100-years in the making: SCSU getting ready for USC

By THOMAS GRANT, T&D Senior Sports Writer

To South Carolina State supporters, Saturday’s game at 17th-ranked University of South Carolina is a matchup 100 years in the making.

Yet for all of the growing hullabaloo surrounding the historic in-state clash, one of the head coaches in the center of the action is trying to maintain perspective on what is essentially another non-conference game.

"I could, but I won’t," said SCSU head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough at Monday’s press conference when asked about discussing the significance of the first-ever meeting between the Bulldogs and Gamecocks. "We’re going to play a football game. The one thing that I can tell you is that I’m not going to make it like it’s World War III. It’s just like we’re going to play (North Carolina) A&T except we’re going to Columbia. We’re excited about going to play. But more than anything else, we want to go out and we want to show up well."

Although the Bulldogs should have sizable fan support at Williams-Brice Stadium, having sold its allotment of 4,300 tickets, Pough knows it will be a more hostile environment compared to what he experienced during his five seasons as Gamecocks’ running backs coach and SCSU’s three previous appearances in the Palmetto Capital City Classic.

"When we played Benedict, I thought we were the fan favorite," he said. "It was more for us than it was for them. Well, I think that’s turned now. I think the very best thing to happen to us is that it gets real loud in there and the only reason that would happen would be because the game is somewhat competitive."

Of more importance for Pough is instilling in his players a belief in victory against a Gamecocks’ squad brimming with confidence following the 16-12 victory over previously 11th-ranked Georgia.

"I’m going to try to convince my guys that we can compete," he said. "That’s what our main objective is in these kind of settings. You want to go out and actually compete favorably and hang in there. If that were to happen, then you go about the task of saying ‘Maybe we might be able to win’. I don’t think you can fool your players on the disparity of all the things that you think about when talking about whether you can lose or not.

"You’re talking about a Top 20 national power here and one of the best college football coaches (USC head coach Steve Spurrier) I’ve known in my lifetime. You’ve got a lot of things there that would make you think that this would be a huge mismatch. The trick for us is to get in there and find some things that we can do to them to stretch them out a little bit and give us a chance to hang in there. If we can do that, it would be a success for us."

Pough said the "ripple effect" from defending Football Championship Subdivision champion Appalachian State’s win over Michigan will have USC even more prepared for Saturday’s game. At the same time, Pough said it will be a challenge for SCSU matching up with USC, particularly against a Gamecocks’ defense which presents even more challenges than season-opening FCS opponent Air Force Academy.

"They’ve got a couple of guys on their defense especially that I don’t know if we can block," Pough said. "That’s the one factor that we didn’t necessarily have in the Air Force situation. I didn’t think there was much of a talent mismatch with us and Air Force. But now they are a couple of guys at South Carolina that we don’t match up with."

Defensive tackle Marque Hall and the Brinkley twins at linebacker, Casper and Jasper, especially stood out on tape to Pough as "special players" and he believes this is the best USC defensive team he’s seen in years. Offensively, quarterback Blake Mitchell could present problems to an SCSU secondary which had its difficulties against option teams like Air Force and Bethune-Cookman and will be without defensive leader BANDIT Marshall McFadden. The Lamar native is expected to miss 2-3 weeks with a hyperextended elbow ligament on his right arm suffered in the first half of Saturday’s 24-13 win over Bethune-Cookman.

Even without McFadden, the Bulldogs managed to hold the Wildcats without an offensive touchdown and are currently ahead of the offense in terms of team progress after two games.

"I think we’re coming along defensively," he said. "I was really proud of our defense and how they played Saturday. We’re still struggling to find ourselves offensively. We’ve got to play a little bit better at quarterback. We’ve got to play a little bit better upfront."

Quarterback Cleveland McCoy may have to carry much of the burden on offense should Pough opt to rest injured running back Will Ford and Jonathan Woods to insure they are healthy for the resumption of MEAC play in October. Backup Malcolm Long is also expected to see action at the place where he led Gaffney to back-to-back Class 4-A Division I finals.

Pough expects the Gamecocks to assert themselves quickly with the goal of resting its starters for the Sept. 22 showdown at second-ranked LSU.

"Putting the game away and getting their first-line people out of there," said Pough about USC’s approach this Saturday. "That’s generally what they try to do - hurry up and get them put away. And then at that point, we go ahead and play the back-ups and the guys who don’t get to play as much."

SCSU will hold team practices in Orangeburg today and Wednesday starting at 2:50 p.m. and will have a walk through in Columbia on Friday.

Photo: (L to R) Buddy Pough, Cleve McCoy, Will Ford and Willie Jeffries.

NOT JUST A PAYDAY

"We are about the task of getting to be like the Furmans and Appalachians of this world who can go out and compete favorably with those guys week in and week out. Now, they can’t, believe it or not, actually week in and week out do that, but they can occasionally once or twice a year. If we would get to the point where we improve because of that, it would have a big effect on our overall situation where we would become a lot better Football Championship Subdivision team."

CENTRAL FLORIDA NEXT?

SCSU hopes to schedule an FBS team for 2009, thus assuring the school will have such an opponent on the schedule every year through 2011. The Bulldogs are set to play Georgia Tech in 2010 and have a rematch with USC in 2011.

"We think that’s the best case scenario for us," Pough said. "Once upon a time, HBCUs played in the Classics and they made fairly decent money during the Classics. But, this is the method that we like to use for bringing a little extra income into the program. And for us, we get an added advantage in the fact that we get a competition factor that gives us a chance to really see how we match up with these styles of teams. Eventually, we want to get to the point where we can compete favorably with them because if we do, that means we will be much, much better in our division."

For the first time, Pough acknowledged the Bulldogs will most likely open next season against another Football Bowl Subdivision opponent in Central Florida. This is the first of two meetings over the next four years between the Bulldogs and Gamecocks. The Bulldogs will earn $230,000 this Saturday and $250,000 in 2011, although Pough insists the guaranteed money is not the only reason why these type of games are beneficial for SCSU.

"The one thing that I think that we get out of the games of this sort ... people think we’re going to get a guarantee," Pough said. "People think it’s more about money for us. But it’s not about money for us. It’s more about the preparation and the actual competition with people who are bigger than us and what we hope will happen is that we emulate them in a way where we become better ourselves.

JSU Comegy: Show me the money

The JSU Game
What: Jackson State vs. Texas Southern
When: Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
TV: ESPNU

When making future football schedules, Jackson State coach Rick Comegy has made one thing crystal clear: Money matters.

Comegy said on Monday that he hopes to schedule a game against a Division I-A opponent as soon as possible to help bring in some extra cash. Often times, I-AA schools can earn several hundred thousand dollars for traveling to play a major conference school.

Last winter, the Tigers briefly talked with Southern Miss about setting up a season opener, but instead decided to host Delta State. USM hosted Tennessee-Martin in its opener.

"We've got our coaches looking every day to try to set up something (with a Division I-A team)," Comegy said. "... It takes money to build a football program."

Several Southwestern Athletic Conference schools are venturing to Division I-A schools this season. Grambling lost to Pittsburgh 31-10 last weekend while Alcorn State will travel to UAB on Saturday.

LOVING IMPROVEMENT

When cornerback Keith Camp came to Jackson State more than a year ago, he didn't envision that it would take nearly 13 full games before he got his first interception.

But on Saturday night, Camp finally broke through when he picked off a pass in the end zone during Jackson State's 16-13 loss to Tennessee State.

And now that he's finally broken through, Camp said he expects a bevy of interceptions to follow.

"The first one is always the most difficult," he said. "Now they should start coming my way."

INJURY REPORT

JSU offensive tackle Wilson Manigat (knee) could return earlier than expected after being injured in the season opener against Delta State. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound senior could play against Texas Southern even though he was originally thought to be out until late September... Marcel Frost's (leg) is questionable for Thursday's game.

- David Brandt

JSU Football: What's wrong with the Tigers' offense?

Photo: After missing JSU's first game, Erik Haw rushed for 82 yards in Saturday's loss to Tennessee State.

By David Brandt, Clarion Ledger

It's high noon for Jackson State coach Rick Comegy, and the sharks are circling in the main dining room at Schimmel's - a downtown restaurant in Jackson.

The Monday afternoon ritual during football season consists of about 75 Jackson State fans. They buy an $11 ticket, eat some pasta covered in andouille sausage and shoot the breeze with friends.

But most importantly, they get the chance to step up to the microphone and ask Comegy a few questions about their beloved Tigers.

The lunch crowd is always a raucous, honest bunch, even when JSU has won a big game the previous weekend. So imagine their mood after a 16-13 loss to Tennessee State left the Tigers with an 0-2 record this season.

Nothing like an angry mob to go with your pasta.

"It's usually loud," said JSU fan Derrick Cannon said with a grin. "But I don't think it's ever been this crazy."

One by one, they step to the microphone. Some want to know why Tray Rutland - and not Jimmy Oliver - started at quarterback. Others wonder what offensive coordinator James Woody was thinking when he called a pass on 3rd-and-goal at the 5-yard line. Then there's the group that thinks running back Lavarius Giles isn't being used enough.

But when it comes down to it, all are asking a variation of the same two questions.

What in the world is wrong with this team?

And.....

What are you going to do to fix it ?

The first question is pretty easy to answer: the offense. More specifically, the passing game.

Jackson State is averaging just 14 points per game in its two losses and has scored only two offensive touchdowns this season.

Of utmost concern are the quarterbacks. Tray Rutland and Jimmy Oliver have combined to complete just 19 of 58 passes (32.7 percent) for 299 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions.

Neither has established himself as the starting quarterback and the competition continues for its third straight regular-season week.

Comegy says it will be the last.

"What I do know is we need to get this thing settled," Comegy said. "We want one guy who's the starter and then somebody that can back him up if something happens."

At Monday's luncheon, Comegy admitted that Oliver's tendency to miss film sessions was hurting his chance to start, despite the fact that he threw for 1,906 yards last season and was first in the SWAC in total offense.

As for Rutland, his inconsistent play has done little to inspire confidence. But the sophomore has the studious demeanor Comegy craves.

"It's my decision who the quarterback will be," Comegy said. "Then we'll stick to that decision."

While the quarterbacks have been shaky, the receivers haven't been a whole lot better.

Rodney Gray, one of the Tigers' premier transfers from Southern Miss, dropped three passes against Tennessee State. And JSU offensive coordinator James Woody said Gray is far from the only culprit.

"It's surprising because we thought the quarterbacks and receivers were going to be the deepest, most experienced part of this team," Woody said. "I don't know if complacency set in or what. But it won't happen again."

Then there's the second question: What can Jackson State do to fix this before the season gets our of hand?

Senior receiver Chris Johnson says there's no miracle cure, only better execution and concentration.

"I think we've all figured out that great talent and experience doesn't mean anything if you can't execute," Johnson said. "We're just trying to narrow our focus. We know we're better than this."

Comegy said the biggest focus of this week's practice would be red zone work. The Tigers were just 1-for-3 in scoring opportunities once they got inside Tennessee State's 20-yard line.

Last season, Jackson State was one of the SWAC's best in the red zone, scoring on 30 out of 38 opportunities (78.9 percent).

"Every play, we see ourselves getting better," Rutland said. "Now we've got to make the big play when we're down by the end zone. We're building more and more confidence and those big plays will come."

Cornerback Keith Camp doesn't have first-hand knowledge of the offensive woes. But the senior says a return to winning ways might just be a matter of attitude.

"At this point, we need to start treating every player on every opposing team like they're an All-American," Camp said. "We're 0-2 right now, so I'm not sure why we'd take anything for granted."

By the time the 45-minute question and answer session is over at Schimmel's, the JSU crowd has calmed down - at least a little.

A weary Comegy has answered all the questions, though the exchange was testy at times.

It's obvious the program needs a win in a hurry. The Tigers have lost six of seven games dating back to last season.

And thanks to a short week, the next chance is just two days away. JSU hosts Texas Southern at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday in a game nationally televised on ESPNU.

Before he leaves Schimmel's to resume work on his game plan, Comegy takes a long look at the crowd and then offers this:

"For the first time on Saturday, I saw these guys really fight for Jackson State and a cause bigger than themselves," Comegy said. "We're at the crucial point of gelling. Don't give up on these kids right now."

SU line, backs getting job done early this season

Photo: Darren Coates - 25 carries, 199 yards, 2 TDs rushing

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

PVAMU at Southern
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: A.W. Mumford Stadium
TV: tape-delay (4 p.m. Sun., CST)
RADIO: KQXL-FM, 106.5

The biggest decisions impacting the Southern running game this season were made in the offseason.

Tops of those was a decision to go to a zone-blocking scheme. The simplicity of that has risen in importance as the offensive line lost five, and perhaps, six members to grades, since the spring.

The other two biggies were adding two first-year coaches in offensive line coach Damon Nivens and running backs coach Elvis Joseph, two former Jaguars who had played professionally. The two have brought a jolt of enthusiasm and professionalism that has been crucial to the two youngest offensive units.

The results have come together impressively so far for Southern (2-0, 1-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference), which hosts Prairie View (2-0, 1-0) in a Western Division showdown at 6 p.m. Saturday in A.W. Mumford Stadium.

A year ago, through two games, SU ran for 58 yards. To date, the Jaguars have 531.

A year ago, Darren Coates and Brian Threat combined for 188 yards and one touchdown all season and Kendrick Smith, sitting out as a transfer, wasn’t even on the team. To date, the trio has put up 380 yards and three TDs on the ground, with Smith catching two passes for TDs as well.

“I know we’re on the right track,” SU offensive coordinator Mark Orlando said. “I think the kids have bought into it, and they’re having fun with it.”

Such a strong running game seemed perhaps out of reach after an offseason of attrition. SU lost its most veteran running back, Larry Nichols, to academics as well as the offensive linemen.

“It’s really surprised me we’d be this far along at this time,” Southern head coach Pete Richardson said.

But before the attrition ever happened, SU made decisions that are starting to pay off.

“Coming out of last year, we knew we had to run,” Orlando said. “No. 1, we made a decision to run. No. 2, we made a decision to keep our blocking scheme as simple as we possibly could.”

That simplicity — “If you come in an area, I block you. That’s it,” Orlando said — is key.

Though Southern is playing with a tight end at left tackle, a left tackle at left guard, a right guard at center and a tackle at right guard, the scheme works.

























Photo: Kendrick Smith - 9 carries, 61 yards, 2 TDs receiving

“We made it simple where they can play faster,” Orlando said. “They understand their assignments and they can come off the ball more aggressively.”

Richardson said the offensive line, which road-graded Mississippi Valley State for 293 yards, was the MVP of a 23-6 win Saturday in Chicago. The week before, Valley had corralled the SWAC’s two marquee rushers, Martell Mallett and Mickey Dean of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

That was SU’s best one-game total since 345 rushing yards on Prairie View on Sept. 6, 2003.

“The players are starting to believe in it,” Richardson said. “It’s not to blow anybody out; it’s to get out and keep contact and let the back do the work.”

Taking advantage is an upgrade in talent at running back to go along with the threat of a veteran receiving group.

“The skill we have is as good, if not better, as any skill we’ve had since I’ve been at Southern,” Orlando said. “And the kids up front have done a very good job.”

And Joseph has brought out the best in Coates, Threat and Smith.

“Coates runs hard. He can run inside or outside,” Richardson said. “Threat is a big, powerful type guy. He can run in between the numbers. Then you change the speed of the game when you put Kendrick in there.”

Coates broke a 90-yard TD run on the offense’s first play this season. Threat snapped off a 62-yarder Saturday. Smith is home-run hitter waiting.

“We have the ability to keep fresh legs in the game,” Richardson said. “We’ve got three running backs we feel comfortable with. The fourth option is the quarterback.”

Photo: Brian Threat - 15 carries, 128 yards, 1 TD rushing

Sophomore quarterback Bryant Lee, the top returning rusher with 302 yards and five TDs last season, has run for 88 yards and one TD this season.

“The quarterback has to make yards with his legs in the run game,” Orlando said. “When you see us with two backs and a quarterback, that’s a three running back set.

“When your quarterback has to run the ball, the defense has an extra guy they have to account for. A lot of times, we get an extra blocker at the point of attack.”

The fifth option is the end around or the reverse, and cat-quick junior Del Roberts (four carries for 37 yards) also keeps defenses honest.

Meanwhile, Nivens and Joseph, along with assistant Mark Frederick, have added a right touch of oomph and knowledge to invigorate their units.

“The kids really relate to them because they played here and they bring that enthusiasm out there,” Orlando said. “They’ve done a super job.”

2007 Southern Heritage Classic-- JSU vs. TSU photo show

Jackson State University Sonic Boom of the South Marching Band
Tennessee State University Aristocrat of Marching Bands

AAMU surging early on offense

Photo: AAMU vs TSU

By REGGIE BENSON, Huntsville Times

Alabama A&M has never had an overpowering offense during Anthony Jones' previous five seasons.

The Bulldogs' highest scoring average under Jones came in 2003 when they averaged 33.2 points per game, fourth-best in the SWAC. Their highest total offense average came in 2005 when they averaged 385 yards, fourth-best in the SWAC.

But A&M is plenty busy after two games this season. In posting blowout wins over Tennessee State and Clark Atlanta, the Bulldogs have been an offensive juggernaut, averaging 45 points and 529 yards per game. A&M is averaging 302 yards through the air and 227 yards on the ground.

"Right now, people are looking at us and saying they have to stop our running game and our passing game," Jones said. "That's a good position to be in."

Jones thought A&M would have a good offense this year, but he had no idea it would be this good this fast.

The Bulldogs had to replace three fifth-year seniors along the offensive line. They lost their top two tailbacks, their top two fullbacks and three of their top four receivers. Throw in the fact that three new assistant coaches were added to the offensive staff less than a month before preseason practice started and Jones anticipated early problems.

"I've been the kind of coach that has taken advantage of the talent that we have," Jones said. "This is a year where we're gifted with a lot of speed. I believe we've had more 20-yard plays in the first two games than we had almost all of last season."

Four of A&M's seven touchdowns against Tennessee State covered 25 yards or more. The Bulldogs had seven plays 22 yards or longer. Three of A&M's six touchdowns against Clark Atlanta covered 20 yards or more. The Bulldogs had eight plays 20 yards or longer.

"It's not surprising," quarterback Kelcy Luke said. "We knew what we were capable of the first couple of weeks of camp. Coach Jones is taking advantage of it."

Against Clark Atlanta, Luke completed 21-of-32 passes for 301 yards and four touchdowns. Nine different players caught passes. Three different players caught touchdown passes. Tailback Ulysses Banks rushed for 211 yards on 19 carries and scored two touchdowns.

Banks and Anthony Green have gotten the bulk of the carries at tailback. Thomas Harris, the top returning receiver, has been joined by newcomers Rashad Johnson and Nate Baxter. Veteran tight ends Charles Moody and John Smith, along with offensive tackles James Sanders and Darius Turner, have been leaders along with Luke, A&M's starting quarterback the last four years.

"The young guys are centered around an old veteran in Kelcy and then you have some feisty veterans in key positions," said Jones, referring to Moody, Smith, Sanders and Turner. "They've done a great job in helping us rebuild our offense."



Who's hot: Running back Ulysses Banks, in only his second career start, rushed for a school- record 211 yards on just 19 carries and scored two touchdowns in Alabama A&M's 41-10 drubbing of Clark Atlanta.

Who's not: Defensive back Stephan Tucker allowed a 61-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. It is the second week in a row Tucker has given up a pass catch of 60 yards or more.

Who's hurt: The Bulldogs sustained no significant injuries.

Who's next: Alabama A&M hosts Mississippi Valley State in its conference opener Saturday night at Louis Crews Stadium. Kickoff is 6:30.

Florida A&M University vs. Delaware State University game photo show