South Carolina State embraces bowl-like atmosphere of MEAC/SWAC Challenge

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ORLANDO, Florida -- Coaches typically go out of their way to eliminate any and all distractions come football season.

But South Carolina State coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough didn't have much of a choice and had to embrace the hype. As a participant in Sunday's MEAC/SWAC Challenge, his team spent the weekend participating in numerous bowl-style events such as a Legends Banquet and a Battle of the Bands.

But come Sunday, he hopes South Carolina players' focus shifts solely to football. The Bulldogs will take the field against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the 11th annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge — a matchup featuring historically black colleges and universities. The game is set to kickoff at 3:30 p.m. at the Citrus Bowl and will be broadcast on ESPN.

"You've got to be aware of the fact that you go down there to play a football game," Pough said during a teleconference. "College ought to be fun. This football thing is hard enough as it is without us trying to make it any extra tough on our kids. So when we get an opportunity to give them a chance to have a good time — especially good, wholesome, clean fun like you have at a Disney-style resort — then we have to take advantage of it."

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