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NEW ORLEANS -- Southern Miss all-time leading quarterback Nick Mullens and prolific Louisiana-Lafayette running back Elijah McGuire expected the final season of their college careers to be considerably better.That doesnt mean they havent been gratified by what they and their teams have overcome, defying late-season odds with clutch performances to earn invitations to Saturday nights New Orleans Bowl.Its really a humbling experience. Nothing in a college career is ever going to go perfect. Im glad the way we persevered, Mullens said. The fact we earned our spot here is definitely something were proud of.To gain bowl eligibility, the Golden Eagles (6-6) had to win their final game against favored Louisiana Tech. Mullens, whod missed two games because of a concussion, returned for the regular season finale and completed 88 percent of his passes (29 of 33) for 342 yards and three touchdowns in a 39-24 triumph . The Ragin Cajuns (6-6) had to win their last two games -- not to mention four of their last six.Im glad we could pull that off, McGuire said. Life is unfair, things happen. Everybodys got to go through adversity, overcome obstacles.Some fans might be inclined to scoff at the idea of a bowl game from which the loser is guaranteed a losing record. The participants dont see it that way because there are so many variables in football -- from untimely injuries to bad bounces -- which can undermine the seasons of otherwise good football teams. In the case of Southern Miss, Mullens struggled with a mid-season thumb injury even before his concussion.The bone is showing and he says, `Tape it and I think I can play, Golden Eagles coach Jay Hopson recalled. It took him about two or three weeks (to get healthy). Then he got knocked out.The Cajuns, meanwhile, lost one early season game at Tulane in four overtimes and another at New Mexico State in double OT.I see a great matchup, UL Lafayette coach Mark Hudspeth said. Its two teams that have overcome a lot this year.Here are some other things to watch in the 16th New Orleans Bowl:REGIONAL RIVALS: While Southern Miss plays in Conference USA and ULL in the Sun Belt Conference, these programs have history because of their proximity to one another. Theyve played 51 times, with the Golden Eagles dominating the series, 39-11-1, including victories in the past eight meetings. Each campus is within a two-and-a-half-hour drive of New Orleans, so attendance is expected to be solid. Its two teams close together regionally. Our fan bases are familiar with one another, Hudspeth said. Thats going to bring some intensity to the game.STRENGTH ON STRENGTH: McGuire, has rushed for 1,028 yards and seven TDs this season, and has 4,213 yards rushing for his career, which ranks second all-time at ULL. Southern Miss ranks 18th nationally in total defense (331 yards allowed per game). Youve got one team that can run the ball, a running back that runs the ball pretty well and youve got a defense that stops the run well. So thats the game we play, Hopson said. It certainly will be a battle out there Saturday night and we understand that.TRANSFER QB: Cajuns QB Anthony Jennings is a former LSU starter who transferred after losing his job to Brandon Harris, who has since lost his job to Danny Etling. In his first and last season at Louisiana-Lafayette, Jennings has completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,083 yards and 11 TDs. I had some bumpy roads early in the season, but I think Im coming along well, said Jennings, normally a mobile quarterback who was slowed by an ankle injury this season. Im back to 100 percent right now and running the football better than ever.TIMELY STOPS: Southern Miss third-down defense ranks second nationally after allowing conversions on just 34 of 142 attempts (24 percent). Likewise, the Golden Eagles are tied for third national in first downs allowed (172). Southern Miss defensive lineman Dylan Bradley says third-down defense is as much about mindset as anything, and calls his unit a nasty bunch.DOMECOMING: This marks each teams fifth New Orleans Bowl, in which Southern Miss is 3-1 and UL Lafayette was 4-0 until vacating 2011 and 2013 victories because of self-reported recruiting violations.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Yeezy Nederland . Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe. Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Non Reflective . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. http://www.yeezysnederland.com/yeezy-boost-700-kopen/v2.html . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. Yeezy Kopen .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Kopen . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. STARKVILLE, Miss.-Mississippi State University again is receiving major recognition from the Halbrook Awards for Academic Achievement Among Athletes program.During this weeks Mississippi Association of Colleges and Universities Annual Conference, MSU was named winner in the Public University Division for the highest percentage of both female and male athletes graduating - with 87 percent of females graduating and 72 percent of males graduating. The universitys overall graduation rate for student athletes is 77 percent.Administered cooperatively by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, Mississippi Community College Board, and Mississippi Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Halbrook Awards program recognizes college and universities that maintain and achieve high academic standards for student athletes, thus encouraging high graduation rates.While serving in the Mississippi Legislature, Representative David M. Halbrook Sr., along with his brothers John, James and J.A. Halbrook, endowed the Halbrook Awards.Along with MSU receiving the overall female and male awards for two consecutive years, the universitys female student athletes have been recognized by the Halbrook Awards program for the last four years.Winning these prestigious awards is a significant acccomplishment for our talented student athletes and overall athletics program here at Mississippi State, said MSU President Mark E.dddddddddddd Keenum.Additionally, two MSU student athletes received David M. Halbrook certificates for academic achievement. They include Brandon B. McBride, a member of the mens track and field team and a public policy and administration masters student from Canada, and Cornelia Griesche, a womens track and field team member from Germany who graduated summa cum laude with a bachelors in economics this past spring.In May, McBride also graduated cum laude with a bachelors degree in business administration.Having the highest male and female student-athlete graduation rate in back-to-back years is a great honor, said Christine Jackson, MSU assistant athletic director and director of athletic academic support services. The collaborative work done by the student-athletes, Office of Athletic Academics, athletic administrators, coaches and university is a great source of pride for all Bulldogs.We are very appreciative of the IHL for bestowing such an honor upon us and for its continuous support of academic excellence throughout the state, Jackson added. ' ' '