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Notes, Quotes and Slants
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Pirate
Notebook No. 132
Wednesday, July 30, 2003
By Denny O'Brien
Staff Writer and Columnist |
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Thompson back at home in C-USA
©2003 Bonesville.net
For East Carolina coach John Thompson, last week's visit to
the Conference USA football kickoff in Memphis was nothing short of a
homecoming.
Thompson, who is embarking on his first season at the
captain's wheel, grew up just 45 miles from historic Beale Street in the
small town of Forrest City, Arkansas. As a defensive coordinator, he
blossomed in C-USA, first at Southern Miss (1992-98) then at Memphis ('99).
As he approaches his first fall camp in purple and gold,
Thompson is happy to be hanging out again in the neighborhood where he
earned his coaching wings.
"I'm thrilled to be back in this conference," Thompson said.
"One of the things that's really been enjoyable has been to come back and to
be around so many old friends and people who I'm familiar with.
"I'm familiar with the surroundings. I'm familiar with
Memphis. Just to be able to see some of these guys that I have longstanding
relationships with some very powerful relationships with some people in
this conference is great."
Perhaps no relationship is stronger than the one shared with
longtime Southern Miss coach Jeff Bower. The two spent seven seasons
together in Hattiesburg and developed a very strong bond.
Now Thompson and Bower will oppose each other annually in
the league's most fierce rivalry. But that hasn't stopped the pair from
remaining bosom buddies who verbally spar with each other in good fun.
"It'll be fun," said Bower, who enters his 13th season.
"Heck, we compete against each other in golf and all that and have fun doing
it.
"We might trade a few barbs and everything try to get
something stirred up, sell tickets. But I have a huge amount of respect for
John and what he did for our program. He deserves to be a head coach and
will do well at East Carolina."
Thompson also has circled that late-season showdown on his
calendar and is equally complimentary of his colleague and rival.
"I've got tremendous respect for Jeff as a man, as a person,
and as a coach," Thompson said. "Jeff has been very helpful.
"I call him and talk to him. I think I've got a real good
relationship with him. There's not going to be anybody on our schedule that
is going to compete any harder against us. He knows that also. I listen to
Jeff Bower and I'm looking forward to November 29."
But before Thompson tangles with his former mentor, he has
11 other battles for which he must prepare, beginning with defending C-USA
co-champ Cincinnati on Labor Day.
Though the Pirates coach highly respects the program
Bearcats coach Rick Minter has built in Clifton, he takes comfort in knowing
that his head coaching debut will take place amid familiar surroundings.
"I know what it's like to walk down that ramp in Cincinnati
for that first game," Thompson said. "We won't have that unknown.
"There are so many other unknowns that happen day-to-day ...
as a first-year head coach, but once we get into the season, maybe some of
these unknowns will go away because I've been to these places and I know
these guys."
The fear of the unknown has Minter uneasy about the season
opener.
The Bearcats aren't changing their schemes, whereas East
Carolina will employ new systems both on offense and defense. Minter says
that gives the Pirates a slight advantage in preparing for the opening
battle.
If that isn't enough, Minter says he also must deal with the
headache of facing an unconventional coach whose style goes against the
grain.
"He's not an ordinary guy," Minter said. "He's an unorthodox
guy, and I say that in a positive way.
"He's very much an innovator on defense a creator of
disruption on defense. That's how he got there. If he's smart, he won't ever
forget how he got there and that's as a great defensive ball coach."
The track record, which includes several Top 25 defenses and
a Who's Who list of all-star performers, speaks for itself.
"The number one defense in our conference today, from the
start of Conference USA in 1996 to today, is Southern Miss," Minter said.
"Right now, the consistent standard for eight years is still Southern Miss.
"You know what, that's John Thompson. It hasn't changed
since John Thompson left. Dave Womack took it over and now Tyrone Nix has
taken it over, but that's all JT. He revolutionized this league on defense
in '96."
Thompson now hopes to make an indelible imprint on C-USA at
East Carolina by helping secure the school's first league title.
Courageous Eagle
Former Southern Miss running back Derrick Nix may never
score another touchdown, but that won't be enough to keep him away from the
gridiron.
Nix, who thrice eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, had his NFL
dreams erased by failing kidneys. Though it is unlikely Nix will ever play
for pay, a recent transplant from his brother, Marcus, has ended the former
All-C-USA performer's need for daily dialysis.
For his former coach and flocks of Golden Eagles fans, the
tragedy-to-triumph story was an answer to prayers.
"That was hard," Bower said. "In all my years of college
coaching, I've never had something like that happen, especially to a marquee
player like that who had aspirations of playing in the NFL and was such a
great kid.
"He battled back to get where he was just to play last year.
In hindsight, we wish we would have known exactly what he was confronted
with and what he was fighting."
That fighting spirit is what landed a spot on Bower's staff
for Nix, who will join brother Tyrone, the Eagles' defensive coordinator.
"I've got so much respect knowing that he was playing with
about ten percent use of his kidneys and the kind of year he had," Bower
said. "He's a tough guy with a tremendous amount of courage. I'm glad he's
involved with our program. Those are the kind of guys you want to hire as
coaches."
And that's worth more than a TD.
Moore accolades
Seeking a dark horse candidate for the Heisman Trophy? Look
no further than Tulane running back Mewelde Moore.
Entering the season with more than 5,000 career all-purpose
yards, Moore is arguably the top all-purpose back in the nation and stands
to add to his treasure chest of awards with another good year.
"Mewelde is somebody who has demonstrated over time what
kind of great player he is," Green Wave head coach Chris Scelfo said. "He
didn't have the one big year, then it was over. He's done it two years over
12-game stretches.
"Statistically, he's got the most rushing and receiving
yards in the nation. That says a lot about him. He's got to maintain his
health and he'll go on and have a great career at the next level. He's a
prototype NFL back. He won't be taking any long bus rides (in the minor
leagues)."
Last week, Moore was named the preseason C-USA offensive
player of the year and is one of the favorites for the Doak Walker award,
which annually is given to the nation's best rusher.
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02/23/2007 01:52:44 AM |
