Football is not practicing today, but I did get a fun interview set up. I will be recording an interview with both Mark Jaakson and Artur Konontsuk this afternoon. This should be fun. Artur is a character and he and Mark have been friends for years. If you guys have anything you want asked, please list in the thread.......

ESPNu radio right now

What do we really expect at this point? Before the season began we lost multiple star players from our roster. Then Hop coaches a horrible opener & then quits. (He looked like he quit coaching to me even before last year). Then Walden is giving the reign and creates some excitement & then quits on our school & team. (Horrible judgement & lack of character).

These guys have been put in a situation that none of us can imagine. I told my wife when we came out with no energy that we looked like we were back to the Hopson era. It’s horrible and I don’t know how we will ever dig our way out of this. So disappointing.

Last time we were pummeled at home by Rice, we hired Larry Fedora.

Did we purposely throw the game? No way we are as bad as Saturday.

Most don’t see this as a possibility but could it be true?

Trey Lowe:

Was excited to get into the game today.
He has been preparing past 2 weeks and he felt he was ready
Rice didn't do anything special on defense
He wished he could have done better
He didn't feel like they lost energy without Walden

Billings:

He really thought they played hard, but didn't execute
Gave up too many big plays in 1st half
Played better on defense n 2nd half
Eagles are not efficient on both sides of the ball.
They made a few changes on defense and moved some guys around to different spots on the 2nd half that made a difference.
They have got to get healthy on offense.
Rice did a good job of controlling the time of possession
With Jack coming off injury, they didn't want to run the ball much. Which led to the throwing game plan. Jack got most snaps which was why Lowe was really unprepared.
Jack should be OK, Sykes is on crutches, will be evaluated.
It is a mental thing with this team.

Hayes Maples:

They didn't do anything special in the game.
We have to learn to build energy that was lost with Walden
He thinks they started executing better on defense
They just have to put everything together. He believes they could be a good defense.

before they all withdraw their names!!

With the new rules the NCAA has or will still probably put in place, transferring will be the new norm in college sports. Take a look at what is happening in Starkville. When they beat LSU early this season, everyone was happy, bandwagon promos were being made, it was all glorious at Scott Field. Now that some adversity has hit, and Mike Leech is probably doing some house cleaning, there are multiple guys sitting out and transferring. I am afraid that the NCAA is actually cutting any authority coaches or schools have had. Kids do not have to "stick it out" or figure out a way to make things better if they are not happy. They can just now leave and not lose any eligibility. I am afraid that all the NCAA has done is create a free agency system in college football. If the NCAA was so worried about their rules being broken, then why are they passing rules that easily allow that to take place? Get ready, cause this has just only started.

From the desk of the "Old Lefty" himself, Jack Duggan

General
* Captains – 2 Eriq Kitchen, 6 Santrell Latham, 7 Darius Maberry, 17 Jason Brownlee
* Southern Miss won the toss and elected to receive. The Golden Eagles defended the North End Zone

Offensive Notes
* R-So. QB Trey Lowe (West Virginia transfer) made his Southern Miss debut on the first play of the Golden Eagles’ final offensive drive of the second quarter.
* Cole Cavallo tallied an 18-yard reception with 00:26 remaining in the second quarter, marking his longest reception of the 2020 season.
* R-Fr. Antavious Willis logged the first rush of his Southern Miss career when he picked up three yards on a rush reverse with 2:04 remaining in the second quarter.
* Lowe registered his first rush as a Golden Eagle when he rushed for five yards up the middle with 2:04 remaining in the second quarter.

Defensive Notes
* Santrell Latham’s sack in the third quarter marked his third sack in the last two games.
* With Latham’s third quarter sack, the Golden Eagles’ defense has now recorded at least one sack in every game that they have played this season.
* R-Jr. DL Tahj Sykes ended the game with a single-game career-high (Southern Miss) five tackles.
* Fr. LB Michael Pleas Jr. registered a single-game career-high (Southern Miss) four tackles in the contest.

Special Team Notes
* Briggs Bourgeois connected on a 45-yard field goal with 8:05 remaining in the second quarter. Bourgeois is now 3-3 on the season in field goals attempted from 40+ yards. (Rice – 16, Southern Miss – 3).
* Bourgeois converted a 26-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter. (Rice – 23, Southern Miss – 6).

Here is what I am hearing.

Washington LT, Foxworth (healthy) G, LPS C, Doss G, Fletcher T

Clopton will get a few snaps at Center to work his way back in. Scott will also play some at Guard as he has looked really good the past few games.

Nice OT win over UAB!

Well, another big CUSA contest for USM. Tim Jones will be back and that will be big. The Eagles can win this game.

FYI - Game being shown on channel 789 on Direct TV.

Is this Penn State or Rice we are playing everyone?!? Lol. It’s so tough to be a fan these days.

Coastal Carolina has 300 yards and 34 points in 1st HALF, against Georgia State, BTW Geaorgia state has only 100 yards and are averaging 450 a game, Chadwell can coach.

USM favored by 1-1/2. Opened at 3-1/2. Money going to Rice.

Billings
Excited for Scotty and his opportunity
In his 40 years of coaching, he has never been around a situation like this.
Billings found out yesterday afternoon and was asked by Scotty to lead the team.
This is not what he wanted to do or be, but this is about the kids and what they need and he is here for them.
He is the only guy who has been here since Hop was hired, that gives the kids continuity. They don't need anymore change at this point and they aren't changing a thing now.
The team was hurt early, but after Walden spoke to them, they understood plus the other coaches stepping up and talking to the kids, they felt much better.
He feels like the team is getting better offensively and young guys have really stepped up. He feels they are getting better at stopping the run, but have to improve the secondary and limit big plays.
The kids are a lot more resilient than most think they are. This will make them come together. Team controls their own destiny.
He is excited and happy to be the HC, but he knows he is not going to be the HC. He just wants to lead this team and help them win.

Jack Abraham:

He found out about Walden on Twitter, not good to find out like that.
He thought the team meeting was positive and liked what the coaches said.
Practice was really good today.
Team is optimistic about season, every goal attainable.
Billings is not as energetic and rah rah as Walden. He is not sure if they will miss the rah rah.
Jack said he feels great and will play Saturday.
Rice defense and plays hard and very similar to what they do.
Did not have terrible symptoms. He felt like he had a cold.
Offense will not change with Walden gone.
Saw the field goal at the end of Rice game, it was wild, never seen anything like that.
No concerns about returning from Covid.

I am hearing that Tate suffered a pretty bad concussion and will not be available tomorrow.

Time Jones will be back tomorrow. That will help the offense.

Nothing official on Clopton, but I doubt he plays.

Look to see Trey Lowe to get some snaps this week.

No Ragsdale this week. He is not sick, but it is something off the field. He is still on the team, so not sure it is disciplinary.

That is all I know as of now. Will update more as I find out.

1. Due to fan empathy/apathy and the current condition of the program, this hire is really a make or break hire for the Golden Eagle football program.

2. We now know that Jeremy will at least spend $750,000-$800,000 with the projection that the salary could be raised North of 1 million.

3. We also know from speaking to Jeremy that the assistants pay pool will be increased.

4. Multiple sources have told me that Freeze was interested in the job early on. Now after the success Liberty has had, he is getting interest from some P5 universities.

5. Austin Davis is interested in the job. He wants to be the next HC.

5. There has been interest from multiple people. Issue is, that due to the season really getting started all across college football now, they are being very quiet about who those guys are.

6. Looking at those who Jeremy has hired as head coaches, it is highly probable that the next HC will be an offensive minded coach.

7. It doesn't matter who the HC becomes, USM must invest in facilities and upgrading the amount of money spent. The fact that they spent a whole lot of money on upgrades to the M Club and built that new state of the art kitchen and now they can't even afford to pay staff to cook or even buy the food to cook has to change. I know that during Fall Camp that they had to feed the team burgers and fries while other schools were catering buffets in is a shame. Days like today are reasons why an IPF would be a great investment. Too many practice days are lost to bad weather.

8. This hire will depend on 3 things Jeremy must consider: 1. Will the hire excite and breathe life into a very discouraged fanbase. 2. Does previous head coaching experience factor heavily in Jeremy's decision. 3. Does Jeremy want USM as a stepping stone job for coaches. (If coaches are being hired away every 3 or 4 years then the program is successful.)

9. Will Jeremy choose a coach he has had dealings with in the past? Does his familiarity with someone play a role? (Lindsey at Troy as an example.)

Just some overall thoughts and some knowlege I have of the current situation.