Marshall wins vs Troy so still 1 game up on them

Moves to 24-5, 13-3. That is 24 wins which doubles the win today of past 3 seasons, is the 5th time going undefeated at home (2013-2014 doesn't count due to NCAA Violations while Donnie T was HC), and the Golden Eagles have secured a first round bye at the SBC Tournament in Pensacola.

2 wins next week or 2 losses by Marshall will secure the SBC Reg Season title and an automatic bid to the NIT.

It looks like we have not spent the necessary time in the rock piles this year to be good with the bats. Let's hope hitting improves.

Pitching was solid today. How is the staff on paper this year???

There is nothing quite like opening day of college baseball.

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Friday: Tanner Hall
Saturday: Matt Adams
Sunday: Niko Mazza

All RHP

The last rating had us at 58, but presently we are at 60. How do you drop when you have won 9 straight? On the other hand, the RPI has us at 32. Something is questionable about the NET system. Maybe we should lose a game and see if we move up.

It has been a great year. A win at USA will be an excellent start for the last three games. Of the previous 3, only one is at home; even so, we have a great shot at a sweep.

Last year, there was no excitement because we didn't expect to win and rarely did. Looking forward to a perfect finish.

I’m sure some have wonder where I’ve been as the season has started up! We had a family emergency and my mother-in-law passed away yesterday So I have been preoccupied.

But what an EXPLOSIVE offense we had last night! While it’s to be expected that score is what it should be given the team we played. If you look back to last years score when we played them 3-1 and 7-4. While we won the same batters were producing not the entire team. Last night each run scored came from a different player and that’s exciting!!

The girls are having fun, you can see they are no longer playing cautiously and fearing of making the mistake. I will quote myself… “If Coach Poole can bring back the love and fun of the game, this team is going to be so much fun to watch.” We have the talent, we needed the right leadership and we have found that!

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Any word if Ivory will be available?

Hopefully, a game like this will help the Southern Miss players get the bats going. This game will certainly help the batting averages.

I wanted to ask about the new rules in place this season. He does believe the pitch clock will speed up the game, but it shouldn't make much if any of a difference. They have been practicing with new rules. He did say that if any players have issues it will be batters. Batters may have trouble because there is no waiting around, shuffling feet, kicking dirt around, drawing symbols in dirt for good luck, etc. and that could throw their timing off at the plate.

He also told me that in CUSA there were only 27 players allowed on the daily active roster. The SBC allows 32 on the active roster. He said he didn't know if it would be more pitching or position players on the active 32 man roster. They will come to that conclusion after first few weeks of the season.

They will also have instant replay this season. The SBC only requires instant replay for conference games, but USM will use it the whole season.

Baseball is right around the corner, and it can't get here fast enough.

Chad Williams will now coach ILB, Dwike Wilson from South Alabama will now coach CB at Southern Miss.

I know they have moved up a level in football but 2024 it seems a little soon to play a road game there. Are they paying a lot?

From Southern Miss SID:

Southern Miss Announces Four Future Football Series

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The University of Southern Mississippi announced Tuesday the addition of three upcoming home-and-home football series against Mississippi State, USF and Jacksonville State, along with two home games against Alcorn State.

Southern Miss and Mississippi State will renew their series during the 2030 and 2031 campaigns, while the USF games take place in 2024 and 2028. Southern Miss additionally meets Jacksonville State on the gridiron in both 2024 and 2025, along with meetings with Alcorn State for the 2023 and 2026 seasons.

The series with MSU opens in Hattiesburg, Sept. 14, 2030, and will then go to Starkville on Sept. 13, 2031.

The USF series takes place in Hattiesburg, Sept. 14, 2024, and in Tampa, Sept. 23, 2028, while the Jacksonville State series will be played Sept. 21, 2024, in Jacksonville, Ala., and at The Rock on Sept. 27, 2025.

Alcorn State opens the 2023 season with the Golden Eagles, Sept. 2, while the Braves return to Hattiesburg Sept. 5, 2026.

Here is a look at upcoming non-schedule football games for Southern Miss:

2023
9/2 – Alcorn State
9/9 – at Florida State
9/16 – Tulane
11/18 – at Mississippi State

2024
8/31 – at Ohio State
9/7 – Southeastern Louisiana
9/14 – USF
9/21 – at Jacksonville State

2025
8/30 – Mississippi State
9/20 – at Louisiana Tech
9/27 – Jacksonville State

2026
9/5 – Alcorn State
9/12 – at Auburn
9/19 – Louisiana Tech
9/26 – at Tulane

2027
9/11 - Tulane

2028
9/23 – at USF

2030
9/14 – Mississippi State

2031
9/13 – at Mississippi State

Where is tournament going to be

Sportscasters in Alabama are declaring that DC Armstrong is leaving USM to coach inside linebackers at Alabama. I am hoping that Hall has some good folks in his black book to call on to plug into his staff.

Are there some left that have a Covid19 grace year?