Sun Belt Media Days: Southern Miss football on the rise
Today, hundreds of Sun Belt Conference logos filled the eighth-floor halls of the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel as representatives from all 14 football programs gathered for the league’s annual media days.
The Southern Miss spirit was sky high at the Sun Belt Media Days in New Orleans, fresh off USM’s first bowl game win since 2016 and Frank Gore Jr.’s record breaking performance, 329 yards rushing. But more than just one player, one program, hoping to take yet another major leap forward in 2023. Head Coach Will Hall said, “This build here has been constant. It’s been a little bit every day, putting a little bit of water in the bucket every day. It’s been a tough build but it’s been a rewarding build now that we’re into Year 3 to see what all we’ve been able to do and change and fix. I think our older kids in the program are seasoned and battled-tested and they’re hungry from everything they’ve been through to get it to this point, and along the way it’s allowed us to recruit a bigger, better football player.”
For the first time during his Southern Miss coaching career, Will Hall says USM has 85 scholarship players, about 115 overall, giving his team the depth to withstand the rigors of a college football season, starting all the way back in spring ball. Tight End Cole Cavallo said, “Honestly, before this year, there would be a lot of people going out there, getting extra work in. But now, it’s like the whole team, so it’s definitely helped with chemistry a lot.”
Safety Jay Stanley said, “Even the freshmen. That’s what really matters. The freshmen got here and bought in immediately. The older guys are like taking them under their wing, just showing them the ways around. I just feel like it’s going to be great because we’ve got a whole team now. Instead of just good players, we’ve got a whole team.”
Certainly, a more complete team, starting under center, upon the arrivals of transfer quarterbacks Holman Edwards from Houston and Billy Wiles from Clemson. “I’m excited about being able to run my offense. If I had to say one thing, I’m excited about being able to call plays again the way I’ve done in my past. We’ve taken a lot of criticism over two years and it was justified, but to be able to finally do it the way we want to do it, I’m really excited about.”
The focal point of that offense is Gore Jr., one of two selections from Southern Miss on the All Sun Belt First Team after breaking the single game rushing record for USM and NCAA bowl games in a 38-24 Lending Tree Bowl victory over Rice. “Literally everyone in the Southern Miss fan base knew it could happen, so whenever we’re going into that week watching film and stuff, we knew we could exploit it and really getting him to the second level was the key. Everyone knows the first person isn’t going to tackle him.”
“Frank has a unique ability to make the first person miss in a myriad of ways. His football IQ is off the charts because of the way he grew up. He’s almost like a coach’s kid. He’s great in the passing game, and he’s just fun to coach.”
The Golden Eagles are also picked to finish fourth in the West on the back of last year’s 7-6 finish with six one-score games, now 9-6 in their last 15 games, dating back to the end of 2021. “It’s opinions of people that probably know a little bit, but not everything, and I think our basketball team was picked 14th this year and they won the league, so it can be some motivation. It’s always fun to prove people wrong, and I think our young men are excited about this season.”
Now at Southern Miss, the saying is ‘anyone, anywhere, anytime,’ and the 2023 schedule certainly reflects that with games against Florida State and Mississippi State, that first in-state meeting since 2019. Southern Miss Tight End Cole Cavallo says they’re all winnable.
USM kicks off the new campaign on Saturday, September 2nd at home against Alcorn State.
