S.C. State coaches displeased with progress of offense

Coach Oliver 'Buddy" Pough

Orangeburg, S.C. - At two and a half hours, Thursday's practice in full gear was the longest of the preseason thus far for the South Carolina State football team. It was also the most vexing for the coaching staff, who could not contain their displeasure, particularly with the offense.

Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Kevin Magouirk was especially critical of his group's execution during drills.

"We're too soft," he said. "We've got to toughen up. We've got to get to the same level of our defense and maybe we'll stand a chance in a game." Head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough acknowledges the offense is particularly impeded by ...

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From QB to coach, Malcolm Long still guiding SCSU Bulldogs

Orangeburg, S.C. - Malcolm Long wants South Carolina State fans to view his football legacy in a positive way. "I'd like to be remembered as a successful quarterback," he said.

The school record books can more than affirm the Gaffney native's accomplishments. During Long's four seasons under center, he essentially rewrote the S.C. State all-time record book by surpassing 15 single-game, single-season and career marks.

There's also the 27-8 overall and 21-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference record as a three-year starter to go with three conference titles, three Football Championship Subdivision playoff appearances, a 2009 Black College Football National Championship, not to mention five Class 4-A titles in football (3) and basketball (2) at Gaffney High School.

Yet rather than continue...

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Nathan ready to lead young SCSU Bulldogs’ line

Juavahr Nathan

Orangeburg, S.C. - Buddy Pough put it out there during the summer of 2009.

Juavahr Nathan, the S.C. State head coach insisted, could be the next great Bulldogs' offensive lineman. Standing on Willie E. Jeffries Field early Saturday morning surveying the scene at the Bulldogs' media day, Nathan responded quickly when reminded of what his coach said of him two summers ago.

"I'm nowhere near close (to being the next great lineman)," he said. "I still have a long way to go. I still have more steps to take. I still have some goals I have to reach personally and for the entire offensive line."

That may be so, but the redshirt senior from Stratford High School, a preseason first-team All-MEAC selection and FCS first-team All-America selection by The Sporting News, appears poised to put together one final, stellar campaign for the three-time defending MEAC Champs. At one time weighing as much as 330 pounds, and despite dealing with a knee injury in the offseason, Nathan is down to...

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Pittsburgh Steelers releases S.C. State Harrison

Orangeburg, S.C. - Lake City native Josh Harrison was among five players released by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday.

Harrison, a standout at South Carolina State, was signed as a free agent by the team last week and has been with the Steelers in training camp.

Harrison was a two-year starter at left tackle at S.C. State and was a two time all-MEAC selection. Conference coaches voted Harrison MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Year, and he also was selected to play in the HBCU Classic in Atlanta.

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SC State Begins Football Drills; Elmore Declared Ineligible

ORANGEBURG, SC – South Carolina State conducted its first preseason football workout Tuesday night as the Bulldogs began preparing for the 2011 campaign.

Tuesday’s practice was originally set for 3:10 in the afternoon, however, head coach Buddy Pough and his staff moved the drill to the evening to avoid scorching temperatures. Bulldog practices through Saturday will also begin in the evening at approximately 7 p.m.

Almost 100 players were on hand for Tuesday’s practice, which was conducted in shorts and helmets and concentrated mostly on conditioning.

Pough noted his team appeared to be in reasonable good shape but added that he and his staff considered it a sense of urgency that his players hit the ground running and learn quickly because of the many unknowns for a team that lost 11 starters, among them the Bulldogs’ three-year starting quarterback, three starting offensive linemen and the starting linebacker corps.

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South Carolina State's Harrison signs with Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers signee Josh Harrison
(Photo courtesy S.C. State Athletics)

Lake City, S.C. - Josh Harrison finally got the phone call he wanted.

On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed the former Lake City and South Carolina State offensive lineman to a free-agent contract. “I was so excited about it. I can’t put it into words,” Harrison said. “It’s been a dream of mine to play pro football and I’m excited to get the opportunity.”

Harrison will report to the Steelers’ facility Wednesday and then be with the club when it opens training camp Thursday in Latrobe, Pa. Harrison, like other undrafted free agents, has been in limbo since April until the NFL lockout ended Monday. Tuesday was the first day teams were able to sign undrafted free agents.

Harrison said he has stayed in shape by working out in Orangeburg, where he has been taking classes to finish up his degree in mechanical engineering, and at the YMCA in Florence.

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Guaranteed Success: Bulldogs’ ‘Money Games’ have brought over $2 million to program

S.C. State has earned over $2.2 Million in "money games"
and a 0-6 record against 1-A competition like Central Florida.

Orangeburg, S.C. - Facing Division I teams was uncharted territory the first 100 years of existence for South Carolina State football.

When the Bulldogs opened the 2007 season at Air Force Academy, head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough was not surprised about the outcome, a 34-3 loss. At the same time, he also saw the big picture for the program in competing against larger schools.

"I think you've seen a little bit of a change in our team in the time that we've been playing those kind of games," Pough said. "I guess we'll get to the point where eventually we've been a pretty usual customary participant in the playoff structure. I think that kind of sense of urgency that's created by those games being on the schedule helps...

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S.C. State football to face Arizona in 2012

Orangeburg, S.C. - "Orangeburg Heat" has prepared many a South Carolina State football player over the years for competing in scorching conditions early in the season.

This season, the Bulldogs will head to Daytona Beach, Fla. for a Sept. 10 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference showdown against Bethune-Cookman. In 2012, another Wildcats' team which competes in a city which averages 94 degrees in the month of September will test their mettle.

On Tuesday, athletics director Charlene Johnson and head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough confirmed S.C. State will travel west to Tucson, Arizona for a Sept. 15, 2012 contest against the University of Arizona. The game's date could change given the revamped Pac-12, according to Arizona athletics director Greg Byrne.

The game is historic for both programs...



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NFL lockout puts life on hold for free agents, ex-SCSU Bulldogs

Former Bulldogs Marshall McFadden

Orangeburg, S.C. - Josh Harrison went back to school, Semaj Moody took up working odd jobs and Marshall McFadden hit the links.

Since going undrafted in April's NFL Draft, the trio of former S.C. State Bulldogs have put their life in a holding pattern working out, waiting, hoping, passing the time and mortgaging the immediate future for a shot at their dream, an NFL contract. Needless to say, with their fate still undecided as the NFL lockout rolls into July with no end in sight and contact with free agents prohibited, there is a bit of restlessness.

"I can't wait until it gets over," Moody, a former star at Denmark-Olar High School said. "I want to know what is going to happen ... whether I get a job or get a call. I'm just hoping everything falls into place really fast."

Moody, who had 22 tackles and two interceptions for S.C. State last season, has been...

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South Carolina State's Pough finds success recruiting area stars

Augusta, GA - It makes sense for Oliver "Buddy" Pough to keep coming back to Augusta.

The South Carolina State football coach continues to see the benefits of trips to the area, and Thursday night was a chance for Augusta-area students and families to see what the Bulldogs have to offer. About 150 people interacted with South Carolina State alumni, representatives and officials as the Greater Augusta Alumni Chapter of South Carolina State University held its 15th annual Bulldogs Nite Out in the CSRA at Julian Smith Casino.

"We've got some good players from here. Any time you seem to have success somewhere, you tend to come back, so here we are," Pough said. "It's almost like an in-state area for us. These guys are only about 90 minutes away so there's a good recognition of South Carolina State here. We got a lot of alumni in the area. It's just a great place to come."



Local students -- most coming from Aiken, Columbia and Richmond counties -- had the chance to meet members of the South Carolina State family, even getting time to walk around to different tables in a 30-minute information sessions period.

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Spotted: Bulldogs Nite Out in the CSRA

Becton leaves SCSU football program for job with Huskies

Orangeburg, SC -- There are at least two weeks remaining for the second annual "Lift-A-Bulldog" campaign to cover expenses for the football team to enroll in summer school and work out on campus.

Should head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough reach his goal of $50,000 which would be matched by the athletics department to make it possible for the team to remain this summer in Orangeburg, the players will be working with a new strength and conditioning coach.

The T&D has confirmed that Torre Becton has left the program to accept a new job with the University of Washington. Becton will serve as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Huskies' football team.

"The University of Washington is in a major conference," Becton said in a telephone interview. "It's an up-and-coming program under head coach Steve Sarkisian and it was just an opportunity that was too much to turn down."

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49ers Draft Pick Curtis Holcomb: Phillip Adams Redux?

We continue our run through the 49ers 2011 NFL Draft picks as we check out Trent Baalke's comments about each player's film. Baalke broke down some tape and gave some background on each of the 49ers draft picks, giving the media a better idea of who some of these guys are and how they might fit in with the 49ers.

Today we check out the 49ers last draft pick, cornerback Curtis Holcomb of Florida A&M via Trent Baalke's film discussion.

In 2010 the 49ers drafted cornerback Phillip Adams out of South Carolina State with their final pick. A year later the49ers drafted Holcomb out of Florida A&M. Both schools are in the MEAC and based on the 49ers.com roster page, they're actually similar builds. I have no idea whether this means we're looking at similar players. Given their late round status, it can be difficult to get more details on such players. As Baalke says in the video in reference to Holcomb, "The guy Mel Kiper had to fumble through his stuff for cuz he wasn't rated."


Videographer: sanfrancisco49ers; Baalke's Film Review - FAMU's Curtis Holcomb

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S.C. State tennis teams get ‘reward’ with Florida rematch

Orangeburg, S.C. - Visit Hardeep Judge's office at South Carolina State University and there's an impressive display of championship glory starting at his desk.

Lined up in order on each side are 13 of the 14 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title plaques won by both the men's and women's tennis teams during the head coach's tenure. Other numerous Most Outstanding Coach awards are also posted on the walls.

Given the program's championship resume, Judge was hoping Tuesday for a more favorable seeding for his teams when the NCAA released the tournament brackets. He was especially optimistic for the Lady Bulldogs, who earned key out-of-conference wins this season over West Virginia and North Carolina-Wilmington, won a seventh straight conference title and have a player, Daria Sekerina, listed in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association Top 125 rankings.

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HBCUs seeing ‘renaissance' in NFL draft

SCSU Coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough and SC Coach Steve Spurrier
after Gamecock vs. Bulldog Football Game 10/4/09

There was a time when a South Carolina State football player signing with an NFL team was a certain post-graduate job.

Whether through the draft or free agency, a Bulldog player from the late 1960s through the mid-'90s seemed destined to earn a pro roster spot. This was also a prime period for historically black colleges, when as many as 734 players, according to ESPN.com, were selected in the draft and it was viewed as a prized recruiting market for future All-Pros and even Hall of Famers like S.C. State's Deacon Jones and Harry Carson.

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Detroit Lions Takes South Carolina State's OT Johnny Culbreath in 7th Round

Detroit Lions Johnny Culbreath

ALLEN PARK, Mich.— The Detroit Lions took offensive lineman Johnny Culbreath with what's likely their final pick of this year's NFL draft, No. 209 overall. Culbreath, 6-foot-5, 322 pounds and a four-year starter, is from Robert Porcher's alma matter South Carolina State.

"A little bit of a developmental project but he has all the tools," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said.

The Lions have made five picks in the draft and don't have any selections remaining as the seventh round ticks down to its conclusion.

2011 NFL Draft: Jim Schwartz Discusses Johnny Culbreath Pick

Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz met with the media to discuss Johnny Culbreath, the team's seventh-round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft. Via the Lions, here is a transcript of the media session:

On T Johnny Culbreath
"Johnny, four-year starter at South Carolina State, big man, good athlete, lower-level competition, but I spent a lot of time with him. Myself, Dave Sears our area scout, and Jeremiah Washburn our assistant o-line coach went down to South Carolina's workout. We happened to be able to see South Carolina State's also. It was raining so they came over to the indoor facility. They had a really, really good workout and his tape was good so we brought him in here to spend some time with our coaches. We like his size, we like his athletic ability, he's a little bit of a developmental project, but he has the tools. He's a guy that our coaches are very anxious to work with."

On whether he'll be an inside or outside player
"It's probably too early to say. He's played tackle, could play left and right; but there's a possibility to move him to guard. He's a good athlete, bends really well, again, four-year starter. I don't know if this is the gospel truth, but he committed to Florida State out of High School and didn't have the grades, so he ended up at South Carolina State. He's got a pretty good lineage. We didn't pick him because he supposedly committed to Florida State, we picked him based on his tape from South Carolina State, based on his size and based on the workout that he had and also for when we brought him in for a physical. He wasn't at the combine, so we needed to bring him here to get a physical."

NFL Draft 2011: Johnny Culbreath Speaks About Being Picked By Detroit Lions

Shortly after becoming the Detroit Lions' seventh-round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, South Carolina State offensive lineman Johnny Culbreath had a conference call with the media. Via the Lions, you can check some quotes from that call below.

On his journey to the NFL
"I had committed to Florida State and ended up going to South Carolina State due to grades and GPA and test scores and stuff. I had a great career there; we were three-time MEAC Championships behind me and my great offensive linemen and great running back corps. and great guys we had there. I had a lot of great achievements there. I was two-time All American; I was also player of the year in our conference my junior year. I had a really great season there. This has all worked out for the better, I guess."

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S.C. State: Defense adds to offensive ‘darkness'

Aside from a brief rain shower and occasional hovering dark clouds, the weather was virtually a non-factor at South Carolina State's Garnet and Blue game Saturday at Willie Jeffries Field in Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.

The Bulldog defense was non-relenting against the offense, with three touchdowns in the Garnet's 32-23 victory over the Blue. Defensive backs Courtney Ingram and Mason Harris each scored off turnovers in the second quarter when the Garnet posted 18 unanswered points to take control of the scrimmage.

Garnet 32, Blue 23 final

A forced fumble by Courtney Ingram on quarterback Derrick Wiley was the final play in the nine-point win by the defense Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium at Willie Jeffries Field.

Ingram had one of two defensive touchdowns for the Garnet, returning a forced fumble by Dominique Ellis 43 yards for a touchdown in the first half. The other score came on a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown by Mason Harris.

Defense Outscores Offense 32-23 in Garnet & Blue Game

Orangeburg, SC – The South Carolina State defense matched the offense with three touchdowns scored and got several other defensive stops to outscore the offense 32-23 Saturday in the Bulldogs' annual Garnet and Blue game. Bulldog head coach Buddy Pough said he was not surprised at the outcome, as the defense is typically ahead of the offense during the spring.

“The defense played very well, I thought,” Pough said. “But that's not so unusual as our defense has a knack for creating turnovers and touchdown-scoring opportunities, especially during the spring.


Videographer: ncaaoncampus; Looking Back - 2010 - MEAC Career Rushing Leader, William Ford

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New offense improves, defense doesn’t in SCSU’s second scrimmage

South Carolina State Bulldogs Coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough

Orangeburg, S.C. - Derrick Wiley dropped back in the pocket, scanned the field and took off.

Like a blur, the fleet-footed quarterback from North Carolina hit a seam in the defense, bounced to the outside and scooted up the sideline for a first down. Four plays into S.C. State's second scrimmage of the spring Saturday, the first apparent passing play called, Wiley was on the run.

All indications heading into the team's April 16 spring game are that such will become the norm in 2011. The Bulldogs passed the ball during Saturday's scrimmage, which lasted just under an hour and a half, but they ran it more. And, when they ran it, they did so with a spread-option, up-tempo style attack similar to the one employed by Oregon.

SC State Conducts Second Scrimmage

ORANGEBURG, SC – South Carolina State's second scrimmage of the spring was cut short after approximately 90 minutes Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. Coach Buddy Pough called the scrimmage after center Tristan Bellamy, who has taken virtually every snap in spring drills, developed cramps. Backup center Erskine Johnson was slowed by an allergy.

'We wanted to go longer,” Pough said “But we have so many linemen out and Tristan (Bellamy) came up with cramps and Erskine (Johnson) has a little bit of an allergy issue so we decided to cut it short.”

During the one hour and 30-minute workout, the Bulldog offense was very effective at times as both junior Derrick Wiley and redshirt sophomore Richard Cue combined to direct several scoring drives against the usually vaunted SC State defense. Pough was glad to see the offense sustain its momentum from earlier in the week; however, he was disappointed that the defense was not very effective.

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S.C. State: Cue looking to make his case in Bulldogs’ quarterback battle

Malcolm Long came to South Carolina State as the most heralded recruit of the Buddy Pough era.

Long delivered, setting multiple school passing records and leading the team to three Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles. His playing days at the school over, the big gunner from Gaffney High stood on the field at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium Thursday night in windbreaker pants watching the Bulldogs run through practice.

"Good throw Cue!" Long said looking up from talking with a reporter. A few seconds later, the same, "Good throw Cue!"

It is becoming a theme - the "Good throw Cue" thing - it seems, at Bulldogs' practice. Richard Cue, a 6-1, 185 redshirt sophomore from Wilson High School, entered into the spring in a three-way battle to replace Long. His opponents in that battle - a pair of brothers, TeDarrius and Derrick Wiley.

Deep and deeper: Bulldogs have stable of runners ready to hit the ground running

Assistant coach Danny Lewis looks at his South Carolina State running backs and sees plenty of potential.

The Bulldogs return three juniors in Asheton Jordan, Devin Wherry and Chris Merrill, who each displayed moments of superior play last season. Looking to enter the mix is last year's highly sought high school senior running back Charles Brown and looming in the future are the anticipated arrivals of newly signed running backs Dondre Lewis-Freeman, Jalen "Scoop" Simmons, both out of Charlotte, N.C., and Darlington's Dominique Cooper.

On paper, it looks like a very deep backfield for S.C. State. Yet Lewis is taking a cautious, coy approach toward the expectations he has for the group he coaches.

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SCSU’S Bellamy is hardest working man in ‘Bulldog Business’

South Carolina State center Tristan Bellamy took a moment to think about what to say next.

The Strom Thurmond alum couldn't find a feasible answer when asked what his toughest challenge was and that could be a good sign of things to come out of the young offensive lineman.

"He's probably been the hardest working man in Bulldog business," Bulldogs head coach Buddy Pough said. "He's taken pretty much every rep for the last eight practices. We actually have another guy that we were working as his backup, but he had a little bit of an injury situation. So, he was out for a few days. Then, we got some other guys banged up and we ended up moving him to guard. But it just kind of gets him to the point where he gets the work that he needs anyway."

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S.C. State focuses on running game during Tuesday’s practice

South Carolina State resumed spring football drills Tuesday with a two-hour workout in full pads. It was the Bulldogs first practice since Saturday's scrimmage.

During Tuesday's drill, the Bulldogs' focus was on ironing out some of the issues from Saturday's scrimmage, according to Pough. He also noted that during some of Tuesday's breakout drills, his team put a lot of emphasis on the running game.

"We primarily wanted to concentrate on correcting some of those things that we did not execute well during Saturday's scrimmage," Pough said. "This was our eighth practice and we got just seven more to go and a lot of work left.



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