With their interim head coach out, Southern Miss will have to go with a rarely-used interim interim head coach on Saturday.
The Golden Eagles' interim head coach, Scotty Walden, revealed Tuesday that he has contracted COVID-19, and Southern Miss confirmed on Wednesday to the Biloxi Sun Herald that Walden will not join the team for its trip to Liberty on Saturday.
In his stead, assistant head coach and nickel backs coach Tim Billings will wear the head coaching hat.
This will not be Billings's first time as a head coach, though it is his first as a double-interim. He led Southeast Missouri State's program from 2000-05, peaking with an 8-4 record and an Ohio Valley Conference coach of the year award in '02.
Walden was named Southern Miss's interim head coach following Jay Hopson's resignation on Sept. 7. The 31-year-old has led the Golden Eagles to a 1-2 record thus far, with losses to Louisiana Tech and Tulane and a road win over North Texas.
Southern Miss's two most recent games -- Oct. 10 versus Florida Atlantic and Oct. 17 at UTEP -- were both postponed due to COVID issues. Following the trip to Liberty, the Eagles return to Conference USA action with an Oct. 31 home game with Rice. The Owls, having postponed or canceled their first six scheduled games, are just now beginning their 2020 slate with a home date against Middle Tennessee.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.