MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Jeff Bower, after 13 years as the head coach at Southern Mississippi and 14 years as a college assistant coach before that, still likes his job. In some ways, as a matter of fact, it's better than it's ever been.
"I don't know if I've ever had as much fun coaching as I've had this year," said Bower, whose 9-3 Golden Eagles take on 9-2 Utah in the Liberty Bowl on Wednesday afternoon.
Then again, what's not to like when you've had as much success as Bower has had?
The 50-year-old Georgia native has spent most of his adult life helping to put Southern Miss on the college football map — first as a star quarterback, then as an assistant and now as head coach. He has built the best, most consistent program in Conference USA. You could arguably say he has the best, most consistent team in the state of Mississippi — despite not having nearly as much funding or fan support as Southeastern Conference members Mississippi and Mississippi State.
Then again, who knows how Bower's teams would fare in games against Ole Miss and Mississippi State? He'd love to face either one or both but never has. It's not for a lack of trying, either. Southern Miss boasts the slogan, "Anyone, anywhere, anytime" — but the state's SEC teams are running scared. They won't schedule the Golden Eagles.
Bower led Southern Miss to its fourth Conference USA title this season — and the league has only been in existence since 1996. His record in C-USA games is a glossy 42-11. The Golden Eagles have posted 10 consecutive seasons with winning records and are playing in their sixth bowl game in seven years.
And he's not only about winning and losing games.
"Coach Bower is real strict about doing things right on and off the field," said Golden Eagle quarterback Dustin Almond. "His No. 1 priority is making sure we do right in the classroom."
Bower has produced a tradition at Southern Miss that certainly impresses his Ute counterpart.
"You watch Southern Miss and they are a model of consistency," said Utah coach Urban Meyer. "They take care of the football, they play great defense and have good special teams."
Of course, with consistent success over a period of time comes inevitable high expectations. When those aren't being met, it can get rough. Just ask BYU's Gary Crowton.
"The expectations at Southern Miss are that you are supposed to win the league every year," Bower says.
So when the Golden Eagles opened the this season 3-3, there was criticism of Bower and his coaching staff on local talk radio and message boards and such.
The subsequent turnaround — winning six straight games and going unbeaten in league play — is one reason the 2003 campaign has been so satisfying for Bower. He says this year and the 1992 season — when Southern Miss went 7-4 "without any talent at all" — were the two best coaching jobs he's done.
After years of coaching the receivers in addition to his duties as the head coach, Bower wasn't in charge of a position for the first time this year.
"I felt like a needed to get to know all the players better," said Bower. "I know I had more one-on-one player conferences this year than I've ever had. . . I got to know our players better than I ever have."
Which is why he said this season was so much fun — and is part of the reason senior linebacker Rod Davis calls him "a players' coach."
"He's just a great guy to play for," said Davis.
"Coach Bower is a motivator," said Almond. "Sometimes we get in the locker room at halftime and he gets pretty hot. But at the same time he's encouraging and not real negative. He pushes us to the limit and makes us better players."
Bower's name has occasionally popped up on lists of candidates when other coaching jobs have come open — at Wyoming and Georgia in recent years, for instance. But he's spent 25-plus seasons as a player and coach in Hattiesburg. His wife is a former Southern Miss cheerleader and graduated from there, too. He's raised his family and built a successful program at Southern Miss.
Plus, he's still having fun. He has no reason to look for work elsewhere.
Jeff Bower by the numbers
Jeff Bower, a former star QB for Southern Miss, has been the school's head coach since 1991.
Age: 50
Record: 89-61-1
Seasons: 13
Winning seasons: 11
Current consecutive winning seasons: 10
Conference USA championships: 4
Conference coach of the year honors: 3
Bowl invitations: 7
Record in bowls: 3-3, pending Wednesday's Liberty Bowl results
E-MAIL: lojo@desnews.com