Southern Miss Golden Eagles football The Southern Miss Golden Eagles football program represents the University of Southern Mississippi in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision . The Eagles are members of Conference USA and play their home games at M . M . Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg , Mississippi . The team ' s current head coach is Ellis Johnson , who will begin his tenure with the 2012 season . Home stadium . M . M . Roberts Stadium . Carlisle - Faulkner Field at M . M . Roberts Stadium is nicknamed " The Rock at Southern Miss " and boasts a seating capacity of 36 , 000 . The stadium history dates back to October 29 , 1932 when the State Teachers College defeated Spring Hill College , 12 - 0 , as some 4 , 000 fans looked on from wooden bleachers . On this homecoming date , the playing field was dedicated as " Faulkner Field " in honor of local businessman L . E . Faulkner , who provided the materials and equipment to build the original facility . The stadium was dedicated on September 25 , 1976 , with Southern Miss hosting intrastate - rival Ole Miss . Since the opening of M . M . Roberts Stadium in 1976 , Southern Miss has accumulated a winning percentage of 73 % at home . In 1989 , the playing field had a new irrigation system installed . The Robert " Ace " Cleveland Press Box and president ' s box was renovated and chairback seating was added to the west side of the stadium . In 2002 , the lighting system was upgraded to provide brighter lighting and two new poles were added , one in each end zone . The playing field at Roberts Stadium underwent a name change in the 2004 summer when it was renamed Carlisle - Faulkner Field at M . M . Roberts Stadium in honor of entrepreneur Gene Carlisle who provided the contribution for the installation of a new playing surface , Momentum Turf by Sportexe . A new state - of - the - art scoreboard was installed prior to the 2007 season . Other renovations and additions include such major projects as luxury suites , club - level seating , elevators on each side of the south end zone , and a visiting team locker room . Traditions . Southern Miss to the Top . The Southern Miss to the Top ! Response Cheer is used among Southern Miss alumni , students and supporters . The initiator of the cheer says “ Southern Miss ! ” The responder says “ To the Top ! ” Hand signals accompany the cheer , which are two gestures upward with the index finger , done by both the initiator and responder . The District . The District is located near the intersection of US Hwy 49 and Hardy Street . The historic district of campus is anchored by the five original buildings of the campus : Ogelee Tree Alumni House , The Honor House , College Hall , Forrest Hall , and Hattiesburg Hall . It is also the traditional tailgating site for students during football season . It is home to Lake Byron , which has served as a focal point for many university activities and several weddings . Eagle Walk . The Eagle Walk is found underneath the upper deck of M . M . Roberts Stadium . Two hours prior to football game day , a cannon is fired , which begins the procession . ROTC , The Pride of Mississippi Marching Band , University officials , and football players make a march through this street to the cheers of thousands of fans . Every fall , the incoming freshman give the walls and street a " fresh coat of paint " as they have done for half a century . Seymour d ' Campus . Over the years , Southern Miss has experienced an evolution of nicknames from Normalites to Tigers to Yellow Jackets to Confederates to Southerners . In 1972 , alumni , faculty , students and staff were asked to submit new names for the athletic teams , and an ad hoc committee appointed by the Alumni Association voted on the submissions . The present mascot , the Golden Eagles , was chosen as the athletic teams ’ name , and the new mascot was eventually named Seymour , an individual in a golden eagle costume . Seymour ’ s full name is Seymour d ’ Campus ( a pun on " see more [ of ] the campus " ) . The name was inspired by the 1984 World ' s Fair mascot , Seymour d ’ Fair ( a pun on " see more [ of ] the Fair " ) , who was played by former Southern Miss mascot Jeff Davis ’ 83 .