Alabama Football: What Tide fans don’t know about Southern Miss

Alabama Football and the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles have some history. Some Crimson Tide fans know a good bit of that history. Many do not. There are compelling stories from that history that are worth remembering or learning about for the first time.

What follows are snippets of little-known details, personal connections, and short summaries of three noteworthy Crimson Tide vs. Golden Eagles games.

Alabama Football and USM Snippet No. 1

Southern Mississippi is located in Hattiesburg, MS. None of the 44 games between the two schools have ever been played in Hattiesburg, or anywhere in Mississippi. All but three games were Crimson Tide home games. The other three were at the neutral site town, Mobile, AL.

Alabama Crimson Tide vs Southern Miss – Nov. 13, 1982

In Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant’s last game played in Tuscaloosa, a 6-3, Southern Miss team beat the No. 13 ranked Crimson Tide, 38-29. Alabama had not lost in Tuscaloosa since 1963; a 57-game winning streak. The Golden Eagles scored 21 points in the first quarter and led 35-14 in the third quarter. The Tide fought back and cut the lead to six in the fourth quarter, but USM scored again putting the game away.

Snippet No. 2

As has often been the case, many USM players were from the state of Alabama. The leading rusher in the game, Sam Dejarnette, was from Selma.

Snippet No. 3

Bryant always called USM, Mississippi Southern. At one time, long before he coached against the program, that was the school’s name.

Alabama Crimson Tide vs Southern Miss – Sept. 8, 1990

NFL great, Brett Favre was a senior quarterback for Southern Miss. He had been in an automobile accident during the summer and was not expected to play against the Crimson Tide. He started the game. The Golden Eagles won 27-24 on a 52-yard field goal, late in the fourth quarter. It was the first loss for Gene Stallings in his first game as the Crimson Tide Head Coach.

Snippet No. 4

Favre was a 17-year old backup when USM played the Tide in 1987. Years later Favre said he had hoped to play in the game, but when he saw Derrick Thomas, he changed his mind about wanting to play.

Snippet No. 5

USM’s winning coach in 1990 was Curly Hallman. Hallman played for Stallings at Texas A&M and grew up in Northport, AL.

A most embarrassing Alabama Football loss vs. USM –  Sept. 16, 2000

In 1999, a Mike Dubose led Crimson Tide, won the SEC Championship. In 2000, the Tide was ranked No. 15 and the Golden Eagles were ranked No. 25. No offense is intended to any player on the 2000 Crimson Tide roster, but a listless Crimson Tide had four turnovers and not much offense, losing 21-0.

After losing to UCF in October, the Crimson Tide was 3-5. Three days after the UCF loss, Mike Dubose was fired. Three more games and three more losses left the Crimson Tide at 3-8 for the season.

Snippet No. 6

On Saturday, USM’s number one quarterback; injured Trey Lowe will watch but not play. Two other Lowe men will no doubt be following the game. Trey is actually Woodrow Low III. His grandfather, Woodrow Lowe was a great Tide linebacker in the 1970s. He holds the Tide record for the most tackles in a season. He was a three-time All-American before a lengthy NFL career. Trey’s grand-uncle, Eddie Lowe was also a starting linebacker for the Crimson Tide in the early 1980s.

And of course … the last entry is far more than a snippet

That 2005 catch by Tyrone Prothro is arguably the greatest catch in college football history.

As is too often said, but fits here – the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Southern Mississippi  Golden Eagles programs ‘go way back.’