Summer Bracket Challenge: The Greatest USM Football Season of All Time: Round 2, Matchup No. 1 - 2011 vs. 2006
Summer Bracket Challenge: The Greatest USM Football Season of All Time: Round 2, Matchup No. 1 - 2011 vs. 2006
The Southern Miss Golden Eagles on SI team is working to determine the greatest Southern Miss football season of all time. Today's matchup features two legendary Golden Eagle coaches, Jeff Bower & Larry Fedora, as the #16 2006 team takes on the #1-seed 2011 Golden Eagles. Andy Baeuerle|
The Southern Miss Golden Eagles on SI team is trying to determine the greatest Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team of all time. Through internal discussions and fan voting, we have arrived at Round 2 of this bracket challenge. Round 1 closed with only one upset, as the 20-seed 2010 team defeated the 13-seed 2015 team with 73 percent of the vote. We are officially down to just 16 seasons as we continue to march toward crowning a champion. Here is today's matchup. Be sure to go cast your vote on our Southern Miss Golden Eagles on SI Facebook Page!
Today's Matchup: #1 2011 vs. #16 2000
#1 - 2011 Southern Miss Golden Eagles
The 2010 Southern Miss season ended at 8-5 with a loss to former conference foe Louisville in the Beef O' Brady's Bowl in St. Petersburg, Fla. Stakes were high for 2011 as Coach Larry Fedora entered his fourth season at the helm in Hattiesburg and returned starters like quarterback Austin Davis and defensive back Jamie Collins.
The Golden Eagles opened the 2011 stretch with a two-point win over Sonny Dykes-led Louisiana Tech in the 43rd edition of the Rivalry in Dixie. The Golden Eagles would drop the next game against Marshall in their first of two losses. The Golden Eagles then went on an eight-game win streak that included wins over Virginia, Navy, and SMU. The Golden Eagles dropped their second loss of the season in a 3-point loss to UAB at Legion Field. Despite the two conference losses, Southern Miss made the Conference USA Championship Game, facing AP No. 7 Houston, in Houston. The No. 24-ranked Golden Eagles demolished the Cougars in a 49-28 upset, earning a trip to either the Hawaii Bowl or the TicketCity Bowl. In a 2023 episode of "Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime with Marchant Kenney," Coach Fedora explained his decision to attend the Hawaii Bowl: "After that season, the bowl was all about our players. And it seemed at least 90 percent of our team would not get the chance to go to Hawaii at any time. So we went to Hawaii." And the Golden Eagles defeated Nevada at Aloha Stadium to claim only the third double-digit win season in Golden Eagle history.
- Record: 12-2 (6-2 CUSA)
- Conference USA Champions over #7 Houston
- Sheraton Hawaii Bowl Champions over Nevada
- 5 Weeks Ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll (Finished at #20)
- Notable Players: Austin Davis (QB), Kevin Bolden (WR), Jamie Collins (LB)
- Notable Wins: vs. SMU (27-3) & @ #7 Houston (49-28, CUSA Championship)
#16 - 2000 Southern Miss Golden Eagles
Entering the new millennium brought high expectations for Jeff Bower and his Golden Eagles. By 2000, Coach Bower had amassed a 59-43-1 record and won three Conference USA Championships. He had also been named the Conference USA Coach of the Year twice and was Conference USA Coach of the Decade for the 1990s.
The 2000 season saw Southern Miss finish 8-4 with its seventh consecutive winning season under Coach Bower. The Golden Eagles dropped their first matchup against No. 13 Tennessee in Knoxville, but then went on a six-game win streak that included their first win over Alabama since 1990. The Golden Eagles achieved their highest AP Top 25 ranking since 1981, reaching No. 13, as they went on to face Louisville. Southern Miss dropped this game, and a loss against Cincinnati two weeks later dropped them out of the Top 25. The season did end on a high note with a win over No. 13 TCU in the Mobile, Alabama Bowl.
- Record: 8-4 (4-3 CUSA)
- 10 Weeks Ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll
- GMAC Mobile, Alabama Bowl Champions over #13 TCU (28-21)
- Notable Players: Jeff Kelly (QB), Derrick Nix (RB), and Rod Davis (LB)
- Notable Wins: vs. #15 Alabama (21-0) & @ Oklahoma State (28-6)
What an exciting matchup to kick off Round 2. Remember to visit the Southern Miss Golden Eagles on SI Facebook Page to vote for which team you think is better. And as always, Southern Miss, To The Top!
Published 1 hour ago | Modified 21 seconds ago
ANDY BAEUERLEI am 22 years old and a lifelong Golden Eagle supporter. It all started with going to football games with my grandfather, who is the biggest USM fan I know, during the brief Ellis Johnson era in 2012. Since then, I have attended 60 football games, one basketball game, and three baseball games. I am a 2022 graduate of Magee High School in Magee, Mississippi, and a 2024 graduate of Pearl River Community College, where I earned an Associate of Arts degree in Journalism. I am a former student at the University of Southern Mississippi as a third-generation Golden Eagle. There, I was the executive editor of the Student Printz, USM’s student newspaper. I was also a multimedia journalist for Southern Miss Student Media (SM2), and a founding analyst for SM2’s first sports TV show, “Hub City Gameday.” I am a lover of all things USM, and music, with some of my favorite artists being Gordon Lightfoot, Waylon Jennings, and Charley Pride.
Follow AndyBlackGoldBadenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
