[07/26/01] Southern Mississippi is not used to being picked in the middle of the pack.

But Conference USA coaches this year have the Golden Eagles picked to finish third in the 10-team conference. Louisville and East Carolina were tapped to finish first and second, respectively.

The Cardinals, led by super sophomore quarterback Dave Ragone, got 94 votes and six first-place votes, while the Pirates received 90 votes and three first-place votes.

The Golden Eagles, who finished 8-4 in 2000, including a Mobile Alabama Bowl win over Texas Christian, got 81 votes and one first-place vote.

At a meeting of Golden Eagles’ alumni in Jackson on July 19, USM coach Jeff Bower said he voted for the Eagles as the top team in the league.

TCU, Alabama-Birmingham, Cincinnati, Memphis, Tulane, Houston and Army round out the coaches’ picks.

A pair of Golden Eagles defensive back Chad Williams and linebacker Rod Davis earned first-team preseason all-conference honors.

They were the only USM players on the first team.

Ragone was tapped as the preseason conference player of the year.

The Golden Eagles open the season Sept. 1 in Hattiesburg against Oklahoma State at 11 a.m. The game will be televised on ESPN.