I watched the game and noted the small crowd, our players getting hurt and heard their fans booing. I saw the tape on Dylan getting hit while on the ground and I have seen all the posts about their crappy fans and dirty players. I would like to know what their players and fans did that has so many of our folks angry---or is it only the things I have already noted? Has anyone spoken to some of our players? Were our fans who attended treated badly? I would like to know. Thanks.

booing players that are hurt. Pathetic. Worst fans I have EVER seen. Smh. You must be proud WKU

I spent Tuesday afternoon at Hattiesburg High with the MS Team. I'll be back with the MS Team tomorrow morning and Alabama tomorrow afternoon:

Practice Notes:

- Demetrius Market continues to impress. He has the best skill set of any DB on the MS team including a couple of really highly ranked guys. He dosen't have the size of the others but is very skilled. He more than holds his owns against much bigger WR's. Today he got great inside position and fought out 6-foot-4 DeKaylin Metcalf for the only INT of the afternoon session. Several of the other DB's came in with more stars and press, but so far Market has been the one making plays.

Demetrius Market Interview: WATCH HERE

- The MS coaching staff made a position shift that I think will help. The have moved USM commitment Jacquez Turner to ILB along with Racheem Boothe. Turner looks pretty natural standing up, I could see USM giving him a look at MLB but at the same time he's already 245 so he could grow into a big Bandit.

- Southern Miss is still a darkhorse candidate for Noxubee County DL Jeffery Simmons. As most know his older brother is Eagle stand-out Dylan Bradley. He lists USM in his top five along with Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi and Tennessee. He is up to 284 pounds on his lean 6-foot-4 frame. He has been pretty much un-blockable by the MS offensive line.

- Cal commit Gentle Williams of Florence looked good at center today on the MS OL. I was more impressed with him than I thought I would be.....if he ends up backing off that Cal commit I could see the Eagles making a strong push for him.

- Jerome Johnson from Bassfield didn't have a good day this afternoon. He really needs to pick up his game if he is going to compete with the other really good DL out there this year.

Would like to be staying where other Eagles are staying but hopefully where I can get Hilton or Marriott points--which become very valuable after retirement.

Leaning toward downtown Homewood Suites, about half a mile from Omni,

Ideas/thoughts?

David Duggan $200,000
Chip Lindsey $150,000
Luke Meadows $140,000
Jon Williams $110,000
John Wozniak $110,000
Pete Golding $100,000
Lytrel Pollard $90,000
Justin Roberts $85,000
John Simon $70,000

http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/salaries/football/assistant

Does any one know how many have signed up?

I spent the entire morning session with the Mississippi Squad today at Hattiesburg High. Hanging out at BW3 now and will be headed over to Oak Grove with Team Alabama at 2:00 PM.

Here's a few notes:

- Southern Miss commitment Jacques Turner really impressed today playing linebacker, both inside and outside. He made two really nice plays in coverage. He almost pulled an INT away from Laurel TE Octavious Cooley on a crossing route, he didn't come up with the ball but prevented the completion and drew praise from the MS staff and defensive team mates. Later successfully defended a pass intended for RB Alan Lamar (Desoto Central) who was coming out of the backfield on a wheel route.

- Racheem Boothe continues to play well and is the best LB on the field for MS. I have a print story coming coming out with him in a little while.

- Southern Miss DB commitment Demetrius Market has made life hard all week for 4-star WR Dekaylin Metcalf and OM commitment. Market is really good and I could see him playing early for Southern Miss considering he will be a mid-year enrollee.

- Things can always change but two disappointments so far have been Bassfield's Jerome Johnson and Lafayette's Eli Johnson. It has become painfully clear watching Jerome this week that his potential in college is on the OL and not DL. He has great size, looks pretty athletic but the physicality and drive have not shown to be there to play defense on the collegiate level. Eli, an OM commit, claims offers from more than a dozen schools. So far his play has not met the expectations an offer list like that would produce.

I also expected more from Louisville commitment Lamarquese Thomas from Clinton. He was very impressive at the RivalsCamp last spring but not as much this week.

- There are a few players I came away with more impressed than I thought I would be....the most notable is Starkville WR A.J. Brown. He's really good, great size, good speed, outstanding body control. I also really like the way Quincy Lenton from Meridian plays the game.

- Speaking of Meridian, man were they loaded this year! In addition to Lenton, they also have DL Raekwon Davis (Alabama) and Zaire Jones (Vandy) in the game. They have two other FBS prospects Julius Turner (La Tech) and Daniel Crowell (multiple offers) who didn't make the game. How did Petal beat them twice?

I'll be headed over to Oak Grove Shortly

Does anyone know of a downtown hotel that will be offering a shuttle service to and from the game?

This spent this morning splitting time between the MS and AL practices or the All Star Classic. Mississippi is practicing at Hattiesburg HS while Alabama is practicing at Oak Grove.

Practice Notes:

- Of the Southern Miss commitments on the MS Squad the player that drew the biggest praise during the morning session was ATH Demetrius Market. I expect him to be highlighted by either Rob Cassidy or Woody Wommack during the week.

- I spoke briefly with D'Iberville DL Jacques Turner and have his comments on video here:

- In my eyes Racheem Boothe is clearly the best LB on for Mississippi, the other guys are undersized and may grow into LB's at the next level but Boothe is Mississippi's only real run stopper.

- Jacob Johnson from Spanish Fort is starting at LG for Alabama and looked good from what I saw. He flat out whipped South Carolina commit Darius Whitfield several times in one-on-ones. Click Here to watch a short video with Johnson on the game and his commitment to Southern Miss.

Recruiting Notes:

I am hearing that Southern Miss may be very much in the mix for longtime Cal commit Gentle Williams from Florence. Word going around also is that Oak Grove WR Jordan Duncan may also be backing off his Cal commitment.

Southern Miss also appears to be in on a pretty decent looking OL from Alabama in Jamahl Jelks from Gadsden City.

Has WKU vs. USF. Might as well be a knife fight with those two programs.

Any word on how serious injuries were from Saturday?

I can't get off work on the 26th, and really don't think I could swing the trip financially this year anyway.
Would my money be better spent donating tickets, or making a contribution to the Academic Center. I am leaning towards the Academic Center.

3* Offensive guard decommitted from State today. He'd been committed since July 2014.
Wonder if we have room for him.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/pet-puppy-relieve-finals-stress-mississippi-school-35648968

If you're able, send a few bucks to the animal shelter this Christmas.

Think we should give this guy a shot. He is the same size as his older brother and has a lot of the same attributes that Lampley had. He is a very good punt returner and can be used as a running back or slot receiver. He just ripped off 338 yards rushing and receiving in the state championship game against Oxford.

http://www.thesmacattack.com/2015/12/08/the-heart-of-the-war-eagles-fast-freddy/

From ESPN.COM:

Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl: Washington vs. Southern Miss
(Dec. 26, 2:20 p.m., ESPN)
Southern Miss quarterback Nick Mullens tests a talented Washington defense, but Jake Browning, Myles Gaskin and a young Husky team finishes 2015 with a win to set up a potential breakthrough next fall. Washington 31, Southern Miss 27

Underdogs again. I like it.

SMTTT!!!

LA Tech Alumni Co-Workers shared with me the incentives LA Tech is offering their fans to buy from them instead of NO Bowl - $15 cheaper to buy from bowl.
Pretty nice incentives in the drawing (below).



New Orleans Bowl-December 19/8:00 p.m.
Early Bird Sign-up ends December 14 for all cost events
Alumni Hotel Block: Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Team Hotel: Hilton New Orleans Riverside

BUY TICKETS
Tickets: $60
First 500 students: $20

Fans are encouraged to buy and or donate tickets by calling (318) 257-3631 or visit LATechSports.com/tickets

Everyone that purchases a ticket is eligible for:
1. Tour of the Davison Athletics Complex during basketball season (C-USA Home Opener)
2. Fanatics Online Team Store discount (25%)
3. 2 ticket vouchers to C-USA Home Basketball Opener (MBB or WBB)
4. Recognition at home game
5. Commemorative Bowl Poster limited to first 2,000 fans

Everyone that purchases a ticket will be entered to win:
1. Honorary Game Captain at a home football game
2. Run out with the team at the a home football game in 2016
3. 2 tickets to the Davison Athletics Complex for 1 home game in 2016
4. Team Autographed helmet
5. Bowl Game Experience (travel to game on team bus, Pre-Game Sideline Pass, locker room pre-game speech)

This year they will host the College Football Playoff, semifinals

Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Alabama (12-1) vs. No. 3 Michigan State (12-1)

And of course Southern Miss and The Washington Huskies in The Heart of Dallas Bowl.

If you Google The Cotton Bowl and read a bit, the history of that place is incredible, I mean

INCREDIBLE.

To me, just to be able to say, "I played on the 2015 Southern Miss team that played at the Cotton Bowl" would be a feather in the cap of any Golden Eagle.

sell tickets to this game? It's the day after Christmas. I am just curios how the board feels? I believe a lot of Military will be there. I think it will a good idea to set up a donation thread for a certain branch of military from Big Gold Nation. Any thoughts?