By THOMAS GRANT JR., T&D Senior Sports Writer
"I guess it's somewhat of a good thing that we play on TV a bunch because our guys do seem to play well, and I guess it's somewhat of a...feather in our cap a little bit that the conference and the TV stations think enough about us to bring us on TV. I just hope we can go on and continue to play well because when you play well, folks know it."
- SCSU head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough in 2005 about his team's perfect record in nationally-televised games on cable.
Recent history shows just one other group the South Carolina State football teams looks forward to playing in front of more than the home fans at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
That group -- the national cable television audience that will watch the Bulldogs' contest against Florida A&M today. During the Oliver "Buddy" Pough era, SCSU is 12-0 when playing before the roving cameras providing a live feed of the action for viewers of ESPNU, ESPN2, BET and the now-defunct Black Family Channel.
Coming off a disappointing double-overtime loss to Norfolk State and mired in a season-long offensive slump, the Bulldogs are hoping the bright lights and playing in a venue where they've won seven straight will help spark a reversal of fortune.
"Hopefully, anything that we can use at this point that gives us the possibility that we'll play good, I'm happy about," Pough said on Monday. "So I'm glad we're on TV. I look forward to us playing well in front of not only our homecrowd, but a nationally-televised audience."
Over the years, viewers both nationally and regionally have witnessed a slew of Bulldogs put forth career-defining performances in winning efforts. Some of those big performances included:
-- In his first game at Williams-Brice Stadium, former University of South Carolina running back Derek Watson scored a season-high two touchdowns for SCSU in a 52-7 win over Benedict College in the 2002 Palmetto Capital City Classic.
-- Running back Coty Martin rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns to earn MVP honors at the 2003 Palmetto Capitol City Classic won by SCSU 41-7.
-- Wide receiver Tavarus Morgan broke both the school single-season reception record in a 27-15 win over Florida A&M in 2003 and the career receptions mark against Tennessee State last season.
-- Defensive back Dewitt Ellerbe scored two touchdowns on a 75-yard interception return and a 90-yard blocked field goal return in SCSU's 49-9 trouncing of North Carolina A&T in 2003.
-- The SCSU defense held Tennessee State running back Charles Anthony, at the time the NCAA Division I-AA's leading rusher, to a season-low 51 yards in a 30-13 win at the 2004 Circle City Classic.
-- Defensive back Ryan Hemby, formerly of Orangeburg-Wilkinson and Clemson, intercepted two passes which helped rally SCSU to a 28-14 victory over Bethune-Cookman in 2004.
-- Running back DeShawn Baker becomes the first Bulldog since Chad Eaddy in 2000 to surpass 1,000 yards in a season after rushing for 121 yards and two TDs in a 34-28 win over North Carolina A&T. The victory also clinched a share of the lone Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular-season title won so far under Pough.
Most recently, quarterback Cleveland McCoy has shined on the small screen. In 2005, he earned MVP honors at the inaugural MEAC/SWAC Challenge with 243 yards and a touchdown and had a career-best 277 passing yards and two touchdowns in a 65-15 rout of Morgan State.
Photo: Cleveland McCoy, Sr. QB, 6-2/213
Last season, McCoy overcame an arm gash and a poor effort the previous week against Florida A&M by rushing for 114 yards and a touchdown and completing 8 of 14 passes for 81 yards in a 13-6 win over nationally-ranked and defending MEAC champion Hampton.
SCSU's offense, ranked last in scoring and passing efficiency, could use a similar performance against the Rattlers. At the same time, Pough insists the players are oblivious to the television cameras save for the constant interruptions.
"To be perfectly honest with you, television games for us, we've had enough of them where it's pretty much just a regular game for us," he said. "We don't really actually recognize the fact that we're on TV while we're playing except for the fact that you get some extra timeouts. You've got a guy out there with a red hat on that won't let you play most of the time."
With the "meat" of the schedule coming up with Hampton, Delaware State, Howard and Morgan, today's game is all about picking up momentun for the Bulldogs.
"The only thing we promise is that we're going to play the very best that we can," Pough said. "Winning and losing happens because you do things good. The best thing I can tell them is that this team is still an exciting, fun football team to watch. I think you should come out and enjoy and support in that way. We've only been at time one time and that time, we did win at home. Hopefully, with a few more home games, we'll get a foundation of winning good enough that we can spring forward to the rest of the season."
Breakout: LISTING OF SCSU's NATIONALLY-TELEVISED CABLE WINS UNDER POUGH
2002
SCSU 52, BENEDICT 7 (MBC/BLACK FAMILY CHANNEL)
SCSU 26, NORTH CAROLINA A&T 9 (BET)
2003
SCSU 41, BENEDICT 7 (MBC/BLACK FAMILY CHANNEL)
SCSU 27, FLORIDA A&M 15 (MBC/BLACK FAMILY CHANNEL)
SCSU 49, NORTH CAROLINA A&T 9 (MBC/BLACK FAMILY CHANNEL)
2004
SCSU 30, TENNESSEE STATE 13 (BET)
2005
SCSU 27, ALABAMA STATE 14 (ESPN2)
SCSU 35, NORFOLK STATE 21 (ESPNU)
SCSU 23, HOWARD 9 (ESPNU)
SCSU 65, MORGAN STATE 15 (ESPNU)
2006
SCSU 13, HAMPTON 6 (ESPNU)
SCSU 28, HOWARD 10 (ESPNU)
"I guess it's somewhat of a good thing that we play on TV a bunch because our guys do seem to play well, and I guess it's somewhat of a...feather in our cap a little bit that the conference and the TV stations think enough about us to bring us on TV. I just hope we can go on and continue to play well because when you play well, folks know it."
- SCSU head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough in 2005 about his team's perfect record in nationally-televised games on cable.
Recent history shows just one other group the South Carolina State football teams looks forward to playing in front of more than the home fans at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
That group -- the national cable television audience that will watch the Bulldogs' contest against Florida A&M today. During the Oliver "Buddy" Pough era, SCSU is 12-0 when playing before the roving cameras providing a live feed of the action for viewers of ESPNU, ESPN2, BET and the now-defunct Black Family Channel.
Coming off a disappointing double-overtime loss to Norfolk State and mired in a season-long offensive slump, the Bulldogs are hoping the bright lights and playing in a venue where they've won seven straight will help spark a reversal of fortune.
"Hopefully, anything that we can use at this point that gives us the possibility that we'll play good, I'm happy about," Pough said on Monday. "So I'm glad we're on TV. I look forward to us playing well in front of not only our homecrowd, but a nationally-televised audience."
Over the years, viewers both nationally and regionally have witnessed a slew of Bulldogs put forth career-defining performances in winning efforts. Some of those big performances included:
-- In his first game at Williams-Brice Stadium, former University of South Carolina running back Derek Watson scored a season-high two touchdowns for SCSU in a 52-7 win over Benedict College in the 2002 Palmetto Capital City Classic.
-- Running back Coty Martin rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns to earn MVP honors at the 2003 Palmetto Capitol City Classic won by SCSU 41-7.
-- Wide receiver Tavarus Morgan broke both the school single-season reception record in a 27-15 win over Florida A&M in 2003 and the career receptions mark against Tennessee State last season.
-- Defensive back Dewitt Ellerbe scored two touchdowns on a 75-yard interception return and a 90-yard blocked field goal return in SCSU's 49-9 trouncing of North Carolina A&T in 2003.
-- The SCSU defense held Tennessee State running back Charles Anthony, at the time the NCAA Division I-AA's leading rusher, to a season-low 51 yards in a 30-13 win at the 2004 Circle City Classic.
-- Defensive back Ryan Hemby, formerly of Orangeburg-Wilkinson and Clemson, intercepted two passes which helped rally SCSU to a 28-14 victory over Bethune-Cookman in 2004.
-- Running back DeShawn Baker becomes the first Bulldog since Chad Eaddy in 2000 to surpass 1,000 yards in a season after rushing for 121 yards and two TDs in a 34-28 win over North Carolina A&T. The victory also clinched a share of the lone Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular-season title won so far under Pough.
Most recently, quarterback Cleveland McCoy has shined on the small screen. In 2005, he earned MVP honors at the inaugural MEAC/SWAC Challenge with 243 yards and a touchdown and had a career-best 277 passing yards and two touchdowns in a 65-15 rout of Morgan State.
Photo: Cleveland McCoy, Sr. QB, 6-2/213Last season, McCoy overcame an arm gash and a poor effort the previous week against Florida A&M by rushing for 114 yards and a touchdown and completing 8 of 14 passes for 81 yards in a 13-6 win over nationally-ranked and defending MEAC champion Hampton.
SCSU's offense, ranked last in scoring and passing efficiency, could use a similar performance against the Rattlers. At the same time, Pough insists the players are oblivious to the television cameras save for the constant interruptions.
"To be perfectly honest with you, television games for us, we've had enough of them where it's pretty much just a regular game for us," he said. "We don't really actually recognize the fact that we're on TV while we're playing except for the fact that you get some extra timeouts. You've got a guy out there with a red hat on that won't let you play most of the time."
With the "meat" of the schedule coming up with Hampton, Delaware State, Howard and Morgan, today's game is all about picking up momentun for the Bulldogs.
"The only thing we promise is that we're going to play the very best that we can," Pough said. "Winning and losing happens because you do things good. The best thing I can tell them is that this team is still an exciting, fun football team to watch. I think you should come out and enjoy and support in that way. We've only been at time one time and that time, we did win at home. Hopefully, with a few more home games, we'll get a foundation of winning good enough that we can spring forward to the rest of the season."
Breakout: LISTING OF SCSU's NATIONALLY-TELEVISED CABLE WINS UNDER POUGH
2002
SCSU 52, BENEDICT 7 (MBC/BLACK FAMILY CHANNEL)
SCSU 26, NORTH CAROLINA A&T 9 (BET)
2003
SCSU 41, BENEDICT 7 (MBC/BLACK FAMILY CHANNEL)
SCSU 27, FLORIDA A&M 15 (MBC/BLACK FAMILY CHANNEL)
SCSU 49, NORTH CAROLINA A&T 9 (MBC/BLACK FAMILY CHANNEL)
2004
SCSU 30, TENNESSEE STATE 13 (BET)
2005
SCSU 27, ALABAMA STATE 14 (ESPN2)
SCSU 35, NORFOLK STATE 21 (ESPNU)
SCSU 23, HOWARD 9 (ESPNU)
SCSU 65, MORGAN STATE 15 (ESPNU)
2006
SCSU 13, HAMPTON 6 (ESPNU)
SCSU 28, HOWARD 10 (ESPNU)
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