Seniors’ last run at “The Rock”

Only a handful of players have rewritten the record books at Southern Miss. Ray Guy, Reggie Collier and Brett Favre come to mind.

There's a fourth name that can officially be etched right up there in stone at the end of this season: Southern Miss runningback Damion Fletcher.

Fletcher – the school's all-time leading rusher – is one of 20 players set to play one final game at M.M. Roberts Stadium Saturday when the Golden Eagles host Tulsa.

It promises to be an emotional day, especially for one of Southern Miss' all-time most emotional players.

Damion Fletcher came to Southern Miss after Hurricane Katrina washed away his senior season at Biloxi High School.

Then-Golden Eagle head coach Jeff Bower had seen Fletcher as a junior and knew he was capable. Luckily for Southern Miss, other school's didn't.

Fletcher played his first game at USM against eventual national champion Florida Gators in 2005. During  the past four years has proceeded to rewrite the Southern Miss record books.

He shattered the former school record for career rushing yards during his junior season and continues to add to his final number with every handoff. He's also the leader in career touchdowns with 44, holds the record for most 100-yard games in a season and is the only back in school history to have three 1,000-yard seasons -- and he's on the brink of a fourth. He is also the only back to have ever rushed for 4,000 yards in a career at Southern Miss.

"To me, it's a very important milestone that not very many people have reached," said Fletcher. "I'm so close to getting there, so it's important to make it."

In his time at Southern Miss, Fletcher has also become one of those rare players who fans consider in that upper-echelon of former players.

"Damion Fletcher has truly become a Southern Miss icon," said Lucas De La Riva, a senior biological sciences major and lifelong Southern Miss fan. "I knew from the very start that he had a talent unlike any I had seen in a long time. I put him up there with the likes of Sammy Winder, Derrick Nix, Ben Garry, and Sam Dejarnette."

"It's a great feeling to be put up there with all those guys, knowing they were some of the greatest players to play here," Fletcher said.

Playing professionally is another tradition Fletcher would also like to live up to and  he's not the only one looking in that direction. Many Southern Miss fans are looking forward to see what "Fletch" can do at the next level.

"I'd love to see Fletch play in the NFL," said senior history major Jeff Guillot, who became a fan after seeing Fletcher's first game against Florida. "He is an exciting player to watch who has a lot of talent. I think his balance and vision translate well to the NFL. He's shown the determination and work ethic here that I think will help him go places."

For now, Fletcher and his classmates will settle for taking in one last game at The Rock.

"It's going to affect our whole football team," head coach Larry Fedora said. "They want to send these seniors out the right way. It's the last time those guys are going to put the black and gold on and walk out into The Rock."

As for Fletch, he says he needs no extra motivation.

"I'm trying to go out with a bang, playing as hard as I can," said Fletcher. "It's going to be tough going out there for the last time. It‘s going to be special for me.

"Greatest fans in the world. They've shown lots of support for me through my ups and downs. I want to thank them for being there for me and I'm going to give them a show my last time in the Rock."