SCSU ready to play the Air Force Academy

By THOMAS GRANT JR., T&D Senior Sports Writer

Quarterback Cleveland McCoy is treating it like a business trip.

Tight end Spencer Miller views it as a 'Homecoming' visit.

As for offensive lineman Jake Johnson, he only wants to make it through without 'getting nauseous and fainting'.

All three will join their South Carolina State teammates today on a 12:30 p.m. flight from Eagle Aviation Airport in Columbia to Colorado Springs, Colo. for Saturday's against Air Force Academy.

It's the first-ever visit out west for the Bulldogs and the first of two games against Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) foes. For redshirt freshman Johnson, this also marks the first time he's ever boarded an aircraft.

"I was talking to my mom who said just chew a lot of gum because my ears are going to be popping and be relaxed," he said.

Needless to say, Johnson's trepidations have brought on some friendly ribbing from veteran Bulldogs.

"It's going to be an experience for him," McCoy said. "He's going to have to go in there and man-up and take that flight."

McCoy remembers having similar jitters during his first flight with SCSU two years ago. He insists his nerves were much calmer than a certain former teammate and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

"I was kind of timid, but Deshawn Baker made it a little worse for us," he said. "He was shaking, crying and everything. So, he kind of made me uncomfortable. But, we made it and we made two more trips after that, so I've gotten use to it."

All humor aside, McCoy has adopted SCSU head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough's no-nonsense approach to Saturday's game. As the flag-carrier for the MEAC, both McCoy and Johnson said it's important the Bulldogs show that they can compete against a larger school.

"This is a business trip," McCoy said. "We're not going up there to have fun and get lackadaisical. We're up there to play football."

"We're all about business," Johnson said. "Coach said we're going down there to handle business and that's what we're going to do."

The close to three-hour trip is nothing new for Miller, who spent a season at the University of Wyoming before transferring to SCSU.

"It's almost like 'Homecoming' for me for the simple fact I have family out there that stay in Denver," he said. "I'm just going in, going to have a good time and come Saturday, play my hardest."

Much of the talk during camp has concerned adapting to the altitude of Colorado Springs, which lies a mile above sea level. To a man, the Bulldog players believe withstanding the hotter than usual 'Dog Days' of training camp will benefit them.

"It's a little different," Miller said. "It's going to test us to see if we've got enough gas in our tank. But I feel we'll ready. We've been working hard at camp and we'll give it all we've got."

"The main thing is we worked hard this summer," McCoy said. "It's hard to get a look as far as altitude, but the heat this summer was outrageous. We practiced in three-digit degree weather and on the turf is 10 degrees hotter. So if we're not prepared, I don't know what to tell you."