Five storylines may determine SCSU’s season

HEAD COACH BUDDY POUGH

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  --  The 106th preseason camp could not arrive soon enough for the South Carolina State football team.

With players reporting today for the start of practice Saturday at 9:30 a.m., the focus can finally turn away from last year’s 5-6 record. The first losing season in 12 years and first under head coach Buddy Pough prompted various staff changes and a return to the program’s roots in terms of a recommitment to the running game.

Heading into the Aug. 31 season opener at home against Coastal Carolina, the Bulldogs find themselves with more questions than immediate answers. Here are five potential storylines which could play themselves out this year.

1. Aberration or trend?
Not since the 3-8 season of 2000 had a Bulldogs’ team finished under .500. It happened for the first time in the Buddy Pough era as a combination of factors from offensive struggles, a formidable schedule which included two Top 25 Football Bowl Subdivision teams (one of whom in Texas A&M was led by eventual Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel) and hectic travel both in MEAC and non-conference games proved too daunting to overcome.

CONTINUE READING