ESPN.com reports that Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Larry Fedora is the new coach of the Southern Mississippi Gold Eagles. Who the heck is Southern Mississippi? Its fans call it USM, and those around the South call it USM. It's the home of Packers great Brett Favre and Patriots standout Adalius Thomas. It's a city that is one of the great hidden jewels of the South.

The area is filled with devoted fans, one of the most advanced medical systems in the area at Hattiesburg Clinic, and a fantastic pulled pork place called the Divine Swine. Note: no relation to me.

USM Football has had its ups and downs. Outgoing coach Jeff Bower was no slouch. He had 14 consecutive winning seasons. Not many coaches can say that. But the one thing he failed to do for several seasons was win the big game that would get USM ranked. It's a story that's repeated all over the country with increasing frequency. It's not just about winning anymore, but now it's also about who you beat.

Jeff Bower is considered a real stand-up guy. He's the type of coach who any university president could go to sleep each night knowing that there would be no late-night call from Bower from a jail cell asking for help to get bailed out. And there's little doubt that his "resignation" was coerced by boosters and university officials who dreamed of the days when USM was nationally ranked.

One thing that has been missing from USM the past few seasons is a feeling that "this is the year". This is what USM is seeking in Fedora, a creative offensive guy. For the sake of USM, I hope it works. It truly is a great place, and that's coming from a guy who lives in the North.

But if you think that Brett Favre is a real guy, then Jeff Bower is cut from similar cloth. Maybe it was time for a change by both sides. All I know is that Bower is a good guy who should be remembered for bringing integrity and stability to a program during times when so many other programs were embroiled in scandal. That seems to be a heck of a lot more difficult to do than win games.

note: this is a re-post due to the accidental deletion of all posts from this site