Southern Miss @ #7 Florida

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 the swap in Florida.

Eagles, Nasty Bunch Ready for Florida

The field is primmed, the sun is shining, and a feeling of importance is in the air for yet another season of college football mania. Despite the plethora of important C-USA games to be played this afternoon, one sticks out as being special; Southern Miss vs. Florida. The Golden Eagles have been waiting all season for a chance to prove their worth against a solid Florida team led by senior quarterback Chris Leak, and the Nasty Bunch is finally ready to show what it can do against the Gators. The defense, manned by redshirt freshman Gerald McRath, will definitely have a challenge on their hands with a potent Urban Meyer-led Florida offense. Meyer's star player and team leader Chris Leak, who has thrown for 8,271 yards and 65 touchdowns in his career as a starter, will make his 34th career start tonight at The Swamp, the third most among Division 1-A quarterbacks. His poise in the pocket and quick feet will pose a threat to a rebuilt Southern Miss defense, but it is a challenge the Golden Eagles are willing to take.
   
"We just want to go out there and try to take away their strengths, make them a one-dimensional team," said Jasper Faulk, starting cornerback for the Eagles. "It's a great challenge. We love challenges."

Indeed a challenge it will be, but it will be one that Southern Miss has faced before. Last season the Golden Eagles opened the year against SEC foe Alabama, and the year before the USM stunned Nebraska in Lincoln for a road upset of the Cornhuskers.

But if Southern Miss wants to pull off the unthinkable and beat UF at Ben Hill Grifith Stadium, Jeremy Young must lead this young Southern Miss team into battle in Gainesville in his first ever start in the black and gold. Young has the legs and football intelligence to develop into a great quarterback, but his maturity and inexperience will play a big factor in the game. He will definitely have receivers to throw to, primarily Freshman All-American tight end Shawn Nelson and senior wide out Anthony Perine, but Young must get the ball into their hands to be successful.

Establishing a running game will also be key for the Golden Eagles, something  they have failed to do in the past. Larry Thomas has been named the starter for tonight's game, but junior Cody Hull and frehsman sensation Damion Fletcher will also receive valuable reps in the backfield. Fletcher impressed Coach Bower and his staff in spring practice, and has solitified his spot as a solid runningback on the team. His breakaway speed and ability to read holes will definitely test a good Florida secondary, and if Fletcher, Hull, and Thomas all run well, Jeremy Young will have plenty of options against a Top 10 Gator defensive unit.

The defensive line will be skeptical, but senior Matthew Chatelain will look improve an immature D-line. The secondary returns Jasper Faulk and playmaker Brandon Sumrall, but a very speedy wide receiving corp for the Gators will test USM's cornerbacks early.

In all, Southern Miss must play mistake-free football to win. The Eagles' offensive line will be a strong point, countering a sketchy defensive line from UF. All-American kicker Darren McCaleb will get his fair share of kicks in, and Britt Barefoot will make his debut punting the ball for Southern Miss.

An upset is unlikely but not impossible, and USM is looking for the Nasty Bunch to make a win possible. "We're going to shock the world," said Faulk, a grin surfacing on his face. Well, world... are you ready?