Southern Miss is home for Wil Freeman.
Many of the senior offensive lineman’s relatives attended the university, including a great-great-grandaunt when it was still called Mississippi Normal College.
The Flowood native dreamed of playing football for Southern Miss as a youngster when it was standard practice for the family to make the short trip to M.M. Roberts Stadium for home games. Tears were shed by Freeman and his father, Frank, when the 6-foot-6, 280-pounder received the long-coveted scholarship offer to suit up for the Golden Eagles.
So when Southern Miss athletic department officials asked Freeman to change out of his uniform after last week’s win over Louisiana Tech — the final home game of his collegiate career — he politely declined.