1998 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team

The 1998 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represented the University of Southern Mississippi in the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Golden Eagles were led by ninth-year head coach Jeff Bower and played their home games at M. M. Roberts Stadium. Following a successful 1997 season, the Golden Eagles were ranked in the preseason for the first time in school history, 21st in both polls. However, they were unable to replicate the previous season's success, losing their opening two games to ranked opponents and started 1–3. They finished with an overall record of 7–5 (5–1 C-USA), finishing second in Conference USA. They were invited to the 1998 Humanitarian Bowl, where they lost to Idaho, 35–42.[1]

1998 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football
Humanitarian Bowl, L 35–42 vs. Idaho
ConferenceConference USA
Record7–5 (5–1 C-USA)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorLarry Kueck (2nd season)
Offensive schemePro-style
Defensive coordinatorJohn Thompson (7th season)
Base defenseMultiple
Home stadiumM. M. Roberts Stadium
Seasons
← 1997
1999 →
1998 Conference USA football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 7 Tulane $   6 0     12 0  
Southern Miss   5 1     7 5  
Louisville   4 2     7 5  
East Carolina   3 3     6 5  
Army   2 4     3 8  
Houston   2 4     3 8  
Memphis   1 5     2 9  
Cincinnati   1 5     2 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

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DateOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 5at No. 13 Penn State*No. 21L 6–3496,617[2]
September 19No. 17 Texas A&M*FSNSWL 6–2433,233[3]
September 26Southwestern Louisiana*
  • M. M. Roberts Stadium
  • Hattiesburg, MS
W 55–024,379[4]
October 3at TulaneL 7–2132,527[5]
October 10Louisville
  • M. M. Roberts Stadium
  • Hattiesburg, MS
W 56–2122,043[6]
October 17at ArmyW 37–1340,395[7]
October 24East Carolina
  • M. M. Roberts Stadium
  • Hattiesburg, MS
W 41–724,020[8]
October 31at Alabama*L 20–3083,818[9]
November 7at HoustonW 21–1516,260[10]
November 14Memphis
  • M. M. Roberts Stadium
  • Hattiesburg, MS (rivalry)
W 45–319,132[11]
November 21at Nevada*W 55–2818,336[12]
December 30vs. Idaho*ESPN2L 35–4219,664[13]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Rankings

edit
  • This season was the first time the Golden Eagles were ranked in the preseason.
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP21
Coaches Poll21
BCSNot releasedNot released

References

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  1. ^ "1998 Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  2. ^ "Talent overcomes inexperience, State has no trouble defeating S. Miss". Sunday News. September 6, 1998. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Texas A&M relentless in Southern Miss win". The El Paso Times. September 20, 1998. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Eagles get big relief 55–0". The Clarion-Ledger. September 27, 1998. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Turnovers kill USM in defeat". Enterprise-Journal. October 4, 1998. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Southern mess: Cards 'throw in the towel,' 56–21". The Courier-Journal. October 11, 1998. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Southern Mississippi downs Army in rout". Poughkeepsie Journal. October 18, 1998. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Eagles clothesline Pirates". Hattiesburg American. October 25, 1998. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Bama hurts Eagles again". Hattiesburg American. November 1, 1998. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Roberts passes USM to 21–15 victory". Enterprise-Journal. November 8, 1998. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Golden Eagles shred Memphis". The Commercial Appeal. November 15, 1998. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Southern Mississippi shreds Nevada 55–28". The Sacramento Bee. November 22, 1998. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Southern Miss gets Vandalized". The Times-News. December 31, 1998. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.