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photo by Matt Bush
Southern Miss tight end Leroy Banks leaps over Alcorn State’s Javoris Tribune after making a reception as Carl Harris gives chase. The Braves fell to the Golden Eagles 52-0 in the season opener for both teams.
Southern Miss shuts out Alcorn in season opener
Published Sunday, September 6, 2009
HATTIESBURG (AP) — Austin Davis threw for three touchdowns and ran for another score to lead Southern Mississippi to a 52-0 win over Alcorn State on Saturday.
The Golden Eagles went into halftime with a 35-0 lead, as some of the starters did not play much of the second half.
Davis found Gerald Baptiste for a pair of touchdowns, the first coming just over 3 minutes into the game. The sophomore did it all without the help of star receiver DeAndre Brown, who was sidelined as a precaution as he continues to recover from a broken left leg.
‘‘They say that a quarterback’s biggest improvement is from year one to year two, and I kind of felt that tonight,’’ Davis said. ‘‘I felt comfortable with everything we called, and I know that we can be even better than we were tonight.’’
Former Alcorn State quarterback and NFL star Steve McNair was honored before kickoff. McNair was killed in a murder-suicide committed by Sahel Kazemi on July 4. McNair’s mother Lucille McNair, his son Steve, Jr. and widow Mechelle McNair all were honored at midfield as a video played to the tune of ‘‘What a Wonderful World.’’
Damion Fletcher led Southern Miss with 126 yards rushing and a touchdown. The Golden Eagles, who gained 631 yards on offense, came just two yards short of the school’s single game record. The shutout was the first for Southern Miss since 2006.
‘‘It was a good solid outing for a first game of the season,’’ Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora said. ‘‘We had some mistakes on both sides of the ball, left some points on the field and gave up too many big plays, but hopefully we can improve from here.’’
The Braves scratched out nine first downs in the first half, but were held to just one in the second.
The announced crowd of 36,232 was an M.M. Roberts Stadium and Southern Miss school record for home attendance.
Comments
Posted by GodsChild (anonymous) on September 6, 2009 at 5:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GO BRAVES
I said it was going to be 55-0 last week.... I wasn't too far off.
But it was a good experience for the kids to play in that type of atmosphere. We should do well in the SWAC!
RIP Steve
Posted by swac4life (anonymous) on September 6, 2009 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You are dreaming GodsChild
Posted by unclered (anonymous) on September 6, 2009 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Alcorn looked like a bad high school team.
Posted by GodsChild (anonymous) on September 6, 2009 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I Pray and Hope My Dream Come True!
(that bad)???
Posted by specialk (anonymous) on September 6, 2009 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Alcorn, J-State, and Miss Valley were all blown OUT. Please folks, lets just call it as it is. Every once in a while, a BLIND HOG will find an ACORN. The SWAC schools have some great individual athletes, but when it comes to team play against 95% D-1 schools, they will most likely get embarrassed. I know this is not POPULAR but it is the truth. The SWAC is the most penalized CONFERENCE in NCAA football and has been for the last 27 yrs. The SWAC games last longer, (I know they have great BANDS and that takes up a little time at half time). The average SWAC on SWAC usually last 3 1/2-4 hrs. These are GREAT ATHLETES but individuals not great teams. Think I'm lying watch how long the JSU-ALCORN game last this year. Watch how long the GRAMBLING-SOUTHERN game last. Every 4 plays there is 2 penalties. Walter Payton, Steve McNair, Jerry Rice, Jimmy Smith, Doug Williams, Jake Reed, Vincent (Undertaker) Brown, Ernie Ladd, and many other great s have represented the SWAC well in the NFL. Lets face it with these great men coming from the SWAC, it seems as though there woul be improvements on team play, discipline, sportsmanship, character. Lets face it the SWAC will always be blown out by the TYPICAL D1 (SEC) (BIG12) (PAC10) because of the lack of COACHES and LOOK AT ME PERSONALITIES. IT will always be 50-0, 48-7, 62-0, and at times 70-0. BELIEVE IT or NOT LOOK at the FACTS and the PAST HISTORY. I grew up 20 miles from ALCORN and I love the SWAC, when I witnessed that SLAUGHTER at USM it hurt me to see ALCORN PLAYERS (some) on the sideline dancing while being blown out on the field. A few COACHES, laughing and joking like it was just a scrimmage. SWAC, take the $$$$ from the LARGER SCHOOLS and do whatever it takes to real coaches and not HOMEBOYS, because we see this isnt working.
Posted by swac4life (anonymous) on September 6, 2009 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Players on the sideline dancing, what players?
Posted by butch (anonymous) on September 6, 2009 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So true Specialk ! These swac schools playing outside there conference only highlites the deficiencies of their programs . I can't recall if my alma mater ( Univ. Ala at Tuscaloosa ) will play a swac school . I do remember the Univ. of North Ala. playing Ala. state of Huntsville . They played several years and UNA always trashed this swac school on the field . It was always a complete blowout . Seriously , the swac is the true bottom feeders in college sports .
Posted by brock (anonymous) on September 6, 2009 at 12:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Come on guys , it's just fun and games . These swac schools know they don't stand a snowball change in hell of beating a D1 program outside their conference . Kind of makes you wonder why they want to humiliate their conference . This is a trend in the swac conference . I guess they figure it will help them when they play other swac schools . They know they'll never will , they just do it for the payout .
Posted by unclered (anonymous) on September 6, 2009 at 1:05 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by specialk (anonymous) on September 6, 2009 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I want go that far and say bottom feeders but I do know for a fact, when D1 schools see them on there schedule they get excited. I want say where but I played for a D1 school that played a SWAC school in the 90's and my COACH made a STATEMENT during the PEP TALK, (They are not well COACHED and there COACHES don't CARE about the PLAYERS). I was affended at that time (being younger) now I am Older, I see what that COACH was TRYING to get over to OUR team. He was saying They (SWAC) have the ATHLETES but dont know how to COACH them. He gave all FORMER SWAC PLAYERS CREDIT for (NFL SUCCESS) but never the teams. This is not a RACE issue but I am only talking about FOOTBALL and what I have seen. So guys PLEASE dont take this the wrong way and go OVERBOARD.
Posted by sexysigmalady (anonymous) on September 6, 2009 at 4:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So, Special K, what's going overboard? lol
It was an event to help BOTH schools, let's not make this more than wat it is. Stop trying to analyze this game for more than wat it was. Southern Miss has been trying to play these OTHER MISSISSIPPI schools for years now. It's to GIVE THE PPL WAT THEY WANT. People in Mississippi want to see their own schools play each other---period. Alcorn and Jackson State have been the only ones BRAVE enough to step up to the plate. Southern Miss is still waiting on Valley, OLE MISS, and STATE (who have ignored all requests to play the Eagles since 1990) go figure. Yeah, it may have been a slaughter or whatever, but it was an EFFECTIVE FUND RAISER!
Posted by HillsideManor (anonymous) on September 6, 2009 at 4:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well spoken, SexySigmaLady.
Posted by dog8 (anonymous) on September 6, 2009 at 8:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Guys, the only reason these games were played this weekend was because of money. JSU and ASU got big checks to come, and MSU and USM made paydays because of the crowds.
All D1 programs look for games during the season that will be easy wins, and MSU and USM figured out that why go play Northwestern State (La.) when you could play one of the in state SWAC schools and make much more money.
And for all of you downing the SWAC, and questioning the team play or coaching; these 1AA or FCS schools aren't supposed to beat the Division 1 programs. The 1AA schools don't have the budget, facilities, scholarships, etc. to compete on that level. That's why the programs aren't D1.
Look at the college football scoreboard from this weekend,,,
Florida 62 Charleston Southern 3; Kansas 49 Northern Colorado 3, Tennessee 63 Western Kentucky 7, Nebraska 49 Florida Atlantic 3. Guess what guys, none of these schools that got their brains beat in are from the SWAC.
The SWAC teams in MS playing the big three is good for everyone, because everyone gets paid. But don't expect a good game. Every once in a while, the underdog may bite; but not very often in these matchups. Do your research on the percentages that a 1AA team beats a 1A team. That's why when it happens, it is the lead story on SportsCenter. Remember App. State beating Michigan. How many of these stories have you seen?
Posted by unclered (anonymous) on September 6, 2009 at 8:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Southern Miss used to play Ole Miss and Miss. State. The win record was heavily in favor of Southern Miss against both teams(10-5 vs State; 5-2 vs Ole Miss), which may explain why both of the "big" SEC schools took them off of their schedules. With USM and Alcorn playing this year, as well as Miss. State & Jackson State, it does seem like someone is trying to start some in-state rivalries. It must work, USM had a record crowd according to the article.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on September 6, 2009 at 8:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dog8, well spoken. Also, what's USM's D1 ranking amongst other D1 colleges/universities, football wise?
Posted by sideline (anonymous) on September 6, 2009 at 11:11 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by sexysigmalady (anonymous) on September 7, 2009 at 7:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thanx hillsidemanor for the thumbs up. Great comments as well, unclered and dog8. Unclered, the MS SEC schools have not played in football since just before USM joined Conference USA.(I was on the planning committee at USM in the '90s) They may have played in basketball, but u and I well know that FOOTBALL is the bread and butter at these schools. Jeff Bower ALWAYS talked about his team badly wanting to play the other MS schools, so this idea is technically his "baby". Now that records have been broken, maybe some other heads will turn and now let's see how Fedora is gonna take this ball and run with it!!!!!
Posted by tpayne (anonymous) on September 7, 2009 at 11:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Unclered, ole miss leads the all-time series against southern miss 18-6.
Posted by jugghead52 (anonymous) on September 8, 2009 at 7:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
maybe some SWAC teams could be competitive playing in the sunbelt conference. or do they already?
Posted by chuckydaone (anonymous) on September 8, 2009 at 8:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great players make great coaches. The talent pool has shifted. Individuals, from a talent perspective, who at time graced the field for SWAC schools are now in the SEC, PAC Ten, Big 12, etc. Depth is also an issue.The games are played for financial reasons not competitiveness. With blowout defeats recruiting will be even more diffficult. I can hear them now; " why would you want to go there and we just beat them 52-0? On the bright side, the merchants in Hattiesburg are happy.
Posted by reader (anonymous) on September 8, 2009 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Unclered-Where did you get those numbers? Ole Miss has beaten USM 75% of the time. Ole Miss would play USM, but they want to play in Oxford every year and USM refuses. USM had their all time record record crowd this weekend against Alcorn, 38,000+ fans. Ole Miss has already sold over 59,000 tickets this year between season tickets and student tickets selling out. Ole Miss can get teams such as Southeast LA to come to Oxford without us committing to play in Hammond.
Posted by AsUdB11 (anonymous) on September 8, 2009 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
yes jugghead they have. I played for alcorn from 04-07 and we played louisiana monroe in 06 and only lost by 7. We also played a sub par conference usa team (university of alabama birmingham) and held them to 1 touchdown but they made 5 field goals. i think its jus the attitude of the players. alot of them dont want to play for the new coach. the difference between the teams i played on and the team now is that there was trust all across the board. from coaches to players even through the training staff. i feel like coach thomas could have put a better product on the field if he was still coaching.
Posted by butch (anonymous) on September 8, 2009 at noon (Suggest removal)
Definitely not a good thing to play outside your conference and receive these type beatings . Especially if you are trying to recruit top high school athletes . Whoa , what am I saying here ! Top athletes rarely venture into uncharted waters . I've known kids from this area that took the community college route just to improve their chances of playing for a D1 program . Swac schools will hit the lottery sometimes . You're crazy if you think these young athletes don't notice things like this .
Posted by drwalton (anonymous) on September 9, 2009 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The number of blue chippers that Alcorn gets is the problem. Alcorn need to keep their academic standards up to attract good students. In the future this will help recruitment. Alcorn can not compete with out more quality players.
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