By By Stan Caldwell / EMG Sports Writer
Sept. 14, 2002
HATTIESBURG Now it gets serious for the University of Southern Mississippi.
After two non-conference wins to open the season, the Golden Eagles open Conference USA play Saturday when they host the University of Memphis at M.M. Roberts Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
Memphis is led by sophomore quarterback Danny Wimprine, who has completed 43-of-70 passes (61.4 percent) for 516 yards and seven touchdowns so far this season. DeAngelo Williams and Dante Brown share the running load for the Tigers. Williams has 130 yards on 14 carries (9.3 yards per carry) and Brown has 129 yards on 17 carries (7.6 yards per carry).
The Tigers are 1-1 for the season, defeating Murray State 52-6 in their opener, then losing to Ole Miss 38-16 last week at Oxford.
This is the oldest rivalry for both schools, with Saturday's game being the 53rd meeting in the series. USM leads the so-called "Black and Blue Game" 34-17-1. But Memphis pinned a 22-17 defeat on the Golden Eagles last season in Memphis, so incentive is high for USM to administer a payback. It was USM's first loss in the series since 1993.
The Golden Eagles felt like they gave away the game last year, handing the Tigers five turnovers, but Bower said his team simply wasn't in the game mentally.
The Golden Eagles figure to do against Memphis pretty much what they did in last week's 23-20 victory over Illinois, which is run the football. Senior tailback Derrick Nix rushed for 201 yards on 27 carries against the Fighting Illini, while the Tigers gave up 214 yards on the ground against the Rebels.
USM expects Memphis to load up to stop Nix, but Klenakis said that could backfire, because, "we know how to throw the ball."
Sophomore quarterback Micky D'Angelo has been solid in his first two collegiate starts. He has completed 27-of-49 passes for 444 yards and two touchdowns, and, most importantly, no interceptions.
Key to the offense for USM has been solid play from the offensive line. The Eagles returned three starters up front from last season, plus a senior reserve, and that experience has shown in the first two games.