SMU vs. Southern Miss: Ellis Johnson still looking for first win as head coach

While the SMU Mustangs hope to become bowl eligible with a victory on Saturday, the 0-9 Southern Miss Golden Eagles head into their game against the Mustangs just trying to get a win of any sort.

Head coach Ellis Johnson took over the reigns of the Golden Eagles prior to the season, and has produced disastrous results for a once-proud program that appeared in 10 consecutive bowl games and had 18 straight winning seasons before this year. While looking for answers on how to correct his team's problems, Johnson started with himself:

"You have to say it's coaching, because if you don't think it's coaching, what do you do to correct it?"

Johnson's team blew a 16-0 halftime lead en route to a disheartening 27-19 loss to the UAB Blazers last weekend. It was just the third game that Southern Miss finished within a score of its opponent. In the other six, the Golden Eagles have been mostly overpowered.

If the problem isn't coaching, it could be poor defense; the Golden Eagles have allowed 40 or more points on five occasions.