2000 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 2000 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football Conference USA C-USA 8–4 4–3 Jeff Bower 11th Chris Klenakis 1st Multiple Dave Wommack 2nd 4–3 M. M. Roberts Stadium Mobile Alabama Bowl champion Mobile Alabama Bowl W 28–21 vs. TCU The 2000 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represented the University of Southern Mississippi in the 2000 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Golden Eagles were led by head coach Jeff Bower and played their home games at M. M. Roberts Stadium. They were a member of Conference USA. For the second time in three years, the Golden Eagles earned a preseason top 25 ranking, coming in at No. 23. Despite a season-opening loss to 13th-ranked Tennessee, the Golden Eagles recovered, winning the next 6 games, with 5 of those wins coming by 21 or more points, including a 21–0 shutout over 15th-ranked Alabama. Following a near-upset on the road against Houston, Southern Miss was ranked 13th in that week's AP poll, the school's highest ranking in nearly 20 years, when they were ranked 9th during the 1981 season. The Golden Eagles win streak ended that week against eventual conference champions Louisville, and they would go onto lose two more games to finish the regular season with a 7–4 record, 4–3 in Conference USA play. Despite the late season struggles, the Golden Eagles earned a trip to the Mobile Alabama Bowl, where they defeated 13th-ranked TCU, 28–21. Schedule 2000 AP Central September 2 6:45 pm l y y 22 Tennessee 13 Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN ESPN 16–19 108,064 Tennessee gets past Southern Miss 19–16 September 3, 2000 The Courier-Journal https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109327747/tennessee-gets-past-southern-miss-1916/ September 10, 2022 Newspapers.com September 16 8:00 pm w y y 25 Alabama 15 Legion Field Birmingham, AL ESPN2 21–0 83,091 Tide not ready for prime time September 17, 2000 The Montgomery Advertiser https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109327979/tide-not-ready-for-prime-time/ September 10, 2022 Newspapers.com September 23 7:00 pm w y y 22 Oklahoma State Lewis Field Stillwater, OK 28–6 41,205 Southern fried September 24, 2000 The Daily Oklahoman https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109328109/southern-fried/ September 10, 2022 Newspapers.com September 30 2:30 pm w 21 Memphis M. M. Roberts Stadium Hattiesburg, MS Black and Blue Bowl FSN 24–3 30,658 Eagles 'Rock' on October 1, 2000 Hattiesburg American https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109328272/eagles-rock-on/ September 10, 2022 Newspapers.com October 7 6:00 pm w y 17 South Florida M. M. Roberts Stadium Hattiesburg, MS 41–7 26,559 Kelly has hand in 5 TDs as No. 17 USM rolls 41–7 October 8, 2000 The Clarion-Ledger https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109328454/kelly-has-hand-in-5-tds-as-no-17-usm-ro/ September 10, 2022 Newspapers.com October 14 11:00 am w y 16 Tulane Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA Battle for the Bell FSN 56–24 27,645 USM pounds Green Wave October 15, 2000 Daily World https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109328672/usm-pounds-green-wave/ September 10, 2022 Newspapers.com October 28 2:30 pm w y 14 Houston Robertson Stadium Houston, TX 6–3 17,565 Hand it to the defense, Southern Miss hangs on to beat Houston October 29, 2000 Hattiesburg American https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109328798/hand-it-to-the-defense-southern-miss-ha/ September 10, 2022 Newspapers.com November 4 2:30 pm l y 13 Louisville M. M. Roberts Stadium Hattiesburg, MS FSN 28–49 31,667 Cards in Happysburg November 5, 2000 The Courier-Journal https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109328903/cards-in-happysburg/ September 10, 2022 Newspapers.com November 11 2:30 pm w y 25 UAB Legion Field Birmingham, AL 33–30 2OT 25,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90557133/usm-escapes-with-3330-win/ Enterprise-Journal USM escapes with 33–30 win November 12, 2000 September 10, 2022 Newspapers.com November 18 12:00 pm l y 24 Cincinnati Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH 24–27 21,958 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109329107/bearcats-bowl-over-so-miss/ The Cincinnati Enquirer Bearcats bowl over So. Miss November 19, 2000 September 10, 2022 Newspapers.com November 24 12:30 pm l East Carolina M. M. Roberts Stadium Hattiesburg, MS FSN 9–14 25,152 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/73009041/eagles-finish-with-splat/ The Clarion-Ledger Eagles finish with splat November 25, 2000 September 10, 2022 Newspapers.com December 20 7:00 pm w y y TCU 13 Ladd–Peebles Stadium Mobile, AL Mobile Alabama Bowl ESPN2 28–21 40,300 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109329270/southern-miss-at-the-buzzer-2821/ The Clarksdale Press Register Southern Miss at the buzzer 28–21 December 21, 2000 September 10, 2022 Newspapers.com Rankings 2000 NCAA Division I-A football rankings AP 0 16 23 22 25 25 22 21 17 16 15 14 13 25 24 NR NR NR NR Coaches Poll 0 16 25 24 24 NR 23 21 18 16 15 14 11 22 20 NR NR NR NR BCS 9 15 14 NR NR NR NR NR NR Roster 2000 Southern Miss Golden Eagles f 73 So Jeremy Bridges G y 17 Jr Jeff Kelly Jeff Kelly (quarterback) QB y 43 Jr Derrick Nix Derrick Nix (American football) RB y 76 Fr Torrin Tucker G y 5 Fr Greg Brooks Greg Brooks (American football) DB y 24 Fr Rod Davis Rod Davis (gridiron football) LB y 98 Sr John Nix John Nix (American football) DT y 28 Fr Etric Pruitt CB y 96 Sr Cedric Scott DE y 78 Jr DeQuincy Scott DT y 90 Sr Daleroy Stewart DT y 19 Sr Raymond Walls CB y 9 Jr Chad Williams Chad Williams (safety) S y *Jeff Bower Dave Wommack – Assistant head coach / defensive coordinator References Southern Miss Category:Southern Miss Golden Eagles football seasons Category:68 Ventures Bowl champion seasons Southern Miss Golden Eagles football Category:Long stubs with short prose