Bower busy working on Cornhuskers

By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
August 31, 2004
HATTIESBURG Southern Mississippi's upcoming season opener may present the first time Jeff Bower has ever had to scout an NFL team.
Bower, whose Golden Eagles open on Sept. 11 at Nebraska, said Monday he has been doing homework on the Oakland Raiders to research Cornhuskers coach Bill Callahan's tenancies. Callahan was the Raiders' head coach until being fired following a 4-12 season.
Callahan has already put his stamp on the Cornhuskers offense by scrapping the team's traditional option running game and replacing it with a wide-open West Coast offense.
But Bower and the Golden Eagles will not have to be the first to test Nebraska's new pass-happy offense. The Cornhuskers host a virtual sacrificial lamb, Division I-AA program Western Illinois, on Saturday.
In the meantime, Bower said Southern Miss will spend this week implementing its game plan for the Nebraska game. The Golden Eagles scrimmaged on Saturday, and Bower said it showed how far the team still has to go.
Bower also said recent practices, such as Saturday's scrimmage, have helped shape the team's depth chart.
The Golden Eagles defense is the home of another position battle in the secondary.
And while the extra week of practice before the Golden Eagles face Nebraska has practical advantages, such as extra time to determine starters, Bower said he is ready to open the season.