The 2000 New Orleans Bowl, Troy vs Southern Miss

2008 New Orleans Bowl

Southern Mississippi vs. Troy

Correction to make: I made an earlier blog about the New Orleans Bowl featuring Boise State vs. TCU, I was looking at two different bowls and that is incorrect, they (Boise State and TCU) are not playing in the New Orleans Bowl, rather the Poinsetta Bowl. Don’t know what I was thinking when I wrote that blog, wasn’t paying attention.

Anyway, the actual bowl features Southern Mississippi and Troy, although perhaps it would have been better if they did have Boise State and TCU.

Neither of these two teams saw the top 25 all year, so there isn’t a lot of “star power” involved in this bowl, but it is still worth watching. Let’s compare the resumes of these two schools, shall we?

Troy comes out of the Sun Belt Conference, perhaps the weakest of all Division I football conferences, not to take away from any of those teams. An 8-4 record overall, and 6-1 in conference, this team started out with a win over Middle Tennessee State. Their second game was supposed to have been against then #7 LSU, but a hurricane set that date back. We certainly hope that all is well with all those who still live in that area, as it changed the dates of many football games, as well as the lives of those in that area.

Troy picked up the season with a lop-sided win over Alcorn State before losing their first game of the year to then #13 Ohio State. Even in loss, this was not bad in losing only by 18 points. But the schedule didn’t get any easier, facing Oklahoma State and losing 55-24. This was before the rest of the nation started to see how powerful the upper class of the Big 12 were.

As Troy got into the conference schedule, they racked up 3 wins over Florida Atlantic, Florida International and North Texas, bringing their record to 5-2. Not bad, and close to qualifying for a bowl already.

The Trojans would be brought down to earth with a conference loss to Louisiana-Monroe, by a single point. Troy would rebound, winning against Western Kentucky before the make up game against ranked LSU, and lost only by 9 points.

Troy wrapped up the season with two more wins, allowing only 12 points total in those two games, while scoring 83. This team proved that it is worthy of being the Sun Belt Champions.

This team has played 3 major teams, and although lost to them all, did play well against Ohio State and LSU…keep an eye on these Trojans…

Southern Miss comes from Conference USA with a 6-6 record overall, and 4-4 in conference play. This is a team that is supposedly going in a “new direction” after getting rid of the best coach they ever had.

Pardon me folks, but I don’t understand how the alumni of Southern Miss could possibly think that this is BETTER than what they had. This is what happens when a school gets too arrogant about what they think they should be accomplishing, and when they listen too much to rich alum…case in point, Notre Dame.

Anyway, the Golden Eagles started off their season defeating Louisiana-Lafayette before losing to then #9 Auburn…who knew Auburn would crash the way they did?

Southern Miss feasted on a Sun Belt team to bring their record to 2-1 before losing to a disappointing Marshall team. At 2-2, nobody would be talking about Southern Miss in the top 25 this year, but there was still some possible hope to compete for the Conference USA Championship, and at least to make a bowl.

But when it rains it pours in Mississippi, as that loss to Marshall was the first of FIVE straight losses…so much for that new direction the fired their former coach for….

Southern Miss lost to UTEP by three in overtime, loses to ranked Boise State by a couple of touchdowns, loses to Rice in a high scoring game by 5 and to Memphis by 6. In that 5 game losing streak, they allowed almost 180 points, gaining almost 115. It was becoming apparent that Southern Miss had no “D”.

But offense they did have, and showed it on the next game against UAB, winning 70-14, in an attempt to get back on track and to a bowl game. At 3-6, they needed to win out just to qualify. A close win vs. Central Florida put them at 4-6 and the hopes were starting to rise. A lot rode on the next game against ECU, a game they could not afford to lose.

But lose they did not, defeating the eventual Conference USA Champs and then beating lowly SMU to qualify for the bowl they now have.

At least 5 teams will be in a bowl, but ECU was the only one that the Golden Eagles defeated. So having said all this, who has the advantage?

Most people don’t think that the Sun Belt can really compete with the other conferences of the Division I, but one has to look at the fact that Troy has played some very tough competitors…they could be battle tested against a team such as Southern Miss. No doubt they Trojans won’t be intimidated, but they still have to win.

Southern Miss has had a “rebuilding year” and it might be that way for years to come. Their only real credits this year was scoring 70 on a 4-8 team, and beating ECU, who would go on to win the conference title. You almost want to say that this Southern Miss is playing a good Division IAA team, but we know from recent history that those teams have talent too… ask App State. But Troy is division I, and with their record, they may well prove that they, as well as the Sun Belt, belong exactly where they are, in Division I, or the FBS, or whatever they are gonna call it.

I think Southern Miss may win, but to be honest, I am pulling for Troy. We will see.