The Southern Mississippi football team wants to bring more than a tan back from its Sheraton Hawaii Bowl experience.

The No. 21-ranked Golden Eagles are taking aim at what would be the first 12-victory season in school history if they beat Nevada in the Dec. 24 game at Aloha Stadium, players say.

“That’s what we are talking about and that’s what’s going to motivate us to play our best and have a good game,” quarterback Austin Davis said.

The Golden Eagles are 11-2, the most victories in school history. “We have a chance to win 12, which would be two more than any other Southern Miss team, so we want to be known as one of the best teams to have ever played here,” Davis said.

Davis, a four-year starter who has broken most of Brett Favre’s school passing records, guided the Golden Eagles to the Conference USA championship with a 49-28 blasting of previously unbeaten Houston in the C-USA title game.

Southern Miss had expected to represent the conference in the Liberty Bowl, which has usually taken the C-USA champion. But when the bowl opted to take Big East representative Cincinnati to oppose Vanderbilt of the Southeastern Conference, the Golden Eagles were given their choice of the other five bowls the conference has agreements with.

“Typically the conference champion goes to the Liberty Bowl to play an SEC school (so) I think guys were a little bummed, but once we realized the opportunity in front of us and the opportunity to win a 12th game there, everyone was excited,” Davis said.

“I think everyone is pretty excited (about the Hawaii Bowl). I mean, the chance to go to Hawaii is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most of our guys,” Davis said. “Our coaches decided it would be the biggest reward for us to spend a week in Hawaii and make a memory of a lifetime. And, I agree. I think it will be something that we will remember this season for as long as we live.”

The Golden Eagles have announced a “Tickets for Troops” deal under which Southern Miss fans can donate tickets and Gold Southern Miss T-Shirts to military members stationed in Hawaii.

About 100 Golden Eagle fans are expected to make the more than 4,100-mile trip from Hattiesburg, Miss., for the game, according to a school spokesman.