Conference USA teams are ready to watch Southern Mississippi dominate somebody else for a change.

The 24th-ranked Golden Eagles are 17-1 over the past three years in conference play and will again become Public Enemy No. 1 when the C-USA season heats up. But for the next few weekends, everybody in the conference will be sending positive vibes in the direction of the traveling Eagles, who will visit No. 12-ranked Tennessee, No. 3 Alabama and Oklahoma State in the next three weeks.

"I don't think there's any question, if they can win some games like that everybody in the conference wins," said Memphis coach Rip Scherer, whose team almost beat the Vols last season and will get a chance to win some credibility of its own against Mississippi State on Saturday. "That's going to be a great football game. ... I think Southern Miss has a heck of a chance."

	Jeff Bower has led Southern Miss to three straight bowl games, including a 23-17 Liberty Bowl win over Colorado St. last season.

But while other C-USA schools have earned some high-profile wins against ranked foes over the past several seasons, Southern Miss hasn't beaten a ranked non-conference team since 1991.

The Eagles may change that against Tennessee. The Vols have been hit hard by graduation losses and start a sophomore -- Joey Mathews -- at quarterback behind a fairly green offensive line. Bower, however, points out that the Eagles are dealing with some graduation losses as well after sending seven players from last year's team to NFL camps.

"We lost a few guys ourselves, but we hope we're at the point where we've got good talent coming up to take those spots," Bower said. "They may not be guys you've heard of, but they're good. They've got the talent, they just don't have the experience. Tennessee is in the same situation, but we know they do a better job of recruiting than anybody in the region, so they'll be good."

Bower doesn't expect his team to be awed by the crowd at Neyland Stadium. Over the past four years he has taken teams into road games against Nebraska, Texas A&M, Penn State, Florida, Georgia and Alabama.

"We've played in some big places -- nowhere as big as Neyland Stadium -- and we know what to expect from the crowd," Bower said. "I think our guys know what they're in for."

Southern Miss and quarterback Rick Kelly will unveil a new one-back attack installed after Bower decided the team lacked offensive firepower last season. One key will be the performance of several freshmen wide receivers.

C-USA teams aren't shying away from elite competition. In the first three weeks of the season C-USA teams will play six of the top 12 teams in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll. In addition to Southern Miss' games at Tennessee and Alabama, Houston faces Texas, Louisville travels to Florida State, Cincinnati visits Wisconsin and East Carolina hosts Virginia Tech.

"We not only have to play well in those games, we have to win them," East Carolina coach Steve Logan said. "Last year we inflicted some damage on the other conferences. Houston came to Chapel Hill and won and went to LSU and beat those guys. We had our moments against North Carolina, Duke, Miami and South Carolina and Cincinnati beat the Rose Bowl champs. That's how this conference is going to have to work.

"We're not going to be allowed in the BCS until we knock the door down and force those people to accept us through a public outcry. Because we're talking about money here, and they don't want to split that money any more ways than they have to split it. It's a crass, cold deal that they've got set up. It's an exclusionary club that is repulsive to me. I've got some real strong feelings about it, but that's the truth and I'm more on target than anybody else is on this, and I know I am."

Around Conference USA
Army: First-year coach Todd Berry has chosen his backfield starters, and it may not have been the choices that were expected. Junior Chad Jenkins beat out senior returning starter Joe Gerena for the quarterback job. Berry said in a tight battle, Jenkins' mobility tipped the scales in his favor. ... At running back, Michael Wallace will get the nod over returning starter Alton McCallum, though both will see playing time.

Cincinnati: Deontey Kenner sat out the team's final preseason scrimmage with an Achilles' tendinitis, but coaches say it was only a precaution and he's expected to start in the Bearcats opener against Army on Labor Day. ... Former Michigan running back Ray Jackson has won the top running spot for Cincinnati after carrying 15 times for 103 yards and a touchdown in the team's final preseason scrimmage. ... Kelton Lindsay, a 6-1, 180-pound sophomore defensive back, says he will transfer from Ohio State to Cincinnati. A star running back who rushed for 5,000 yards in high school, Lindsay will play on the scout team this season and be eligible to play next year.

East Carolina: The Pirates are preparing for Duke, but the postponement of the BCA Classic last weekend threw a twist into their game next Thursday against Virginia Tech. ECU coach Steve Logan says the turn of events doesn't help matters for Tech. "I don't think it helped them. It didn't hurt them, but as a coach you try to bring your team to a certain point rhythm-wise. You get them to game day and get them ready to play and all of a sudden there's no game. I'm know that's upsetting to both programs involved in that thing. They needed to play a game. After a while, practicing against yourself becomes very redundant and you're not getting any better. And now they've got another whole week of practicing against themselves and none of those questions you have about your team aren't any closer to getting answered. I'm sure Frank Beamer will handle it well, but kids are kids and it's still a distraction."

Houston: First-year coach Dana Dimel is pleased with the progress of his defense as he attempts to replace eight starters on a unit that was one of the best in C-USA. He's building a round senior linebacker Wayne Rogers who was named to the Butkus Award watch list last week. Senior tackle Nikia Anderson has led the way on the defensive line. "Our defensive unit has been progressing real well in camp so far," said Dimel. "I feel real good with the play and depth of our front seven players."

Louisville: The running back situation continues to improve as the Cardinals try to replace 1,200-yard rusher Frank Moreau. Senior Tony Stallings has won the starting job, but junior-college transfer Chris Lester, who arrived at camp late because of juco academic commitments, is making steady progress. Both will play in Saturday's opener against Kentucky. ... The Cardinals will be underdogs heading into the Kentucky game. They were favored by oddsmakers in nine of their 10 games a season ago. ... Sophomore Dave Ragone will get his first college start after coming off the bench in his only two appearances for Louisville. But that's still an edge on his Kentucky counterpart Jared Lorenzen, who will be taking his first college snaps.

Memphis: Record heat is plaguing the Tigers as they prepare for their opener against Mississippi State. A 104-degree day Monday forced coach Rip Scherer to cut practice short as the Tigers worked out only in helmets, shorts and shoulder pads. "I've never felt anything like this before," fifth-year offensive lineman Lou Esposito told the Memphis Commercial-Appeal. "(Sunday's) practice was probably the hardest thing I've ever done in football in my life."

Tulane: Returning starter Patrick Ramsey will keep his starting job at quarterback, Green Wave coach Chris Scelfo announced last week. Johnson beat out redshirt freshman J.P. Losman, though Scelfo says the backup will also see action in Tulane's opener at Ole Miss on Saturday. ... Junior guard Chrys Bullock and junior linebacker Delando Davis were suspended Friday for the first two games of the season for violating team and athletic department policy, respectively.

UAB: Injuries are hampering the Blazers, but not crippling them. Eleven players sat out of a scrimmage last week with nagging injuries. Particularly worrysome for coach Watson Brown is the status of four receivers who were on the bench last Friday. "It makes establishing any timing in the passing game difficult," Brown said. ... The Blazers are cooling their heels as they get an off week before even playing a game. They won't open until Sept. 7. "It's tough to watch everybody start playing and know we have to sit and wait," Brown said. "Maybe that will make us more hungry when things get started."