Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
2:27 am Saturday, September 7, 2002

Southern Miss hosts Big 10 opponent

By By Stan Caldwell/EMG sports writer
September 7, 2002
HATTIESBURG The stage is set for the University of Southern Mississippi.
Today, the Golden Eagles have a big opportunity to showcase their program in front of a national television audience against a "name" team, when the University of Illinois comes to M.M. Roberts Stadium for an ESPN2 broadcast beginning at 11 a.m.
The Fighting Illini bring in a team that won the Big Ten championship last season and advanced to the Sugar Bowl. However, they are coming off a 33-20 upset loss to Missouri last week in their season opener, and that defeat worries the USM coaches.
USM won its season opener last week, defeating Jackson State 55-7. That game marked the first collegiate start for sophomore Micky D'Angelo, who completed 13-o- 23 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown. However, USM knows this will be a different ball game.
Klenakis said the Illini are very similar on defense to Penn State, another Big Ten team, which defeated the Golden Eagles 38-20 last season.
The Eagles are especially wary of the Illini secondary, especially cornerbacks Eugene Wilson and Christian Morton.
This is only the second meeting between the two schools. USM trounced the Illini 24-7 in 1997 at Champaign, Ill., in head coach Ron Turner's debut at Illinois. Turner's team finished 0-11 that season, but ever since, he's brought the Illini back to prominence.
Turner knows his team has its work cut out for it against the Golden Eagles. After watching his team lose last week, a trip to face USM is probably the last thing he wants this week, but he says the potential rewards make it worthwhile.
Offensively, Illinois has seven starters back, but Turner is still trying to find someone at quarterback to replace the departed Kurt Kittner, a four-year starter who was All-Big Ten last season. Junior Dustin Ward earned the start last week over fellow junior Jon Beutjer, but both played against Missouri.
That means the Golden Eagles will look to put pressure up the middle on passing plays, but Nix cautions that the Illini have a solid running game, led by senior Antoineo Harris, who ran 17 times for 66 yards last week.
Like USM, Illinois excels in the kicking game. The Illini blocked seven kicks last season (three punts, two field goals and two extra-points), and picked up right where they left off, blocking a field goal and an extra-point against Missouri. In addition, Wilson is an exceedingly dangerous kick returner.
Last week, USM set a new attendance record when 35,169 showed up for the JSU game. Bower says the quality of this week's opponent makes it crucial that another big crowd come out to support the Eagles.

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025