Southern Miss running back Frank Gore Jr. stayed close to the hurt – relished it, even.
The Golden Eagles' star endured back-to-back three-win seasons in his first two seasons in Hattiesburg, playing for four different head coaches along the way. As he explained throughout the 2022 season, he knew that the perspective acquired from those trials would make the payoff that much sweeter when it eventually arrived.
Saturday night, Gore ensured he got that payoff. He dragged the Golden Eagles (7-6, 4-4 SBC) by their collective ear to a 38-24 LendingTree Bowl victory over Rice (5-8, 3-5 CUSA) at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.