Schedule brutal at S.C. State

By Charles Bennett, The Post and Courier

Bulldogs to face two big-conference foes in first three weeks

ORANGEBURG — South Carolina State began shopping around for games against Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A) opponents a couple years ago, and as either good luck or bad luck would have it, the Bulldogs wound up landing two for 2007.

Thus the schedule finds South Carolina State opening at Air Force on Saturday, and after a MEAC game at Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 8, the Bulldogs play at South Carolina on Sept. 15 — a murderer's row if ever there was one.

"Back then, it didn't seem like such a big deal," said South Carolina State coach Buddy Pough, "but now that you're actually here, it gets to be a little bit bigger challenge."

The reason the Bulldogs went shopping for those road games at Air Force and South Carolina is for the money the games will put in their operating budget.

Air Force will pay South Carolina State $225,000 for making the trip to Colorado, while South Carolina will fork over $230,000 for the Bulldogs to make the short drive up I-26 to Columbia.

"Of course, financially, it does help us," said S.C. State athletic director Charlene Johnson. "We're in a position where we have to be creative in how we raise dollars. Those two schools are giving us a chance to not only increase revenue but increase exposure for the football program and the university."

The biggest question remaining is whether the grueling early schedule will take its toll on the Bulldogs over the long haul of the upcoming season.

"We've certainly got as much as we can handle in those first three games," Pough said. "It's a challenge, but we're excited about it. The guys just want to play right now. I'm just hoping it will somehow be good for us in the long run."

Meanwhile, Johnson continues shopping for payday games for future schedules. South Carolina is locked in again in 2011 and Johnson says she has had conversations with Clemson, Georgia Tech and Central Florida.

However, Johnson says the Bulldogs are looking for one per year, not two.