By By Stan Caldwell/EMG Sports Writer
September 28, 2002
HATTIESBURG Whoever drew up the 2002 football schedule for the University of Southern Mississippi sure did the Golden Eagles a big favor.
A week after a brutal and demoralizing trip to Alabama, USM gets a chance to solve the many problems that showed up in that 20-7 whipping in a Conference USA contest against Army. Kickoff is noon today at Michie Stadium in West Point, N.Y.
That hasn't been easy this week, as the Eagles' practice schedule has been disrupted by Tropical Storm Isidore, which dumped some 10 inches of rain on the Hattiesburg area. USM was forced to alter its practice routine on Tuesday, practiced at 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, then worked indoors on Thursday.
It probably won't make a difference against the Cadets, who are 0-3 overall and 0-1 in C-USA after last week's 45-14 loss to Louisville. Army has struggled with turnovers and injuries, and suffered embarrassing non-conference defeats to Holy Cross and Rutgers.
tenacious, and they'll play hard from start to finish."
The Golden Eagles carry a record of 3-1 and 1-0 into Saturday's game, but USM coaches aren't assuming anything against Army.
Once one of the leading proponents of the true option attack, the Cadets have gone for a more balanced, multiple attack under third-year head coach Todd Berry.
They're very similar to our offense in terms of formations," said USM defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix. "They'll run a one-back system and they'll keep a tight end in the game, sometimes two. But we're going to do what we do, play our scheme and take advantage of what we do best."
On offense, the Golden Eagles will try to shake off the effects of last week's loss to Alabama, which completely stifled the USM attack.
USM will try to take advantage of its size advantage against the smaller Cadet defenders.
Senior Derrick Nix continues to lead the conference in rushing with 531 yards on 78 carries (132.8 yards per game). Nix will hope to have similar success to his and the team's first visit to the Hudson Valley, when he carried for 163 yards in a 37-13 win in 1998. USM also won the only other meeting between the two teams, 24-0 in 1999 at Roberts Stadium.