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Story Archives: Bowden closing in on Guy


Bowden closing in on Guy
by Joey Martin - posted Thursday, March 27th, 2008 @ 8:36 amE-mail Story E-mail Story | Print Story Print Story 
Barry Bowden is now on a Southern Mississippi all-time list just behind Ray Guy.

No, Bowden has not been playing football at USM on the side. Besides, you can count on two fingers how many people Dee Faircloth has had at Vidalia who could punt the ball over 35 yards.

Many people do not realize Guy was an exceptional pitcher at Southern Miss before he made the wise decision to go pro in football and boom the ball better than anybody else for the Oakland Raiders.

Guy began developing his picture-perfect form and hang time by punting over the power lines behind his boyhood home in Georgia.

But punting wasn't the only thing he could do well, although it was pretty much a given he did it best after hitting a 74-yard punt in junior high.

Guy had 16 varsity letters in four sports at Thomson High in Georgia.

He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds while in high school and is still recognized as one of Southern Mississippi's best baseball pitchers. He pitched one of only four no-hitters in school history and was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds for a second time and by the Kansas City Royals, and Atlanta Braves while at USM.

But football was his sport, and it wasn't just because of his punting. He also recorded 18 interceptions as a starting free safety and kicked a then NCAA record 61-yard field goal during a snowstorm in Utah.

Guy had 68 strikeouts in 1970, 101 in 1971 and 97 in 1972 for a total of 266.

Bowden moved into sixth place Friday night against a Central Florida team that entered the game with a 19-1 record and No. 16 national ranking.

Bowden (4-1) threw eight innings, allowing five hits and struck out a career high 14 batters, allowing only one run through eight innings. He started the ninth inning and left the game with two runners on base, who came around to score and were credited to Bowden.

The Vidalia native mowed through the Knights in the top of the first throwing nine pitches and striking out two, setting the tone for the entire game.

"I wasn't paying any attention to their record," Bowden said. "I was just getting ready to pitch like in a normal game. After the first inning I felt pretty confident with the location of my fastball and I worked off of that with my other pitches. It was definitely big for us to start off the conference with a win."

Bowden was named C-USA Pitcher of the Week on Monday. He was also named C-USA and National Pitcher of the Week after his complete-game two-hit shutout at then No. 25 Louisiana-Lafayette on March 29.

Bowden recorded his 245th strikeout against UCF and now needs only 22 additional strikeouts to pass Guy for fifth all time.

"They were saying something about that the other day and I had no idea I was up there," Bowden said. "That's pretty good company."

Frankie McLendon had 267 strikeouts from 1988-92. Shea Douglas had 285 strikeouts from 2000-02.

Darrell Lindsey is tops on the list with 374 from 1985-88, while Damon Pollard is second with 302 from 1987-90.

Bowden could certainly end his career among the top three.

"Barry was tremendous tonight," said USM head Coach Corky Palmer, who earned his 900th career win over his 29 year coaching career on Friday night. "I think he got a little tired in the ninth but he has earned the right to try and finish these type of games. He is such a competitor."

Bowden was able to keep the UCF offense, which came into the game sporting a lofty .338 team average, under complete control. He allowed three singles in the third inning then struck out two consecutive UCF hitters with the bases loaded to end the threat. He did not allow another hit until the seventh inning.

"I am definitely off to my best start year, and for this to be my senior year makes it even better," Bowden said.

Southern Miss travels to Rice for a three-game series this weekend.

The Owls are 44-4 in Conference USA over the past two seasons since joining the conference.

Rice finished 56-14 last season, placing third in the nation for the second straight year.

Rice is 17-6 on the year and winners of nine-straight games. 

The Owls opened C-USA action with a three-game sweep of Marshall on the road.

Rice has won 26-consecutive conference series, home and away, dating back to March of 2005. 

As a staff Rice pitchers average 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings.

"Rice has pretty much dominated our league since coming into it," Bowden said, "Hopefully we can go in and make a good showing. We've been getting more confidence each weekend. We had a bad game Saturday, but we came back to get the win Sunday."

The Golden Eagles are 14-7 overall and 2-1 in C-USA play.

Bowden will not be the only former Vidalia High player listed in the USM record book when his career ends in Hattiesburg.

Josh Hoffpauir still holds the team record for most at bats (eight against Belmont in 2000) and most stolen bases in a game (six against Cincinnati in 2000).

Jarrett Hoffpauir holds the record for most hits in a season (109 in 2004), most RBIs in a season (92 in 2004) and is tied for most doubles in a game (four) against Southeastern Louisiana in 2002).

"I haven't really thought about where I could end up my career as far as strikeouts," Bowden said. "I focus on the next game and try to do the best I can. If I end up among the top two or three, that's fine. But winning is the main thing."

Which sounds exactly like something Ray Guy would have said.

Then again, Ray Guy is in pretty good company himself with Barry Bowden.
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