Jeff Bower - Familiar Territory?

[MrMustang1965]

Sounds oddly familiar on some levels.

from the Hattiesburg-American:

Despite all the rumors and negative talk surrounding the Southern Mississippi football program this year, it still came as a shock to many that Coach Jeff Bower resigned on Monday.

Bower has served as head coach for 17 years, leading the Golden Eagles to 14 consecutive winning seasons and a 119-82-1 record. This year's 7-5 record, though, included three losses at "The Rock" where USM has been particularly difficult to beat over the years.

Few other Division I coaches can include those details on their résumés.

During a Monday afternoon news conference to announce his resignation, a grim-faced Bower indicated that he's not finished as a coach.

"I want you to know there's a lot of fight left in Jeff Bower, and I am not done yet," he said as he was flanked by his wife and daughter.

Most fans would agree that Bower has done an incredible job with the Golden Eagles. Southern Miss' graduation rate for football players is among the best in the nation. Bower deserves credit for that.

He has taken the Golden Eagles to nine bowl games in the last 10 years. The streak continues Dec. 22 when Southern Miss plays in the Papajohns.com Bowl in Birmingham, Ala.

There aren't many coaches who can make that claim.

At most schools, winning programs draw fans to the stadiums. That hasn't been the case at Southern Miss. Even though Bower has built a winning program, fan support has been lacking.

Average attendance at USM home games this year has been about 28,000; the stadium seats more than 33,000.

Saturday's regular season finale against Arkansas State - a 16-10 victory for Southern - drew just over an announced 17,000 fans.

Yes, it was the Thanksgiving weekend. Yes, the weather was cold and miserable. But there still should have been more than 17,000 people watching what turned out to be a pretty exciting contest.

Maybe it was time for a change. The Southern Miss play-calling this season hasn't been very creative. Games that should have been won easily were lost.

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps ... /711270344

[Alaric]

Sounds oddly familiar on some levels.

from the Hattiesburg-American:

Despite all the rumors and negative talk surrounding the Southern Mississippi football program this year, it still came as a shock to many that Coach Jeff Bower resigned on Monday.

Bower has served as head coach for 17 years, leading the Golden Eagles to 14 consecutive winning seasons and a 119-82-1 record. This year's 7-5 record, though, included three losses at "The Rock" where USM has been particularly difficult to beat over the years.

Few other Division I coaches can include those details on their résumés.

During a Monday afternoon news conference to announce his resignation, a grim-faced Bower indicated that he's not finished as a coach.

"I want you to know there's a lot of fight left in Jeff Bower, and I am not done yet," he said as he was flanked by his wife and daughter.

Most fans would agree that Bower has done an incredible job with the Golden Eagles. Southern Miss' graduation rate for football players is among the best in the nation. Bower deserves credit for that.

He has taken the Golden Eagles to nine bowl games in the last 10 years. The streak continues Dec. 22 when Southern Miss plays in the Papajohns.com Bowl in Birmingham, Ala.

There aren't many coaches who can make that claim.

At most schools, winning programs draw fans to the stadiums. That hasn't been the case at Southern Miss. Even though Bower has built a winning program, fan support has been lacking.

Average attendance at USM home games this year has been about 28,000; the stadium seats more than 33,000.

Saturday's regular season finale against Arkansas State - a 16-10 victory for Southern - drew just over an announced 17,000 fans.

Yes, it was the Thanksgiving weekend. Yes, the weather was cold and miserable. But there still should have been more than 17,000 people watching what turned out to be a pretty exciting contest.

Maybe it was time for a change. The Southern Miss play-calling this season hasn't been very creative. Games that should have been won easily were lost.

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps ... /711270344

If Bennett resembled any of that we'd be happy and he'd still be here.