Saturday, September 12, 2015

SC State Takes on Top-Ranked Coastal Carolina

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina — The South Carolina State Bulldogs will face their toughest  non-conference opponent of the season when they take on #1 ranked Coastal Carolina Saturday (Sept. 11) at Oliver. C. Dawson Stadium.

SC State Game Notes    
  
Coastal Carolina Footbal Game Notes (at South Carolina State) Get Acrobat Reader

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South Carolina State Press Conference Highlights
Sept.  8, 2015
Coastal Carolina at South Carolina State
Head Coach Buddy Pough



Opening Statement

"As, regards to Coastal Carolina, we are probably go against one of the best teams in our division Saturday. We will have a task on our hand but it helps we are playing home in front our fans."


How do you rate your teams play against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Orlando?

"We got off to a slow start early on. Our offense had a few costly turnovers, which made the score 7-0 at halftime. Somehow we got things going in the second-half and managed to put some points on the scoreboard. We have to do a better job of taking care of the football and capitalizing off our opponents mistakes."


How would you evaluate your teams overall effort after the slow start against UAPB?

"Our defense played really well against UAPB, but you have to realize it's only the first game so we have to work on a few things to get better. When you talk about our defense you think of the Javon HargraveChris Pauling and the list goes on. We played thirteen (13) freshmen and four straight out of high school in our season-opener on offense and defense."


Anything stands out after the first game?

"You see some things that really excite you at times on both sides of the ball, and then you see something gets under your skin. We really have a chance to be a good solid offensive football team, something we have been lacking in the past. "


Head coach Joe Moglia

Opening Statement

"As regards to South Carolina State, we know we have our work cut out for us. Another game on the road, but we have to be able to handle that. So, the keys for us are making sure the stuff that we really need to improve on with defense, we do that. We always need to make sure we have ball security and certainly our guys know that. "


What are the concerns with the defense that you really feel like you need to emphasis?


"I think we are going a much better job at tackling, but we lost out a little bit. I think we had around 10 missed tackles, which I was disappointed in that. I have talked about compounding and I think we have to break a bad compounding habit to start a good compounding habit. I think we need to do a better job with executing our calls. We have to play our defenses better, we have to play our techniques better, we have to tackle better."


After assessing this, is this what you wanted to see out of this group after the first game?


""Yes, it is. We have 3 guys that are playing seriously where the responsibility is on their shoulders for the first time. I thought they did a good solid job. I think the guys that went in as backups did a good solid job. I think Sam Ekwonike had his best game ever and Voghens played well as well. I said I was concerned going into the game, especially with the offensive line, but I was very pleased. I am not worried about them anymore. On special teams, I worry that every one of our specialists are new in regards to starting at those jobs. I think they did well. From a defensive perspective, there are a lot of things we are doing differently than we have done in the past and we have different guys with different positions. I was excited about seeing that come together, although it hasn't yet, I know it will.

On being ranked #1


"I want to take a moment though, while we are at the number 1 ranking to say what I said to the team yesterday. We have talked about the preseason stuff, and we are flattered by all of it, but all that means is that teams are going to come after you more, you are going to have a target on your back. Our guys that are good, people are going after them. They know that, we know that. That's part of being good. Even though it's early in the season, and even though it happened to way it happened, there was a reason why we are ranked where we are. There are 70,000 college football players in this country, probably 10,000 or so, coaches. 99% of them will never in their entire career at the college level, will never ever be able to say they were part of a nationally number 1 ranked team. We have had a chance to say that twice. I am proud of that. I believe Coastal is proud of that. Hopefully the entire strand is proud of that."


Question for Alex Ross: "You talked a little bit about the offensive line and just what you saw from those guys on Saturday and you were pretty giddy about that and what they were able to showcase. Can you elaborate a little on that?"


"Yes watching film I was really excited with what they did, their first game especially those 4 guys that stepped in and had not played last year a whole lot. They came in and did a very good job. They kept me protected and they allowed me to step up in the pocket and make throws down the field and check the ball down to Deangelo. I am excited about what they're doing and once you start playing games, that's when you start seeing the growth so, now that the season has started and now that they are actually out there and watching the film, I really think they are going to start growing that much more."


Question for Leroy Cummings: "What is your take as to what the defense needs to work on?" 


"The main thing that we need to work on right now is our approach to tackling. We were missing some tackles against Furman, so right now we need to work on our approach. Not actually the actual tackling part, but being able to get in position to make the play and continuing to do better in our positions to be able to do better things."

South Carolina State returns to action on Thursday (Sept. 17) when they open MEAC play against conference foe Florida A&M on national television. The game will be televised live on ESPNU and ESPN3 at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.


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