ORANGEBURG, SC – South Carolina State conducted its annual “Media Day” Saturday morning and followed in the afternoon with its third practice, the first in shoulder pads.

During the 9 a.m. morning session -- amid taking team and individual pictures -- Coach Buddy Pough and some of the top Bulldog players talked about the prospects for the 2010 season and the fact that SC State will be “the hunted” in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference again after getting the preseason nod from the league coaches and SIDs. SC State is two-time defending champion.

“We have a very confident bunch and it's good to see that,” Pough said. “We have done it (won the MEAC) in the past two seasons and we – players and coaches – believe we can do it again. We know every time we go out on the field, that there will be a target on our back and we accept the challenge.”

SC State quarterback Malcolm Long, who set four school passing records in 2009 and is the preseason pick for Offensive Player of the Year in the MEAC, said the Bulldogs were looking beyond the MEAC and have their eyes set on a national championship.

“We want to go past the MEAC Championship,” Long said. “We believe we are capable of competing on the national level and want to win a national championship.”

Pough, however, cautioned that it's good to have lofty goals, but first things first.

“I guarantee we believe we can compete for a national title,” said Pough, “But we have to concentrate on winning the MEAC first. Our league is very competitive and we better be good every time we go against one of our teams or it could turn into an ugly year for us.”

In its afternoon practice, the first in shoulder pads, the Bulldogs were very lively despite scorching temperatures again. Pough said it was a fun practice and he was excited about the play of some of the younger players.

“It was our first day in waist-up gear and it's a little different feeling when you put on the shoulder pads,” he said. “But the enthusiasm was great and I'm real excited about the potential I saw in some of our young players.

“We got a chance to take a look at some of our new running backs and D-Linemen,” he continued, “And the best part about it, it appears they can help us. I like what I see in some of our young kids.”

The high temperatures continued to be a factor for the Bulldogs, whose workouts begin daily around 3 p.m. but Pough said that most of the players were working through the heat. SC State returns to the field Sunday at 3:10 p.m.

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