FCS Season Preview: MEAC

Norfolk, VA - To gain favor with the coaching staff, some South Carolina State football players stage a little competition. They talk the talk, pointing out what they do well and what the others at their position don't. It's all in fun, and some of the players, like the linebackers, are always chirping.

"They all run 4.6's and some change, so they can all fly," head coach Buddy Pough said. "And to hear them talk how slow he is ..."

In truth, some of the players have to look hard to find chinks in others' armor. South Carolina State is quite talented. In fact, there might not be an FCS team favored more heavily than the Bulldogs are to win their conference title this season.

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SC State Leads MEAC 2010 Preseason Poll

NORFOLK, VA – Two-time defending champion South Carolina State has been picked to win the 2010 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title by a poll of league coaches and sports Information directors, the league announced Friday at its annual press luncheon at the downtown Marriott. SC State head football coach emeritus Willie Jeffries served as Em Cee for the event.

Friday's predictions marked the fourth consecutive time Coach Buddy Pough's team has been picked to win the coveted crown which the Bulldogs have captured each of the last two seasons. The only season SC State did not live up to its previous preseason billing was the 2008 campaign when Pough's team finished second.

S.C. State Coach Oliver "Buddy Pough Bulldogs are once again the MEAC favorite to three-peat as conference champions.

Pough, who has to find replacements for 10 starters -- including All-America running back Will Ford, who ended his career as the all-time leading rusher in SC State and MEAC history – said the selection of his team as this year's preseason favorite, demonstrates the respect the conference has for the Bulldog program.

"It's a tremendous tribute to our program to be selected to win our league again," Pough said. "It shows the respect the coaches and SIDs around the league has for our program, our players, and our staff and also for what we have managed to do the last two years.

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Ex-Citadel standout gets fresh start with S.C. State‎

ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- Two years ago, Asheton Jordan was the top freshman running back in the Southern Conference with a promising future ahead of him at The Citadel. On Saturday, the Stratford High School product will play in South Carolina State's Garnet and Blue spring game with an eye toward securing a starting spot on coach Buddy Pough's team next fall. It's a fresh start for the 6-0, 206-pound Jordan, who spent last season on S.C. State's scout team after transferring from The Citadel, where he rushed for 711 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman in 2008.

South Carolina State University Bulldogs Coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough: "Any time you follow a guy who is the leading rusher in the history of your conference, that's pretty heavy stuff," Pough said. "But I think Asheton has got a shot."

"It was tough to see them play every day last year and to just be running scout team," Jordan said before a recent spring practice. "I was glad to help the team get as far as they did, but I'm ready to be out there playing now." Jordan and S.C. State's other running backs have huge shoes to fill with the departure of Will Ford, who rushed for 1,032 yards and eight TDs a year ago while leading S.C. State to a 10-2 record, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and a berth in the FCS playoffs. Ford is the all-time leading rusher in MEAC and S.C. State history.

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Former South Carolina State standout Adams ready to shine for pros

Former South Carolina State University Bulldogs cornerback Phillip Adams is playing in Texas vs. The Nation All-Stars Game, Sunday, February 7, 2010, at Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, Texas, 2 PM EST.

Phillip Adams has his eyes on the future today when he plays in the Texas Vs. The Nation All-Star Football Game at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas. The game will be broadcast nationally for those who have a satellite dish beginning at 2 p.m. Adams, a former standout in football and basketball at Rock Hill, sees the game as an opportunity for him to be drafted by an NFL team. Scouts attended practice all week, and Adams said several have shown a strong interest in his abilities.

“I feel like I’ve showcased my talents this week and have been noticed,’’ Adams said. “At (South Carolina) State, I was known as a physical corner. I’ve had to back off some this week and show the pro scouts I can backpedal. That’s what they like to see in a player, because you have to be able to do that in the NFL.

“My agent is trying to get me an invitation to the NFL combine, which would give me more exposure. But if it doesn’t happen, I’ll get at least another chance. We have Pro Day at State on March 31. We have other seniors that deserve a shot at the NFL, so I’m hoping they get noticed.’’ Adams, 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, spent the last four years in Orangeburg playing for coach Buddy Pough’s S.C. State Bulldogs. Adams admits he’s come a long way since his freshman season and has continued to improve after being moved from safety to cornerback when he got to college.

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South Carolina State 28, North Carolina A&T 10

Ford Breaks MEAC Rushing Record In 28-10 Win Over NC A&T

ORANGEBURG,SC — Senior running back Will Ford had a record-breaking game on "Senior Day" as he rushed for 156 yards 23 carries to lead the South Carolina State Bulldogs to their 19th straight MEAC win and a 28-10 victory over rival N.C. A&T Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson. SC State (10-1, 8-0 MEAC), which secured its second consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and back-to-back berths in the FCS playoffs last Saturday in a 37-13 win over Morgan State. Coach Buddy Pough's team finished its second season with a perfect league record. The defense came up big limiting N.C.A&T to just 176 total offensive yards, SC State finished with 458 on the day.



Aggies look to future after 5-6 finish

ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- For 30 minutes, N.C. A&T went toe-to-toe with MEAC football champion South Carolina State on Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. It was no contest in the second half. The Aggies played the Bulldogs to a 7-7 draw in the first half, but the FCS playoff-bound hosts pulled away after intermission to close the regular season with a 28-10 win and a 10-1 record. A&T finished with a 5-6 overall record and a 3-5 MEAC mark in Alonzo Lee's first season in charge. Not bad, considering the Aggies won only nine of 56 games from 2004 through 2008.

"I'm proud to be part of the senior class that had a part in turning things around this season," said defensive end Tyre Glasper. "It was a bittersweet way to end the season. "We wanted to challenge for a championship and finish with a winning record. That didn't work out, but we did win five games this year after winning three games last year and none the year before. Now it's up to the guys coming back to keep this going." Lee said the overwhelming youth in the program was something of a curse and a blessing.

Bulldogs want house in order

ORANGEBURG - With a second consecutive MEAC championship in hand, South Carolina State was strictly concerned with style points in Saturday's final regular season game against North Carolina A&T at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. The idea was to make a final, favorable impression on the FCS seeding committee in the quest to land a first-round home game in the national playoffs for the first time since 1981.

The Bulldogs, ranked No. 7 in all three major FCS polls, downed the improved Aggies 28-10 to close the regular season with a 10-1 record - matching the school record for wins in a season. It was also S.C. State's 19th consecutive conference win - a MEAC record - and ties a school mark for consecutive conference games without a loss. S.C. State now will sweat it out until the pairings are announced at 3 p.m. today. "Getting a home game is what it's all about now," Bulldogs coach Buddy Pough said.

The Bulldog Bite: No. 7 SCSU closes 2009 campaign undefeated in FCS, awaits ...

Inside the locker room of a 7-7 game at halftime with North Carolina A&T, the foreboding words of his mother were on South Carolina State head coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough’s mind. Earlier in the week, M.T. Pough cautioned her son about letting history repeat itself. It was six years ago when the Bulldogs routed North Carolina A&T 49-9 to hand the Aggies a devastating loss prior to opening play in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

Even with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship trophy already at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium awaiting presentation from conference president Dennis Thomas, the thought of deja vu in reverse occurring inspired a sense of urgency in Pough as he addressed his team. There was no talk about running back Will Ford closing in on the conference career rushing record or playing host to a first-round home playoff game.

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South Carolina State 37, Morgan State 13

South Carolina State Coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough is FCS Division I playoff bound. The powerhouse 2008 and 2009 MEAC Champions have won 18 consecutive conference games for a new MEAC record.

SC State Clinches MEAC Title With 37-13 Win Over Morgan State

ORANGEBURG, SC—Junior quarterback Malcolm Long connected for 21-32 for 319 yards and four touchdowns, while senior wide receiver Oliver Tre’ Young had a career day with six catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns as South Carolina State clinched their second-straight league title and a playoff berth with a 37-13 victory over Morgan State Saturday.

Young, who also posted 313 All-purpose yards with 108 coming from punt returns, broke the SC State Career Reception Record held by Tavarus Morgan. Also, junior Malcolm Long became the schools first 2,000-yard passer with his performance on the day. “I am very excited about winning the game and even more about winning another MEAC Title,” said SC State coach Buddy Pough. “I am very impressed with Tre’ Young’s play today.”

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 27-7 lead in the first-half. Ford scored the first touchdown of the game on a 19-yard toss from Long with 9:04 left in the first quarter. Long put the Bulldogs ahead 14-0 on a 45-yard bomb to Oliver Tre’ Young. Morgan State scored to pull within seven on a 7-yard punch from quarterback Carlton Jackson with to close out the first quarter.

Sophomore kicker Blake Erickson scored six of the Bulldogs 13 points in the second quarter with field goals of 24 and 29. SC State closed the half with a 27-7 lead. Pough stated, “We didn’t play as effectively as I would have liked us to be, but overall we were able to get the job done throwing some deep balls.”

Long’s 12-yard connection with Young in the third quarter open up the lead and the Bulldogs took a 34-7 advantage and sealed the victory for Coach Pough’s team. All-MEAC running back Will Ford finished the day with 20 rushes for 107 yards. Ford is just 155 yards why of becoming the MEAC All-Time leading rusher. “Our goal is to get into the playoffs and make some noise”, said Pough. “It would be really nice for our fans and community if we could host a playoff game."
South Carolina State will close out the regular season against rival North Carolina A&T in a 1:30 p.m. showdown on Saturday.

Courtesy: SC State



SC State repeats as MEAC champs

ORANGEBURG -- The outcome was a mere formality with 6 minutes left in the third quarter Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. With the news of Florida A&M's 25-0 loss at Hampton, ninth-ranked South Carolina State was assured a second straight Football Championship Subdivision playoff berth and a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title. As long as the Bulldogs avoided another comeback from double-digits by the Bears, a second consecutive outright title and a MEAC-record 18th straight win would await them at the final whistle.

S.C. State (9-1, 7-0 MEAC) finished out the 37-13 victory over Morgan State (5-5, 3-4) on a record-setting day before 10,542 fans for quarterback Malcolm Long and wide receiver Tre' Young. Long completed 21 of 32 passes for 319 yards and four touchdowns to become the first Bulldogs QB in the program's 102-year history to pass for over 2,000 yards in a season. Long's four scores also tied a single-game school record, with Young responsible for two of the touchdown catches. The former Burke High standout had six catches for 166 yards in breaking the school record for career receptions and also had 148 yards in kick returns.

Gallery: S.C. State vs. Morgan State

Top-ranked SC State clinch MEAC Title, drop Bears 37-13

ORANGEBURG, S.C. – The top-ranked Bulldogs of South Carolina State took care of business on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Dawson Bulldog Stadium in front of 10,542 fans. Malcolm Long threw four touchdown passes and OliverTre Young accounted for 313 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat Morgan State 37-13 Saturday for its 18th consecutive Mid –Eastern Athletic Conference win and clinched its second straight MEAC Title.

The Bears (5-5, 3-4) dropped its four straight game, while SCSU played another well-rounded game and improved to 9-1 overall and 7-0 in the conference. William Ford, the MEAC’s leading rusher last year, scored on a 19-yard screen play and Young caught a 45-yard touchdown bomb from Long to help the Bulldogs jump out to an early 14-0. Long connected on 21-of-32 passes for 319 of the Dawgs’ 448 total yards. Young led all receivers with six tackles for 166 yards.

Attendance: 10,542 @ Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, Orangeburg, S.C.

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