TCU crashes to the ground in Hattiesburg
By By Tony Krausz/assistant sports editor
November 22, 2003
HATTIESBURG It took University of Southern Mississippi fans two minutes, 34 seconds to tear down the goal post in the South end zone of M.M. Roberts Stadium, also known as "The Rock," Thursday night.
While vandalism should never be applauded, forgive the black-and-gold faithful for participating in traditional college football hooliganism after their team's 40-28 win over the 10th-ranked TCU Horned Frogs in front of an ESPN national television audience.
At least the Golden Eagles fan base didn't torch their town after the big win, we're looking in your direction Columbus, Ohio.
Just as USM earned its first share of the Conference USA title since 1999, the 30,141 fans at "The Rock" earned the right to show some joy when the final whistle blew in the Horned Frogs-Eagles match up.
Game plans were being made in the stands of how best to take down a goal post at halftime, with the Eagles holding a strong 24-6 lead.
The representatives from the Fiesta and Orange bowls were wondering how fast they could get out of town, as TCU's Cinderella story of crashing the Bowl Championship Series party came tumbling down in the Magnolia State.
One press box brethren asked if what he was watching was a dream after USM extended its lead to 31-6 in the third quarter on Dustin Almond's third touchdown pass of the night.
But the dream soon looked to become a nightmare in the fourth quarter, as the Frogs rallied for 22 points in a span of 4 1/2 minutes.
TCU, which won five games this year by three points and one game by seven, seemed destine to torment USM again in the pivotal conference match-up.
The Frogs had notched wins in the last two years over the Golden Eagles, and Thursday's visitors squelched USM's bowl hopes last season with a 37-7 win in a nationally televised game.
But The Eagles offense slowed the Frogs' charge, getting the ball back with 6:51 left in the game.
Almond, who brilliantly threw for 227 yards on 14-of-23 passing, engineered a nine-play, 52-yard drive that ended with a Darren McCaleb field goal to up USM's lead to 34-28.
The late-game drive burned three minutes, 51 seconds off the game clock, and Almond highlighted the push with a 45-yard pass from the Eagles' 45 to the Frogs' 10-yard line to wide receiver Kenneth Johnson.
The catch also gave USM's defense a much needed rest to boost its energy.
TCU didn't surrender the ball to the Eagles' offense once during its 22-point rally in the fourth quarter leaving USM defenders gasping for air.
The near four-minute break paid off for the Eagles, as corner back Greg Brooks came up with what may very well be his signature play in a black-and-gold uniform.
The senior defensive back came loose on a blitz and crashed into TCU quarterback Brandon Hassell on the first play after the kick off. Brooks jarred the ball loose, and linebacker Rod Davis recovered the fumble on the Frogs' 11-yard line.
USM took three plays to seal the game with a two-yard touchdown run from Anthony Harris, who scored two touchdowns in the game.
It wasn't easy, but nothing has been for the Eagles this season.
USM was embarrassed in its season opener against California 34-2 on Aug. 30. Nebraska routed the Eagles 38-14 on Sept. 25, which was also an ESPN aired game.
Midway through the season, the Eagles stood at 3-3 and the season had all the makings for a mediocre campaign.
The Eagles already have a share of the conference title. A win over 1-9 East Carolina on Nov. 29 will give USM the league crown outright.
And you know the fans are ready to celebrate one more time, even if they don't get to take down another goal post.
