The
S TUDENT P RINTZ www.studentprintz.com
SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927
October 3, 2013
Volume 98 Issue 12
ON CAMPUS
USM welcomes ‘Pinktober’ Wilton Jackson Printz Reporter Southern Miss students will be seeing pink all over campus as college departments and facilities celebrate ‘Pinktober.’ Paint Southern Miss Pink is a university wide initiative to raise breast cancer awareness during the month of October. Various activities and competitions will take place to spread awareness. The entire month will feature activities such as Tabling Tuesdays, Group Exercise Wednesdays, a golf cart decorating contest, a door, window and room decorating contest and a Pink Aerobathon. Tabling Tuesdays will take place on the first three Tuesdays in October. Donations will be collected outside the Fresh Food Company in the Thad Cochran Center. They will benefit a local breast cancer awareness group and other programs. Group Exercise Wednesdays will take place at the Payne Center. Students and staff will wear pink and sport pink ribbons to raise awareness. The golf cart contest has created excitement around campus. The contest is open to
ON CAMPUS
Former Southern Miss AD dead at 81
Bill McLellan
Judge Lucas Printz Reporter
Undergraduate students at The University of Southern Mississippi who are writing theses or conducting original research will now be able to receive funding to continue their projects. The Center for Undergraduate Research is sponsoring the Eagle Scholars Program for Under-
graduate Research (SPUR). The program seeks to provide funding for an independent research program conducted by an undergraduate student in conjunction with a faculty sponsor. “We’re asking students to submit an original idea [or] proposal with a mentor and we will select the winners,” said Joann Johnson, administrative support for CUR. “…In January, they will get a monetary award
that can be used for travel to collect data, if they need a piece of equipment, if they need books [or] if they’re writing a paper.” University Provost Denis Wiesenburg started the center in Oct. 2011. “Undergraduate research is important in getting our students engaged and getting them off to a good start,” Wiesenburg said. “It makes a difference for the students, it makes a difference
for the undergraduate curriculum, it makes a difference for the academic field in which the students are in,” he said. “Also for the profession and our nation as a whole.” According to Marie Danforth, chair for the CUR steering committee, Southern Miss and Jackson State University are the only Mississippi universities with a
Former Southern Miss Athletic Director Bill McLellan died Monday night of an illness at the age of 81. The iconic Southern Miss figure served as the AD from 1986-1999 after succeeding Roland Dale as the third fulltime AD and played a crucial role in the university joining Conference USA in 1996. “Bill touched many people in both his personal and professional life, and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him,” University President Rodney Bennett said. “Our hearts go out to the family during this difficult time and they will remain in our thoughts and prayers.” During his tenure, the athletic budget increased from $2.7 million to $10 million. Improvements to M.M. Roberts Stadium, including the first state-of-the-art scoreboard, Pete Taylor Park and other athletic facilities highlighted his career. He also played a large role in the formation of Conference USA, of which USM is still a member. Many current and former faculty members at Southern
See SPUR, 3
See FORMER AD, 3
SONGWRITER’S SOCIAL
THE WEEKS
DR. BENNETT
WEATHER
INDEX
Courtesy Photo
A department golf cart was decorated last year during the Paint Southern Miss golf cart competition.
any campus department who uses a golf cart. The decorated carts will be entered into the Golf Cart Parade on Oct. 4 and
showcased in the Eagle Walk The door, room and winOct. 5. Departments can regis- dow-decorating contest will ter online at http://www.usm. See PINKTOBER, 3 edu/rec-sports/paint-in-pink.
ON CAMPUS
SPUR to provide funding Monicia Warner News Editor
Thursday
88/69 Friday
88/70 Saturday
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Calendar ....................... 2 News ............................. 3 Feature.......................... 4 Opinion.......................... 6 Sports............................ 7
Calendar
Page 2, Student Printz
The
Student Printz
Serving Southern Miss since 1927
Executive Editor Carly Tynes carly.tynes@eagles.usm.edu 601.266.4266 Managing Editor Kathryn Miller kathryn.miller@eagles.usm.edu Chief Copy Editor Chris Greene chris.greene@eagles.usm.edu Copy Editor Courtney McNichols courtney.mcnichols@eagles.usm. edu
3
Mark Your Planner 4 5 6 7
11 a.m. USM Quidditch Team | Tabling TCC Atrium
11 a.m. Alpha Kappa Psi | Indoor Garage Sale Union Room B
6 p.m. NPHC College 101: Transitioning to College Union Room B
11 a.m. USM Quidditch Team | Tabling TCC Atrium
3:00 p.m. Southern Miss vs. FIU M.M. Roberts Stadium
7 p.m. SMAC Friday Night at the Fountain Centennial Green
News Editor Monicia Warner monicia.warner@eagles.usm.edu
10 a.m. Men’s Rugby Tabling TCC Atrium 11 a.m. Women’s Lacrosse Club | Recruiting TCC Atrium 11 a.m. Phi Beta Sigma: Pageant Ticket Sales Union Lobby 11 a.m. Pre-Sales for the Southerner Yearbook TCC Atrium
1 p.m. American Marketing Association | Graphic Design for the Marketing Major JGH 113
Design Editor Taylor Fesenmeier taylor.fesenmeier@eagles.usm. edu Art Director Christopher Little christopher.little@eagles.usm.edu Webmaster Chris Greene chris.greene@eagles.usm.edu Designers Joshua Byrd Gerri Ducksworth News Content Adviser Chuck Cook 601.266.4288 chuck.cook@usm.edu Ad Graphic Designer Katherine Frye katherine.frye@eagles.usm.edu Advertising Manager Lesley Sanders-Wood 601.266.5188 lesley.sanders@usm.edu Advertising e-mail printzad@usm.edu
Find us online at: www.studentprintz.com
Opinions expressed in The Student Printz are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Student Printz, its publications manager, USM, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or the USM Board of Student Publications.
Happy Sunday!
12 p.m. Student Government Association | Miss USM Tabling Union Lobby
Sports Editor Joshua Campbell joshua.m.campbell@eagles.usm. edu
The Student Printz is published every Monday and Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. Signature Offset of Hattiesburg provides printing services.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
WHERE’S SEYMOUR?! THIS WEEK’S WINNER!!
Katie Knight
LOOK FOR SEYMOUR AGAIN IN MONDAY’S EDITION OF THE STUDENT PRINTZ!!
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Student Printz, Page 3
SPUR, from 1
Pinktober, from 1 last until the end of October. Participants are asked to email pictures of the decorations to Abigail.Elias@usm.edu. Winners will be announced Oct. 28. The month will conclude with the Pink Aerobathon on Oct. 24. The event will take place outside on Intramural Field 1. The event will consist of a two-hour demo of group exercise classes. There will be a prize giveaway and the first 100 people at the field will receive a door prize. To enter the giveaway, participants must donate $1 or more to the local Breast Cancer Awareness Fund. “It is one way to lighten up the work week by competing in
News
craft-work,” said Abigail Elias, fitness and wellness coordinator for the department of rec sports. “It’s for a great cause.” “Take action in getting yourself tested and staying active with doctor visits,” she said. For more information about these initiatives, visit www. usm.edu/rec-sports/paint-itpink.
Center for Undergraduate Research. “…Our particular mission is to promote and support independent and scholarly and creative activity by undergraduates that is conducted in collaboration with a faculty mentor,” Danforth said. “The benefits of this sort of endeavor are myriad, both to the student and the university community at large.” The Eagle SPUR program application is open to all full-time undergraduate students in good standing with the university. In order to submit a proposal, each applicant is required to have a faculty sponsor. “[The sponsors] recruit stu-
dents to work with them on a project or the students recruit the sponsor,” Johnson said. Students can receive up to $1,000 in funding and mentors can receive up to $1,500. Faculty mentors are only eligible for the stipend if they are tenure-track and affiliated with CUR. “It’s research and scholarly and creative projects so it is not just open up to the sciences,” Johnson said. “It’s not just Honors College students, it’s all students.” Students must submit their proposal along with a detailed financial budget. The proposal must include a signed statement of support from their faculty advisor. A three-member faculty panel
will review the applications and the Eagle Scholars Proposal Review Committee will make final funding decisions. According to Johnson, the committee doesn’t currently include students, but could in future semesters. “There is talk that we are going to have someone from the [SGA],” Johnson said. “I think we’re trying to get a coast SGA member and a Hattiesburg rep.” The Eagle SPUR program application is available at the CUR website, www.usm.edu/ research/center-undergraduateresearch. Deadline for submissions is Nov. 4 and winners will be notified by Dec. 5.
Former AD, from 1 Miss weighed in on McLellan’s passing and his legacy. “His involvement in the formation of Conference USA will always be remembered as one of the biggest steps this school had taken,” said former USM baseball coach Hill Denson. “For support of the head coaches at the time we are saddened by the news of the loss of one of the greatest leaders in Southern
Miss Athletics.” McLellan was inducted in the Southern Miss M-Club Hall of fame in 2001, Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993 and South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame last year.
Becky Vu/Printz
University President Rodney Bennett speaks at a luncheon Wednesday for the Center for Undergraduate Research.
Feature
Page 4, Student Printz
Music
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Songwriter’s Social unites musicians Kirstie Lowery Printz Reporter Mark Bryan of Hootie and the Blowfish fame performed at T-Bones Records and spoke with attendees of South City Records’ new event, Songwriter’s Social. Many local performers and songwriters were invited to attend Songwriter’s Social. The social also featured local musicians Jeremiah Stricklin of Oh, Jeremiah, Jana Bounds, Drew Young, Josh Sullivan and Elizabeth Shows. While all performances were acoustic, audiences were treated to various genres of music such as folk, soul and pop. “Our goal is to seek out hidden talent and get it out for the community and the world to hear,” said Associate for the Public Relations Department of South City Records, Shanning Newell. “We aim to make Hattiesburg a city with a recognizable and influential music scene.” Fellow musician and entertainment industry management professor Drew Young introduced Bryan to the excited crowd. “I asked Drew if I could come and explore the music industry program here at Southern Miss and then he said, ‘Sure, come on and do it. And if you do, do you want to do the Songwriter’s show?,’ and I said of course, let’s do it,” Bryan said. The Songwriter’s Social not only provided Hattiesburg resi-
Christopher Little/Printz
Mark Bryan of Hootie and the Blowfish performs an original song at the Songwriter’s Social at T-Bones Records Wednesday night.
dents with a famous face and a variety of local talent, but it also gave residents a taste of what inspires musicians to create their works of art. Musical artist Jeremiah Stricklin said he adds his own unique twist to real-life situations when writing a song. “If I can surprise myself, it’s always going to be awesome. That’s typically what I do, and it happens a lot. I’ll say something really goofy and then be like,
‘that’s goofy enough to be in one of my songs,’ and I think that’s awesome,” Stricklin said. The event helped display the high amount of talent and creativity that’s brewing in Hattiesburg. Each act got the chance to perform and answer questions from the audience. Throughout the show, performers, writers and entertainment industry students mingled over food and coffee while meeting new friends. The main
theme of the night was to meet the right people and open up opportunities for up-and-coming musicians and writers. Bryan advises beginning performers to play as much as possible. “The more you play, the better you get, and the more you play, the more people get to see you play. So you grow your fan base that way,” Bryan said. Bryan also advised writers to write down their thoughts in a journal before writing a song.
“Write five pages about how you feel about something before you try to write a song about it,” Bryan added. Songwriter’s Social was an event for all genres of musical performers and fans. The concert was put on by South City Records, a student-run record label at The University Of Southern Mississippi.
on campus
Volunteers work to ‘Make A Difference’ Kristina Carroll Printz Reporter Ever since a tornado swept through Hattiesburg and across campus on Feb. 10, countless hours have been spent recuperating from the devastation. The All-American Rose Garden has been restored at the entrance to the school, trees have been planted and businesses have repaired their buildings and reopened. But there is still work to be done. Many neighborhoods in Hattiesburg are in the same state as when the tornado struck almost eight months ago, with homes heavily damaged and families left hanging in the balance as they try to pick up the pieces.
In support of the recovery effort, Volunteer Hattiesburg has extended the national Make A Difference Day into a weeklong event, starting Sunday, Oct. 20, and ending Oct. 26. The volunteers will work on homes in the community affected by the tornado. Make A Difference Day is the nation’s largest day of community service where millions of volunteers come together to improve the lives of others in their communities. Volunteer Hattiesburg has teamed up with R3SM (Recover, Rebuild, Restore Southeast Mississippi), The Greater Pinebelt Community Foundation, United Way of Southeast Mississippi, The Hattiesburg American, Mississippi Power, The USM Center for
Community and Civic Engagement and many other community partners to focus on “Recovering the Pinebelt.” “We saw such a wonderful showing for the campus cleanup after the tornado and students have continued to be a vital part of the recovery,” said Josh Duplantis, director for the USM Center for Community and Civic Engagement. “We want to continue the tradition of the spirit of Southern Miss students and the amount of support they have shown in the recovery efforts, making [Make A Difference Day] bigger than it ever has been.” As a part of the recovery efforts, the Center for Community and Civic Engagement will be
hosting a “Game Day Bucket Brigade” before the Homecoming game on Oct. 26. Students are invited to stand outside the gates of the stadium as spectators arrive to the game to raise funds. The participating organizations will be repairing the community throughout the week with a list of events posted on the Volunteer Hattiesburg website. This is a new opportunity for students to get involved with the Hattiesburg area community by volunteering for Make A Difference Day. Students and other members of the community who wish to get involved should: · Register as a volunteer at VolunteerHattiesburg.org and
stay updated for upcoming volunteer opportunities · Make a financial contribution through the Greater Pinebelt Community Foundation · Arrange to make an in-kind donation of building supplies and materials through the Volunteer Hattiesburg website · Stop by Room 104 in The Hub at the Center for Community and Civic Engagement to get involved with on-campus activities.
Feature
Thursday, October 3, 2013
LOCAL
Student Printz, Page 5
The Weeks know how to boogie
Courtesy Photo
Emily Evans Printz Reporter In Hattiesburg, we are lucky to be surrounded by a strong community of artistic people that are brilliantly creative. This community has grown and developed into a cultural hearth, giving residents of the Hub City a chance to experience great things during their time here. But we don’t often get to witness the huge success of people from our city or state. When confronting this sad truth, it’s hard not to look for a sign of hope and inspiration. This search proved to be successful in the summer of 2012 when I stumbled across a group of musicians. Five simple, nice guys from Jackson, Miss., commonly referred to as The Weeks, yielded their instruments on the small stage at Benny’s Boom Boom Room in downtown Hattiesburg. The band burned down
the house with their awe-inspiring talent. The Weeks had something different about them. Needless to say, everyone in the crowd became an immediate fan. The Weeks came back to Benny’s Boom Boom Room Sept. 27. They attracted the biggest crowd that’s ever been seen at their Hattiesburg shows. They formed in 2006 to fill the gap when the music scene in the Jackson area quickly dissipated. Young boys at the time, they were thrown together on a whim, quickly taking the area’s music scene by storm. Fast forward seven years later and The Weeks are set to open for Kings of Leon on a six-week European tour. Talk about a major transformation. They spoke kindly about the members of KOL and their crew. The band said KOL made it easier and more comfortable to perform in front of huge crowds. “It was kind of surreal,” said Cyle Barnes, lead
singer of the band. “Going out [on stage] with them made it a lot easier.” If their matching Miss. tattoos didn’t signify their love for our great state, the band also talked about what makes their home so special. “Mississippi has got a lot of sweet people and it’s wonderful,” Cyle Barnes said. “The fact that we’re called the ‘Hospitality State,’ I don’t think a state has a better nickname,” said Samuel Williams, the band’s guitarist. “There’s no place like home, but there’s really no place like Mississippi.” Their background provides a lot of writing material for these talented songwriters. The Weeks said
their inspiration comes from the struggle of growing up in Miss. and agreed that it wasn’t necessarily their personal struggle but the “acknowledgement of the struggle,” that many Southerners face. “Also some things in our songs come from the beauty of Mississippi,” said Cain Barnes, the band’s drummer. Clearly, all of these talented musicians are extremely proud to call Miss. their home. The Weeks are a testament that being from Miss. doesn’t cripple your ability to be successful. In fact, “If you’re from Mississippi, I bet you want it more and you probably deserve it more,” Cain Barnes said.
But if you have dream, you should never give up on it. “You will have to go through a lot before you get that beautiful pearl, but it’s worth it,” Cain Barnes said. “I do exactly what I want to do every single day, which is beautiful.” With the huge crowd and the band’s unforgettable performance, listeners can agree this was a show like none other, crowd surfing included. Music lovers shouldn’t miss The Weeks the next time they perform in Hattiesburg.
40Craft Beers on Tap 180 Beers
in house
$3 Draft 10pm-2am Craft
All
Fri. & Sat. Courtesy Photo
Lead singer of The Weeks, Cyle Barnes, getting down at Benny’s Boom Boom Room.
Must Be 21 3810 Hardy Street
Opinion
Page 6, Student Printz
Faces of USM We ask, you answer.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Kalyn Johnson Senior Clarksdale, MS Speech Pathology
Why do you like to draw?
“
It’s fun. You zone out. You can capture things with your hands, you don’t need a camera; you can draw it. I like to draw people— everybody is different. It’s interesting to see the shapes that make up their face.
”
Kalyn
Interview and Photo by
April Garon
TELEVISION
Breaking Bad goes out on top Zac Chamblee Printz Reporter
Sundays will never be the same now that “Breaking Bad” ended. The critically-acclaimed series ended Sunday, and I’m already going through stages of withdrawal. According to an article on theverge.com, 10.3 million people tuned in for the series finale. I don’t know how viewers felt, but the night was definitely rough for me. I may or may not have cried my eyes out when the credits started rolling, but in my mind, the tears are justified. From episode one to 64, there was never a dull moment throughout the series. The story of Walter White was almost impossible to believe. White, a high school chemistry teacher, was diagnosed with lung cancer with few years to live. He could die peacefully, leaving his family without any money or he could ‘break bad.’ He chose to team up with one of his former students, Jesse Pinkman, and start cooking crystal meth. In the be-
ginning, Walt’s goal was to leave his family close to $1 million, but as his empire grew, the goals changed. He lied, stole and murdered to eventually become one of the biggest drug kingpins in the country, nicknamed Heisenberg. Once his cancer went into remission, he had the option to leave the business as a multimillionaire, but the power was too sweet to give up. This decision came back to haunt him, as his empire eventually crashed under the weight of his crimes. The ending leaves a big predicament for my Sunday nights. What am I supposed to watch now that can fill the void? Sure shows like “Boardwalk Empire,” “Homeland” and “Sons of Anarchy” are in midseason, but none of them match the addiction of “Breaking Bad.” In my mind, “Breaking Bad” will go down as one of the greatest television series of all time. According to imdb.com, it’s the second highest-rated show of all time behind “Planet Earth.” I would put it on the same level as shows like “The Wire” and “The Sopranos.”
Some said that “Breaking Bad” ended too early, and I completely disagree. Time and time again, television shows are stretched out for too long thus decreasing the legitimacy of the story. “Breaking Bad” ended at the perfect time and went out on top. I would definitely recommend the show to anyone with a Netflix account. According to an article on wearemoviegeeks. com, the complete box set will be on shelves Nov. 26.
This was an article of opinion by Zac Chamblee, a writer for the Student Printz. Email questions or comments to zac.chamblee@ eagles.usm.edu.
Sports
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Student Printz, Page 7
A letter from Dr. Bennett In my experience, travel can lead to anxiety resulting from the unknown. As I traveled across the country in support of our football team over the past month as the new president of The University of Southern Mississippi, I did not know
what to expect from Lincoln, Fayetteville, or Boise. Lincoln set the tone with welcome words and warm hospitality. Fayetteville followed. And the city of Boise did not disappoint. No matter where we went, whether we were checking into our hotel, eating dinner the night before the game, or dropping into local businesses, we were met with kind greetings and well wishes from local residents, business owners, and the opposing team’s fans. These folks did not know me as the president of the university but offered genuine hospitality to each of us equally. And they had an effect—we felt welcome and comfortable in their community. Despite being on the road,
my experience in each of these communities was not negative. In fact, I greatly value my interactions with the people we met, and I look forward to my next opportunity to visit again. As you know, I am still new to the university and Hattiesburg, and I have found our campuses to be warm, welcoming and inviting to newcomers and visitors alike. I am not new to intense competition, however, and I am aware that misdirected enthusiasm can sometimes lead to behavior that contradicts who we are during other times of the year. As our Golden Eagles prepare to host our first home game in more than a month, I am hopeful that our community will continue to reciprocate the hospitality our
team and fans experienced on the road for everyone who travels here to enjoy the game this weekend. I encourage each of you, as students and ambassadors of Southern Miss, to take advantage of this opportunity to welcome people who may have never visited our area so that they, too, will return home with nothing but good things to say about us. I ask that you see our visitors not as foes or opponents, but as neighbors and people who also love their university and who have taken time out of their schedule to support their team. Tell them you appreciate them making the trip. Help them feel at ease exploring our campus, local shops and restaurants so that they may support our local
economy. When visitors spend money in our area, we all benefit, and if you treat people well, they will linger here. Make sure they have a pleasant experience and look forward to their return to our campus and city. Our Golden Eagles have played one of the toughest September schedules in the country. We have traveled hundreds of miles to face competitive teams on their home turf. And we have suffered heartbreaking losses. But, as Coach Monken says, we are going to win. It is only a matter of time. I thank you for your support of Southern Miss and Golden Eagle athletics and look forward to a good game on Saturday. Southern Miss to the Top!
FOOTBALL
USM, FIU seek first win of 2013 Alan Rawls Printz Reporter The last time FIU head coach Ron Turner was in M.M. Roberts Stadium, it was a September 2002 match-up between his defending Big-Ten champion Illinois and the University of Southern Mississippi. Southern Miss defeated Turner’s Illini team 23-20. Eleven years later the Golden Eagles are not the same program they once were, but they still plan to deliver Turner another loss at the Rock. The Eagles’ three weeks on the road are finally over, and an opportunity to snap a 16-game losing streak at home presents itself in the form of a Florida International squad that is not only 0-4, but is also a new addition to Conference-USA. The Oct. 5 game will be the first 2013 C-USA game for both teams. “Ultimately, your No. 1 goal is to try and win your conference,” Coach Monken said in his Sept. 30 press conference. “But we’re just looking to win a game, I don’t care who it’s against. It really doesn’t matter… It would be nice to be 1-0 in the league but really, at this point, it’s about us and how we play against FIU and trying to get a win.” Though the Eagles have yet to win a game in the 2013 season, the stat comparison between USM and FIU looks promising. Southern Miss has a strong running game compared to the FIU Panthers. The Golden Eagles have 307 net rushing yards so far this season and they will be playing a
team that has allowed 937 rushing yards in the last four games. Not only could the Eagles run the ball effectively against the Panthers but they could just as easily pass. USM averages 224 passing yards per game and the Panthers’ defense has been torched through the air time and time again this season. However, Southern Miss will need to be careful with the turnover problem. FIU has only lost the ball six times this year, whereas USM has turned the ball over 15 times. “It’s frustrating,” Coach Monken said of the turnover issue. “The one thing we have corrected is the fumbling issue… The tough part is that turnovers are caused for a number of reasons. The quarterback is part of it. Protection is part of it. Receivers running a correct route is a part of it. Everybody has had a hand in that.” The Southern Miss defense has been one of the team’s strong points thus far in the season, despite having given up over 1,500 total yards of offense and 162 points in their previous four games. Alan Howze, the senior middle linebacker, leads the defense with 38 tackles in the 2013 season. Now that Dylan Reda has recovered from his injury, the linebacker duo of Howze and Reda will help to stop an already stagnant FIU running game. USM’s defense should hold up well against a Golden Panther team that has only reached 600 yards of total offense in 2013. Both USM and FIU are coming off of losses to high-powered programs. Boise State dealt Southern Miss a 60-7 blowout in Idaho on
Sept. 28. The weekend prior to the Southern Miss loss, No. 7 Louisville dealt FIU a 72-0 shutout. “I don’t even know if we have a backs-against-the-wall mentality,” Monken said. “It’s a matter of playing good football and doing the things that give you a chance to win. I’m sure they (FIU) feel the same way, too. I’m sure they look at their games and say, ‘Boy, if we could have done these things. We can do this better.’ We’re in the same boat.” Though Southern Miss lost the first game of the season at home, it was a close 22-15 contest against a formidable Texas State team. The defense held Texas State to 205 yards of offense. The USM defense will face an FIU offense that averages just 150 yards per game. USM will be playing FIU with home-field advantage. After learning from mistakes and taking the field in front of a USM fan base hungry for the first win of 2013, USM may come away with its first victory since the 2011 season. “The crowd was unbelievable,” Monken said of the game against Texas State. “I hope we have the same come this Saturday. That’s something that we can control as a program, as a group. We can control our fans that come out and support our team and support our players and university. It’s still about the event. It’s still about coming out and tailgating. It’s about Southern Miss football and being a part of hopefully our first win.”
Christopher Little/Printz
Senior quarterback Allan Bridgford hopes to lead Southern Miss to its first victory this season Saturday afternoon against FIU.
Sports
Page 8, Student Printz
Football
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Fans and students react to an early winless season Judge Lucas Printz Reporter
With less than a minute left in the fourth quarter, Boise St. carried the ball through the middle of the offensive line and an exhausted Southern Miss team could only watch as time expired and another loss was scribbled in the column. Under the noise of the remaining Boise St. faithful in the stands, the Golden Eagles slowly walked off the blue turf to begin their trip back to Hattiesburg. Although nothing has changed in the win column since December 2011, one thing remains the same: the loyalty of Southern Miss fans. “I still support them and will continue to support them regardless of their wins and losses,” said senior Tyler Burleson. “That’s what being a fan is;
you support your team through wins and losses – championships and winless seasons.” Through his years at the university, Burleson stresses the idea of patience and understanding for a team that has changed so much in so little time. “The team needs to know that we as students and fans still support them,” he said. “I couldn’t imagine anything more demoralizing for an athlete than thinking the people you represent don’t support you or only care when you’re winning.” The Eagles have seen the pinnacle of Conference USA in 2011 when the team went 12-2, including a victory in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl over Nevada. Three coaches later, the team has encountered a new low: The nation’s current longest losing streak with 16 losses in a row. “I feel that the team being winless is not entirely their
fault, but is more of the position that they are in from last year’s season,” said freshman Jared Dumas. “I think instead of trying to start the number of freshmen that they do, they need to put more emphasis on the upperclassmen.” Led by a first-year quarterback, young receiving corps and an inexperienced offensive line, the Eagles’ offense encountered timing issues on routes and poor blocking when setting up protection. Freshman receivers have caught 45 of the team’s 88 receptions this season. “Hopefully, they will eventually get that offensive guru they keep searching for,” said Tony Purvis, a local fan who has attended more than 25 games. “I just always seem to blame a coach, because I feel a good coach can win anywhere in any circumstance.” Head coach Todd Monken hasn’t notched his first victory
yet. Despite having recordbreaking success as Oklahoma State’s offensive coordinator, the first-year coach’s team is afflicted with turnovers and an inability to consistently sustain successful drives to put points on the board. “I do not like the losing streak, but I am smart enough to know that our team, in general, has been through a lot of adversity over the past two years,” said James Garner. “Yes, [the losses] hurt, but you have to accept the entire process that has taken place.” Garner is an alumnus of the university and hasn’t missed a home game in four years. “With different coaches there are different game plans in play, all of which require our young team to refocus all over again to another coach’s offensive and defensive schemes,” he said. “Monken, in my opinion, has
far less talent [than Ellis Johnson] on the field but is doing a better job coaching them up. I like his energy. I like his enthusiasm, and I love his will to win! We will get there; let’s just rally around this coach, this team and be true Golden Eagle fans!” Southern Miss will host the winless Florida International Golden Panthers Oct. 5 at The Rock. Regardless of a win or loss, the stadium will be packed, and the Golden Eagles’ faithful will embrace and cheer every snap.