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USM seeks more than moral victory
By The Associated Press
HATTIESBURG � When Nebraska hosted Southern Mississippi in 1999, the Golden
Eagles played well enough to receive a standing ovation from Cornhuskers
fans.
This time, they hope to play well enough to win.
Southern Mississippi gets another crack at knocking off Nebraska on Thursday
night, and the Golden Eagles are counting on the home-field advantage to
make a difference.
``People say that we only fit about 30,000 in our stadium, but our 30,000
ans are sitting on top of you,'' Southern Miss linebacker Rod Davis said.
``That is a great emotional and enthusiastic lift. We feed off them and they
feed off us.''
School officials expect a record crowd of more than 36,000 at M.M. Roberts
Stadium for the matchup with the No. 15 Cornhuskers.
``It's not too often we have a team like that come here,'' linebacker
Michael Boley said. ``It will just be a great atmosphere.''
USM (2-1) is averaging just 14 points per game and will be relying on backup
quarterback Dustin Almond. Starter Micky D'Angelo is out with a concussion.
So the Golden Eagles probably will need the type of sturdy defensive
performance they got in 1999. In that game, Southern Miss held a
fourth-ranked Nebraska squad to eight first downs, 185 yards and one
offensive touchdown. Still, the Huskers prevailed 20-13.
Those Cornhuskers went on to finish 12-1. The current group is coming off
its worst season in 40 years and trying to re-establish itself as one of the
elite teams in college football.
It's looked a lot more like the good old days in Lincoln so far this season.
With the No. 1 defense in the country and a punishing running game, the
Cornhuskers 3-0. Of course, Nebraska started 3-0 a year ago before hitting
the road and then hitting the skids.
Since a 62-36 loss at Colorado to end the 2001 regular season, Nebraska is
1-7 away from Lincoln. The Cornhuskers know that to return to prominence
they'll have to start winning on the road.
``The new coaching staff came in and said every game is like a business
trip,'' Nebraska tight end Matt Herian said. ``We have to go down there and
do a job � win the game. It's a philosophy of the coaching staff, how we
approach road games.''
The matchup with Southern Miss looks favorable for the Cornhuskers: The
Golden Eagles' offensive struggles have come against defenses not nearly as
good as Nebraska's.
The Blackshirts are allowing 208 yards and eight points per game.
``If we finish the season No. 1, that's saying something,'' cornerback
Fabian Washington said.
As usual, the Golden Eagles have a fast defense that will try to keep the
Cornhuskers guessing with an assortment of formations and blitzes. But
Southern Miss has shown a soft spot in the middle against the run, allowing
189 yards rushing per game.
That doesn't bode well against the burly Cornhuskers, who average 293 yards
on the ground.
In its last game, Nebraska ran the ball 72 times in an 18-10 victory over
Penn State on Sept. 13. Josh Davis carried 32 times for a career-high 179
yards, and Jammal Lord added 100 yards on 20 runs, while the Huskers threw
only six passes all game.
So the Golden Eagles know what's coming. The question is whether they stop
it.
``They will just line it up and run it down our throats,'' Rod Davis said.
``That's their power. We know what we have to do, and we are ready to step
up to the challenge. That will be the key to this game.''
02.23.07 10:48 AM
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