From Southern Miss Atheltics...
Southern Miss-UTEP Football Game Postponed Due to COVID-19

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – This Saturday’s Southern Miss football game at UTEP has been postponed after the Golden Eagle football team experienced an increase in COVID-19 cases in the program.

The institutions, along with Conference USA, will work together to reschedule the contest for later this season.

"The health and safety of everyone involved continues to be our guiding force which made this decision to postpone the game the appropriate one," Southern Miss Director of Athletics Jeremy McClain said. "We are disappointed for our student-athletes who will not get a chance to participate for a second-straight weekend, however, we will work with UTEP, in conjunction with Conference USA, to reschedule this game for later this season."

The Golden Eagles return to action when they travel to Lynchburg, Va., to face Liberty, Saturday, Oct. 24. Game time is set for 12 p.m., CT and can be seen on ESPN3.

UTEP plays at La Tech tomorrow night. Tech is favored by 14.

UTEP worries me less than FAU did. Not that any game this year will be easy.

By the NCAA and is cleared to play immediately

Not confirmed. But I heard Taj Sykes might be out this week. Also Cole may be out as well. Young guys will have to step up.

Bozeman and Latham may not be cleared till Saturday, so their availability may be in question.

K Perkins will probably be out.

Ragsdale is still up in the air, but doesn't look good.

Dee Baker has a shoulder injury but should be OK to play.

Many, if not all teams, dip into the talent pool that is JUCO football. Some do it to fill holes. Some do it and try to change the the fortune of their programs. UTEP has tried to change the culture of their program through the JUCO system. Have they done it?

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Coach Ladner:

Feels good to get back to practice. It finally feels like basketball season again.
He likes the team and loves the direction they are going.
A lot of inexperienced but likes the way the guys practice and likes the energy.
They will play a pressure style on both ends. There is more depth than last year's team.
Eagles are longer, more athletic, and just better than last season.
Depth will be important this season. That will allow a lot more pressure on defense this season.
He doesn't like wearing the mask, but will have to get used to it.
Covid protocols do not affect the team much.
Stevenson and Dinajay Harris have really worked hard on their strength and conditioning and their physicality is impressive this season.
Johnson, Pinkney, and Hardy has done a great job of making adjustments and have come in and just fit right in.
Pierre is a young guy who can be special. One of the best players aver at USM
Mormon a transfer from wyoming can step in and play inside immediately. HE is big, smart, fast, and strong.
Jaakson can shoot the lights out.
Malone has fought to get back and looks good.
Draine shooting well right now. He will be much better with better PG play.
Better PG play will allow Draine to catch and shoot and have more room to shoot. He has also come in much better shape.
Everyone is here and all Eagles have checked in.
A couple of guys have had Covid, but all is well and they are working back into shape.
Psychologically the team can feel that the season is here.
The new schedule will help financially for sure. Will cut down to 3 flights for CUSA travel.
HE would love to see the CUSA Tournament moved to the coast. He belives the tournament time in Texas will come to an end soon.

Tyler Stevenson:

He knew in the offseason he needed to get stronger and gained 22 pounds, and got stronger.
He is happy to be back.
Everyone here is locked in and working hard.
All of the new players have been impressive so far. Tae can score and pass, so can Deandre, everyone can do many things.
He had to get used to extra weight but he had to work on getting his legs under him this summer.
He feels they are going t be much deeper in the front court.
Stevenson has put on 50 lbs since first arriving on campus (Freshman year).

Tae Hardy:

HE likes the group. Everyone is competitive, they ant to win and they are getting better day by day.
He worked on h9s lateral quickness to become a 2 way PG and play offense and defense.
Johnson is a big Guard who cam play point and shooting. HE is really solid defensively.
Pinkney is strong and plays the F tough and can play inside and outside.
From the starting 5 this team has plenty of length.
Pierre is athletic, can shoot and has length.
This team wants to play as hard as they can and compete every game. We have a team that can play any game.

12/31 and 1/2 UTEP
1/7 and 1/9 @ UAB
1/14 and 1/16 MTSU
1/21 and 1/23 @ UTSA
1/28 La Tech
1/30 @La Tech
2/4 and 2/6 @ Rice
2/11 and 2/13 UNT
2/18 and 2/20 @ FIU
2/25 and 2/27 FAU

LA Tech will be a hme and home back to back. That is the CUSA schedule so far as the info I have gotten.

To The Top Talk 10/14/20 #SMTTT

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Here you go:

DALLAS – Conference USA Commissioner Judy MacLeod has announced that the date of the 2020 Ryan C-USA Football Championship has been changed to Friday, December 18. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT and the game will be televised by CBS Sports Network.

looks like they will back the CUSA Champ game back and use Dec 5th and 12th to make up games. More will be out today on that

Will have a story out later today but just some quick hits.

1. He was bored and wanted to get back into coaching.
2. He will be at practice every day.
3. He really believes in Jay Ladner and believes in what he is doing at Southern Miss.
4. Gave really good insight on the game today and coaching and recruiting.
5. He will start this afternoon and will be at practice today.

So much more in the article upcoming. It was such a fun conversation to have a really good guy.

Richard Williams former MSU HC it is still waiting on approval. Will start as soon as approval happens.

I am confused by this part:

Clopton’s status for Saturday’s game is up in the air following an undisclosed injury, but Walden is confident the D’Iberville native can step in if needed.

I thought Clopton was done for the season due to surgery.

Spoke with RB Coach Davis after practice and he wouldn't give any updates. It seems like it may be a 3 man rotation with Gore Jr, Mayberry, and Baker. Will try and find out more.

Just got word that the players entrance and that staircase and hallway are being worked on now. New lights are going up there to match the new lights in RGC. Covid did put a damper on some things but a new facade and new loading area will be handles after season. A lot of good things happening ar RGC, but tell T that his shatters were not on the list.

The reason that Southern Miss's schedule is not out is because CUSA has not decided on how they are doing scheduling this year. There are a few rumors out there. One has some cross division games being played 2 times in the same city (example: when making the Masrshall/WKU trip schools would play the same team twice and not play the other school to limit travel), or they may keep it the same way. There was even Talks and rumors of CUSA setting up bubbles in different cities and playing games over a 4 day weekend. All of this is rumor, but will get you more info when I hear of anything.

Are we all finally in agreement that he shouldn't be mentioned ever again? He has always been way overrated.

don't play Houston. They took apart a team that took us apart. On top of that, they were playing in their 1st game and Tulane in their 5th.