The young get younger

Harry · October 24, 2013

Southern Miss very well could start six true freshmen against North Texas for homecoming on Saturday.

And that’s just on offense.

That’s more than half of the entire offense, made up completely of student-athletes that are only a year or two removed from being old enough to drive a car.

The marquee name among Saturday’s freshmen, however, will be making his first collegiate start. Quarterback Nick Mullens was tabbed as the starter by head coach Todd Monken earlier this week.

“His performance has warranted us doing this,” Monken said of Mullens. “Could we have made this decision earlier? I don’t think so. Did you really want to start Nick Mullens on the road against a really good team? No. So the timing is right.”

While Mullens is the latest freshman to snag a starting spot, starting first-year Golden Eagles is nothing new. The Southern Miss coaching staff has proven it’s not afraid to trot out ability over experience.

Tyre’oune Holmes, Marquise Ricard and James Cox have all started as true freshmen at wide receiver. Cameron Tom has started on the offensive line as a true freshman. On defense, Kelsey Douglas and C.J. Perry are both first-year players that have seen starting assignments so far this season.

There’s a host of other true freshmen that have played this year, including true freshman punter Tyler Sarrazin, and running back George Payne could join the list against North Texas Saturday. In Payne’s first action this season against East Carolina last week, he had 11 carries and one catch.

For some Golden Eagle coaches, it’s nerve-wracking.

Read more: http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20131024/SOUTHERNMISS/310240029/The-young-get-younger

Mean Green 93-98 · October 24, 2013

“Could we have made this decision earlier? I don’t think so. Did you really want to start Nick Mullens on the road against a really good team? No. So the timing is right.”

Hmmm . . .

ChristopherRyanWilkes · October 24, 2013

Hmmm . . .

Coach speak.

Greenrex · October 24, 2013

I wish all of them success, health, wealth, and fame as long as we are forever on the playing fields their victor.

Mean Green 93-98 · October 24, 2013

Coach speak.

Is it coach speak to say the team they played last week is a really good team, but the team they are playing this week isn't? If so, that's new to me.

HoustonEagle · October 24, 2013

Is it coach speak to say the team they played last week is a really good team, but the team they are playing this week isn't? If so, that's new to me.

Well, he is right. We are not a really good team, but we are getting better.

Mean Green 93-98 · October 24, 2013

Well, he is right. We are not a really good team, but we are getting better.

Not disagreeing. But that strikes me as the opposite of coachspeak.

And to refer to ECU as a "really good team" and us as not a really good team suggests that there is some huge chasm between us and ECU. I'll give them the nod as the better team, but if you look at how we have done against common opponents, we have actually done better.

UNT90 · October 24, 2013

I think y'all are forgetting what he said right after "really good team", which was "on the road". Those would be the key words.

They were waiting for a home game. We happen to be it. And I am THRILLED that we are.

greenminer · October 25, 2013

Our OL will eat them.

UNTexas · October 25, 2013

The coach can't say we are going to start a lot of freshman that will be lambs to the slaughter for the moral of his team. That said, bloody those guys ASAP and it will be a long night for them. In the end, make that coach eat those words in the post game press conference.