First Baptist Christian Academy headed to TAAPS state swimming meet

Story and photo by Tracy Brown
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 30, 2020) The First Baptist Christian Academy swimming team competed at the TAPPS Eastern Region Swimming Championships on January 18 at the University of Houston Natatorium with an exciting day of competition in the pool.

It was a rough week leading up to the competition.  Two of the relay swimmers came down with a fever and cough which kept them out of the practice pool for week.  Couple this with the ongoing cough, and we saw boys in the water who used every ounce of determination in their bodies to swim the assigned events.  The coach didn't have to yell things like "don't breathe every stroke" because they couldn't breathe at all!  Once they hit the water in the 200-yard medley relay though their training took over and the team of Timothy Henry, Christopher Brown, Harrison Brown, and Ayden Moore battled to a sixth-place finish and a new school record with their time of 2:12.34.

With only two events to rest, Harrison Brown stepped back up to the blocks to swim the 200-yard freestyle and charged to a fifth-place finish with his personal best time of 2:06.16 in his school record setting race.  This great effort by the sprinter was met by loud applause.  Teammate and fellow sophomore, Timothy Henry, reached the wall in eighth place with his own personal best time of 2:34.17.

Junior Stephen Lawson swam the 200-yard individual medley to represent the Warriors and finished in eighth place in Division 3 with a personal best time of 2:58.33.

When the Lady Warriors took to the blocks in the 50-yard freestyle each one set a new personal best time.  They were rocking the blocks for sure. Last  year's girls MVP, Makenzee McComb, proved that she still has the drive to win with her 13th place finish at :33.07.  Annalyn Henry and Keeleigh Wilbanks both improved their times to finish 15th and 16th in the East Region.

When it was time for the boys to swim the 50-yard freestyle, freshman Ayden Moore set a new personal best when he hit the wall at :31.46.  Fellow first year swimmer, Owen Lambert touched the wall at :33.63 narrowly holding off sophomore and teammate John Harding who reached the wall with his personal best time of :36.48.

In the 100-yard freestyle Annalyn Henry showed off her endurance and training as she set a new personal best time of 1:21.95.  Teammate and fellow sophomore, Keeleigh Wilbanks touched with wall with a new personal best of 1:33.71 proving her value in the pool after a stellar performance on the basketball court earlier in the week.

By event 14, Harrison Brown had rested and was ready to swim.  He attacked the water in his 100-yard freestyle to sprint to a bronze medal with his new personal best and school record time of :55.35.  

Proving how opposite brothers can be, Senior Christopher Brown, powered through the longest event at the meet, the 500-yard freestyle in order to qualify for his fourth trip to the State Championship Meet with his fifth-place finish, less than a second behind the senior from Logos Prep.  Stephen Lawson swam in the same event to a personal best time and seventh-place finish.

The Brown boys combined forces again this time joined by Ayden Moore and Stephen Lawson to reach the wall with a new school record in the 200-yard freestyle relay.  Their fifth-place finish qualified the relay to swim at the State Championship in San Antonio.

Their journey continues at the TAPPS State Championship Swim Meet on February 5, where we look forward to watching these Warriors in action in San Antonio.

Houston Dynamo add goalkeeper for 2020 season

Photo by
Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Lou Roesch

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 26, 2020) The Houston Dynamo opened the Tab Ramos era in Houston this past week. An energetic week that highlighted all the reasons to be optimistic. It was a time on which General Manager Matt Jordan said the work is never done and we will  look for ways to continue to improve out club. 

By Friday, Jordan true to his word had indeed strengthened the team with the addition of goalkeeper Cody Cropper. Cropper’s signing comes on the heel of last week’s big signing of German Bundeliga keeper Marko Maric. Both are really strong signings for the Dynamo. Cropper cut his teeth on English soccer playing with Ipswich Town and Southhampton before moving on to the MK Dons. The Minnesota native joined the New England Revolution in 2016. He was named the starter in 2017 and posted six clean sheets nearly leading New England to a playoff birth. He would only play sporadically over the next two seasons before being sent on loan to USL side Hartford, where he started nine games in 2019.

Dynamo head coach Tab Ramos knows Cropper well. As the first choice keeper, he helped lead the 2013 U-20 team to a runner-up finish in the CONCACAF U-20 Championships and was part of the FIFA U-20 World Cup. In 2015, he anchored the US team to a third place finish in the Toulon Tournament. He was also a part of the 2018 U-23 team at the CONCACAF-CONMEBOL Olympic playoff. Ramos had been affiliated with the youth national teams since 2011 both as an assistant and head coach.

What the signing does for goalkeeper Michael Nelson’s future remains to be seen.

A day after the Cropper signing, Houston hosted the annual Dynamo fanfest at BBVA Compass Stadium. It was a day that saw throngs of fans watch a Dynamo practice up close and personal, gain cherished autographs and have interactions with various players. 

UPDATE: Kobe Bryant, daughter, seven others killed in helicopter crash

Photo by
Keith Allison,  Hanover, Maryland, USA
from  Wikimedia Commons

By Chris Price
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved
Compiled from various sources

CALABASAS, CALIFORNIA (January 26, 2020) At approximately 10 a.m. PST, former professional basketball player Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California at the age of 41. About 9:06 a.m., Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others had taken off from John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, in a Sikorsky S-76 owned by Bryant. The helicopter passed over Boyle Heights, near Dodger Stadium, circled over Glendale during the flight. The helicopter was registered to the Fillmore-based Island Express Holding Corp., according to the California Secretary of State business database.

Weather conditions at the time were reported to be foggy. Personnel from the Los Angeles County Fire Department attended the scene, and the fire had been extinguished by 10:30 a.m. Witnesses reported that the helicopter's engine was "spluttering" before the crash. Data from Flightradar24 appears to show the helicopter rising abruptly before crashing.

BREAKING NEWS: Kobe Bryant dead in helicopter crash.

By Chris Price
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

CALABASAS, CALIFORNIA (January 26, 2020) It is being reported by TMZ and FoxNews.com that Kobe Bryant and three others died early Sunday morning in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. 

Bryant, 41, was a 18 time NBA All-Star, and played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 years. He was a first first-round pick in the 1996 draft. He won five NBA championships with the Lakers, along with two NBA Finals MVP awards and was the NBA MVP in 2008.

20 year career with the Lakers. He was a first-round pick in the 1996 draft, winning 5 NBA championships, 2 NBA Finals MVP award and he was the league MVP in '08.

He was flying in a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter, which he had owned for years. The FAA said it was informed by local authorities that were were five people on board at the time.

We will post updates as they become available.

SPORTS SHORT: TSU knocks off Mississippi Valley State

By Chris Price
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 25, 2020) The Texas Southern Tigers led for 37:57, with the score being tied for 1:54 in route to a 80-67 win over the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils at the Fertitta Center on the campus of the University of Houston. The last minute venue change from the Health and Physical Education Arena was due to a power outage on the TSU campus. 

USA Boxing brings home six medals from 2020 Strandja Tournament

Photo by
Brian Taylor, USA Boxing
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved
Used with permission

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

SOFIA, BULGARIA (January 25, 2020) Houston's Virginia  Fuchs led the contingent of medal winners for the United States at the 2020 Strandja Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, with USA Boxing bringing home three gold, two silver and one bronze medal.

In the first match of the finals, Fuchs faced off against fellow American Christina Cruz (Hell's Kitchen, New York) in the women's flyweight division, pulling out a 4-1 decision for the gold medal. Fuchs and Cruz fought in the finals of the U.S.A. Olympic Trials in Lake Charles, Louisiana, with Fuchs coming away with a unanimous decision.

 

Welterweight Osha Jones (Toledo, Ohio) picked up another gold medal for the United States after downing France's Emilie Sonvio with unanimous decision.Naomi Graham (Fayetteville, North Carolina), who was the2019 Standja Tournament champion  closed out the day by taking her second straight Strandja title with her 3-2 decision against Davina Michel of France.

Andrea Medina (San Diego, Calif.) fell short in her first international championship bout, 4-1, to Ukraine’s Iuliia Tsyplakova in the second bout of the final day of competition. picking up the silver medal

The sixth and final medal for Team USA, a bronze, was won by flyweight Anthony Herrera (Los Angeles, California). The tournament marked Herrera’s first international tournament and international medal.

The American delegation began the tournament with 24 boxers competing in the 71st edition of the Strandja Tournament to conclude the selection process to determine the 13 boxers who will represent Team USA at the upcoming Olympic Qualification tournaments. 

Texas Southern dominate Mississippi Valley State, 88-58

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 25, 2020) The Texas Southern Tigers jumped out to a 43-26 lead at halftime in route to a 88-58 win over the Mississippi Valley State Devilettes at the Fertitta Center on the campus of the University of Houston. The last minute venue change from the Health and Physical Education Arena due to a power outage on the TSU campus.

The Tigers (10-7, 5-1 SWAC) overwhelmed the Devilettes early in the game, claiming a 30-10 lead after 10 minutes of play, with Mississippi Valley outscoring TSU 16-13 in the second quarter. TSU go back to their 20-point lead in the third quarter (67-47), increasing their to 30 points in the fourth quarter (21-11).

Ciani Cryor (Philadelphia, PA, Rutgers) led the scoring with 30 points, followed by Nina Mitchell (Bay City, Texas, New Mexico Junior College) with 15. Guards Richelle Velez (Lake Jackson, Texas, Kilgore College) and Atalya Bridges (Lanett, Alabama, Shelton State) with 15 and 10 points, respectively.

TSU shot 50.7% from the field (36-of-51), also with 62.5% (10-16) from the free throw line. The Devilettes could only manage 36& from the field and 62.5% from the line. Mitchell tallied nine rebounds, six of them on offense while Cryor had six steals. For Mississippi Valley State, Natalia Cotten scored 12 points, while Angelica Darcus pulled down seven rebounds.

Next up for TSU is a January 27 match up with Arkansas-Pine Bluff with at 7:30 p.m. at home.

Shakeup on Kirby Drive continues

By James Sakaris
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 20, 2020) The shakeup on Kirby continues, as over the weekend the Houston Texans front office and coaching staff continued to see changes. Stemming from a flat organizational structure, in which Bill O’Brien is overseeing not only the head coaching duties, but also de facto general manager, the franchise dismissed long time contract/cap negotiator Chris Olsen, Senior VP of Football Administration. While this bodes as a move garnering O’Brien with more power over players and their respective contracts, others speculate it was  simply “making room” for a potential partnering with Nick Caserio, whom the Texans pursued for the GM position post Brian Gaine.

The coaching staff was not without their share of personnel exits/restructuring, as it was announced on the evening of January 19 that long time defensive coordinator and assistant coach Romeo Crennel would not be returning as the defensive coordinator. Filling his void will be defensive line coach, Anthony Weaver, who has been with the Texans as both a player (2006 – 2008) and a positional coach since 2013. While promoting from within is always preferred, one wonders why outside sources weren’t at least interviewed for the vacancy. Wade Phillips, a fan favorite in Houston, is available and when he held the post under Gary Kubiak, he coordinated some of the best defensive seasons the Texans ever had.

Whatever the reasons for the two dismissals Sunday night, one thing is clear, the Texans are not happy with their current structure. Will the changes in front office and coordinating be enough to propel the Texans further into the post season in 2020, or will the fans endure another heartbreaking meltdown in the playoffs like we have in recent seasons? This is the question that will loom until January 2021, when the Texans will hopefully have another chance to solidify their legacy in the NFL Playoffs.

Houston Dynamo hold first training session of 2020

Story and photo by Lou Roesch
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 20, 2020) The Houston Dynamo opened the 2020 campaign with a spirited first training session under head coach Tab Ramos. Ramos, a decorated American soccer player and the highest profile coach the organization has had since Dominic Kinnear. Ramos, a soccer Hall of Famer and the only coach to a USA national team to a title has been tabbed with job of returning Houston soccer to the promised land.

Ramos made it clear following practice that there is really for all intent and purposes only one goal; win a championship. He little doubt also as ot what he expects from his players.

“I am a very determined coach. I am one that accepts nothing but the best from the players on the field and maybe that is a culture I have brought from having with the (U.S.) youth national teams, that type of winning culture.”

The Dynamo showed a lot of energy and enthusiasm on day and going forward, the Dynamo coach said they will look to bottle it.

“The players have been off for a long time, so I know they are excited about that. They are excited about starting with a new coach and starting a new season, so we have to sort of bottle all of that excitement the first couple of days to make sure that physically we are getting exactly what we need.”

The Houston Dynamo have a plethora of experience and now youth on their side something General Manager Matt Jordan wanted to achieve during the offseason.

“We feel we have a team and a roster that could compete with anyone in Major League Soccer. A big offseason objective of ours was to get younger. And we feel we accomplished that, getting younger in each of our lines throughout the team.”

Houston opens the season against newly signed “Chixharito and the L.A. Galaxy on Saturday, February 29, 2020.

Records fall at 2020 Houston Marathon

Story and photos by Lou Roesch

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 19, 2020)  Records are made to be broken and that’s what happened on Sunday at the 48^th annual Chevron Houston Marathon. With runners from across all 50 states and representing 57 countries battling 25 mile an hour wind gusts, two national records, a world record and a Guiness World Record were set on Sunday.

Hitomi Niya of Japan got things started in the Aramco half marathon smashing both her personal best and the Japanese national record to win in the third fastest time in Aramco Houston Half Marathon history, 1:06:38. She led from start to finish and no competitor in sight as she crossed the finish line.

The men’s half marathon was a whole different story. Fourteen runners raced through the first 5K setting a pace that would put the course record (59:22) in danger. Five runners would remain to battle over the final mile last year’s runner-up, Jemal Yimer (ETH), won in 59:25. It was the second fastest time ever run in Houston and North America. Bernard Ngeno (KEN) finished second at 59:26, and Shardrack Korir (KEN) with a personal best of 59:27 took third.

Ethiopia’s Aksale Merachi in her Houston debut took the women’s marathon title in 2:23:29 thwarting defending champion Biruktayit Degefa (ETH) quest for her fourth victory (a historic feat in Houston’s race history). Degefa did take second with a time of 2:24:47. The win by Merachi was the 14^th consecutive win by an Ethiopian woman in Houston. Canadian Mandi Elinore was third setting a Canadian national record finishing in 2:24:50.

The men’s marathon was won by Woldeargay Kekile Gezahegn in what started as a potential course record and then became a two man race. The Ethiopians win gave the African nation three of the four Houston titles. Bronsa Dida was left behind by countryman who won in 2:08:36 more then two minutes faster.

Michael Roeger (AUS), a T46 Paralympian, crushed his own world record (2:22:51) finishing in 2:19:33 keeping his pre-race promise to “put his competitors on notice” heading into the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

James Madison and North Dakota State face off for FCS national title in Frisco

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photogrjaphy
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved 

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

FRISCO, TEXAS (January 10, 2020) For the second time in three years, the No. 1 North Dakota State Bison and the No. 2 James Madison Dukes will take to the field inside Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas in the NCAA Division I Football Championship game. The Bison (15-0, 8-0 MVFC) go into the game with a 36-game winning streak and are looking for their eighth FCS crown.

The Dukes (14-1, 8-0 CAA) are making their fourth appearance in the national championship game, seeking their third title. They defeated Montana 31-21 in the 2004 championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee and won its second crown in 2016 with a 28-14 triumph against Youngstown State in Frisco.

James Madison head coach Curt Cignetti talked with the press on Friday, stating;

"This is a great football team, with a lot of guys that have played a lot of football, a lot of really good players, exceptional players at their position. Good personalities. Good leadership. There's a great culture at JMU with the tradition and the success of the past.

It's been talked about, they got off track maybe just a little bit last year with their focus. They realize that. I think I was lucky and fortunate really to be able to coach this team. But we had a plan and we knew what we wanted and improved the team without question.

But this team kind of got it after a while, kind of what I was looking for, which are those crisp, short practices, focused in, locked in, this play is over, tear off the rear view mirror, never too high, never too low.

Practice is kind of like a game, really fast (snapping fingers). You got to have six seconds a play. The play is going to have a history of its own. Focused in on the right things. Played consistently throughout the season. Practiced that way also. Handled business that way also.

We had no off-the-field problems at all with this team. These guys have played a lot of ball together. So here we are ready to go."

North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz also spoke with the press.

"I think the first thing we always talk about, we always address early in the season, is we treat every year as a different year. There is no carryover. I'm going to go back to a couple years ago. I had a young man by the name of MJ Stumpf, he had won a national championship as a backup. We asked him, MJ, you won a national championship. His comment was, Coach, I haven't won one yet. You only win them when you're a starter at NDSU.

That's part of the desire of every kid wants to live up to the expectations that our tradition has shown. We treat every year differently. This is the last game that the 2019 football team is ever going to play. We're going to look different next year. We look different than we did a year ago. Each team has their own nuances, characteristics.

This is a pretty good football team we have right now. I think that's part of the way we avoid complacency, is we continue to challenge them who they are, to be the best they can be in that moment right then."

Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CST with the game being televised on ABC and ESPN3.

BREAKING NEWS: Houston Dash trade Kealia Ohai to Chcago Red Stars

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 6, 2020)  The Houston Dash acquired defender Katie Naughton and the 18th overall selection in the 2020 NWSL College Draft through a trade with Chicago Red Stars, the club announced today. The Dash traded forward Kealia Ohai to Chicago in return.  

Naughton joins Houston after being a key part of Chicago’s backline throughout their stellar 2019 NWSL season run. The center back was part of Chicago’s 1-0 shutout win over Portland in the semifinals and put in a full 90-minute performance in the NWSL Championship against North Carolina.  

“We are delighted to add Katie to the squad. She brings a lot of quality and playoff experience,” said Head Coach James Clarkson. “She will strengthen the team and help us continue to improve.” 

The Red Stars posted a 15-9-2 record in the 2019 season and reached their first-ever NWSL final finishing as runners-up. Naughton played a role in 13 of Chicago’s 15 wins and five of the Red Stars’ eight clean sheets. The Illinois native appeared in 22 of 24 regular-season games, starting 19.  

Naughton came into NWSL as the 19th overall selection in the 2016 NWSL College Draft after a stellar four-year career at Notre Dame. She captained the Fighting Irish as a sophomore, junior and senior, becoming the first player in school history to serve as a three-year team captain. She was a three-time all-conference selection and was a member of Notre Dame's Student-Athlete Advisory Council. 

The defender also represented the United States in international competition at the Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 levels during her youth career, including at the 2014 U-20 Women’s World Cup and the 2014 Concacaf U-20 Championships. 

Ohai leaves Houston after six seasons with the Dash in which she made 114 appearances and started 108 times. She owns the club record for goals scored, with 28, and has recorded 16 career assists. 

“I just want to thank Kealia for her commitment to the Dash and wish her all the best for the future on and off the field,” Clarkson said. 

Ohai was the second overall pick in the 2014 NWSL Draft and served as the team’s captain for the past three seasons. 

Ohai stated:  “I want to thank the entire Houston organization and the wonderful fans for my last 6 years as a Dash player. I have created lasting friendships and Houston will always be my home. I’m excited for a new opportunity with Chicago and to become the best player I can be.” 

With this transaction, the Dash now have 19 players on their active roster ahead of the 2020 NWSL season. The Dash expect to kick off their 2020 campaign in mid-April. The 2020 schedule will be announced in the coming weeks. 

USWNT head coach Vlatko Andronovski names national team roster

By Jennifer Edwards
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (January 6, 2020) New head coach Vlatko Andronovski released his roster for the United States National Women’s Soccer team on December 27. There were almost no surprises among the players and die-hard fans. The one surprise came in the call-up of Sophia Smith, a junior at Stanford University. She is in place of Alex Morgan who is currently out due to pregnancy. 

This roster showcases many of the household names from the Women’s World Cup tournament played over the past summer. While this sounds like a solid plan going into the Olympic qualifying happening in the next month, this team is an aging team. They will have to rely on their veteran players such as Megan Rapinoe, Julie Ertz and Becky Sauerbrunn. With very few newcomers or younger returners to the team. Margaret Purce, a defender for the NWSL Portland Thorns; Casey Short, both have been in training camp before; Andy Sullivan, a midfielder for the NSWL Washington Spirit; and Lynn Williams, a forward for the NWSL North Carolina Courage have made the trip to Tampa, Florida for training camp. Jane Campbell, a veteran USWNT goalkeeper and keeper for the NWSL Houston Dash was also named to the camp as one of the four goalkeepers. This number can be expected to drop to three before the final roster is named. 

The coaching staff has seen some major changes in addition to the new head coach. Milan Ivanovic was appointed to technical staff as well. Dawn Scott, the High Performance Coach for the USWNT for the past nine years has stepped down and a new replacement has yet to be announced. It remains to be seen how these coaching changes will affect how the US team tackles the game on the world stage. It is expected that the on-field set up will probably change to better suit the new head coach and the players will have to adapt to that. With only a few newcomers, it is expected to change seamlessly. While a new head coach traditionally brings sweeping changes, it seems that Andonovski is keeping his cards close to the vest and playing it safe for the Olympics. 

There is a lot in store for the USWNT. The fans have a lot of amazing soccer to see in the Olympic qualifting happening at BBVA Compass Stadium beginning on January 28, when they take on Haiti and the play against Costa Rica.

Battle for the Bell Rivalry Renews Saturday at Armed Forces Bowl

Duke faced off against Temple
in the 2018 Armed Forces Bowl.
Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Anthony Andro

for the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (Janaury 3, 2019) How do you know that Southern Miss and Tulane are rivals heading into Saturday’s Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Carter Stadium?

               

The teams haven’t even played in 10 years and there’s still a little something extra on the line. And that something extra is more than the Battle for the Bell, which is the trophy that’s awarded to the winner of the game between the two schools separated by a little more than 100 miles.

                

Even though the teams haven’t played since the current rosters were either in junior high or elementary, Saturday’s 17th annual bowl game at TCU will have a little extra meaning.

               

“I haven’t played in a game like that since I was at Tulane,” said Tulane senior safety P.J. Hall. “There’s no animosity. But I think what kind of defines a rivalry is the history behind the teams. 

It’s not something that just happens once a year. It happens over 10, 20 years. The history makes is a rivalry. We’ve got the history, the bell. We’re taking it as a rivalry game.”

               

Neither team has played in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl but they’ve met 30 times going into the game. Southern Miss (7-5) has the upper hand with a 23-7 mark. The Golden Eagles will be putting a six-game winning streak against Tulane (6-6) on the line as Tulane hasn’t beaten Southern Miss since 2002.

                

The ties between the two teams run deep, too. Southern Miss head coach Jay Hopson began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Tulane in 1992. Southern Miss junior quarterback Jack Abraham, who became just the third quarterback in school history to throw for more than 3,000 yards this year, committed to Tulane when he was in high school. That changed when Tulane made a coaching change and brought in the current regime led by Tulane head coach Willie Fritz.

               

“For our program it’s a rivalry,” Abraham said. “We’ve played them a good deal in the past. We’ve still got the bell. That’s obviously a big deal and another thing to play for. We’re treating this as a rivalry. We’re trying to approach it as another game. I’ve got connections to Tulane. I’ve had connections to them. The team as a whole is treating this as a rivalry.”

                

Both teams share another trait. They are looking to the game to end their seasons on high notes. Southern Miss lost back-to-back games to end the regular season while Tulane dropped three straight to end the year.

                

They’ve each had more than a month off to get ready for Saturday’s game and plan to use it as a springboard for spring football and the 2020 season. The best way to do that is with a win.

                

“It’s pretty much standard protocol for both programs,” Hopson said. “The last one (to Florida Atlantic) was a tough one to swallow. We were playing for the division championship and the ball didn’t bounce the way we wanted it to. That’s football. We just feel blessed to have an opportunity.”

                

And it doesn’t hurt that a win is going to come at the expense of a rival.

               

“I know when I took this job a lot of people said ‘When are you going to play Southern Miss again?’” said Fritz, whose team is renewing its regular-season series against Tulane in 2022. “We’re so close in proximity to each other. It’s a natural rivalry and I’m glad we’re getting a little taste of it here in 2020.”