If you know me, you know it must be near football season if I’m writing my annual “drive the bus” column.
It’s a phrase I love in sports, especially football: driving the bus. It’s not about cheering from the sidelines — it’s about taking control, picking a player you believe is about to break out and committing to the ride from start to finish.
In this column, I’m telling you whose bus I’m driving, why I think they’re about to take over and have a breakout season. Consider this my first ride as your sports editor — and trust me, it’s going to be a fun one.
Now, with this new role, I don’t just cover Southern Miss like I did in my previous jobs. But this column is generally Southern Miss based, and I’ll keep it that way — for now.
Last year I drove the bus for Will James on defense and Larry Simmons on offense. Those turned out to be solid choices. Simmons led the team in receiving, and James posted 35 tackles, seven pass deflections and two tackles for loss in 2024.
The year before, I drove the bus for Cole Cavallo, who had a solid season. In 2022, I drove the bus for Quentin Bivens, who registered 4.5 sacks as part of a stout defensive front.
But this season, I’m going to do things a little differently.
I’ve been covering Southern Miss football since 2021 and following the program long before that. I was at the 2011 Conference USA championship game against Houston, I was at the 2016 win over Kentucky and I’ve been there for plenty more.
What I’ve seen over the past several seasons — through no one’s direct fault — hasn’t matched the Southern Miss standard I’ve grown accustomed to, or that fans expect. There’s a sense in the community that it’s time for that to change.
I’m driving the bus for the 2025 Southern Miss football team.
Yeah, I know — you might be thinking, “Wow, that’s creative.” But I’m serious. I think this team is being overlooked by a lot of people. And when we get to the end of the year, if this doesn’t prove true, I’ll eat my words. We can’t always be right.
But this team has the potential to have a story unlike any other in Southern Miss history — especially for the players who stayed from last season. Guys like Kyirin Heath, Greg Nunnery and Brodarius Lewis , among others.
I know you’re probably asking, why the whole team?
Normally, I wouldn’t do this. But I feel the need to pick the entire team for one simple reason: the moment feels right.
Fans say it’s time for Southern Miss football to return to the tradition and pride they remember — and that expectation hangs in the air.
And it’s all going to be on Charles Huff.
Fans right now are at a crossroads. Either they go all in on this team, even if they don’t know many of the faces and think this is Marshall 2.0, and embrace them as their own, or they stay in the “believe it when I see it” camp, giving Huff no benefit of the doubt and expecting eight to 10 wins right away.
For me, I’m indifferent. I’m not paid to cheer for the team — I’m here to bring you the facts and cover the program without bias.
Part of that is telling you who’s going to have a breakout season every year, and this year I think it’s going to be the Golden Eagles.
Huff’s first fall camp as head coach hasn’t just looked different, it’s felt different. The pace, the intensity, the sounds … it’s a noticeable shift from the past few years. The buzz isn’t just lip service, either. Huff has brought in a staff with fresh ideas, a proven track record and the kind of recruiting pull that can make an immediate impact.
Driving the bus doesn’t mean I’m predicting a perfect season or promising a Sun Belt title. It means I believe this group has the right mix of leadership, talent and opportunity to take a meaningful step forward. From what I’ve observed, the buy-in is there, the staff has a clear vision and the hunger feels stronger than it has in years.
So yes, I’m driving the bus for the 2025 Southern Miss Golden Eagles. The road will have its bumps, and the ride may test everyone’s patience at times, but I think it’s worth the trip. You can choose to hop on now or wait until you “believe it when you see it.”
Either way, this bus is leaving the station — and I’ll be in the driver’s seat to see where it goes.
