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Rain had not factored into any of the Southern Miss football team’s preparations this fall. Until Wednesday.

The Golden Eagles moved its morning workout to the Payne Center, the University student recreation center, due to heavy rain in the Pine Belt brought on by Tropical Storm Nicholas.

Despite the change of locale, first-year coach Will Hall said his team adjusted to the site and showed maturity in getting the necessary work done prior to its home non-conference contest with Troy this weekend. Game time is set for 6 p.m., at The Rock.

“It was a great mental day,” said Hall. “It is better when it happens in the middle or later in the week than the first day so we were blessed for that. We really appreciate everybody here at the Payne Center letting us get in here and having this facility to do that.”

Hall went on to say that the Golden Eagles needed to make the most of what they had each day and their focus was on a Troy program that dropped a 21-13 home contest last weekend to a talented Liberty squad, which includes a stout Trojan defense.

“They are a program that plays really good defense,” said Hall. “They held Liberty to 21 points – a team that has won a ton of games over the last few years with a great quarterback. They played great defense versus Liberty and in game one. They are a really physical D-line that sets the tone.

“Offensively, their head coach runs the offense, much like I do here, and they have a transfer quarterback that has a lot of talent so we are going to have to be on our P’s and Q’s as they play with a lot of tempo. We have got to handle us and do what we are supposed to do, because they are a proud program like us trying to build their program back.”

Season and single game tickets for the 2021 six-game home schedule can be purchased by going online at SouthernMissTickets.com, by calling 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or 601-266-5418, as well as emailing ticket.office@usm.edu.