Graphic By Kelli Kellogg September 24, 2003 HUSKERS HIT HATTIESBURG Big Red heads south to play Southern Miss on must-see TV By Jim D. Berryman MissingNebraska.com Road trip! Recently those two simple words have caused widespread panic across the plains of Nebraska. Yes, when it comes to the Nebraska Cornhuskers playing football on the road, things haven’t been so rosy lately. But the Huskers hope to turn around last season’s dismal road record Thursday night when they take on the Golden Eagles of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS, the first time Nebraska has ventured away from home this season. Kickoff between Nos. 11 & 15 Nebraska (3-0, 1-0) and Southern Mississippi (2-1) is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. CDT and will be broadcast live on ESPN. The game can also be heard on a number of Pinnacle Sports Radio Network stations in Nebraska and around the country, and on the Huskers’ official web site. The road has been an unfriendly place to Big Red lately. Nebraska managed just one road victory last season, however is more than ready to add “road win” to its list of improvements already seen this season. The Huskers will bring the nation’s top defense into Hattiesburg to line up against an Eagles team that will be without starting quarterback Mickey D’Angelo, who is recovering from a concussion. His replacement is sophomore QB Dustin Almond. All signs point toward a Husker cakewalk, but don’t tell that to the Golden Eagles and their fans. A sputtering NU offense playing its first road game of the season at night, in front of a national television audience and rowdy crowd, against a southern team in search of national respect is not always a recipe for success for Big Red. The Huskers can’t afford to get behind early, or the scene in Hattiesburg could be that of tough fight. Southern Miss’s name doesn’t shine quite as bright this season as in previous seasons, but beating Nebraska on Thursday night ESPN would change all that. Still, the Huskers, led by Josh Davis, were able to plow through the Penn St. defensive line (with the exception of within the red zone) with ease a couple Saturdays ago. The Eagles will have their hands full if they want the evening to turn out as golden as their mascot. Big Red should roll. If things don’t get rolling, Husker fans everywhere wonder whether or not No. 2 QB Joe Dailey will get some playing time. Husker QB Jammal Lord is a great runner and makes some nice plays. However, he’s got to improve on passing, locating targets, and timing on the option, or Dailey may see those ESPN lights too. Feedback The score on the scoreboard is my humble prediction. NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS vs. SOUTHERN MISS EAGLES PREVIEW STORIES & LINKS 09-25-03: Nebraska may gets answers to questions tonight More from OWH 09-25-03: Huskers looking to end road woes More from GII 09-25-03: Swann says NU talent good, not great More from LJS 09-25-03: Southern Miss star tells NU: bring it on More from OWH 09-25-03: Huskers need to take offensive More from LJS 09-25-03: USM ready for 'Husker Nation More from Hattiesburg American 09-24-03: Foe may force Huskers to throw More from GII 09-24-03: New Eagle has landed More from LJS 09-23-03: Eagles' QB injury doesn't faze Huskers More from LJS 09-23-03: Road To Recovery More from OWH 09-23-03: Not backing down More from LJS 09-23-03: Huskers are told to be ready for a little Hattiesburg noise More from OWH 09-23-03: Huskers will run it and 'they make you like it' More from Hattiesburg American 09-23-03: Pelini: Huskers' top-ranked defense can get better More from AP Husker 2003 Schedule/Results Huskers on ESPN.com Husker Hot Pics Photos from AP Husker Game Watch Locations Nationwide