Bring mask .

It is Billings. That is who I had heard it was, now this is from USM. With USM naming a replacement, something tells me Scotty won't be available this weekend.

Article on coach

Southern Miss Football Coach Scotty Walden Tests Positive for COVID-19

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss interim football coach Scott Walden tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday morning and his status remains unclear for this weekend’s non-conference game at Liberty.

Will oversee practice from home. No one has been named as interim to the interim yet.

Walden:
Crazy year, Tough on team and players, they worked hard and wanted to play.
Been a really solid week of practice. Some of the best this season.
Safety comes first, which is why game is cancelled.
Not everyone who was out was due to having Covid. Some was contact tracing some were positive test.
20 Players were affected by this
Were down to 44 or 45 scholly players
The team was just down to to few players and it was not safe to play at that point.
We are doing everything in our power to play this week.
85-90% of team doing the right thing, but it just takes a few who are not to affect them all.
We believe in our protocols and adapting to new situations.
He does expect to get several guys back this week.
We will test every day this week.
He is really happy that the games can be rescheduled that the conference have moved back the season.
Coach Freeze and staff has done a really good job. They play hard and physical. They make you prepare for different looks on defense. They run the ball extremely well, running scheme is excellent. They create a tough and challenging matchups on offense.
Tim Jones is day to day.

Kubik:
We had a great week of practice. Didn't find out till after practice Friday.
Eagles might get a couple of guys back from injury.
Liberty defense is a lot like South Alabama from a scheme standpoint. They have really good DE, LB are fast and physical. They are well coaches and do a good job of being in position to make plays.
With Liberty playing 5 games the coaches finally have an opportunity to watch more than one or 2 films.
Their DE might be slightly undersized, but are extremely fast. Eagles must stay ahead of the chains.
LPS had a great week of practice. Trace is back with us, but not sure when he will be able to get back in there.
The RB group should be back to about full if not full this week.

Pecoraro:
He feels the defense is improving. Team was disappointing they could not play.
Liberty is an extremely talented offense. Do a good job in the run and pass game. Their O-Line does a good job.
Their talent will make stopping them a challenge.
The QB is a true duel threat who is as tough to stop as any of their RB.
The time off has helped some guys getting back off injury. These two weeks have been nice with lack of Spring ball.

Arvin Fletcher:
Team has handles the last 2 weeks pretty well.
It was nice to get some guys back.
Enjoyed being miked up for 11 brothers, it showed how much fun we can have.
Liberty has a good DL, they are fast and are well coached and run fast.
The team has learned that when things don't go your way, just calm down and it stuff will work itself out.

Hemby:
Been tough not to play, everyone is eager to play right now.
Team moral is high. They have been attacking practice like crazy. Stay positive, they have been getting stronger together. Walden's energy has been lifting us up.
Liberty QB is a great athlete, he can throw, run, and throw on the run.
Got to stay at home this week and play their position and keys on defense.
it is such an odd year, this team has become your family. That has gotten the defense better by trusting in each other. Everyone has been giving it 100% at practice.

Watched the Packers/Bucs game yesterday. Rakeem playing first team defense due to injury to starter in past. He made several good plays and got positive comments from TV play by play announcers.

I remember when he declared for the draft after his junior year...Monken thought he should have stayed another year. He was not drafted but was signed as a free agent by the Chiefs. Has hung on for several years on practice squads and finally has his opportunity to start 7 years later.

I love seeing any USM player succeed no matter the team.

Is, and if so where, is our game with Liberty on TV.

Here is the link to FM 104.5 Hattiesburg...

Southern Miss Baseball Skipper Scott Berry was kind enough to take a few minutes a chat with Big Gold Nation about his team's Fall scrimmages here in 2020. Overall, Coach Berry is extremely happy with what he has seen from his young team and veteran pitching staff. Here is the transcript of the interview:

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One never knows how a conversation is going to go when speaking to a coach for the first time. I had the opportunity to speak to Mississippi HOF member and former Mississippi State head basketball coach (he took the Bulldogs to the Final 4) Richard Williams about coming to Southern Miss as an assistant on Jay Ladner's staff. I knew this was going to be fun when picked up the phone and said, "Heath, do you know you are interrupting me listening to some Eric Clapton?"

I have to say there is more to this conversation that will be out later. Coach was a lot of fun to talk with.

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He is very happy with what he has seen so far. I will have more out about this this afternoon. As soon as the morning football presser is over, I will get that conversation out to you.

Please join us for the next 2020 Central Mississippi Eagle Club luncheon on Thursday, October 22nd from 11:30 am-1:00 pm. The presentation will be via Zoom and the speakers are to be determined at this point.



The luncheon and presentation will be held at the Hilton Jackson located at 1001 East County Line Road in the main lobby Fitzgerald's lounge area with social distancing. The meal will be $19 and consist of a full buffet served by the Hilton staff from the restaurant area. If crowds are too large, overflow will be seated in the Crown room next to the restaurant. Those planning to attend can use any entrance and are asked to wear a mask while going to and from the meeting location.



Pleae note, you must be in attendance to be part of the presentation.



For more information or to respond with your desire to attend, please contact:



Benjie Barham (bbarham@fountainconstruction.com) or

Steve Frazier (usmeaglerock@gmail.com)



SOUTHERN MISS TO THE TOP!

Arkansas State head coach Blake Anderson is shaking up his defensive staff just one day after the Red Wolves surrendered 583 total yards in a 59-52 win over Georgia State on Thursday night at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro.

Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach David Duggan and defensive pass game coordinator Ed Pinkham have been relieved of their coaching duties. Both coaches were in their second season with the Red Wolves after joining the program in 2019.

Greg Brooks Junior, son of former USM and Bengals defensive back (6th round, played 3-4 years in NFL) Greg Brooks, starts for Arkansas, has an interception versus Ole Miss today. Everyone remembers not getting a sniff from Surtain Junior (to be fair, he was a national top 10, it wasn’t realistic to expect him to even visit here), but apparently here’s another son of a former player that didn’t give us a look. I had never heard of him before I looked up the Ole Miss game box score 10 minutes ago. Started every game as a freshman last year, had an interception. Given our coverage troubles the past couple years, he could probably have helped. Well, assuming suspect coaching and Hopson’s famous patented rush 3, play 8 in a soft zone didn’t hang him out to dry like it has every other defensive back the past few years.

Here’s a little smoke from sources- a few names to keep an eye on in the coaching search: Will Hall, Kevin Johns and I know this one is kind of out of left field... Austin Davis.

Watching next week’s opponent on ESPN+. Now 21-14 Liberty with 7 minutes left in the first half. Liberty has a little Lampley-esque running back that has 4 carries for 137 yards and 2 TD’s. Next week will be tough

Coach is still at the rehab facility. Progress has slowed somewhat. He is getting PT almost every day. Coach still needs everyone's thoughts and prayers.

This is the update I just received. When I find out something more I will let you know.