USM Community Reacts to Shooting of Student Athletes

The Southern Mississippi football team was in high spirits after their victory at conference rival and #24 in the nation Central Florida. Some players went out to celebrate in Hattiesburg after they returned home, and the night turned from celebration to tragedy. USM linebackers Martez Smith and Tim Green and defensive end Deddrick Jones were all shot outside of Remington's Hunt Club in Hattiesburg during the early hours of Sunday, November 14. The three players have been listed by the university as in fair to good condition since the shooting. As a result of the shooting, Martez Smith is currently paralyzed from the waist down, and Tim Jones cannot speak because of undisclosed injuries suffered in the shooting. As a proud Golden Eagle, I went around campus in the days after this tragic event to see how the university family is copping with this harrowing situation. For the latest information regarding the Southern Miss Football Team, visit the team homepage at Golden Eagle Football. For the latest breaking news about the shooting and other issues in Hattiesburg, MS, visit the Hattiesburg American website at Hattiesburg American.

Southern Miss Women's Basketball Preview

The Southern Miss Women's Basketball team tips the season off this Friday November 12th at Reed Green Coliseum in Hattiesburg. The Lady Eagles had a tough season last year, but they look to rebound this season with some senior leadership and solid freshman play. Head Coach Joye McNelis says the team has a motto of "Uncommon" this year to motivate players to step their game up. I caught up with Coach McNelis after their blowout win in a scrimmage against Mobile 80-49. For more information on the Lady Eagles and their schedule, go to the Southern Miss Lady Eagles' website at Southern Miss Women's Basketball

USM Baseball Black & Gold Game

The Southern Miss baseball team had a magical ride to the College World Series in 2009. Support for the Golden Eagles had never been better. Some fans may have drifted away from the diamond, but there are still very loyal fans of Southern Miss baseball. I went out to the inter squad Black & Gold Game on Halloween and talked to some fans that attend every home baseball game. Last season the team went 31-21 in the regular season. They won the Conference USA tournament, and received a bid to play in a regional at Auburn. Unfortunately for the eagles, they were eliminated from the regional to end their season. Fans are hopeful that the Golden Eagles can make a run at a good season this year. If you would like more information on the team visit Southern Miss Baseball

New Orleans Hornets Hot

Two supposedly disgruntled all-stars squared off in New Orleans tonight. Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets and Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets, who both were rumored to want out of their current teams during the offseason, took to the hardwood in both teams' second game of the season. The Hornets edged the Nuggets 101-95 at "The Hive" in New Orleans. Although it was an "average" game for the Hornets' point guard, he was the leading scorer for the team with 18 points. He also added seven assists and seven rebounds on the evening. Anthony was the leading scorer for the Nuggets. He posted a double-double on the stat sheet for the visitors with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Although some news outlets report that Anthony is ready to leave Denver, the future for both superstars is uncertain. All that is known at this point is that the New Orleans Hornets are 2-0 after taking down two playoff teams to start the season at home.

Jones County Junior College State Champs

The Jones County Junior College Ladies' soccer team had a superb season. The team won seven games in the southern district of the state, and they only lost once. After their great season, the team hosted the state championship tournament. The Lady Bobcats beat Itawamba in their first game 1-0 to move on to the state championship game. The JCJC Bobcats faced Hinds County Junior College in the championship. The Lady Bobcats beat the Hinds Eagles 1-0 in sudden death overtime to become State Champions of Mississippi. For more information about the JCJC Lady Bobcats soccer team, visit JCJC Athletics

Dangerous Game

Injuries are a part of any sport, but they are especially common in football. The concussion problem facing football players has received plenty of attention recently with studies done for the National Football League on the effects of the injury on players. National news organizations like ESPN talk about the injuries often, especially with the new rules and fines for helmet-to-helmet contact. I talk to Oak Grove High School's Certified Athletic Trainer Kevin Mauldin to discuss concussions in football. He says that they are very serious injuries, but there are also other injuries to be wary of.

Petal Football Star

The Petal High Panthers start this football season with a 4-2 record. A main component of their success is their junior quarterback Anthony Alford. This dual-threat quarterback started the season with 91 yards passing and 59 yards rushing against South Panola which is ranked #2 in the country. His season has only improved since that game. Alford is averaging at least 100 yards of total offense in each game this season. He has also thrown for 6 touchdowns and rushed for 8 on the season so far.

Fall Isn't Just For Football

Without a doubt, football is the most popular sport in the United States. Each fall millions of people work for the weekend so they can watch football games, college or pro. This week I take look at two other sports that are going on this fall at Southern Miss. The Southern Miss rugby team and Women's Volleyball team do not receive a whole lot of fanfare. The rugby team has won five division titles and is the longest running club on campus. The Women's Volleyball team heads into this weekend with a match at Houston with an 8-7 record. You can find more information about these teams at southernmissrugby.com and http://southernmiss.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/smis-w-volley-body.html respectively. To watch this news package, click Southern Miss Rugby/Volleyball

Petal High v. Hattiesburg High

This week the Petal Panthers and Hattiesburg Tigers renewed their football rivalry. Some of the players are friends, and some even live on the same block. I caught up with both coaches before the game to discuss the rivalry, the players, and the game itself. For more information about the Petal High School football team visit their website at http://petalfootball.com/. For more information about the Hattiesburg High squad you can go to their MaxPreps webpage at http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/omakYkzlD0292iabkwFavA/hattiesburg-tigers/football/home.htm.