By JEFFREY COLLINS
South Carolina State's Buddy Pough called last year's loss to Bethune-Cookman the worst defeat he has had in his more than five years as coach.
So his Bulldogs (0-1) will be ready for this weekend's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener with the Wildcats (1-0), right?
Maybe not, with game sandwiched between two big-time teams in Air Force and South Carolina. "We put it between those two Division I games. It makes it even harder to get prepared for those guys. We better be thinking about Bethune," Pough said.
In other game Saturday involving South Carolina's smaller colleges, Coastal Carolina hosts Winston-Salem State.
In Daytona Beach, Fla., South Carolina State wants to start this MEAC season a little better than the last one. Bethune-Cookman beat the Bulldogs 45-21 in the 2006 opener, snapping a two-game losing streak in the series. Pough called it the worst loss he has ever had.
But Pough still worries about getting his team motivated. The Bulldogs lost to Air Force 34-3 in the first game South Carolina State has ever played against a team from the Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A. An even bigger game against a Football Bowl Subdivision team looms next week when the Bulldogs play South Carolina.
"All of our intentions need to be directed to Bethune," Pough said.
The Wildcats opened their season with a 31-17 win over Jacksonville, running for 283 yards. Bethune-Cookman threw for 347 yards and five touchdowns in last year's win against South Carolina State.
In Conway, Coastal Carolina (0-1) again finds itself trying to bounce back from a disappointing loss to open the season when the Chanticleers face Winston-Salem State (1-0).
Last year, Coastal Carolina bounced back from a first game loss to earn its first playoff bid ever. This season, Bennett worries his team may be too young.
"If I'm Winston, I'm going, 'That's not the same Coastal Carolina team. Heck, Delaware State beat 'em — we can beat 'em,' " Bennett said.
The Chanticleers lost by a field goal in last season's opener against Elon, then won nine of their next 10. And in Coastal Carolina's brief five-year history, it has never opened a season with two losses.
The Rams are in the process of moving into the Football Championship Series, where they will play in the MEAC.
South Carolina State's Buddy Pough called last year's loss to Bethune-Cookman the worst defeat he has had in his more than five years as coach.
So his Bulldogs (0-1) will be ready for this weekend's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener with the Wildcats (1-0), right?
Maybe not, with game sandwiched between two big-time teams in Air Force and South Carolina. "We put it between those two Division I games. It makes it even harder to get prepared for those guys. We better be thinking about Bethune," Pough said.
In other game Saturday involving South Carolina's smaller colleges, Coastal Carolina hosts Winston-Salem State.
In Daytona Beach, Fla., South Carolina State wants to start this MEAC season a little better than the last one. Bethune-Cookman beat the Bulldogs 45-21 in the 2006 opener, snapping a two-game losing streak in the series. Pough called it the worst loss he has ever had.
But Pough still worries about getting his team motivated. The Bulldogs lost to Air Force 34-3 in the first game South Carolina State has ever played against a team from the Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A. An even bigger game against a Football Bowl Subdivision team looms next week when the Bulldogs play South Carolina.
"All of our intentions need to be directed to Bethune," Pough said.
The Wildcats opened their season with a 31-17 win over Jacksonville, running for 283 yards. Bethune-Cookman threw for 347 yards and five touchdowns in last year's win against South Carolina State.
In Conway, Coastal Carolina (0-1) again finds itself trying to bounce back from a disappointing loss to open the season when the Chanticleers face Winston-Salem State (1-0).
Last year, Coastal Carolina bounced back from a first game loss to earn its first playoff bid ever. This season, Bennett worries his team may be too young.
"If I'm Winston, I'm going, 'That's not the same Coastal Carolina team. Heck, Delaware State beat 'em — we can beat 'em,' " Bennett said.
The Chanticleers lost by a field goal in last season's opener against Elon, then won nine of their next 10. And in Coastal Carolina's brief five-year history, it has never opened a season with two losses.
The Rams are in the process of moving into the Football Championship Series, where they will play in the MEAC.
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