Three Conference USA teams are ranked in Baseball America's preseason poll, released by the publication on Wednesday. Defending C-USA tournament champion Rice is ranked fifth, while defending regular season champ East Carolina is 18th and 2009 College World Series participant Southern Miss is listed at No. 21.
2010 Baseball America Preseason Poll
1. Texas (50-16-1)
2. Virginia (49-15-1)
3. Louisiana State (56-17)
4. Cal. St. Fullerton (47-16)
5. Rice (43-18)
6. Georgia Tech (38-19-1)
7. Florida (42-22)
8. U.C. Irvine (45-15)
9. Florida State (45-18)
10. South Carolina (40-23)
11. TCU (40-18)
12. Coastal Carolina (47-16)
13. Louisville (47-18)
14. Arizona State (51-14)
15. Clemson (44-22)
16. Miami, Fla. (38-22)
17. Arkansas (41-24)
18. East Carolina (46-20)
19. San Diego (29-25)
20. North Carolina (48-18)
21. Southern Miss (40-26)
22. Georgia (38-22)
23. UCLA (27-29)
24. Mississippi (44-20)
25. Oregon State (37-19)
Commentary and news updates on Southern Miss Golden Eagles football, basketball, baseball and more.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
C-USA Softball Preseason All-Conference Team
Hill names Preseason All-Conference Player of the Year
IRVING, Texas - Southern Miss senior outfielder Megan Hill was named the Preseason All-Conference Player of the Year, while East Carolina's Toni Paisley earned the Preseason Pitcher of the Year award. Both honors were voted on by the league's nine head coaches.
Hill, the only unanimous preseason pick, returns for her senior season with a .356 career batting average and 30 home runs, which both rank in the Top 12 in the conference record books. The Hattiesburg, Mississippi, native also has a .674 career slugging percentage and hopes to build on these numbers into her final season as a Golden Eagle.
Player of the Year
Megan Hill, Southern Miss
Pitcher of the Year
Toni Paisley, East Carolina
Preseason All-Conference Team
C - Camilla Carrera, UTEP
IF - Tiffany Lane, UCF
IF - Cristen Aona, ECU
IF - Catherine Douglass, UAB
IF - Alianna Telles, Marshall
IF - Vanessa Vice, Tulsa
OF - Megan Hill, Southern Miss
OF - Lauren Lindsay, Tulsa
OF - Martina Landrum, UAB
OF - Christina Merrida, East Carolina
P - Toni Paisley, East Carolina
P - Jackie Lawrence, Tulsa
UT - Chelsea Troupe, UTEP
DH - Jennifer Kinkert, Houston
IRVING, Texas - Southern Miss senior outfielder Megan Hill was named the Preseason All-Conference Player of the Year, while East Carolina's Toni Paisley earned the Preseason Pitcher of the Year award. Both honors were voted on by the league's nine head coaches.
Hill, the only unanimous preseason pick, returns for her senior season with a .356 career batting average and 30 home runs, which both rank in the Top 12 in the conference record books. The Hattiesburg, Mississippi, native also has a .674 career slugging percentage and hopes to build on these numbers into her final season as a Golden Eagle.
Player of the Year
Megan Hill, Southern Miss
Pitcher of the Year
Toni Paisley, East Carolina
Preseason All-Conference Team
C - Camilla Carrera, UTEP
IF - Tiffany Lane, UCF
IF - Cristen Aona, ECU
IF - Catherine Douglass, UAB
IF - Alianna Telles, Marshall
IF - Vanessa Vice, Tulsa
OF - Megan Hill, Southern Miss
OF - Lauren Lindsay, Tulsa
OF - Martina Landrum, UAB
OF - Christina Merrida, East Carolina
P - Toni Paisley, East Carolina
P - Jackie Lawrence, Tulsa
UT - Chelsea Troupe, UTEP
DH - Jennifer Kinkert, Houston
C-USA Announces Pre-Season Baseball Awards
McInnis Named Preseason C-USA Pitcher of the Year; Cargill All-C-USA
Irving, TEXAS. - Conference USA announced their annual preseason baseball awards today, as voted on by the league's nine coaches, and two Golden Eagle pitchers took home honors.
Redshirt Junior Todd McInnis was named the preseason C-USA Pitcher of the Year and relief pitcher Collin Cargill earned the league's relief pitcher spot on the preseason All-C-USA team.
McInnis was also one of three pitchers named to the preseason all-conference team.
"This is a great honor for both of these guys and our program," head coach Scott Berry said. "We play in a very strong conference and anytime you get recognition from the other coaches in our league it really says something."
McInnis earned the highest honor given to a pitcher from Conference USA last year, as a sophomore, when he was named the C-USA Pitcher of the Year with his 9-4 record and 3.73 ERA.
In 2009 he was on the mound in the NCAA Regional Championship Game win over Georgia Tech, NCAA Super Regional Championship Game win over Florida and started the first game of the College World Series against Texas. Over the course of the season he struck out 90 hitters while walking only 34.
Cargill, a redshirt junior, emerged in his sophomore campaign as the Golden Eagle closer and recorded a C-USA leading 13 saves. He was 4-3 with a 3.55 ERA in 28 appearances.
He recorded his biggest saves of the season in the NCAA post season saving both wins over No. 13 Georgia Tech in the NCAA Atlanta Regional and both games over No. 9 Florida in the NCAA Gainesville Super Regional, allowing just one run and four hits in those four games.
The Golden Eagles will open the 2010 season on February 19 as they host Northwestern State at Pete Taylor Park for a three game series.
2010 PRESEASON BASEBALL AWARDS
(as selected by C-USA's head coaches)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Anthony Rendon, Rice (Sophomore, Third Baseman)
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Todd McInnis, Southern Miss (Junior, Righthander)
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
P Seth Maness Jr. East Carolina
P Todd McInnis Jr. Southern Miss
P Taylor Wall So. Rice
RP Collin Cargill Jr.. Southern Miss
C Jeremy Schaffer So. Tulane
IF Victor Gomez Jr. Marshall
IF Rick Hague Jr. Rice
IF Blake Kelso Jr. Houston
IF Jonathan Merritt Sr. UAB
IF Anthony Rendon So. Rice
OF Devin Harris Jr. East Carolina
OF Chad Mozingo Jr. Rice
OF Trent Whitehead Jr. East Carolina
DH/UT Kyle Roller Sr. East Carolina
Irving, TEXAS. - Conference USA announced their annual preseason baseball awards today, as voted on by the league's nine coaches, and two Golden Eagle pitchers took home honors.
Redshirt Junior Todd McInnis was named the preseason C-USA Pitcher of the Year and relief pitcher Collin Cargill earned the league's relief pitcher spot on the preseason All-C-USA team.
McInnis was also one of three pitchers named to the preseason all-conference team.
"This is a great honor for both of these guys and our program," head coach Scott Berry said. "We play in a very strong conference and anytime you get recognition from the other coaches in our league it really says something."
McInnis earned the highest honor given to a pitcher from Conference USA last year, as a sophomore, when he was named the C-USA Pitcher of the Year with his 9-4 record and 3.73 ERA.
In 2009 he was on the mound in the NCAA Regional Championship Game win over Georgia Tech, NCAA Super Regional Championship Game win over Florida and started the first game of the College World Series against Texas. Over the course of the season he struck out 90 hitters while walking only 34.
Cargill, a redshirt junior, emerged in his sophomore campaign as the Golden Eagle closer and recorded a C-USA leading 13 saves. He was 4-3 with a 3.55 ERA in 28 appearances.
He recorded his biggest saves of the season in the NCAA post season saving both wins over No. 13 Georgia Tech in the NCAA Atlanta Regional and both games over No. 9 Florida in the NCAA Gainesville Super Regional, allowing just one run and four hits in those four games.
The Golden Eagles will open the 2010 season on February 19 as they host Northwestern State at Pete Taylor Park for a three game series.
2010 PRESEASON BASEBALL AWARDS
(as selected by C-USA's head coaches)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Anthony Rendon, Rice (Sophomore, Third Baseman)
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Todd McInnis, Southern Miss (Junior, Righthander)
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
P Seth Maness Jr. East Carolina
P Todd McInnis Jr. Southern Miss
P Taylor Wall So. Rice
RP Collin Cargill Jr.. Southern Miss
C Jeremy Schaffer So. Tulane
IF Victor Gomez Jr. Marshall
IF Rick Hague Jr. Rice
IF Blake Kelso Jr. Houston
IF Jonathan Merritt Sr. UAB
IF Anthony Rendon So. Rice
OF Devin Harris Jr. East Carolina
OF Chad Mozingo Jr. Rice
OF Trent Whitehead Jr. East Carolina
DH/UT Kyle Roller Sr. East Carolina
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Golden Eagles Loses Again
With tonight's loss to UAB, the Golden Eagles lost their 4th straight conference game and dropped to 10-8 (0-4) for the season. Southern Miss had a 7 point lead at half time, but couldn't make key free throws down the stretch.
The losing streak may end this weekend against East Carolina, but the way things have been going USM may not win a conference game this year. Wins will come easy over NAIA schools, but the team needs more tough tests to make it through the season. Southern Miss needs a new spark and the perfect way would be a new coaching staff. Unfortunately, Richard Giannini probably has his hands tied with contract buyouts. Unless there is some sort of miracle, Eustachy will still be around next season. How much lower can we go?
Baseball anyone?
The losing streak may end this weekend against East Carolina, but the way things have been going USM may not win a conference game this year. Wins will come easy over NAIA schools, but the team needs more tough tests to make it through the season. Southern Miss needs a new spark and the perfect way would be a new coaching staff. Unfortunately, Richard Giannini probably has his hands tied with contract buyouts. Unless there is some sort of miracle, Eustachy will still be around next season. How much lower can we go?
Baseball anyone?
Friday, January 15, 2010
Future Schedule Update: Valley Coming To Hattiesburg?
With the addition of South Carolina to the 2010 schedule, Southern Miss was forced to reschedule a previously scheduled home opener with Southeastern Louisiana. Athletic department officials hoped to move the game to later in the season, but were not able to work it out with SLU officials. Sources in Hattiesburg are indicating that the Golden Eagles have added Mississippi Valley State to next year's schedule. It is believed that the game will be the home opener on September 11.
Valley isn't the highest caliber of an opponent, but the game will be a have a big turn out and will be nice confidence builder sandwiched between games at South Carolina and home against Kansas.
Adding in-state FCS schools to the schedule is a good thing as well. It keeps the money in the state and increases interest in the game and the program state-wide. Having on the schools on the schedule would be appropriate every third year.
The game against SLU will be rescheduled for a later season.
Southern Miss future schedules as of 1/15/2010:
2010
9/2 at South Carolina
9/18 Kansas
9/25 at Louisiana Tech
TBD Mississippi Valley State
2011
9/3 Louisiana Tech
9/24 at Virginia
11/12 at LSU
2012
9/1 at Nebraska
9/29 Louisville
2013
9/7 Nebraska
9/14 at Louisiana Tech
2014
8/30 at Mississippi State
9/6 Louisiana Tech
2015
9/5 Mississippi State
9/26 at Nebraska
2017
9/2 at Tennessee
Valley isn't the highest caliber of an opponent, but the game will be a have a big turn out and will be nice confidence builder sandwiched between games at South Carolina and home against Kansas.
Adding in-state FCS schools to the schedule is a good thing as well. It keeps the money in the state and increases interest in the game and the program state-wide. Having on the schools on the schedule would be appropriate every third year.
The game against SLU will be rescheduled for a later season.
Southern Miss future schedules as of 1/15/2010:
2010
9/2 at South Carolina
9/18 Kansas
9/25 at Louisiana Tech
TBD Mississippi Valley State
2011
9/3 Louisiana Tech
9/24 at Virginia
11/12 at LSU
2012
9/1 at Nebraska
9/29 Louisville
2013
9/7 Nebraska
9/14 at Louisiana Tech
2014
8/30 at Mississippi State
9/6 Louisiana Tech
2015
9/5 Mississippi State
9/26 at Nebraska
2017
9/2 at Tennessee
Golden Eagles In The NFL Update - Henderson Signed By Detroit
Former Golden Eagle defensive end Robert Henderson was signed to the Detroit Lions practice squad.
Golden Eagles In The NFL Update - 1/15/2010
Brett Favre (4) - Minnesota Vikings
Adalius Thomas (96) - New England Patriots
Jeremy Bridges (73) - Arizona Cardinals
Michael Boley (52) - New York Giants
Chris White (63) - Houston Texans
Chris Clark (75) - Minnesota Vikings (Practice Squad)
Robert Henderson (72) - Detroit Lions (Practice Squad)
Demar Dotson (69) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ryan McKee (68) - St. Louis Rams
Gerald McRath (51) - Tennessee Titans
Shawn Nelson (89) - Buffalo Bills
Golden Eagles In The NFL Update - 1/15/2010
Brett Favre (4) - Minnesota Vikings
Adalius Thomas (96) - New England Patriots
Jeremy Bridges (73) - Arizona Cardinals
Michael Boley (52) - New York Giants
Chris White (63) - Houston Texans
Chris Clark (75) - Minnesota Vikings (Practice Squad)
Robert Henderson (72) - Detroit Lions (Practice Squad)
Demar Dotson (69) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ryan McKee (68) - St. Louis Rams
Gerald McRath (51) - Tennessee Titans
Shawn Nelson (89) - Buffalo Bills
Coaching Carousel Continues: Robinson Leaving USM
Larry Fedora will be looking for a defensive backs coach for the second straight season. Travaris Robinson has accepted a position to be part of Tommy Tuberville's staff at Texas Tech. Robinson played for Tuberville at Auburn. The only name that has come up so far is Louisiana Tech's Terry Joseph.
This leaves two open positions on the Southern Miss staff. Offensive coordinator Darrel Wyatt resigned in December to take a position with Kansas. Early reports indicated that Blake Anderson was promoted to the offensive coordinator position, but there has been no formal announcement. There also have been reports that Fedora is still talking to a few coaches about the coordinator position.
This leaves two open positions on the Southern Miss staff. Offensive coordinator Darrel Wyatt resigned in December to take a position with Kansas. Early reports indicated that Blake Anderson was promoted to the offensive coordinator position, but there has been no formal announcement. There also have been reports that Fedora is still talking to a few coaches about the coordinator position.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Basketball Struggling, Football Coaching Changes
Both the men's and women's basketball programs are going through slumps right now. After jumping out to a quick start with over the NAIA schools, Larry Eustachy's team can't seem to do anything right. The team now holds a 9-4 record, with four of the wins coming against NAIA teams. If the Golden Eagles plan to right the ship, they need to do in conference play, which begins tonight at Marshall. Marshall will be a tough test and with the way USM has been playing, Marshall should win easily. The Golden Eagles next play at home against Memphis on Saturday, January 9.
Where does one begin with the Lady Eagles? Coming off an excellent season last year, expectations were high for Coach McNelis' club. Instead the Lady Eagles are in the middle of a five game losing streak and have 4-11 overall record entering conference play. No bench strength? Limited quality starters? Where has JLM gone wrong with this club?
If the same quality of play continues throughout the season, Richard Giannini may have no other choice than to find two new coaches who can get the job done.
With Darrell Wyatt's departure to Kansas, Larry Fedora has an open position on his staff. Southern Miss quarterback's coach Blake Anderson has been offered and accepted the offensive coordinator position. Anderson will continue to work with quarterbacks in addition to his new role. There are rumors circulating that Fedora will promote from within and name graduate assistant Cody Fredenburg either wide receivers or running backs coach. Pat Washington is currently the running backs coach, but he can easily move to the wide receiver position if necessary.
Where does one begin with the Lady Eagles? Coming off an excellent season last year, expectations were high for Coach McNelis' club. Instead the Lady Eagles are in the middle of a five game losing streak and have 4-11 overall record entering conference play. No bench strength? Limited quality starters? Where has JLM gone wrong with this club?
If the same quality of play continues throughout the season, Richard Giannini may have no other choice than to find two new coaches who can get the job done.
With Darrell Wyatt's departure to Kansas, Larry Fedora has an open position on his staff. Southern Miss quarterback's coach Blake Anderson has been offered and accepted the offensive coordinator position. Anderson will continue to work with quarterbacks in addition to his new role. There are rumors circulating that Fedora will promote from within and name graduate assistant Cody Fredenburg either wide receivers or running backs coach. Pat Washington is currently the running backs coach, but he can easily move to the wide receiver position if necessary.