[06/02/02]Since Jeff Bower took over the Southern Miss football program 12 years ago, the Golden Eagles have made a living of playing tough competition usually on the road.

Games against such perennial powers as Nebraska, Texas A&M, Penn State and virtually every Southeastern Conference power routinely blot the Eagles’ schedule.

This year, they are taking that attitude to a higher level with a campaign called: “Anyone, anywhere, any time.”

“I’m glad to see that they are bringing it out and marketing it because that’s what we stand for down there,” said Scott Allen, who played at USM in the early 1980s after a standout high school career at Warren Central. “… When I played there, we played Florida State, Georgia and Ole Miss and State, when they would play us.

“It gets more exciting each year that we play those type teams.”

The difference between the past several years and this one will be the Eagles’ ability to not only attract those high-profile teams, but to play them at home.

Illinois, a team that lost in this year’s Sugar Bowl, will visit Hattiesburg on the second day of the season and Nebraska will invade M.M. Roberts Stadium in 2003. Much talk has circulated about Nebraska buying out of the contract, but officials from the school said Friday the Cornhuskers will be in Hattiesburg next season.

“It’s a pretty hefty buyout,” said Bower, who was in Vicksburg on Friday during the USM/Warren County Golf Tournament. “I know they have a lot of money, but I feel like they’ll be here. We have a return game up there in 04 or 05. I don’t know if they’d want to risk losing that game, too.”

Southern Miss lost its’ only previous game to the Cornhuskers in 1999, 20-13.

“It exemplifies the spirit of Southern Mississippi,” said Don Taylor, a 1970 USM graduate. “I love the slogan. It is Southern Miss: tough as nails.”

On Aug. 31, a pair of former Warren Central standouts should get plenty of time on the field.

Punter Mark Haulman will begin his third season as a starter. He punted 65 times last season with a 42.3-yard average.

“He has really evolved into a great punter,” sBower said of the former walk-on. “He had a heckuva spring and boomed them in the spring game.’

Defensive back Alex Ray, a teammate of Haulman’s at WC is slated to start at one of the safety positions.

Last season, Ray was seventh on the team with 55 tackles. He played special teams and played in the defensive backfield in certain packages. He also had a sack and two interceptions.

“Alex is a guy that has gotten better and better and better since the day he got here,” Bower said.