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JMSTiger Offline
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Post: #1
 
USM's Bower puts team discipline first

Despite losing 4 players, Eagles remain a favorite


By Phil Stukenborg
August 26, 2005

The coaches in Conference USA had cast their votes before Southern Miss's Jeff Bower cast one of his own.

The league's coaches had filled out their ballots and chosen the Golden Eagles as the favorites to win C-USA's East Division title. Then Bower made a gutsy team decision that made the coaches' prediction somewhat suspect.

After an off-campus incident in Hattiesburg, Miss., involving six of his players -- including three likely starters -- Bower reduced his roster by four. Two players were dismissed, two others quit in the wake of the discipline meted out by Bower and two others were suspended for the season opener.

It's been Bower's no-nonsense approach that has made him the league's most successful coach. He's had 11 straight winning seasons, four C-USA titles and taken his teams to seven bowls in eight seasons. Last year's Golden Eagles opened with an upset at Nebraska.

But it may be a challenge for Bower to duplicate last season's strong early start. Among the players that are not returning as a result of the mid-summer incident are running back Anthony Harris, the team's leading rusher last year, linebacker Naton Stewart and defensive back Darrell Bennett. All were projected to start.

Bower said shortly after the situation became public, ''a number of the players came and were supportive of the decision.''

''Our expectations are what they've always been,'' Bower said. ''To win a championship. I think we've got the talent to do that.''

Despite the dismissals, it's a group that won't be out of the East Division mix. The list of returnees is led by veteran quarterback Dustin Almond, running back Larry Thomas and receivers Antwon Courington and Tavarres Williams on offense and defensive backs John Eubanks and Trevis Coley and tackle Terrance Ford on defense.

Almond's experience gives Bower a proven leader at quarterback, a player who could become even more valuable if he can gain some accuracy.

Last year, Almond threw for 1,848 yards and 12 touchdowns, but he completed only 51.3 percent of his passes. For Bower, that's not acceptable if the Golden Eagles are to make a serious run at another C-USA title.

''I think he has grown up and matured a lot,'' Bower said. ''He is a good quarterback. Anytime you've got a good quarterback, you've got a chance to win a championship.

''He just has to keep his composure. Sometimes he got frustrated in games. He is such a competitor. That's where I look for him to grow up this year.''

And if Almond maintains his composure, Bower believes his quarterback will have an easier time boosting his completion percentage.

''He was at 51 percent last year,'' Bower said. ''I think everyone would like to be around 60 percent. I don't think that's unrealistic, especially with a senior quarterback starting for the third year. But his ability to make big plays is even more important. So is making good decisions and taking care of the football.''

Almond understands what is expected of him and is awaiting the chance to prove he can lead the Golden Eagles to a fifth title under Bower.

''To (complete a higher percentage of passes), I'm going to have to be more relaxed and get into the flow of the game,'' Almond said. ''And I'm going to have to be consistent and do what the defenses give me.''

With Jordan Palmer directing the UTEP attack, and Darrell Hackney handling the UAB offense, it's unlikely that Almond will be a first-team all-conference pick.

But if he picks up where he finished last season -- leading USM to a win over UAB that made them bowl eligible and passing for 247 yards in the lopsided bowl win over North Texas -- the Golden Eagles will be a threat to win the East.

''I think he is real hungry to win a championship,'' Bower said. ''I know his expectations are high. He has won a championship and he is hungry to get back to Memphis and play in the Liberty Bowl.''

-- Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543

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Evaluating: Southern Miss

The past: While Conference USA has undergone changes since its inception as a football league nine years ago, one constant has remained: Southern Miss making annual title runs. The Golden Eagles are the C-USA standard. Coach Jeff Bower has led his team to 11 consecutive winning seasons and four conference championships. USM is 22-9 in league play since 2001.

The present: A week before preseason workouts began, Bower disciplined six players for an off-campus matter. Four of the six will not return, including three starters. While it may have been a substantial blow to the defense (starting linebacker Naton Stewart and starting defensive back Darrell Bennett have departed), Bower is prepared to win with what he does have.

The future: If Dustin Almond can became a more accurate passer and display the poise and patience shown by ex-USM quarterbacks Lee Roberts and Jeff Kelly (two non-flashy, efficient types), the Golden Eagles will make a run at UAB for the East Division title. The Southern Miss defense will have to overcome its sudden departures and improve on last year's performance, one in which USM allowed 25 points and 376 yards per game.

-- Phil Stukenborg
08-26-2005 09:11 PM
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BigBigCat
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Post: #2
 
Thanks, that was a really good article.
08-26-2005 10:29 PM
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