ESPN

Moderator

  (10:57 AM)

Rod Davis will be here momentarily .. keep sending your questions!

Rod Davis

  (11:00 AM)

I am here and ready to go!

Keith Barrett Hattiesburg

2 things- 1st I was in Disney World this past weekend walking through MGM theme park with my GO GOLD shirt on and I guy hollors, "Hey Dude" not knowing he was talking to me I kept walking and again "Hey Dude" and again Hey Dude" so I turned around and to my suprise he said "How is Rod Davis doing?"I responded "Super Year" but he would tell you he has room for improvment", He responded "Is he going to win the Big Throphy". I told him to stay tuned because the best is yet to come. I think this is a tribute to you and So Miss for your excellence on the football field and the notority is nation wide. The 2nd thing is, with an agressive defense like we run how hard will it be and can we as a defensive unit stay patient as some of the option sets unfold?

Rod Davis

  (11:02 AM)

I guess a team like Nebraska, you just have to play sound football. Everyone has to stick to their assigment. We are agressive, we aren't going to sit back and let them dictate the game. We are going to play our style of defense and play sound football.

Jeff: Tulsa, OK

How do you contain a running QB like Lord? Has your team been more focused on just containing the run because everyone has that Nebraska with Lord at QB has a lot of trouble throwing the ball.

Rod Davis

  (11:03 AM)

Yes, we have been focused all year on stopping the run. We are getting better and better each year. Lord is the heart and soul of that offense so we have plenty of strategies to contain him. We have to win on first down .. get them in lots of second and longs to get them to pass.

D'angelo fan

What do you do for fun in Hattiesburg?

Rod Davis

  (11:04 AM)

(Laughing) I guess I just go out and play video games with my teammates. I've had fun ever since I've been here. Fun for me is watching video and getting that edge for the next game.

John (Columbus)

Rod, Do you anticipate bringing up more men (8-9) to the line of scrimmage knowing that Nebraska has a very limited passing game?

Rod Davis

  (11:04 AM)

Yes, we will play a little bit of a mixture to keep them off balance. We will do everything we can to stop the run. We might play 9, 8, 6 .. you never know. Just depends how the game is going.

Seymourjarulz,Atalanta

Do you have a prefered Nickname

Rod Davis

  (11:05 AM)

In high school I used to like Rodzilla! The style of play I have, I try to destroy everything.

Rocco

Who do you think will be your toughest competition in Conference USA?

Rod Davis

  (11:06 AM)

Has to be TCU. They embarassed us last year on national TV. That is a game I have circled. They are the reigning champs and had a great run last year. It's a big chance for us .. they are coming to the Rock and will be in our backyard. We don't lose in the Rock.

maya

u got a girlfriend?

Rod Davis

  (11:07 AM)

Yes.

Rod Davis

  (11:07 AM)

We've been together for almost three years .. her name is Blossom.

Eric (Birmingham, AL)

Have all of the big time upsets that happened last week in college football influenced the Eagles' attitude coming into Thursday night's game? (and how?)

Rod Davis

  (11:08 AM)

Not at all. We are both good teams. When two good teams battle, anything can happen. We don't really feel it would be an upset.

Rod Davis

  (11:08 AM)

If we play well in all three phases, we'll be fine. The thing that has given us problems is special teams and punt protection but we will confident we have fixed that and will have a good outcome on Thursday.

Joey T.

Which team would you most like to play that isn't on your schedule? Could you guys hang with Oklahoma?

Rod Davis

  (11:10 AM)

Yes, if we play our game we can play with anyone in the country. It's just like Any Given Sunday, and given Saturday any outcome is happen. Nothing is predetermined. To answer the question, the most talented team in the country is Miami.. I would love to tangle with them. I met some of those guys at the Playboy photo shoot ..

Neal, New Orleans, LA

Have you ever wanted to play on the offense? If so, what position?

Rod Davis

  (11:11 AM)

(Laughing) Yes! I did want to play on offense. I still feel I can be the X factor at Tight End or Fullback. I'm athletic enough and fast enough to force some mismatches. I know how a linebacker thinks. I could be effective on the offensive side but my dream is to hit people.

josh brown , starkville MS

I am a student at MSU, however, I have been a fan of Southern Miss football as long as I can remember, and I believe that your defense and defensive strategy will prevail on thurs. My ques. to you Rod, is how do you think your back up QB will handle the pressure in a game of this magnitude? Are you going to challenge your offense to pick it up and give all they have? Thanks Rod and GOod Luck!!!--josh

Rod Davis

  (11:12 AM)

First of all, why are you at State! Come down to Hattiesburg and have some fun with us! He will be nervous but the home crowd will feed us. He will have to settle down real fast though. It's a big game for sure. He is very athletic and will show you what he can do. He has one of the strongest arms I have seen here.

Heff (L.A.)

What else did you get to see at the Playboy shoot?

Rod Davis

  (11:12 AM)

(Laughing) I got to see a lot of nice people!

Rod Davis

  (11:13 AM)

It was a real good time.. I was blessed to have the opportunity. The shoot was in Arizona, not L.A. I met a lot of the All Americans. They treated us like royalty.

Ricardo (Atlanta, GA)

Mornin' Mr. Davis....I was born and raised in Hattiesburg, and have been attending USM games since Reggie Collier and the Nasty Bunch D. My Question is....'Has your defensive scheme changed any from last year and if so how will it affect tomorrow nights game with Nebraska?'Thanks and always play tough!!!!

Rod Davis

  (11:14 AM)

No. It's just been a little different with the teams we have been playing. We can't line up and play four linebackers when teams are going 4 or 5 wide. Sometimes they make you change your personnel. We are the same defense with better personnel. We have all gotten better. We will show the world tomorrow what we are all about.

Missy

what's your favorite tv show?

Rod Davis

  (11:15 AM)

PLAYMAKERS!

Allen

do you think u can remain undefeated tis season in Conf. USA?

Rod Davis

  (11:16 AM)

No doubt. We are off to a great start. These next three games are pivotal. It can springboard us to a great season. Conf. USA we go to Cincy next week and will be just fine. But we have to focus on each game one at a time.

Adam (Columbus, OH)

Rod, do you think given the plausible certainty that Maurice Clarrett will win in court, that college football will see an erosion of talent that leaves early much like college basketball has with respect to the NBA?

Rod Davis

  (11:17 AM)

I don't know about that. It's a little different with football. Basketball from college to pro is differnet. It's a bigger jump in football. Baseketball, if you can play ball, you can play ball. But the phyiscal conditioning you go through with football is much harder. You never know, players now are much stronger though.

Coy, Jackson, Ms.

A lot of fans would really love to see the USM-MSU matchup again. How do the players feel? I think in-state rivalry is good. I dont understand why MSU would go all the way to Houston to play a c-usa team, while they have one only 3 hours away with a much larger MSU alumni than Houston, Tx. Any thoughts? Go kick some butt!!!!!!!!! S-O-U-T-H-E-R-N

Rod Davis

  (11:19 AM)

We would love to play them! I've been wishing and hoping it would happen. It would be great for the state. I guess when you think you are already the creme of the crop, you would lose something by playing us. I don't know. I think they are just scared. We would play them anywhere anytime.

Ashley Edwards (Pass Christian, MS)

Rod, before the Southern Miss/Louisville game last year, Lee Corso said he would have a hard time finding his way down to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Do you think he will remember the way after tomorrow night?

Rod Davis

  (11:20 AM)

He sure will! Just like he says .. Not So Fast!! I would love to catch up with him after the game and say "Hey Lee, Not So Fast!". It will be a great game for college football.

a.j.

Who is your favorite NFL team?

Rod Davis

  (11:21 AM)

I'm a guy who likes players more than teams. My team is St. Louis. Ray Lewis is my favorite player. Urlacher, Marshall Faulk, there are a lot of guys I love to watch.

chaz , hattiesburg

Whats up Rod, I know when we go to the game tommorrow , we are going to get crazy, how much do yall feed off the crowd?

Rod Davis

  (11:23 AM)

Oh man .. I can't even describe it. At AandM they call it the 12th man .. it's just a feeling that takes over and you play on emotions. When we hear you guys get behind us .. it's incredible. It's one of the loudest crowds I have heard. Just hearing you guys get loud just makes us that much better. When Nebraska gets on offense .. GET LOUDER. It makes them uncomfortable. Thanks to all of you fans out there in Hattiesburg and everywhere else .. get loud tomorrow night! Thanks for all the great questions! Talk to you later.