October 24,2018

SERVING SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI SINCE 1927 • WWW.STUDENTPRINTZ.COM • OCTOBER 24, 2018 | VOLUME 103 | ISSUE 09

NEWS • HOMECOMING 2018

SPORTS • FOOTBALL GAME

Hannah Beaver | Printz

Michael Sandoz | Printz

Southern Miss organizations participate in Homecoming parade.

Quez Watkins evades UTSA defenders.

PG 6

PG 12

Theatre department kicks off season Mica Herrin | Printz

JACK MCCALLUM PRINTZ REPORTER

he Southern Miss Theatre performed its first show of the season, Tennessee Williams’ “The Night of the Iguana,” Thursday, Oct. 18, in Gilbert F. Hartwig

Theatre.

The play, written by Mississippi-born Tennessee Williams, tells the story of an array of interesting characters finding themselves inside the Costa Verde hotel in 1940’s Mexico.

“The Night of the Iguana” is looked at by many, including director Shannon Bain, as the last of Williams’ great plays.

“When I came into the [MFA directing] program, I said very early on, probably in my first interview, that I would love to do a Tennessee Williams,” Bain said.

“I’ve always felt connected to his work,” Bain said. “He’s a Mississippian and his work is just poetry—it’s almost musical. His work very much inspired me to do what I do. Every chance I get, I would love to direct one of his pieces.”

The program refers to the play as “feverishly poetic” and says that the characters are on a “desperate quest for much-needed sanctuary.”

“Night of the Iguana” premiered on Broadway in 1961 and is based on the 1948 short story also

by Williams.

The play is meant for mature audiences.

Strobe lights and herbal cigarettes are used during the show. Both English and Spanish are spoken in the play to bring the setting to life.

There are also themes in the play about finding oneself and letting go of baggage.

Senior theatre major Lorena Cohea plays the role of Maxine Faulk, the widowed owner of the Coste Verde hotel.

“The play is really just about finding connection. Everyone’s looking to find a connection with someone in some way whether it is physically or mentally,” Cohea said. “Just exploring the diversity of people and what their goals are in life. Then bringing it all into one place, a hot and sweaty hotel, and just seeing where it goes.”

Cohea has been performing since she was four and been in six mainstage shows at Southern Miss. “The Night of the Iguana” is the last play she will perform with the theatre department.

“I will rep this theatre till the day I die,” Cohea said. “I owe them my theatre knowledge.

I wouldn’t have known anything about theatre until I got here. I knew I wanted to do theatre,

‘The Night of the Iguana’ opens at Hartwig Theater.

but I didn’t know all the ins and outs of it. If it weren’t for the faculty here, as well as the student support, I mean. I love it. I’m literally going to start crying,” Cohea said.

Among the eclectic hotel visitors is a group of Germans, the world’s oldest poet, a painter and a reverend. Nathaniel Jones plays the role of Jake Latto, a man who finds himself at odds with Reverend Shannon.

“So the play is really all about the human condition and the way we can trap ourselves in loops. It’s about our capacity for selfdestruction,” sophomore theatre major Nathaniel Jones said. “Jake Latta is a rival tour guide of Shannon’s although they work for

the same company. I see them like two rival cheerleaders. Jake’s role in the show is basically to push Shannon just over the edge.”

Williams’ “The Night of the Iguana” is not genre specific and leaves the audience both laughing and crying.

The last showing of “The Night of the Iguana” will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24 in Hartwig Theatre. Students can buy tickets for $8 while faculty, staff, seniors and military can buy them for $10 in the box office in the Theatre and Dance building. General admission is $15.

“Cabaret” is the next production by the theatre department and will be performed Nov. 8-11 in the Martha R. Tatum Theatre.

•PETE DAVIDSON •HALLOWEEN •MIRANDA COSGROVE •RIHANNA Professor Miles Doleac combines academics with creativity CALEB MCCLUSKEY PRINTZ REPORTER

unior philosophy and anthropology major Daniel Stearman was two weeks into his Latin 101 course when he googled his professor to look him up on the website Rate My Professor.

To his surprise, he found a Wikipedia page detailing the professor’s acting, directing and musical pursuits as well as a link to his IMDB page.

Stearman said when he confronted the teacher about it, his professor said, “Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Now take your quiz.”

Department of Foreign Language and Literatures professor Miles Doleac, Ph.D., is considered a modern-day renaissance man by peers and students alike. Not only does Doleac teach history, foreign language and film, but he has also made a name for himself as an actor, a director and a musician.

History professor Andrew Wiest, Ph.D., knows Doleac on all levels of teaching and performance. When Doleac’s first feature film was released, Wiest said, a lot of the faculty were anxious to see what Doleac produced.

“It was a real damn movie,” Wiest said.

“I saw it on the big screen, had popcorn and the whole bit. You don’t expect one of your friends to turn out a real movie.”

Doleac often works with colleagues from Southern Miss in his other ventures.

Among the lucky professors is Wiest, who is in the unique position of colleague and bandmate to Doleac. Wiest said that being in a band with Doleac has made them very close.

Wiest and Doleac are a part of the cover band The Mississippi Tornados.

Wiest said Doleac is very unique in that most people can do three things at once, but Doleac does all three things well.

“The university is all about interdisciplinary right now,” Wiest said, “[Doleac] is mister interdisciplinary.

Heck, he is four different things if you include the music.”

Although many would think a film career and an academic career are worlds apart, Doleac said he believes that the two careers interconnect through the aspect of performance.

CONTINUED ON PG. 3

INTRODUCTION OCTOBER 24, 2018

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‘Printz’ Throwback Article: The War, 1941 he United States is at war.

Slowly but surely this fact is dawning upon all Americans.

College students, especially, are finding it hard to conceive because we are so vitally affected, yet have nothing in our past with which to compare it.

We hear and read reports of bombings in Hawaii, the Philippines and other islands in the Pacific, of American ships being sunk, of American planes being destroyed, of American lives being lost—and though it has been droned into us for months that war was inevitable, we still find it out of our grasp now that it is a reality.

It is, so far, like attempting to understand what a great distance is envolved when a science professor speaks of stars being thousands of light years away or to what an infinitely small speck he refers when he discusses atoms. They are beyond our comprehension.

Almost in the same category are Pear Harbor, Manila, Guam, Wake, Midway and other points in the Pacific that are just as much American as the Mississippi Southern campus, yet to most students are only names in a geography book or on a map.

This feeling will pass. For some who had relatives or friends in the war zone when hostilities began, it probably was never present.

For others, contact with persons already personally affected or an actual attack on America may be necessary to make this struggle seem a reality.

But whether or not we can yet conceive of the United States being at war, we know that we are ready to do our part in aiding her. We know that we are part of an America which for the first time in our lives is really united in a common cause. We know that a united America can never be defeated.

Hannah Beaver | Printz

‘Cheers to 100 Years’ exhibit in Cook Library.

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British debate team visits USM WILLIAM LOWERY PRINTZ REPORTER

Monday, Oct. 8 · At 9:47 AM, an individual reported another individual to be stalking him or her at Vann Hall. The case remains open. · A disturbance in public was reported at 1:34 PM in the parking garage.

Tuesday, Oct. 9 · At 4:36 PM, commercial burglary was reported to have taken place at the Duff Athletic Facility. The case remains open.

Wednesday,Oct. 10 · At the bike rack near Highway 49, destruction of private property was reported to have taken place. The case remains open. The incident was reported at 9:51 AM. · At 10:43 AM, harassment was reported to have taken place at Scott Hall (CP South A). The case remains open.

Friday, Oct. 12th · At Century Park North, an individual was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of controlled substance (misdemeanor) at 10:00 PM. Saturday, Oct. 13th · At the Tatum House, destruction of public property was reported at 7:30 AM. The case remains open.

Sunday, Oct. 14th · At 11:54 PM, an individual was arrested for possession of a controlled substance (misdemeanor) in the parking garage.

n Oct. 18, The University of Southern Mississippi’s debate team held a meeting where they competed against the British National Debate Team to discuss open borders.

The British National Debate Team has traveled to Southern Miss for the past seven years to debate on various topics. Southern Miss’ team consisted of members John Beckham and Ayona Marshall, while the British team featured May Macklehaim from Wales and Owen Glasgow from Scotland.

The Southern Miss debate team argued for the support of open borders with background checks, while the British team presented their reasons for more closed, secure borders. The debate was split up into five parts, culminating in a vote to determine which team won.

“Today, we think we have a world where it is harder to move across borders than it is to have none, so we would want to see less restrictions,” explained senior public speaking major John Beckham. “We’re holding that we should get rid of visas and instead do background checks on people to decide if they can move across borders.”

During the first part, the British team, represented by May Macklehaim, argued that if more people immigrated towards other countries, then things such as their culture and native languages would be lost by transitioning into a nation’s way of doing things. Macklehaim also said open borders are only good in certain circumstances, but to control who comes in and out, closed borders

Michael Sandoz | Printz

Teams debate over immigration policy.

and visas are a necessity.

Halfway through the debate, audience members were allowed to ask both teams questions regarding points they had brought up in their speeches. One audience member, Hattiesburg resident Victoria Gonzalez, questioned the British debate team on the importance of major cities like Miami, a city she emigrated to after leaving Cuba in the 1990s.

Gonzalez explained that people like her are major benefactors to a city like Miami and that there are people willing to adhere to what America stands for in order to make a living and generally have a better life compared to

where they came from.

After the audience Q&A and further debating, the panel held a vote to determine which team presented their arguments best.

Once votes were tallied up, the debate was contested as a draw between the two teams.

Students said that they thought both sides performed well, and the general consensus after the debate was in favor of open borders.

Beckham said that he was happy the British National Debate Team was able to bring their ideas to Mississippi.

“The new is what we’re really striving for,” Beckham said. “New things can be created when cultures come together.”

as a young faculty member.

“Young faculty members are quite often the quietest because it is all new to them, but [Doleac] was not as quiet as most,” Wiest said.

“If he had an opinion, he would state it unafraid if it ruffled a few feathers.”

Wiest said that Doleac was sometimes part of the history faculty and sometimes part of the language faculty before the reorganization.

“When you play for three teams, you can’t be at all three at the same time,” Wiest said.

Wiest said that he is extremely impressed with Doleac’s level of commitment to all three of his courses and that he enjoys watching his friend and colleague Doleac perform in not only live theatre but also on the big screen.

“It is cool to see [Doleac] in his element— when he is doing film stuff,” Wiest said.

“Everything from camera set up to the sound checks is mystifying to somebody who is not very technologically adept like me.”

Doleac said talent is not the most important

aspect to success, but the idea of being reliable and diligent. He said his tip to students looking to work in the film is to understand their passions.

“I would say to these students who are looking to break into the industry, first figure out what you love. What filmmaker and movies you love and why you love them,” Doleac said. “What are [these movies and filmmakers] doing that resonates with you in some way and once you are able to pin that down, develop your own voice and make your way onto a set.”

Doleac said his next film “Hallowed Ground” will be released May 2019 on most streaming platforms as well as in multiple theaters in the area, such as the Grand Theatre, where he always premieres his movies.

Doleac’s earlier films can be found on most if not all streaming platforms, and they are free on Amazon Video for Prime members. “[Doleac] always struck me as a guy that has a lot of experiences under his belt,” Stearman said.

CONTINUED FROM PG 1 “Acting, teaching and creativity are not even strange bedfellows,” Doleac said. “There is this sort of kismet thing. This symbiotic relationship between the two and one feeds into the other.”

Doleac said he does not live a double life as many would expect. He said he uses his experiences in both acting and directing extensively in his film courses because they carry invaluable knowledge to the students within.

On the other hand, he said he is not expressively vocal about his career paths in his history or Latin classes. He said his students, as is the case with Stearman, eventually discover his second career on their own and ask about it.

Doleac said he always wanted to be an actor, but he was lucky to find a passion for academia as well. When he started writing his first feature film, “Historian,” he wanted to tell a story within the world he knew. At the time, he was a visiting professor at Southern Miss.

What originally struck Wiest about Doleac was his charisma and openness to speak his mind

The crime report for the days of Oct. 15th through Oct. 21st has not been compiled of the time of press release. This likely came about from an increased number of incidents that took place over the weekend, which could be further attributed to the Southern Mississippi homecoming football game.

Next week, the week of Oct. 15th through the 21st’s crime log will be published as well as the crime log for the dates of Oct. 22nd through Oct. 28th, along with further analysis if necessary.

Alex Harris | Contributor

Miles Doleac speaks to his DP Michael Williams.

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Office of Sustainability hosts bra donation drive MORGAN USRY PRINTZ REPORTER

s part of Campus Sustainability Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Office of Sustainability is hosting its first Bra-Vo Donation Drive to collect gently used and new bras for women in need.

Melissa Olsen, the Sustainability Coordinator of the Office of Sustainability, said the focus of the office is to educate the campus community about the importance of sustainable practices.

“In this case, instead of throwing away bras that are unwanted, gently used ones can be reused by women in need,” Olsen said.

“Bras can also be recycled. After doing some research, we discovered numerous companies that if textiles are sent to them, they either reuse, repurpose or recycle them. We plan to contact one of these companies so we can also divert bras that may be headed for the landfill.”

Olsen also said that while their original goal was to collect only 50 bras, they have received 61 so far. Office employees hope to receive more in the two weeks left of the drive.

The Lighthouse Rescue Mission is one of the two shelters that will receive the donated bras. The Lighthouse, which has been operating in Hattiesburg for 13 years, aids women and children that are homeless or in need. In 2017, The Lighthouse Rescue Mission helped 45 women and 37 children.

Keri Holmes, the Lighthouse’s Residential Supervisor, said that although the Lighthouse has received donations in the past, they rarely receive undergarments.

“The awesome thing about [the donation drive] is that most people don’t think about undergarments,” Holmes said. “We get clothes and toys, but that’s something people don’t think about. Sometimes something as simple as a bra can be a worry to [the women

Florence Maillot | Printz

in need] and can be a staggering block for them. If we can take away those staggering blocks for them, they’re more likely to be successful.”

Kim Thronson, Director of the Lighthouse, emphasized that many of the women who come to the shelter, arrive with little to no clothing, specifically undergarments.

Bra donation boxes are located in various residence halls.

“Sometimes they come in without anything at all,” Thronson said.

“This is another opportunity that we can again provide them something, and that’s one less worry that they have to worry about,” Holmes said. “That’s what our ultimate goal is. For once to not give them something to worry about so that they can

truly focus on themselves and their family.

And something as simple as a bra is a huge deal in their minds.”

Donations are being accepted until Friday, Nov. 2. Donation boxes are located on the first floor of every residence hall. Students that do not live on campus but want to donate should email green@usm.edu.

Southern Miss students showcase talents MARISSA HAAS PRINTZ REPORTER

s part of the 2018 Southern Miss Homecoming Week festivities, Southern Miss Activities Council hosted the annual USM Has Talent talent show in Bennett Auditorium on Oct. 17.

Students came to the talent show for a variety of reasons, from supporting local talent to participating in homecoming activities.

“I came tonight because I wanted to see the talent and see what they had to show and give,” senior psychology major KaDarrius Holmes said. “I always love to see this type of good energy. It’s a lot of fun.”

Others wanted to show school spirit and attend events for the first time.

“I love homecoming week, and I’ve never been able to make it to the SMAC talent show, so I wanted to see all the talents that Southern Miss has to offer,” Hannah Scott, senior political science major, said.

“I had a lot of fun. I loved seeing Quan’s skit. I was cracking up. I really enjoyed the poetry by Taraja Gibbs about gun violence. I thought that was powerful,” Scott said.

Taraja Gibbs, junior elementary education major, performed in the talent show and said she performs to inspire others and make them feel raw emotion.

“Performing felt great,” Gibbs said. “I felt like the stage presence and energy was there. I also felt like people got my message. I

always say that if I didn’t make someone feel something, I didn’t do my job, and I feel like I’ve done my job.”

Contestant Marquan Lewis, sophomore communications major, performed for the second year in a row. Lewis said he decided to participate in the event again because he wanted to continue to support the people and make them laugh and have fun at college.

Lewis performed a comedy bit about the Fresh Food Company. His act included a rendition of T-Pain’s “I’m in Love with a Stripper” that he titled, “I’m in Love with the Chicken.” His song was about The Fresh’s fried chicken, and he received a lot of laughs.

“My favorite part about performing is to get up there, do my thing and make sure people feel loved,” Lewis said. “I just love USM, and I’m in it for the win.”

Some contestants participated as a way to get their foot through the door in the creative industry.

“It’s good to get recognition. I’m trying to get out there, and talent shows are the best way to do it,” Joshua Johnson, junior music education major, said.

Johnson said that he felt his performance could have gone better, but he views this as an opportunity to grow.

“Everything is just a learning experience.

You learn every type you perform,” Johnson said.

Jai’kyra Owens was the overall winner, while Christian Stanback won People’s Choice.

Brian Winters | Printz

Tajara Gibbs performs at USM Has Talent.

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Toby Barker visits with students over coffee ASHLYN LEVINS PRINTZ REPORTER

attiesburg Mayor Toby Barker visited with Southern Miss students during his office hours Oct. 18.

Barker came to Starbucks in Cook Library to give students the chance to speak with him. Barker said his goal is to become more involved with the students, faculty and staff at Southern Miss.

“A relationship between The University of Southern Mississippi and the city of Hattiesburg is our largest goal,” Barker said.

“We come here to seek out the opinions of students. In 2017, students spoke out wanting a Whataburger as well as a sidewalk to Brewsky’s.

We are close to finish with the sidewalk, but the Whataburger corporation is hard to crack.”

Barker has many goals for Hattiesburg; however, his main goal is to incorporate both Southern Miss and William Carey University in order to transform the city into a premier university city.

“We are trying to turn Hattiesburg into a premier university city in the south like Mobile or Starkville. Hattiesburg has the highest percentage of millennials in the area [as] 37 percent are millennials in the metro area,” Barker said. “We started 2018 with 40 goals.

As of now, half are done. The new transit route was one of the biggest [goals] and has seen a successful usage. More students are parking in the parking lots on the edge of campus and shuttling in.”

Barker said he is hoping to regain the city’s bond rating. The bond rating will evaluate the city’s credit risk which predicts the ability for a

Margaret Matteson | Printz

city to pay back debt.

“When we started, the city was struggling with finances. Hattiesburg had its bond rating taken,” Barker said. “Currently we have two years completed with the third almost done.

We will be going to New York in December to ask for our bond rating back, which we will use

Toby Barker speaks with students in Cook Library Starbucks.

to build a new fire station and police station and work more in our downtown area.”

Barker also plans to fund renovations on the Hattiesburg Southern Miss campus and to help the city’s Parks and Recreation department.

“We will be seeing a one cent hotel and restaurant tax raise soon, half of which will

go towards The University of Southern Mississippi to renovate the coliseum and the other half to update our Parks and Recreations department,” Barker said.

To find out where Barker’s next office hours will be, follow the Toby Barker page on Facebook.

Families carve pumpkins at Keg & Barrel ASHLYN LEVINS PRINTZ REPORTER

attiesburg Avenues hosted a pumpkin carving night at Keg & Barrel Thursday, Oct. 18.

The event was one of South Mississippi’s largest pumpkin carvings full of music, food, prizes and costumes.

Community members of all ages came out to enjoy the night, including Mayor Toby Barker and his family.

Hattiesburg resident Kerri Vogt attended the Pumpkin Carving night with her daughter and said they had a good time.

“It was great. We love the community in Hattiesburg and all the events they put on,” Vogt said. “This fall we love going to Live at Five. We come [to Keg & Barrel.] We live in the Avenues, so we participated in the Avenues yard sale. Pretty much any excuse to do something fun, and we are there.”

The families and children thoroughly enjoyed dressing up and carving pumpkins.

Each pumpkin had a different carving, showing the creative sides of each of the participants.

From silly faces to unicorns and monsters, the evening was enjoyable to all.

The children loved carving pumpkins and showcasing their art skills. Savannah and Jackie were just a couple of the multitude of kids that attended and were thrilled to talk about their pumpkins.

“It’s really fun and interesting to see how everyone does their different pumpkins,” Jackie said. “[Savannah] came last year, and I have been coming since I was five.”

“And also it’s really fun to see all other people’s

Michael Sandoz | Printz

creativity with skulls and stuff,” Savannah said.

Both girls said that it only took them two minutes to carve their pumpkins.

The night brought a crowd to the Keg & Barrel with servers and staff bustling around to tend to event comers and regular Thursday night customers. Although it was a busy night, the staff of Keg & Barrel were not worried. Keg & Barrel’s general manager Diana Pennington

Finished pumpkins lined up on patio.

said the staff is always thrilled to have community events and to bring people together.

“We love any event in the Backyard, especially an event that is for our community and for our neighborhood. We are happy to be a part of the Avenues of Hattiesburg,” Pennington said.

“We love doing events in the Backyard, it is our favorite thing to do.”

The Avenues of Hattiesburg is actively

working to bring together the community for different events each month. The Avenues’ next event will be Make a Difference Hattiesburg, which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 7 a.m. The event will encourage community members to join in on a city-wide clean-up.

For more information, visit The Avenues of Hattiesburg on Facebook to find more familyfriendly events.

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Students reflect on homecoming week KARIGAN TEER PRINTZ REPORTER

tudents often say their most memorable experiences from college are of homecoming. With this year’s theme being Sweet Home Southern Miss, students reflected on how Southern Miss has become their home.

Austin Sharp, senior sports management major, described his favorite memories from the homecoming football games throughout the years. “[I have loved] seeing all the former players come back for the game, the throwback uniforms we have used and how many fans show up for Eagle Walk,” Sharp said.

Sharp has worked as a student assistant coach for the football team since his sophomore year and believes the demeanor of the team during homecoming week is the same as any other week.

“Just like every week, this is the most important game of the year,” Sharp said. “Obviously, we want to win the game because it’s our homecoming. Fans will be fired up. There will be a lot of Southern Miss greats here, but we want to win each week. So, I would say our guys know what the game means for the university, but we also know we have to win in order to reach our goal [of winning the conference championship].”

Imani Harris, senior public relations major and 2018 Miss Southern Miss, said she barely remembers homecoming from her freshman and sophomore years.

“Being a senior has made me relish all the events for homecoming week. I can’t really remember my freshman and sophomore years, so I have made a genuine effort to remember this one,” Harris said. “As Miss Southern Miss, I feel responsible for showing younger students about how fun homecoming week actually is.”

Similar to Sharp, Harris loves seeing Southern Miss alumni come back to participate in the homecoming parade.

“The parade every year is always my favorite.

Getting to see some people’s college years come

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Hannah Beaver | Printz

Seymour D’ Campus cheers on Homecoming parade.

full circle is so exciting,” Harris said.

Being from Petal, Harris did not like the idea of being so close to home, but she believes she was still able to have a college experience that felt like she was far from home.

“Southern is just a little square mile, so I was able to have that far away college experience even though my house is 15 minutes away,” she said.

Both Sharp and Harris believe that the people, both at school and in the community, are what

allows Southern Miss to feel like home.

“I think what makes [Southern Miss] home is the hospitality of this school and city. People care about you,” Sharp said. “Anywhere you go, people acknowledge you, and ask you how your day is going. The little things. Everyone in this city is personable.”

Harris said she loves the Southern Miss community.

“Service, community and involvement have

International students walk during parade.

Mica Herrin | Printz

always been common things in my experience at Southern,” she said. “Those three things have allowed me to find my people and have been the main things that make me feel like I belong here.”

After Harris won Miss Southern Miss, Harris posted on Instagram her history of being involved in elections, but never feeling good enough because she rarely won. Despite this feeling of unworthiness, Harris believes people should stop basing their self-worth off positions.

“It’s always going to be a recurring cycle,” Harris said. “You’re always going to feel on top of the world, then something will happen, and you’ll be right back to not feeling good enough.

My advice is to not base feelings of worthiness off of the things you do, but to base it off of who you are and how your relationships with people are.”

“Once I stopped allowing leadership roles and positions define my self-worth, I actually was able to start winning, but I enjoyed myself more because I didn’t let winning define me,” Harris said.

Even though elementary education major Hannah Robinson is only a freshman, she believes Southern Miss has quickly become her home.

“I’m from Mobile, and I have only gone back home once since coming to college,” Robinson said. “Before I came to college, I always wanted to be home anytime I was out. I definitely feel more comfortable here than at my high school.”

In comparison to high school, Robinson noted the differences of homecoming at Southern Miss.

“I think there’s a lot more school spirit than there was in my high school. We don’t dress up, but it’s easier to get involved,” she said.

Robinson participated in the dance competition and said, “There were a lot of technical difficulties, and I hurt my knee but it’s fine and I still had fun.”

Harris believes students should make an effort to get involved in the homecoming events.

“Homecoming is always student led, so it’s always going to change,” Harris said. “There’s always going to be something you don’t like. But this is the week you’re always going to remember if you get involved, so just try to enjoy it.”

Team 1 rides Homecoming float.

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Siblings Will and Casey Ford win Homecoming King and Queen.

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Band member plays during run out.

Grand Marshal Gloria Peterson leads Homecoming parade.

Dixie Darling from 1954 dances with alumni.

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Dixie Darlings march in parade.

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OPINION OCTOBER 24, 2018

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‘The Conners’ move on without Roseanne WILLIAM LOWERY PRINTZ REPORTER

he popular sitcom “Roseanne” returned to TV on Oct. 16, but instead of bearing the name “Roseanne,” the show is now called “The Conner’s” due to the absence of actress Roseanne Barr.

Five months ago, the actress and comedian came under fire for posting racist tweets aimed at a former Obama administration official Valerie Jalett. Not long after the tweets were published, ABC fired Barr and cancelled the “Roseanne” revival, which had premiered two months prior.

When “The Conner’s” premiered Tuesday, the question on everybody’s mind was: How was the show going to handle the absence of Roseanne? In the season premiere, it is revealed Roseanne Conner died of an opioid addiction she had kept secret from the family.

Despite her absence, the rebranded show is garnering a positive reception as it currently holds an average of 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. At the end of the day, that’s what matters the most, that the show, whether or not Roseanne is on it, is still good.

Television shows losing major stars and having to make up for their absence has been a common practice in the entertainment industry. Back in 2011, CBS fired actor Charlie Sheen and replaced him with Ashton Kutcher on the sitcom “Two and a Half Men” after stories came out regarding Sheen’s alcohol and drug addiction.

Roseanne Barr is a well-known comedian and actress, but is also quite political to the point that much of the talk surrounding the then-upcoming “Roseanne” revival involved how Roseanne’s character supported Donald Trump. Barr was also known for supporting conspiracy theories like 9/11 being an inside job or the government using mind-control to dissuade support of the Republican party.

All of this came crashing down on Roseanne

Courtesy Photo

after the now-infamous tweet. People will say things they shouldn’t, and it can lead to consequences if he or she is not careful. In Roseanne’s case, though, she tweeted something wrongful, and it backfired immediately.

In the intervening months, she tried apologizing for what she had said, but the damage was done. The show is forging on without her and will try its best not to remind the audience who used to be on there, aside

from the explanation in the first episode.

“Roseanne” is a franchise, and if it has to rebrand itself to survive, then so be it. The series has shown that it still has the chops to be a compelling experience due to its excellent cast and humor.

Was Roseanne Barr a major reason why the show was a hit in the first place? Yes. She was the anchor, so to speak, something the series held on to and used as a driving force when it

premiered back in 1988.

But a lot happened between 1997 and 2018. People changed, so did Roseanne Barr.

She became more outspoken about what she supported, especially after the rise of social media. Barr should have known that she had to restrain herself in the wake of the show’s revival, but she didn’t.

Now, the series is back, minus a critical piece of the puzzle.

Taylor Swift finally voices opinion on politics MARISAA HAAS PRINTZ REPORTER

he old Taylor Swift is dead. The singer who has been notoriously silent on her political views recently spoke out about her beliefs via an Instagram post, which caused quite a stir in her fanbase. Although it’s nice to see Swift finally taking a stance on political issues, one has to wonder—why now?

Swift never spoke out on politics when the 2017 altright essentially claimed her as a white supremacist, and she stayed silent for the duration of the 2016 presidential election while many influential celebrities seized their opportunity to voice their concerns about the political landscape. In her Instagram post, Swift mentions her silence on political issues.

“In the past, I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions,” Swift said. “Due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now.”

Her recent outspokenness could be due to the fact that Brett Kavanaugh was recently appointed to the Supreme Court, and Swift previously won a sexual assault case and could resonate with Dr. Blasey Ford.

This could be seen as one of the events in her life that pushed her to voice her concerns.

“I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country,” Swift said. “I believe in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is wrong. I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent.”

Although Swift has written lyrics like “You can

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want who you want / boys and boys, and girls and girls,” this is the first time she has publicly stated where she falls on the political spectrum.

Swift mentioned that she will vote for Democrat Phil Bredesen for U.S. Senate in Tennessee and stated that she does not support Republican Marsha Blackburn. However, she urges her fans to “vote based on who most clearly represents your values” and included a link from Vote.org to register to vote.

Reports of voter registration numbers skyrocketing overnight have led media outlets to credit Swift

for the occurrence. While her impact is not to be undervalued, it is also important to mention that voter registration deadlines were coming up, and people were rushing to register to vote anyway.

While I am glad that Swift is now finally voicing her concerns, it should have happened sooner.

Participating in local elections and mobilizing people to get registered to vote is important, but she should have posted something like this when the 2016 Presidential campaigns were happening. If she cares as much as she says she does about these issues, why is

she just now speaking out about them? They were just as prevalent in the presidential race as they are now.

Maybe she feels that she won’t alienate her fanbase as much as she would have then, or maybe she finally feels free enough to voice her opinions now that her contract with Big Machine Records is up, and she no longer has to appeal to the primarily Republican demographic that country music encompasses.

Although the “Why now?” question may never be answered, it’s wild to see how one Instagram post can shake up an entire fanbase.

ENTERTAINMENT OCTOBER 24, 2018

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Ella Mai sets herself apart with debut record JACK MCCALLUM PRINTZ REPORTER

lla Mai’s self-titled debut album was released this past week and is a considerably strong start for the upcoming British R&B singer.

There has been plenty of anticipation surrounding Ella Mai’s debut, self-titled album with the summer hit “Boo’d Up.” Other than the Chris Brown feature and unnecessary interludes, the album shows off the singer’s abilities and writing skills to a level that has not been heard from an R&B singer in years. With songs like “Good Bad” and “Shot Clock,” Ella Mai sets herself apart from her contemporaries by making a statement that she is not a flash in the pan. She has her own story that needs to be heard.

The album starts off with the intro “Emotion” where she defines the admittedly heavy word.

Ella Mai’s defining words continues throughout the album and is reminiscent of Ciara’s “The Evolution” and Janet Jackson’s “Damita Jo” in terms of unnecessary interludes. These interludes sprinkled throughout Ella Mai’s album just seem melodramatic and add nothing of substance.

“Good Bad” is a truly solid R&B track and the perfect introduction to the album. This really should have been the first track of the album, so that the listener could get a more authentic vision of Ella Mai as an artist.

“Ella Mai” is consistent and keeps up the R&B sound with the Brian-Michael Cox-produced “Dangerous.” This track is super fun with the production changing from a slower sound to more upbeat. “Sauce” keeps the sound of the album consistent with Ella Mai’s electric writing and vocals perfectly melding with the DJ Mustard beat.

“Ella Mai” would have been a much more solid album without the generic sounding “Whatchamacallit.” Aside from the goofy

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sounding title and uneventful production, the song features known abuser Chris Brown. This song adds nothing original to the album, and Chris Brown only subtracts from the already boring track.

One good thing is that the next track, “Cheap Shot,” is a much more interesting track. The song truly feels heartfelt and shows the emotional maturity of Ella Mai. It has an original sound that really sounds one of a kind with an indie guitar sound mixed with an R&B beat.

The peak of the album comes in the form of the next few tracks that feel like a punch one right after the other, starting with “Shot Clock.” When the song starts off it might sound kind of generic, but the song really sets itself apart once the beat gets

going and the bridge kicks in.

After “Shot Clock” comes the hit of the summer, “Boo’d Up.” This track is a certified hit and bound to be a classic in the years to come. This funky, relatable track about love and heartache fits perfectly in the middle of this album.

“Everything” is a stunning John Legend feature that is slow, romantic and groovy. This song is emotional, well-written and maintains the groovy feeling of the album. John Legend and Ella Mai’s vocals sound great together, and this track is bound to find itself in plenty of slow, romantic playlists.

The next few tracks are slow and very lush sounding. “Own It” and “Run My Mouth” are similar in their slow, romantic sound. This continues into the incredibly beautiful H.E.R

feature, “Gut Feeling.”

Other than the Chris Brown feature, the last few songs are probably the most skip-worthy.

“Trip” is cute and catchy, but it is nothing that has not already been said or done on this album.

“Easy” and the bonus track “Naked” is okay, but not as grand or good as other songs on the album.

However, “Close” is a beautiful, sensual track that should be the album ender, especially with her announcing that she is “Ella Mai” at the end of the song.

Ella Mai’s self-titled debut might have some weak points, but that is to be expected with one’s first album. Overall, Ella Mai establishes herself as an artist with a voice on this exceptionally strong debut.

Hub City Comedy presents Hannibal Burress BEN ROARK

PRINTZ REPORTER he historic Saenger Theater sign twinkled, and ceremonial spotlights crawled the cloudy Hattiesburg skies as stand-up comedy fans assembled in a lengthy queue to make their way into the theater for Hannibal Burress’ show Oct. 19.

Burress has risen to what he describes as “medium celebrity status.” This may hold true to his stature of fame, yet Burress has become a heavy-weight among contemporary comedians.

The New York Times called Burress one of the most “supremely gifted and respected” comics around. His rise to notoriety has been comprised of stand-up specials and small-roles that have led to larger and recurring roles. His most notable being a fixed cast member on the Comedy Central hit series ‘Broad City’. Burress is also recognized for his co-host spot on ‘The Eric Andre Show’ of Adult Swim. He hosts the podcast ‘The Handsome Rambler’ and has worked alongside established stand-up greats like Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle. Along with performing his routines, Burress has written for Saturday Night Live and NBC’s show 30 Rock and has been used for voiceover work in the animated movies ‘The Secret Life of Pets’ and ‘Angry Birds’.

In the early minutes after 8 p.m., the theater began to fill as late arrivals pardoned their way into their seats, music blared and bumped throughout the venue, and Tony Trimm, Burress’ DJ and cohost of The Handsome Rambler podcast, played trendy rap music that coincided with a video display. Ten minutes into the music Trimm then interrupted the music stream with a hyping welcome to the crowd and brought to the stage the opening act, Kamari Stevens.

Stevens, a young comedian who hails from New Orleans, carved out laughs throughout his 25-minute set. His views on trendy rap music, internet antics and shady pizza deliveries along

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with other follies of New Orleans’ Ninth Ward were well received.

Hannibal Burress came onto stage at 8:35 and filled the Saenger Theater for the next hour and a half with constant laughter from the audience.

From on-set movie happenings and next-level fan experiences to crooning the crowd with an auto-tuner and using a video display to show

recent situations of his personal life made public, Burress killed it from beginning to end and all in between.

Senior broadcast journalism major Crystal Tolible had a chance to interact with Burress when the comedian probed the crowd with questions.

“It is now one of my top five favorite moments

in life,” Tolible said. “He was absolutely hilarious, and I didn’t expect any of that to happen.” The banter session highlighted Burress’ quick wit.

“Hilarious! Hannibal Burress delivered,” Peter Kelly of Hattiesburg said. Kelly, who attended the show with a small entourage of friends and family said he was appreciative of Hub City Comedy for bringing quality entertainment to the local entertainment scene.

Jamie Arrington, founder of Hub City Comedy, was responsible for bringing the comedy powerhouse to Hattiesburg. “Comics like coming here because people are really appreciative,” Arrington said. “Hannibal has been here three times already, and this will be his fourth.” Arrington has reeled in talent to Hattiesburg with a list that reads like a who’s who of popular comics. Big names like Frank Caliendo, Tig Notaro, Kyle Kinane and Tom Segura just to name a few. Following the show, the Hub City Comedy Facebook page published a post that reads, “Another huge show announcement coming soon.”

Event Coordinator for the Saenger Theater Zach Newsom said, “We were actually approached after the Tig Notaro show by Hub City Comedy. They mentioned he might be interested in playing, and it developed from there.” Burress’ rise warrants larger venues for his shows, and Newsom said, “We were happy to accommodate.”

Hattiesburg native Alex Martin said, “I bought tickets the day they came out.” Martin mentioned how much she enjoyed stand-up performances and was out on the town for date night with boyfriend Steven Sly. The couple has seen several shows, most recently Kevin Hart.

“After seeing Kevin Hart in August, I was wondering how [Burress] would live up to the bar Hart set, and I have to say Hannibal did just that,” Sly said. The couple are hopeful for more ‘big-name’ acts to continue to grace Hattiesburg.

For more information on upcoming shows in Hattiesburg, visit Hub City Comedy on Facebook.

ENTERTAINMENT OCTOBER 24, 2018

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2018’s ‘Halloween’ is terrifyingly stunning JACK MCCALLUM PRINTZ REPORTER

amie Lee Curtis returns in the role of Laurie Strode to fight off Michael Myers in the David Gordon Greendirected “Halloween.” Where many of the other sequels fall flat or come across as cheap, the 2018 sequel is a cinematic masterpiece with fantastic performances across the board. The decision to ignore the sequels is a great helper in reviving “Halloween” as a respectable film rather than a novelty.

“Halloween” starts off with two podcast friends entering the psychiatric institution where Michael Myers has been held for the past 40 years. This opening scene is filled with beautifully disturbing shots. As the scene ends with the podcast friends yelling at Michael, the title screen appears with John Carpenter’s “Halloween Theme” playing as the cast members’ names appear beside the glowing face of an inflating jack-o-lantern.

The story of Laurie Strode being alienated from her family and written off as a basket case after years of paranoia surrounding Michael might seem trite at first. However, the way the writing comes together and the amazing acting makes one forget all of that. It might not be surprising when Laurie reunites with her daughter at the most intense point in the movie, but the way it is done is touching and heartfelt.

A lot of surprising scenes and plot points come out of this movie, like with the portrayal of those inside the psychiatric facility. It is often that horror movies like to make out all psychiatric patients as victims, but “Halloween” doesn’t fall for that trap.

The movie makes it clear that Michael Myers is completely different than the other patients who escape the facility. The trope of the survivor girl in a slasher flick surviving off of pure luck has been left behind with “Halloween.” It is incredibly exciting to see

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female characters thrive and survive off of their skill, not luck or the grace of some man.

The characters are all well written and there were no real weak points in the acting department. It can be truly awkward and frustrating watching the scenes that happen at the Halloween dance between Allyson and her date. There are plenty of great side characters who help lighten the mood and crack jokes like the kid Vicky babysits and the police officers.

There is no need to view any film other than the original before seeing the 2018 sequel. Even if you skip the original, it is easy to understand the film as the background is all pieced together in the first few minutes.

A general feeling of anxiety accompanies the viewing of this movie as every scene feels like the one where Michael Myers will pop up.

The haunting music of John Carpenter sends chills up one’s spine as they are being warned

of the evil’s presence. This haunting music is used interchangeably with pure silence, bringing a truly ominous and mysterious feeling to the theater.

If you love horror films, it is undeniable that the 2018 “Halloween” is a must. From beginning to end you will be on the edge of your seat. David Gordon Green’s “Halloween” is exactly how you should do fleshed-out, terrifying horror.

‘Hilda’ uses simplicity to tell impactful stories NATE SCHUMANN PRINTZ REPORTER

dding to its stock of quality original content, Netflix recently released “Hilda,” an animated television series that tells the story of an adventurous, young girl interacting with and coming to understand the world, one life lesson at a time.

The star of the show is its titular character, Hilda, a curious girl who likes to make friends and tries her best to do the right thing, no matter the consequences— which tends to place her and her friends in the middle of some fantastical and potentially dangerous situations.

“Hilda” is set in a world that is modeled after late 20th century Scandinavia. The settings viewers get to experience include the wilderness, which encompasses forests and grassy hills and whatnot, and the city of Trolberg, which reflects urban life from the time. The characters use corded phones and other examples of technology available at the time period. The open land and older technology help provide a tone of simplicity for the show, which I believe reflects the childlike innocence that is present in the series.

At the beginning of the series, Hilda is living in a cabin set out in the wilderness with her “Mum” and her pet deer-fox, Twig. The wilderness houses an array of supernatural creatures, both friendly and otherwise.

Hilda spends the majority of her young life up to this point sketching, befriending, and learning about as many of these creatures as possible, thereby leading audiences to understand her curious nature at the onset.

Through a series of events that resulted from Hilda’s adventuring, Hilda is forced to move from her house in

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the wilderness to the Trolberg, which is surrounded by a wall to keep out dangerous creatures. Hilda, who is used to rural living and has had limited experiencing interacting with other humans, is forced to adjust to urban living, along with the other challenges living in a human society entails.

Accompanying Hilda on her adventures are Frida and David, two human children Hilda befriends when she joins the “Sparrow Scouts,” and Alfur, a tiny elf that she met while living in the wilderness who has come to live with Hilda in Trolberg.

Each episode features an eventful adventure

that ultimately helps teach Hilda a life lesson. From avoiding shortcuts in life to dealing with peer pressure, “Hilda” engages with these concepts in a way that is not too on-the-nose and is ultimately very pleasant.

The art style for the animation is very simple.

Lacking a copious amount of details, the artwork depicts the characters using round edges, dark outlines and occasionally dots for their eyes. This approach seems intentional. By giving the art a simple style, viewers are not especially distracted by it and can spend more time processing the life lessons the show presents. Besides, while the art may seem simple, the characters and the landscapes are still quite charming.

One of the highlights for me, though, was the rich characterization. Each character possesses identifiable character traits that are consistently used throughout the show. Hilda is adventurous and straightforward.

Frida is a highly organized planner. David is cautious but brave. And Alfur loves contracts and paperwork.

Each character goes through developmental arcs, personal crises that they overcome to grow as characters and as people.

Not only do the characters show distinct traits on an individual level, “Hilda” illustrates realistic and sincere relationships between characters. Hilda has a strong, loving and respectful relationship with her mother. Oftentimes in cartoons, I am used to parents being depicted as “dumb” or otherwise unrealistically depicted. Hilda’s mother is depicted as a genuine person. She tries to understand her daughter and guide her through life. She sometimes makes mistakes, but she owns up to them and does her best to make sure Hilda understands right from wrong.

All-in-all, “Hilda” is a show that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. It presents fun and purposeful stories as well as likeable characters that are sure to give viewers a pleasant sense of wonder.

SPORTS OCTOBER 24, 2018

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Golden Eagles tie program win record GRANT CHIGHIZOLA SPORTS EDITOR

outhern Miss (11-4-1, 5-3-1 C-USA) split games against Middle Tennessee State and UAB this past weekend as part of the team’s three-game road trip to close out the regular season, but tied the program record for wins and were able to clinch a spot in the C-USA Women’s Soccer Tournament during that span.

On Friday, Oct. 19, the Golden Eagles earned a close 1-0 win over the Blue Raiders.

The only score of the game came on a goal from sophomore Caitlin Pierce in the 42nd minute of the match. Pierce’s goal was her first goal scored during her time at Southern Miss.

Sophomore goalkeeper Kendell Mindnich continued her string of solid performances in the goal, grabbing four saves in the shutout.

The win gave the Golden Eagles 11 wins on the season, tying the program record for wins set during the inaugural 1997 season.

The road trip continued for the Golden Eagles on Sunday as they traveled to Birmingham, Alabama, for a contest against UAB. Southern Miss was unable to get win number 12 against the Blazers, however, as UAB scored early in the eighth minute and later in the second half at the 48th minute mark to come away with the 2-0 win over the Golden Eagles. Southern Miss outshot UAB 11-8 in the contest, but five UAB saves helped the Blazers keep the shutout going.

However, despite the loss, the team clinched its spot in the C-USA tournament for the first time since 2007 after a Charlotte loss and a Marshall draw helped the team clinch a spot.

Now, Southern Miss will travel to Ruston, Louisiana for its final regular season contest against Louisiana Tech. Play is set to begin at 7 p.m. on Oct. 26.

Jessica Shepherd dibbles ball past defender.

Michael Sandoz | Printz

Golden Eagles fall short to FAU and FIU JALEN DOGAN PRINTZ REPORTER

he Southern Miss volleyball team dropped both games of its Florida road trip, losing to Florida Atlantic in four sets and Florida International in five sets.

On Oct. 19, Southern Miss and FAU battled through two close sets to start off the match, but FAU was able to squeeze out wins of 25-22 and 27-25 to take an advantage in the first two sets over the Golden Eagles.

However, Southern Miss fought back and delivered a 25-21 win in the third match.

In the fourth set, the two teams played a close battle, but FAU was ultimately able to fend off Southern Miss’ comeback attempt, winning the final set 27-25. Senior Kylie Grandy ended the night with a game-high 21 kills and also tacked on an additional 15 digs.

Senior Alexis Coombs also added another 13 kills and fellow senior Sarah Bell added 53 assists.

The Golden Eagles as a whole posted a total of 61 kills and ended the match with a .273 hitting percentage, along with 56 assists and eight blocks.

Southern Miss turned around and played FIU on Oct. 21. The Golden Eagles started off the match strong, scoring wins of 25-21 and 29-27 in the opening two sets. However, FIU quickly fought back, with 25-21 and 25-23 victories in the third and fourth sets to tie the contest at 2-2. Continuing with its momentum, FIU closed out the game with a

Hannah Beaver | Printz

15-13 victory in the fifth set.

Southern Miss ended the match with a total of 74 kills and 37 errors. The Golden Eagles posted just a .191 hitting percentage and also tacked on two aces. Bell led the

Sarah Bell sets up Alexis Coombas for a kill.

crew, recording 62 assists and adding on an additional 23 digs. Sophomore Chandler Marshall also added an additional 22 kills.

The match dropped the Golden Eagles to 11-12 and 4-5 in C-USA play. The

Golden Eagles return back home to Reed Green Coliseum on Tuesday, as they host Southeastern Louisiana.

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Golden Eagles run game finds identity in UTSA win DARRELL REESE JR. PRINTZ REPORTER

stablishing a running game had to be the main focus for this game, and that is just what Southern Miss (3-3, 2-1 C-USA) did in its homecoming win over UTSA (35, 2-2 C-USA.) Saturday, Oct. 20. With a final score of 27-17, The Golden Eagles dominated the rushing attack, rushing for 218 total yards in the contest and holding UTSA to 57 yards on the ground.

Heading into the game, Southern Miss was coming off a tough loss to North Texas where they gained just 50 yards rushing on the ground.

Freshman running back Trivenskey Mosley was dominant in the running game throughout the night. He handled the ball 26 times on the ground and rushed for 147 yards while also catching three passes for 38 yards.

“My O-line and receivers were blocking well,” Mosley said. “My coaches called the right plays, and I just did my job. We had a lot of fun.”

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Jack Abraham had a solid outing on the night as well, racking up 269 passing yards and completing 28 out 33 of his passes. Abraham also had two total touchdowns and rushed for 28 yards. The quarterback showed poise in the pocket and was barely pressured throughout the game.

Sophomore wide receiver Tim Jones showed great promise in the receiving game and proved that he can be trusted when thrown to. Jones had a career-high night with seven catches for 107 yards.

“Tim is one of those all-purpose receivers,” Hopson said. “He can block and he can catch.

He’s got good speed. Tim is a dependable guy.

You want that guy that can do it all and he can do it all.”

Even though redshirt sophomore receiver Quez Watkins has been Abraham’s most reliable

Hannah Beaver | Printz

target this season, Jones’ performance proved that he can be a trustworthy target for Abraham moving forward.

Early on in the game, UTSA just could not move the chains on the Southern Miss defense, but fatigue kicked in late in the third quarter and the dynamic changed. Even though the Golden Eagles defense was slightly winded in the second half, they still had that “bend but don’t break”

Trivenskey Mosley rushes for 147 yards.

mentality.

On offense, Southern Miss was perfect in the turnover department in the first half. However, all of that changed in the second half. The Golden Eagles turned the ball over three times in the second half, including a pick six thrown by Abraham at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

Southern Miss Head Coach Jay Hopson praised the offensive line’s performance,

especially in helping to establish the run game.

“They moved well, [blocked] well,” Hopson said. “Sometimes, competition is a great thing. I thought the O-line did a great job and Trivenskey is getting better and better.”

Now, with the much-needed homecoming and conference win in the books, the team will go back on the road to play Charlotte. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Oct. 27.

Scouting report for Southern Miss-Charlotte ANDREW ABADIE EXECUTIVE EDITOR

harlotte is experiencing one of its best seasons since entering the FBS in 2015. The 49ers now sit at 3-4 overall, already an improvement from last year’s 1-11 season, with the two main components of its success being its defense and run game.

The reason for the 49ers turnaround success on defense is the presence of first year defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer, who coached at Oklahoma State for 10 seasons.

“I went against their DC a number of times, he was at Oklahoma State for a long time,” Offensive Coordinator Shannon Dawson said. “They do a couple different things upfront. When you start look at it, it looks like they are all over the place. The level of moving parts and trying to confuse the offense is high. There’s a couple of different packages he uses. He’s done a really good job in a short amount of time with the same people.”

Charlotte is ranked third in total defense in Conference USA, while Southern Miss is ranked first in the conference. Charlotte is also ranked fifth in stopping teams on third down, but allows 27 points per game.

Offensively, Charlotte’s starting quarterback Chris Reynolds is out for the year due to injury. Despite the loss, the 49ers held strong in a 21-13 loss to Middle Tennessee State. Taking Reynolds’ place is Evan Shirreffs, a graduate student transfer from Miami. Shirreffs has 53% completion

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percentage rate and has thrown two touchdowns, two interceptions and 327 passing yards after just a game and a half.

“He managed the game decently for Charlotte last week,” Defensive Coordinator Tim Billings said. “They didn’t ask him to do a lot. So to be honest, I don’t have a real good feel for him yet. The one thing they

Quez Watkins runs past defender.

did not do was change the philosophy of the offense. They are going to run their plays out of their set personnel.”

However, the quarterback change has not greatly changed Charlotte’s offensive philosophy, as its offense is built off its running game. Charlotte running back Benny LeMay leads the team in rushing with

664 yards and six touchdowns. The 49ers have a total of 998 yards and 10 touchdowns overall on the season.

“They are really doing a great job of running the football. They’ve got an older offensive line, they are really physical. What’s tough there, is that they make you put a bunch of people in the box to stop the run but then they hit you with the play action pass,” Billings said. “They have a couple of young receivers [that are] a little bit speedier than they have been in the past. They have been doing a real good job of keeping their defense off the field and keeping the other team’s offense off the field and so their time of possession is really good. We just have to stop the run and get them in passing situations” Despite the 27-17 win and finally having success in the run game against UTSA last Saturday, the biggest area of concentration for Southern Miss will be protecting the football after three turnovers against the Roadrunners.

“Our biggest issue Saturday was ball security. We’re moving the ball. We could have made that game very easy if we don’t turn the ball over,” Dawson said. “You have to care enough to take care of the football. We were very fortunate to win that game because when you turn the ball over three times and they don’t the ball over any, Probably over 90% of the time you lose that game and it does not matter who you are playing. Monroe game, four turnovers, we lose by one. If you turn the ball over that many times you are going to lose the game, period.”