Tag: Southern Miss

Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff (12) dropped back for a pass during the Kentucky Wildcats' Blue White scrimmage at Kroger Field on Saturday afternoon in Lexington, Kentucky. April 13, 2024

Ex-Georgia backup leads Kentucky against Southern Miss

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Kentucky doesn’t know what to expect from Southern Miss in the season opener Saturday night in Lexington, Ky.

That’s because the Golden Eagles have new coordinators on both sides of the ball and a new starting quarterback.

“You don’t know exactly what you’re going to get so we have to be prepared for quite a few things,” Wildcats coach Mark Stoops said. “We’ve got to handle things in stride. Nothing ever goes as smooth as you want it to. We have to be able to adapt and make adjustments and have nobody panic.”

Kentucky, 7-6 a year ago, has made some changes as well. Stoops brought in Bush Hamdan from Boise State as offensive coordinator and three-year Georgia backup Brock Vandagriff arrives as a graduate transfer to start at quarterback.

“You have to worry about yourself and how you execute, how you play, how cleanly you operate,” Stoops said.

Southern Miss is coming off its second three-win campaign in coach Will Hall’s three seasons. Hall is counting on new defensive coordinator Clay Bignell and offensive coordinator Chip Long and the arrival of former Florida State quarterback Tate Rodemaker to spur a dramatic improvement.

Rodemaker is expected to open against the Wildcats, although the Golden Eagles’ roster also lists sophomore Ethan Crawford atop the depth chart. Both could play as Crawford would provide a running complement to Rodemaker’s pocket passing. In four seasons with the Seminoles, Rodemaker started twice and played in 23 games.

“I think we’ve got a chance to be explosive on offense,” Hall said.

One of Rodemaker’s relief appearances came against Southern Miss last season when he completed all three of his passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns in FSU’s 66-13 romp. The Eagles had five other losses in which they allowed more than 40 points.

“I think we’re not a completed product yet,” Hall said, “but I really think it’s going to be a competitive bunch week in and week out that has a chance to do some really good things.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 9, 2023; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive back Jarrian Jones (7) intercepts a pass and takes it for a touchdown during the game against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4 Florida State has field day, pummels Southern Miss

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Trey Benson ran for three touchdowns and Jordan Travis passed for two Saturday night as No. 4 Florida State followed up its impressive Week 1 rout of LSU with a 66-13 nonconference blowout of Southern Mississippi in Tallahassee, Fla.

Backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker also tossed two scoring strikes for the Seminoles, who established a 31-3 halftime lead and never looked back. Florida State rolled up 554 total yards and punted only twice.

Travis connected on 15 of 29 passes for 175 yards, all in the first half. Benson finished with 79 yards on just nine carries as the Seminoles spread the wealth. They used nine rushers and completed passes to 11 receivers.

Billy Wiles endured a rough night for the Golden Eagles (1-1), completing only 11 of 34 passes for 154 yards. His one interception was returned 30 yards for a touchdown by Jarrian Jones in the third quarter. That upped Florida State’s advantage to 45-3.

The Seminoles wasted little time putting their stamp on this one. On their first drive, they went 76 yards on eight plays, Travis finding Darion Williamson for a 10-yard score just over 3 1/2 minutes into the game. Benson added a 19-yard touchdown run later in the first quarter for a 14-0 lead.

Andrew Stein got Southern Miss on the board with a 30-yard field goal at the 11:28 mark of the second quarter, but that momentum was short-lived.

Benson tacked on a 3-yard scoring jaunt, followed by Travis’ 6-yard touchdown toss to Keon Coleman and a 35-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald as time expired for a 31-3 halftime lead.

It only got worse in the third quarter as Benson added a 42-yard score, followed by Jones’ pick-six. Rodemaker connected with Markeston Douglas on a 42-yard touchdown pass at the 10:26 mark to make it 52-3.

Rodrigues Clark supplied the Golden Eagles’ only touchdown on a 12-yard run with 4:41 left in the period.

Florida State added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including a 40-yard run by Caziah Holmes with 11 minutes remaining.

–Field Level Media

Florida State Seminoles tight end Jaheim Bell (6) and Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis (13) celebrate a touchdown during a game against the LSU Tigers on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023.

No. 4 Florida State looks to continue dominance, welcomes Southern Miss

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At various times since Florida State’s last national championship 10 years ago, rumors of the Seminoles’ return to relevance were always that. FSU seemingly battled with Miami to see who could stay most irrelevant and who could disappoint their fan base more.

If the second half of Sunday night’s 45-24 rout of then-No. 5 LSU is any indication, those days are over. Florida State looked the part of a potential national champion, ripping off 31 consecutive points to turn a close game into a blowout that had Tigers coach Brian Kelly questioning everything about his program.

Now the task for the fourth-ranked Seminoles, beginning with Saturday night’s home opener against Southern Miss in Tallahassee, Fla., is to maintain that form consistently.

“I told them before (Sunday) that they are built for a time like this,” Florida State coach Mike Norvell said. “This stage, two top 10 teams in the country.”

The Seminoles (1-0) scored on six straight possessions after a slow start, getting 342 yards and a career-high four touchdowns in the air from quarterback Jordan Travis. That noise one might have heard throughout the second half, other than the school’s war chant, was the hype machine cranking up Travis’ Heisman Trophy campaign.

Throwing to receivers like Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson will do nothing but help Travis’ chances of hoisting some hardware in December. Coleman caught nine passes for 122 yards and three scores, while Wilson chipped in seven catches and 104 yards.

It was the first time two Florida State receivers went over 100 yards in the same game in five years. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they did it again.

“Just knew it was a matter of time,” Travis said. “Just had to get locked in and stay focused and keep the main thing the main thing. … It’s fun out there and it’s fun winning football games.”

While the Seminoles allowed 460 total yards, they also sacked Jayden Daniels four times and forced a pair of turnovers. The defense didn’t permit any second-half points until a 75-yard touchdown pass in the final two minutes.

Meanwhile, Southern Miss also opened the season 1-0, cruising to a 40-14 win last weekend against FCS foe Alcorn State in Hattiesburg, Miss. New starting quarterback Billy Wiles, a Clemson transfer, completed 21 of 28 passes for 267 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.

The third starting quarterback in as many years for the Golden Eagles, Wiles has certainly impressed third-year coach Will Hall.

“I thought Billy came out sharp. I thought he played really, really well,” Hall said. “We’re just way better at quarterback than we used to be. He’s a good player that pours everything he has into it.”

Wiles’ emergence should only aid the offense’s centerpiece, running back Frank Gore Jr., who rushed for 1,382 yards last year. Gore scored a touchdown last week on just six carries.

Florida State leads the all-time series between the teams 14-8 and took a 42-13 win on Dec. 27, 2017, in the teams’ last meeting at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.

–Field Level Media

Jul 20, 2022; Atlanta, GA, USA; The Florida Gators helmet on the stage during SEC Media Days at the College Football Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Florida hires Alabama’s Austin Armstrong as DC

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Florida moved quickly Wednesday to hire Austin Armstrong as its defensive coordinator following the departure of Patrick Toney to the Arizona Cardinals, On3 reported.

The past month has been a whirlwind for Armstrong, who accepted the job at inside linebackers coach at Alabama last month but only was officially announced by coach Nick Saban nine days ago.

Prior to joining the Crimson Tide, Armstrong spent the past two years as defensive coordinator at Southern Miss, and he said all the right things when he was introduced at Alabama.

“Growing up in West Alabama the opportunity to coach at The University of Alabama is a dream come true,” Armstrong said, per USA Today. “I have admired what Coach Saban has built in Tuscaloosa and the long history of tradition and success this program has enjoyed. I am excited to get to work as we continue the legacy of success that is synonymous with Alabama football.”

A move to Florida would reunite Armstrong with Billy Napier, who hired Armstrong at Louisiana. When he moved onto Southern Miss after the 2020 season, Armstrong became the youngest defensive coordinator in the FBS at 28.

Napier didn’t confirm Armstrong’s hiring but did announce the departure of Toney to the Cardinals’ defensive staff.

“We would like to congratulate Patrick Toney on his new challenge & opportunity in the National Football League,” Napier said in a statement. “PT has been a pivotal part of our success over the last five years. He has set a great example and been a relentless worker and learner. He is a selfless teammate and one of the finest coaches and teachers we have ever been around.”

–Field Level Media

Brett Favre played 20 seasons in the NFL. Syndication Usa Today

Reports: Brett Favre filings suits, seeking dismissal in welfare case

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Retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre made further waves in the Mississippi welfare scandal this week, filing paperwork to have the lawsuit filed against him dismissed while also drawing up his own lawsuit against three individuals for defamation, according to multiple reports.

Favre, who played college football at Southern Miss, has been accused of misspending millions of dollars in Mississippi welfare money — including earmarking money for his alma mater to build a volleyball facility — with the state seeking to recoup those funds via legal action.

Favre’s legal team filed the request for dismissal on Friday, per CNN and other reports.

Multiple outlets also reported that Favre has also filed suit against sports commentators Pat McAfee and Shannon Sharpe as well as Mississippi auditor Shad White, with those defamation suits dropping Thursday.

McAfee commented on the lawsuit publicly on his show Friday, saying in part, “I’m getting sued by Brett Favre … The quotes that were in that lawsuit are certainly accurate. But there’s one word I believe that was said often on this particular program if you watch at all, and that would be ‘allegedly.’”

In October, Favre, 53, denied any wrongdoing, despite multiple released text messages indicating potential knowledge of the situation.

“No one ever told me, and I did not know, that funds designated for welfare recipients were going to the University or me,” Favre said. “I tried to help my alma mater USM, a public Mississippi state university, raise funds for a wellness center. My goal was and always will be to improve the athletic facilities at my university.”

Text messages showed that Favre discussed the potential outcome should funding diverted to his projects become public with Nancy New, the founder of the Mississippi Community Education Center. New has pleaded guilty to 13 felony counts of bribery, fraud and racketeering for her role.

New had been charged with spending millions in federal welfare funds earmarked to help the state.

“If you were to pay me is there anyway the media can find out where it came from and how much?” Favre asked New in 2017.

Favre, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, retired from the NFL following the 2010 NFL season.

–Field Level Media

Sep 3, 2022; Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA; Southern Miss Golden Eagles head coach Will Hall talks to running back Frank Gore Jr. (3) in the second half at M.M. Roberts Stadium. Liberty won in overtime, 29-27. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Old C-USA foes Rice, Southern Miss meet in Lending Tree Bowl

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For the first time since 2014, Rice qualified for a bowl game, with former conference foe Southern Miss on tap in the LendingTree Bowl on Saturday in Mobile, Ala.

Rice (5-7) posted its best regular-season record under fifth-year coach Mike Bloomgren, even with a win total not normally good enough for bowl eligibility. When only 79 FBS teams reached six wins and three more bowl berths remained, the 5-7 teams with the highest academic progress rates (APR) were selected to fill out the remaining spots.

The Owls had the highest APR of the group, a 994 rating of a possible 1,000. The metric measures student-athlete eligibility and retention.

“It does (matter) because they’re Rice students and because they’re the top APR at a school like Rice where no class is easy,” Bloomgren said. “Earning it at a place like Rice at 5-7, yeah, I guess that’s still earning it. It’s a step forward for this team, but I believe there’s more in this team than being a 5-7 team that goes to a bowl.”

The Owls started 5-4 before losing their final three games. Their last win came against UTEP, 37-30, on a last-minute touchdown pass from TJ McMahon to Bradley Rozner.

McMahon has thrown for 2,102 yards, 18 touchdowns and 14 interceptions to lead Rice. All-Conference USA second-team center Shea Baker will play in his school-record 55th straight game.

Rice and Southern Miss (6-6) are plenty familiar with one another as Conference USA members from 2005 through 2021. Before the 2022 season, Southern Miss, Marshall and Old Dominion left C-USA for the Sun Belt ahead of schedule in a contentious move.

The Owls won the past two meetings of the all-time series, which is tied 6-6.

“They’ve played a lot of really close games and they do a great job controlling the clock, not giving up big plays defensively and really trying to slow the game down,” Southern Miss coach Will Hall said. “They play extremely hard and physical. We played a hard-fought game with them last year where they got us, and I got great respect for how they’ve built their program back to respectability.”

The Golden Eagles gained bowl eligibility by beating UL Monroe 20-10 in the regular-season finale. Frank Gore Jr. ran for a career-high 199 yards and a touchdown.

Hall, in his second season, has led Southern Miss to its first bowl berth since 2019. The Golden Eagles last won a bowl in 2016. Southern Miss is 11-15 all-time in bowl games, while Rice is 7-5.

–Field Level Media

The Mississippi Department of Human Services on Monday sued retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre along with several other people and businesses to try to recover millions of misspent welfare dollars that were intended to help some of the poorest people in the U.S. Xxx 0807 Clemson Practice 28 Jpg S Bbc Usa Sc

Texts reveal ex-gov. helped Brett Favre divert welfare funds for stadium

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An investigative report by Mississippi Today revealed Tuesday that former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant helped NFL legend Brett Favre receive funding that was supposed to go to the state’s welfare agency in order to build a new volleyball center at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Text messages from 2017 and 2019 were filed this week by an attorney representing Nancy New, who has already pleaded guilty to 13 felony counts of bribery, fraud and racketeering for her role in the scheme. New was the founder of the Mississippi Community Education Center, which was tasked with spending millions in federal welfare funds to help the state.

The texts show Favre, New and Bryant discussing how to divert the welfare funds to build a $5 million volleyball stadium at Southern Miss. Favre played football at Southern Miss, and his daughter was a volleyball player there at the time some of the texts were sent.

“If you were to pay me is there anyway the media can find out where it came from and how much?” Favre asked New in 2017.

After telling Favre that “we never have that information publicized,” she got back to him the next day.

“Wow, just got off the phone with Phil Bryant! He is on board with us! We will get this done!” New told Favre.

In another text sent in July 2019, Bryant told New he had just finished meeting with Favre and asked her if they could help him with his project.

Bryant, who left office in January 2020, had previously denied helping with the scheme.

Last year, Favre paid back $600,000 to the state of Mississippi, an amount he had been paid for speeches he never gave. Favre was commissioned in 2017 and 2018 to promote a state poverty-fighting initiative, receiving $1.1 million. The State Auditor’s Office reported that he initially gave back $500,000 of the amount, but earlier this month, Favre was asked in a letter to repay the remainder plus interest.

Then, in May, the Mississippi Department of Human Services filed a civil lawsuit against Favre because he had not paid back interest on the $1.1 million that amounted to $228,000.

–Field Level Media

Sep 10, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Leonard Taylor (56) celebrates after sacking Southern Miss Golden Eagles quarterback Zach Wilcke (not pictured) during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

No. 15 Miami shakes off slow start to bury Southern Miss

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Tyler Van Dyke completed 19 of 29 passes for 230 yards and one touchdown, leading the 15th-ranked Miami Hurricanes to a 30-7 win over visiting Southern Miss on Saturday afternoon.

The TD pass was on a flea flicker that started with a handoff to Henry Parrish Jr. and a toss back to Van Dyke, who then threw over the top to an open Key’Shawn Smith for a 35-yarder to put Miami ahead 24-7 in the third.

Miami (2-0) also got 102 yards rushing and one touchdown from Parrish. Kicker Andres Borregales added three field goals, including a 40-yarder.

The Hurricanes also got a big-time performance from cornerback Tyrique Stevenson who had one interception and a spectacular punt return.

Southern Miss (0-2) was led by quarterback Zach Wilcke, who made a few stellar throws, including a 32-yard touchdown to Jason Brownlee that gave the Golden Eagles their only lead of the game at 7-3.

Defensively, Southern Miss was led by Malik Shorts, who came up with the only interception on Van Dyke on the day.

However, the Canes shut down Southern Miss’ leading rusher Frank Gore Jr. — the son of the former Miami and NFL star. Gore Jr. was held to 10 yards on seven carries.

In the first quarter, Miami opened the scoring with Borregales’ 30-yard field goal that capped a 14-play, 68-yard drive. Miami might’ve scored a touchdown on that march, but pass-rusher Jalil Clemons deflected a toss intended for an open Will Mallory.

Southern Miss took a 7-3 lead with 14:30 left in the second as Wilcke lofted his TD pass to Brownlee over cornerback Malik Curtis.

With just 20 seconds left in the first half, Miami regained the advantage, 10-7, on Parrish’s one-yard leap over the middle of the pile. That capped a 10-play, 86-yard drive.

Miami scored on its first drive of the second half as Thad Franklin ran for a seven-yard touchdown. That capped a 13-play, 77-yard drive. A 12-yard run by Parrish on third-and-5 was the key play on the march as Miami went up, 17-7.

The Hurricanes forced a three-and-out on Southern Miss’ next possession, and Stevenson’s 30-yard punt return set up the Hurricanes. Stevenson grabbed the punt on one hop and then ran over a Southern Miss defender.

On the next play, Van Dyke found Smith for the flea-flicker touchdown, and Borregales added two field goals to put the game away at 30-7.

–Field Level Media

Dec 18, 2020; Huntington, West Virginia, USA; UAB Blazers players celebrate after defeating the Marshall Thundering Herd for the Conference USA Championship at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Sun Belt-bound schools reach deal with C-USA

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Marshall, Old Dominion and Southern Miss have reached a separation agreement with Conference USA to depart for the Sun Belt this year, ESPN reported Tuesday.

The reported deal comes more than a month after C-USA threatened legal action against the schools for failing to give 14 months’ notice before leaving the conference, per league bylaws. The conference filed for arbitration, with the three schools filing for temporary injunctions against arbitration.

The three schools are on the Sun Belt football schedule for 2022. Meanwhile, C-USA will play with 11 members in 2022 and is expected to release a new schedule soon; the three schools were on C-USA’s schedule for 2022, as well.

C-USA’s football schedule had included 14 schools split into divisions of seven. The East Division is losing Marshall and Old Dominion, and the West is losing Southern Miss.

Six other current C-USA institutions — Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice, UAB and UTSA — will eventually join the American Athletic Conference, but have not expressed intention to make the move in 2022.

Liberty, New Mexico State, Jacksonville State and Sam Houston will eventually join C-USA.

–Field Level Media

Oct 9, 2021; Huntington, West Virginia, USA; Marshall Thundering Herd running back Sheldon Evans (5) runs the ball and shakes a tackle from Old Dominion Monarchs safety R'Tarriun Johnson (21) during the second quarter at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

C-USA threatens legal action to keep 3 members from leaving early

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Conference USA released its 2022 football schedule on Monday, a matrix that included Southern Miss, Marshall and Old Dominion even though the three institutions announced Friday their intention of leaving the conference this summer.

The trio reached an agreement to join the Sun Belt Conference before July 1, 2023. They issued nearly identical statements Friday claiming that C-USA had shown an “unwillingness” to negotiate an earlier exit.

The conference fired back Monday.

“Conference USA intends to conduct the 2022-23 athletic year with the full 14 institution membership intact,” the conference said in a statement. “The C-USA Board of Directors will exhaust all necessary legal actions to ensure all members meet their contractual obligations as defined by and agreed to in the Conference USA Bylaws.”

Marshall interim athletic director Jeff O’Malley tweeted Monday that his department stood by its previous statement despite C-USA including the Thundering Herd on its football schedule.

C-USA’s football schedule includes 14 schools split into divisions of seven. It would be down to 11 teams should the trio depart early, with the West Division losing Marshall and Old Dominion and the East losing Southern Miss.

Six other current member institutions — Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice, UAB and UTSA — will eventually join the American Athletic Conference, but have not expressed intention to make the move in 2022. Liberty, New Mexico State, Jacksonville State and Sam Houston will eventually join C-USA.

Sports Illustrated reported that the Sun Belt also had crafted its yet-to-be-released 2022 football schedule with Southern Miss, Marshall and Old Dominion included.

–Field Level Media