'09 Football Opponent Preview: Southern Miss
August 20, 2009 | Football
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- As college football fans across the country gear up for another exciting season of action on the gridiron, UofLSports.com will give Louisville fans breakdown, analysis and things to watch for on each of the Cardinals' 2009 opponents leading up to the start of the season.
The staff of UofLSports.com continues its 2009 football season preview with an in-depth look at the Cards' homecoming game against Southern Miss.
 | Game Buildup |
The Cardinals and Golden Eagles resume their intense rivalry on Oct. 10, the first meeting since 2002 when they were both members of Conference USA. UofL won that game 20-17 and has a three-game winning streak in the series.
| Season Outlook |
Southern Miss reached their seventh consecutive bowl game a year ago when they defeated Troy, 30-27 in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. It also marked their 15th straight winning season, with only Florida State, Florida and Virginia Tech having a longer streak. Larry Fedora enters his second season at the helm of the Golden Eagles and he has plenty to be excited about as they return 42 letterwinners, including eight starters on both sides of the ball.
The Golden Eagles could have Conference USA's most talented offense as they welcome back school record holders, running back Damion Fletcher, wide receiver DeAndre Brown and quarterback Austin Davis. Brown and Davis were arguably two of the most productive and gifted freshman in the country last season, while the former in Fletcher is mentioned among the elite at his position.
Fedora's defense should be even stronger this year after setting 36 school records in 2008. The return of nose tackle Anthony Gray, linebacker Martez Smith and defensive backs Eddie Hicks and Justin Wilson will make them a formidable group once again. Gray led the team in sacks, while Hicks and Wilson were the team leaders in interceptions. Smith brings the most experience to the linebacker corps.
It is no reason why Southern Miss is considered by many to be a contender for the Conference USA title in 2009.
| Players to Watch |
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Damion Fletcher | RB | No. 25 | Senior
Damion Fletcher, a preseason Maxwell and Doak Walker Award candidate, is one of the most dynamic running backs in all of college football. Fletcher is seeking to become only the ninth FBS runner to gain at least 1,000 yards in all four seasons. He finished the 2008 campaign with 1,313 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns to go along with 33 receptions for 246 yards and a score. Fletcher is the school's all-time leading rusher with 4,287 yards and is the only Golden Eagle to rush for 4,000 yards in a career and 1,000 yards in three straight seasons.
Other Key Players
| Scouting Opponent's Offense |
The Golden Eagles set 36 records in 2008, most of which came via the offensive side of the football.
Head coach Larry Fedora's motto is "Attack" and that is exactly what Southern Miss did as they averaged over 30 points a game for the first time in 10 years.
Offensive Coordinator Darrell Wyatt returns to the fold, while Blake Anderson handles the quarterbacks. Chris Kapilovic will coach the offensive line and Barney Farrar will supervise the tight ends. Pat Washington is a new addition to the staff as he is responsible for running backs.
Southern Miss will welcome back eight starters led by four offensive linemen, including Kyle Burkhart, Micah Brown, Cameron Zipp and Ryan Hebert.
Austin Davis returns as signal caller, while Damion Fletcher is the anchor in the backfield. Freshman All-American DeAndre Brown is back at wide receiver, along with Gerald Baptiste and Jonathan Massey who is expected to hold down the tight end position.
The collection of talent has Southern Miss in the mix to surpass the 5,000 yard mark for the third consecutive season.
| Scouting Opponent's Defense |
In 2008, the Golden Eagle defense held its opponents to an average of 254.2 total yards per contest over the last five games of the season, including just 60.6 yards a game on the ground. Southern Miss returns eight starters from that team, including three on the defensive line, one at linebacker and all four defensive backs. Perhaps the most notable loss on the defensive side will be former C-USA Defensive Player of the Year Gerald McRath, a fourth-round pick for the Tennessee Titans.
Anthony Gray is one of three starters back in the defensive line after tallying 29 tackles, including a team-best six sacks in 2008. The other two starters back include junior Roshaad Byrd and sophomore Deddrick Jones. Byrd added 29 stops and 3.5 tackles for loss, while Jones added 20 tackles to go along with 3.5 TFLs as well.
The linebacker corps returns a young, but talented group led by Martez Smith and Korey Williams. Smith tallied 59 tackles (6.0 TFLs) and added an interception in his first season as a starter in 2008. Williams, who appeared in just five games because of injury, tallied 24 tackles and notched three fumble recoveries.
All four starters return in the defensive backfield for Southern Miss in 2009. Those starters include C-USA second team performer Eddie Hicks, C.J. Bailey, Andre Watson and the duo of Justin Wilson and Chico Hunter, who split time at the boundary safety spot, after an injury sidelined Hunter. Hicks, who tallied a current, team-best four interceptions in 2008, to go along with 64 tackles. Hicks started in all 13 games for the squad. Bailey registered 39 tackles, a pair of interceptions and a fumble recovery, while Watson ended the season with 32 stops and three interceptions. Hunter played the first nine games and recorded 68 tackles before his injury. Wilson played equally as well at that spot, having notched four interceptions to go along with 19 tackles.
| Scouting Opponent's Special Teams |
The Golden Eagles are tasked with replacing Britt Barefoot who provided kickoff, field goal and punting duties in 2008. Justin Estes, who has recorded 19-of-29 career field goals and 48-of-50 extra points, could battle for those duties after holding down the top place kicking spot in 2007 and briefly in 2008.
Andre Watson should once again handle punt returns and Freddie Parham is the likely candidate to return kicks.
| Game Implications |
The Cardinals take on their fourth non-league opponent of the season in Southern Miss. UofL needs to take care of business at home if they are going to get to a bowl game in 2009.
The countdown to the start of the season marches on as UofLSports.com provides and in-depth look at the Cards' second BIG EAST game against Connecticut in its next installment.
