USM looks to run table in C-USA

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Nov. 28, 2003
HATTIESBURG The University of Southern Mississippi football team marches into the last week of the season on a five-game winning streak and a chance to do something the program hasn't done since 1999.
The Golden Eagles (8-3, 7-0 Conference USA) can claim their first outright conference championship in three years with a win over East Carolina University (1-10, 1-6 C-USA) on Saturday.
USM earned at least a share of the league title with its win over TCU last Thursday, and the team has its eyes set on a trip to the Liberty Bowl. The champion of the C-USA traditionally represents the conference in the Memphis-based bowl game.
Eagles head coach Jeff Bower has already talked about how big a game this is for his squad, but he is also not overlooking the struggling Pirates.
Though ECU's lone win came against winless Army, Bower said there is no guarantee that USM will become the first team to go undefeated in C-USA since 1999.
"We are playing a team that if you look at their overall win-loss (record), you can be misled," Bower said. "This is a very much improved football team. Over the last five games, they are averaging almost 28 points a game."
The Eagles are set to kick off against the Pirates at 1 p.m. Saturday on the road.
Bower is also very familiar with ECU's sideline leader.
First-year Pirates head coach John Thompson is a former Eagles' defensive coordinator.
"Of course, they will do a lot of stuff on defense and move around," Bower said. "We know what John does, or what he likes to do. There is no doubt he is coaching that football team and that defense when you look at them."
There is also little doubt that USM has turned the corner offensively during its current winning streak.
The Eagles have outscored their opponents 174-61 over the last five games, and quarterback Dustin Almond was named the C-USA Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against TCU.
Almond has thrown for 1,547 yards with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions this season, and running back Anthony Harris has complemented the passing game by running for 482 yards and six touchdowns.
With the offense flying high, the Eagles also have an edge going up against one of the program's former defensive coordinators.
"We go against our guys, and there are some similarities there," Bower said of the Pirates' defense. "There are some things that have changed too. It's still a pretty tough defense to get ready for with all the moving around."
On defense, USM will be facing a tough ground game.
ECU running back Marvin Townes has provided the majority of the Pirates' offensive punch this season, rushing for 1,039 yards, with eight touchdowns.
Townes has also hauled in 22 catches for 174 yards, while wide receiver Terrance Cooper has caught 77 passes for 799 yards and two touchdowns.
ECU quarterback Desmond Robinson has thrown for 1,262 yards and three scores this season.
"They are running the ball very well," Bower said. "They have a back who can go the distance. They are much improved, and we have to get ourselves ready to play the best we can."