Last year's 7-6 finish for Southern Miss could easily be summed up as disappointing. Heading into 2009, the Golden Eagles returned 18 starters including all five offensive linemen and the greatest running back in school history. And the results from that group were more than adequate as the team averaged 181 ypg rushing, the quarterback tandem of Martevious Young and Austin Davis combined for a stellar 26-to-5 TD-to-INT ratio, the offensive line allowed only 16 sacks and the team had a solid +10 turnover margin. So what went wrong in Larry Fedora's second season in Hattiesburg? For starters, the defense failed to live up to expectations, most notably the secondary which allowed 262 ypg, 62% pass competitions and five 300+ yard performances. Despite an offense that averaged 416 ypg, Southern Miss was outgained in nine of its last 11 games.   But heading into 2010, improving the defense isn't Southern Miss’ only issue. Only three starters return on offense, including just one offensive lineman with starting experience. Running back Damion Fletcher (4.6 ypc) and Troy Harrison (6.2 ypc) are gone as well as the team's No. 2-No. 5 receivers from a year ago. Fedora was also forced promote former quarterbacks coach Blake Anderson to offensive coordinator after former OC Darrell Wyatt left for Kansas.

The defense should improve with nine starters back including their entire front seven. The secondary however will see a handful of new faces and improvement could be hindered after it was recently reported that defensive backs coach Je'Ney Jackson left to become a basketball coach at an unnamed school in Indiana. Fedora wasn't exactly giddy about the move stating, "It was a decision on his part. It's not something I was real excited about. He felt like that was something he wanted to do. I think it had to do with a whole lot less hours. It's a lot less work so he'd have more free time. So essentially, he didn't want to coach football." And if that weren't enough, Southern Miss also lost two potential contributors as Steve McNair Jr. was forced to go the junior college route and former Alabama cornerback Alonzo Lawrence will likely do the same.

Southern Miss opens to year in Columbia against South Carolina.