who filled in for Eric Booth after he sprained his left knee in the first quarter, ran for 70 yards on 32 carries to lead the Golden Eagles on the ground.
The victory moved Southern Miss to No. 20 in the AP poll. Despite losing the following week at Houston 56-49 in overtime, the Golden Eagles shared the league's conference crown and went on to finish 8-3 that season.
The Golden Eagles were ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press rankings heading into that contest and looking to avenge a 16-13 loss the previous year to the Bearcats.
Golden Eagle quarterback Lee Roberts threw three touchdown passes, including the game winner with 5:12 remaining, a 29-yarder to Kendrick Lee, as Southern Miss defeated the Bearcats 21-17 in front of 25,241 at The Rock.
The win helped the Golden Eagles clinch at least a share of the C-USA title in the school's inaugural campaign after competing as an independent since 1951. On the prior play before the game-winning score, Southern Miss converted a fourth-and-three play when Roberts hit Sherrod Gideon for a 9-yard gain.
Cincinnati, which had five turnovers, had one more chance after Robert Tate returned a punt 42 yards to midfield with 2:18 left. After two incomplete passes and a penalty, Adalius Thomas sacked Brent Petrus for a 23-yard loss to seal the victory.
The game marked the play of two outstanding defenses and UC outgained the Golden Eagles 245 to 191 and each team had five sacks.
UC led 17-14 after scoring on three consecutive third-quarter possessions with the visiting Bearcats going to Petrus in replacing starting quarterback Chad Plummer.
Southern Miss had led 14-0 after scoring on first-quarter drives of just 22 and 21 yards with Bearcat turnovers leading to both touchdowns.
Harold Shaw, who filled in for Eric Booth after he sprained his left knee in the first quarter, ran for 70 yards on 32 carries to lead the Golden Eagles on the ground.
The victory moved Southern Miss to No. 20 in the AP poll. Despite losing the following week at Houston 56-49 in overtime, the Golden Eagles shared the league's conference crown and went on to finish 8-3 that season.
Thursday, August 13
Thursday, August 13
Thursday, August 13
Thursday, August 13