Appalachian State Mountaineers at Southern Miss Eagles Preview
The Appalachian State Mountaineers are back after a week off following their stomping of the Campbell Camels 66-0 in week two. Their challenge is not insurmountable this week as they go down to the home town of Brett Favre to play his alma mater, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. The Mountaineers will be looking to see if they have successfully recalibrated from their loss at Michigan, and whether the offense will continue to breathe fire as it did against Campbell.
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Date: September 20
Time: 7:00 PM
Venue: M.M. Roberts Stadium (Hattiesburg, MS)
Last Time: 1937, Mississippi State Teachers College 7 Appalachian State Teachers College 0
In an unnamed bowl game in Biloxi, MS, the legendary 1937 ASTC team went to preserve its undefeated season and its mark of shut-out performances. In the end they lost both marks to the MSTC squad who beat them 7-0. For 77 years it has been a black mark on Boone that must be erased. Some App fans spent their entire lives knowing they had never beaten Southern Miss and now that the chance is upon them, it must not be wasted. Do not let those 77 years of suffering continue!
Sep 13, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Southern Miss Golden Eagles head coach Todd Monken looks on prior to the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Opponent: Southern Miss Golden Eagles (1-2)
All kidding aside, Southern Miss has been in a torturous transition since coach Larry Fedora departed for Chapel Hill three years ago. They went winless their first year under Ellis Johnson, so they fired him immediately. His replacement was Todd Monken, who went 1-11 last year as the team was hit by injuries. Monken is back at it, but this still a team with more questions than answers.
Southern Miss played two games against SEC opposition and was blown out both times. Then they just managed to hold off Alcorn State for their one win.
Monken brought in a new offensive coordinator this year, Chip Lindsey. Lindsey spent last year as a lower level assistant to Gus Malzahn, and he will likely be expected to bring Malzahn’s brand of power football to the Eagles. Right now the personnel does not match that style, and so there will be growing pains.
Sep 13, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Southern Miss Golden Eagles quarterback Nick Mullens (9) passing against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Point in that direction to the Alabama game, where the run game did nothing and quarterback Nick Mullens had to throw for 207 yards, which was not enough to score a touchdown on the Crimson Tide.
On defense the Eagles are trying to find a front seven presence that works. The secondary is full of experienced guys, but teams have been running at will on the Eagles. All the secondary has managed to do so far is accumulate tackles. App State will treat it much the same way with Marcus Cox and Terrence Upshaw getting plenty of looks.
Prediction: 24-20 Mountaineers
ONJ Season Record: 12-1
I don’t like to go back on a pick, and I picked the Eagles in the preseason because I could not believe a Southern Miss team could be this bad. Yet they seem to be, so I think App State will pick up a close win for its first FBS win as an FBS school. The Mountaineers are simply better put together right now.