BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Southern Miss head coach Jeff Bower walked off the field where he started his head coaching career to the tune of Cincinnati’s fight song.
It wasn’t a Cinderella ending, by any means. He wasn’t carried off, Bower walked through the covered tunnel to the locker room with his arm draped over his daughter’s shoulder.
Then again, Bower isn’t one for the spectacular.
In fact, his favorite accomplishment at Southern Miss is the consistency he led the program to.
“The program on the field has been consistently good,” Bower said. “I’m proud of winning four championships and having 14 straight winning seasons and being to 10 bowl games in the last 11 years. I’m most proud of what we’ve done in the classroom — our graduation rate.
“It’s the total package.”
Jeff Bower has had a way of ending up where he started. His Southern Miss coaching career made a return trip to Birmingham for the Papajohns.com bowl, exactly where he coached his first game as Southern Miss’ head coach in the All-American Bowl in 1990.
Bower returned to coach Southern Miss, where he was a three-year starter at quarterback under coach P.W. Underwood in the early 1970s. The Golden Eagles lost to North Carolina State 31-27, a few weeks after Bower had been named the successor to Curley Hallman.
In the 17 years since, Bower compiled a career 119-83-1 record. Saturday’s game marked the 10th bowl game in 11 years for Southern Miss. That streak goes along with 14 straight seasons with a winning record that will continue into the Larry Fedora era in Hattiesburg.
For the past three weeks, Bower has known Saturday’s bowl game would be his last as the Golden Eagles’ head coach. It has had the time to sink in it and didn’t even take the day of the game to make him realize he was heading out the door.
“I cleaned out my office and turned my car in,” Bower said. “That was kind of the finishing touch, when I walked out of that office Wednesday.”
If Bower has his way Saturday won’t be his last time with a headset on. He’s interested in coaching again and even mentioned being interested in starting a program, such as the one being talked about at the University of South Alabama.
After playing and coaching at Southern Miss, Bower wasn’t ready to think about being athletic director.
“I don’t think so,” he said.
As for coaching, he still has it in him.
“I want to coach again. I do,” Bower said. “I believe I can coach.”
His game plan put together a fine rushing performance after getting an early score on a touchdown reception by Shawn Nelson, but turnovers and the Cincinnati offense kept Southern Miss from getting the win.
On Saturday, the Eagles outrushed Cincinnati behind Damion Fletcher’s 155 yards on 29 carries, but the Papajohns.com Bowl MVP Ben Mauk threw all over the field for 334 yards and four touchdowns.
“I honestly didn’t think we’d be able to run the ball that effectively but we did,” Bower said.
For the near future, he won’t have to worry about making sure his offense works, he’ll have other things to fill his time.
“I’ll cut the grass, clean the pool and take the dog for a walk,” Bower said. “Play golf, maybe.”
