The University of Southern Mississippi football team arrived late Thursday afternoon at The Hilton in Memphis seeking refuge from the destruction Hurricane Katrina left in Hattiesburg, Miss., home of the Golden Eagles.
“A lot of these kids hadn’t eaten and they’re probably looking forward to a shower like me,” said Southern Miss head coach Jeff Bower.
While Bower said some team members have been unable to shower for almost five days because of water and electricity outages in Hattiesburg, the Golden Eagles’ trip into Memphis has more to do with football than hot water.
“We needed a place to practice,” Bower said. “(University of Memphis football head coach) Tommy West called and said he would help us however he could.”
West plans to offer the Golden Eagles the opportunity to practice at the Murphy Complex at South Campus this week.
Southern Miss will make use of the facilities to prepare for their Sept. 10 game against Alabama in Tuscaloosa after their season opener against Tulane was postponed.
Bower said his team would take the field during the morning hours while Memphis football players attend class and that the Tiger’s practice schedule will not be affected.
While an opposing team practicing on The U of M’s facilities is rare, help in a time of crisis between the two schools is not so unusual, said Bower.
“I had hoped that we would never need the favor returned from a few years ago,” Bower said.
That favor included the replacement of several pieces of equipment that was lost in a fire at the Tiger’s turf room in 2003.
Even though getting football back on his player’s mind is a top priority, it just doesn’t seem important to many players, said Bower.
“We have had two or three players who still have been unable to make contact with their family,” Bower said.
Since Hattiesburg is only 112 miles north of New Orleans, Southern Miss recruits heavily in the Louisiana.
Louisiana native and defensive lineman Terrance Ford is one of the Southern Miss players who has still been unable to contact his family.
“My whole family is down there,” Ford said. “I am putting it in the hands of the Lord and it is really tough.”
While Hattiesburg has seen only a fraction of the damage that New Orleans has experienced, students and residents are struggling daily, said defensive end Akeem Lockett.
“My apartment is destroyed,” he said. “There is no water and if you have food in the fridge it is spoiled. If you don’t have canned food, you’re just out of luck.
Southern Miss is trying to aid in the food shortages by setting up propane stoves and feeding students who have nowhere to go.
The water shortage in the Gulf region has taken more creativity, Bower said.
“I haven’t had it too bad,” Bowers said. “A few of my neighbors connected our refrigerators to a generator and I’ve taken a few baths in my pool.”
Place kicker Luke Johnson said even using the restroom has become complicated.
“Me and my dad have been hauling pond water to fill the toilets to flush them,” Johnson said.
Even though all of southern Mississippi is riddled with fallen trees and debris, the strength of the community and Johnson’s faith is getting him through the experience.
“Seeing everyone out cutting and clearing trees really helps,” Johnson said. “I have been reading a lot of scripture and when the storm came down on the disciples, Jesus was there.”
