| Southern Miss Golden Eagles | |
| University | University of Southern Mississippi |
|---|---|
| Conference(s) | Conference USA |
| Association | NCAA Division I FBS |
| Athletics director | Richard Giannini |
| Location | Hattiesburg, MS |
| Varsity teams | 14 |
| Football stadium | M.M. Roberts Stadium ("The Rock") |
| Basketball arena | Reed Green Coliseum |
| Baseball stadium | Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field |
| Other arenas | Southern Miss Softball Complex Track & Field and Soccer Complex |
| Mascot | Seymour d'Campus |
| Nickname | Golden Eagles Previous: Tigers, Normalites, Yellow Jackets, Confederates, Southerners |
| Fight song | Southern to the Top |
| Colors | Black and Gold
|
| Homepage | SouthernMiss.com |
The Southern Miss Golden Eagles represent The University of Southern Mississippi in Division I athletics. The teams compete in Conference USA.
The school's earliest nickname was Tigers. Thereafter came such nicknames as Normalites (from Mississippi Normal College, the early name of the University), Yellow Jackets, Confederates, and Southerners. Golden Eagles was selected in a student/alumni vote in the early 1970s. Seymour d'Campus is the name of the modern-day mascot eagle.
Southern Miss has a long history in the NCAA, and its intercollegiate sports teams operate under the auspices of the university's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics sponsors. Bowl games, conference championships, and All-American athletes have all been frequent occurrences at Southern Miss. Among notable alumni is former NFL quarterback Brett Favre and former NFL punter Ray Guy.
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Football is, arguably, the most successful program in Golden Eagle athletics. Over its entire history, the football team has won two College Division national championships in 1958 and 1962, respectively. The team also has been the leader in Conference USA, winning three of the league’s first four championships. Entering the 2011 season, Southern Miss is also just one of a handful of programs in the nation that has posted 16 consecutive winning seasons. The program has had three undefeated seasons overall, including a 9-0 season in 1958. Thirty All-Americans have graced the Southern Miss side- lines, including 12 first-team selections. In their history, the Golden Eagles have sent dozens of players to the NFL, including NFL Team of the Century member Ray Guy and three-time NFL Most Valuable Player Brett Favre.
The University of Southern Mississippi has won the national championship in football, as voted by the UPI, in both 1958 and 1962 of what was then known as the "College" Division (versus "University"). At that time, Southern Miss was called Mississippi Southern College.[1]
Southern Miss' football history currently includes 16-straight winning seasons, eight consecutive bowl appearances and four league championships [5] in the 12-year history of Conference USA. In 2007, the Golden Eagles and Coach Jeff Bower were selected as conference team and coach of the decade [6] respectively.
After 17 years as head football coach, 14 of those being consecutive winning seasons, Jeff Bower was forced to resign.[7] Former Oklahoma State University offensive coordinator, Larry Fedora, was named as his replacement.[8]
Under first year head coach Larry Fedora, the Golden Eagles posted a 7-6 record after a dismal 2-6 start. The Golden Eagles won five straight games to finish the season, including wins over 2008 C-USA champion East Carolina and a New Orleans Bowl win over Sun Belt Conference champion Troy University. Also in 2008, the Golden Eagles football team boasted an 80% graduation rate [9] and the men's program was awarded the 2008 David M. Halbrook Award [10] for Academic Achievement Among Athletes having the best graduation rate of any of the eight public universities in the state of Mississippi.
The Lady Eagles also have a storied history. With 10 postseason appearances, the women's program is the most proficient at Southern Miss. In those 10 appearances, they have made the NCAA Tournament 8 times advancing to the Sweet 16 in 1994. The team has had two All-Americans including Janice Felder in 1994.
The Southern Miss Lady Eagles softball team made it to the Women's College World Series in 1999 and 2000 behind the arm of Courtney Blades.[11]
The Southern Miss Golden Eagles baseball team made its first ever appearance in the College World Series in 2009.
Eagle Fever, Anyone. Anywhere. Anytime. and Go Gold! are the rallying cries that Golden Eagle students and fans have used to help create such traditions as Homecoming and EagleFest, tailgating in The District, Friday Night at the Fountain pep rallies, the Eagle Walk at The Rock, the game-day Eagle Walk parade, the Painting of the Eagle Walk, the Junior Eagle Club Tunnel, the band's Fifth Quarter Concert, featuring a hallmark rendition of Amazing Grace.
The Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team participates as a member of Conference USA and plays its home games in M.M. Roberts Stadium. In 2008, after 17 years at the helm of the USM Football program, Jeff Bower was replaced by Larry Fedora. Fedora is charged with continuing a tradition that has seen Southern Miss be the model of consistency for the past 20 + years. Noted professional athletes Brett Favre and Ray Guy both played for the University of Southern Mississippi.
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