Southern Miss
5th Conference USA8-4
South Carolina
2nd SEC9-4
Southern Miss @ South Carolina preview
Williams-Brice Stadium
Southern Miss expects to win Thursday's opener at South Carolina.
The biggest sports story this summer in Hattiesburg, Miss. (OK, maybe the second biggest behind the Brett Favre soap opera) came from an off-handed comment by Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora at a summer meet-and-greet with boosters. He didn't say "if" we beat South Carolina; he said "when" we beat South Carolina.
Fedora didn't back off his bold prediction when it blew up on blogs and bulletin boards in Columbia, where the Golden Eagles will face a formidable SEC foe before 83,000 fans on national TV. But a quick glance at the record books reveals that Fedora's foreshadowing isn't as far-fetched as it might seem.
Both teams are coming off 7-6 seasons, but it was Southern Miss' 16th consecutive winning season and eighth straight bowl appearance. South Carolina has five straight winning seasons under coach Steve Spurrier but never better than 8-5 and with only one bowl victory. This is not a monumental mismatch.
The Gamecocks return 16 starters, eight on offense, including SEC all-freshman WR Alshon Jeffrey and a trio of running backs to join incoming freshman Marcus Lattimore. Spurrier's top concern, of course, is at quarterback. Senior Stephen Garcia and freshman Connor Shaw will share time with Spurrier breathing down their shoulder pads.
But Spurrier won't be the only one applying pressure to his quarterbacks. Southern Miss returns nine on a staunch defense led by defensive end Anthony Gray and linebacker Korey Williams.
Southern Miss also is two-deep at quarterback with junior Austin Davis and senior Martevious Young splitting time. Wide out DeAndre Brown and running back V.J. Floyd also are back to lead the team's attack. Only one starter returns on the offensive line, so the Eagles could find tough sledding against the Gamecocks' defense.
South Carolina's defense ranked third in the SEC last season and returns all-SEC honorees defensive tackle Travian Robertson, defensive end Cliff Mathews and cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
The Gamecocks have been dealing with the NCAA in its backyard investigating a local hotel which allegedly allowed players to stay for a reduced rate. All-SEC tight end Weslye Saunders has been suspended and at least 10 players were forced to move out in the middle of preseason practices. The distractions could have South Carolina ripe for the picking.
If or when it happens, you heard it from Fedora first.
The biggest sports story this summer in Hattiesburg, Miss. (OK, maybe the second biggest behind the Brett Favre soap opera) came from an off-handed comment by Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora at a summer meet-and-greet with boosters. He didn't say "if" we beat South Carolina; he said "when" we beat South Carolina.
Fedora didn't back off his bold prediction when it blew up on blogs and bulletin boards in Columbia, where the Golden Eagles will face a formidable SEC foe before 83,000 fans on national TV. But a quick glance at the record books reveals that Fedora's foreshadowing isn't as far-fetched as it might seem.
Both teams are coming off 7-6 seasons, but it was Southern Miss' 16th consecutive winning season and eighth straight bowl appearance. South Carolina has five straight winning seasons under coach Steve Spurrier but never better than 8-5 and with only one bowl victory. This is not a monumental mismatch.
The Gamecocks return 16 starters, eight on offense, including SEC all-freshman WR Alshon Jeffrey and a trio of running backs to join incoming freshman Marcus Lattimore. Spurrier's top concern, of course, is at quarterback. Senior Stephen Garcia and freshman Connor Shaw will share time with Spurrier breathing down their shoulder pads.
But Spurrier won't be the only one applying pressure to his quarterbacks. Southern Miss returns nine on a staunch defense led by defensive end Anthony Gray and linebacker Korey Williams.
Southern Miss also is two-deep at quarterback with junior Austin Davis and senior Martevious Young splitting time. Wide out DeAndre Brown and running back V.J. Floyd also are back to lead the team's attack. Only one starter returns on the offensive line, so the Eagles could find tough sledding against the Gamecocks' defense.
South Carolina's defense ranked third in the SEC last season and returns all-SEC honorees defensive tackle Travian Robertson, defensive end Cliff Mathews and cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
The Gamecocks have been dealing with the NCAA in its backyard investigating a local hotel which allegedly allowed players to stay for a reduced rate. All-SEC tight end Weslye Saunders has been suspended and at least 10 players were forced to move out in the middle of preseason practices. The distractions could have South Carolina ripe for the picking.
If or when it happens, you heard it from Fedora first.