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Fast 40 countdown: Southern Mississippi

August 12, 2011  |  By Benjamin Miraski

Southern Mississippi

Last season: 8-5, 37th in MRI

The good: Stability is the key for Southern Mississippi. The Golden Eagles return 14 starters from last season including Austin Davis -- who has put up the best numbers ever for a quarterback at Southern Miss and that includes some guy named Favre -- and leading tackler Korey Williams who scored an impressive 11.5 tackles for loss in 2010.

With all of the significant contributors returning and a soft schedule where the toughest games are at Virginia and at Navy, the Golden Eagles are primed for an historic season.

The bad: Southern Mississippi has a history of disappointing when they appear this good. Last season looked as promising as this year and the Golden Eagles stumbled into a troubling 5-3 conference mark. It is entirely possible that they will be favored in 10 of their 12 games, and possibly all of them once the season is underway, leaving the disappointment door wide open. Another trip to the Beef O'Brady Bowl is not what this team is after.

And while the Golden Eagles could run the table, the schedule is not such that they will even get a sniff at the non-automatic qualifier spot into the BCS party. When the record gets gaudy, will this team have enough mental toughness to run the table despite the criticism?

Best name: It's unfortunate that two of the best names that Southern Mississippi had will not be on the team this year. So we have to go with the emperor: Octavius Thomas. Sorry, there doesn't appear to be any easily accessed video.

Trending: Up - Despite the past letdowns, Southern Mississippi looks to be in line for a season that happens once in a programs history. The only thing stopping this team from an undefeated season is itself. Look for Southern Mississippi to be a fixture in the MRI top 25 and possibly crack the top 15 by the end of the year. The Golden Eagles are this season's Central Florida.

Posted August 12, 2011 12:46 PM

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