Golden Eagles honor Nix

By By Tony Krausz/assistant sports editor
October 26, 2003
HATTIESBURG Prior to the University of Southern Mississippi's game against the University of South Florida on Saturday, the Golden Eagles honored former running back Derrick Nix.
The USM graduate assistant had his career cut short by a kidney disease last season, and received a transplant from his brother this summer.
Nix's name was added to the side of M.M. Roberts Stadium that bares the names and numbers of Brett Favre and Sammy Winder in the spot of honor. He is the fifth member of the Southern Miss Football Legend's Club, joining Ray Guy, Reggie Collier, Winder and Favre.
Nix finished his career with 3,584 rushing yards, 12 yards short of the school record and 53 shy of the Conference USA record. He scored 30 touchdowns as an Eagle.
Big boot
USM punter Luke Johnson opened eyes and dropped jaws with his 76-yard punt against USF.
The sophomore from West Jones High School near Laurel rocketed the ball to the Bulls two-yard line, with 3:37 left in the opening half.
The punt was the longest of Johnson's career, and it was the second longest in school history.
USM capitalized on the field position forcing USF to punt after three plays, and the Eagles scored on a 10-yard pass from Dustin Almond to Kenneth Johnson for a 20-3 lead, with 1:12 left in the first half.
He finished the game with nine punts, averaging 45.5 yards.
Who's your quarterback?
Bower kept everyone in the dark about his quarterback decision until the first snap of the game.
The Eagles listed their starting quarterback prior to the game as Dustin Almond or Damion Carter or Micky D'Angelo. Almond said the players were in the dark as well.
The sophomore said started the game for the Eagles in grand fashion passing for an 80-yard touchdown on the game's first play.
Almond's fast start quickly tempered, as the 6-foot-2, 212-pound signal caller was sacked twice during the Eagles third offensive series.
Home sweet home
Saturday's game marked the third time the Eagles and the Bulls have faced each other.
USM's victory continued the home team's winning streak in the infant series. Prior to the game, the home team has left the field with the advantage in the previous two contests.
USM won the first match-up at Roberts Stadium 41-7, and USF took last year's game 16-13 at Raymond James Stadium.
Empty seats
Roberts Stadium, commonly referred to as "The Rock," didn't look as intimidating as it has in the past.
The Eagles' conference game with the Bulls drew only 23,708 fans to the stadium, as USM improved its C-USA record to 4-0. The team is 4-3 overall.
Prior to the game, the student section was all but bare, and numerous gold pom-poms laid limply on the bleachers.
One job
Bower and USF head coach Jim Leavitt met for the third time in the two coach's careers Saturday afternoon. Both sideline generals have coached at the same school their entire head coaching careers.
Bower is in his 13th season with USM, and Leavitt is in his seventh season with USF, which is also how long the program has existed. Bower has compiled an 84-61-1 record with the Eagles, and Leavitt has notched a 48-25 mark with the Bulls.