Team preview: Southern Miss

Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 119 Division I-A teams. To order the complete 2006 edition of Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbook.com or call 1-866-805-BALL (2255).

(All information as of July 1, 2006)

For many Division I-A programs, a 7-5 finish, a 12th consecutive winning season and a bowl berth for the eighth time in nine seasons would be considered a positive season. By Southern Miss' standards, it was something of a disappointment, especially when the Golden Eagles failed to win the Conference USA Eastern Division title.

That disappointment begs perspective, though. A season that began with such high expectations ran into several unexpected obstacles, starting with the Hurricane Katrina on Aug. 29. Less than a month later, Hurricane Rita brought more problems for the Golden Eagles, especially those players with families forced to evacuate southern Louisiana and Mississippi.

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