Southern Miss @ Tulsa preview

CUSA-fans.com has a new staff of team correspondents this fall to help bring you, the fan, more detailed Conference USA football coverage. Today, our Southern Miss Correspondent, Cory Gunkel, gives you a preview of the Golden Eagles' visit to Tulsa.

It's a C-USA battle for the ages. The West's #1 contender against that of the East. This is what college football is all about.

A definite statement will be made tonight when Southern Miss (3-1, 1-0) takes on Tulsa (3-1) at Skelly Stadium in what could be a deciding factor in the race for a C-USA Championship. The Golden Eagles come into the game riding a big conference win over UCF in Orlando last Tuesday to stake claims atop the C-USA East. A win tonight for USM could mean a fast 2-0 start in conference play, as Southern Miss would be the front-runners for the conference championship.

"We're trying to get this thing back," Golden Eagle offensive lineman Chris Clark said about the league championship. "Tulsa's in our way."

Indeed they are, as Tulsa's 34-17 rout of Southern Miss at The Rock last season paved the way for the Golden Hurricane to beat Central Florida in the championship game to take the inaugural conference championship game last December in Orlando.

"I think everybody's focused," USM linebacker James Denley said. "As a player, that kind of amps you up to show the nation what you can do."

Southern Miss will have to play near-perfect ball on the road against a very solid Golden Hurricane team to win. Tulsa, led by All Conference-USA quarterback Paul Smith, is coming off of a 24-23 overtime win against Navy last Saturday, prompting Golden Eagle head coach Jeff Bower to focus on TU with even more intensity.

"I think they (Tulsa) are very good. They are very impressive on tape. They are a physical football team. They play extremely hard. Look at all the statistical categories, and they are at the top or near the top in just about all of them.

Coach Bower will look to freshman runningback Damion Fletcher, the nation's eight leading rusher, to lead a very potent offensive attack tonight. Fletcher has amassed three consecutive 100-yard games this season, and looks to cap off another solid night against a good Golden Hurricane linebacking unit. Fletch has been USM's leading offensive producer thus far, and will look to have a breakout game against the Golden Hurricane's respectable 'D.'

"We've got a big task ahead of us," USM offensive coordinator Jay Johnson said.

"He (Damion Fletcher) is a dang good player," said Tulsa head coach Steve Kragthorpe. "I was really impressed with his athleticism, his balance and his ability to break tackles."

On the defensive side of the ball, middle linebacker Jerome Lyons looks to produce another one-man show like he did last Tuesday against the Golden Knights, who had had six tackles, one assist and had the interception for a touchdown against UCF.

"Everybody's got that look in their eye," Clark added.

"You can see it in their eyes."