ORANGEBURG, SC – South Carolina State continued preseason football drills Tuesday evening with an approximately two-hour workout in full pads, one of the few times Coach Buddy Pough's team has worked in full gear.
During the workout, the Bulldogs concentrated on team-style drills and continued to hone their passing and running attacks.
Pough called the session “pretty ordinary,” but noted that some players are showing that they want to play this fall and among that group are five to ten freshmen and newcomers.
“Some players are really giving a great effort,” noted Pough. “Others are not doing as well but we feel they are getting there. We just tell them to keep working at it and to try and get a little better each day.
“I'm really excited about the play of some of our freshmen. It (the freshman class) is a real talented group,” Pough continued. “I expect somewhere between five and 10 of them will play for us this fall.”
The Bulldogs will return to the practice field Wednesday evening at 6:40 for the final practice before the start of class on Thursday. No practice is schedule for Thursday, while Friday's schedule will be announced later, according to Pough.
Pough, who is starting his 10th season as Bulldog head coach, lectured his team on the importance of getting off to a good start academically. He told the players that class attendance was mandatory and that they should make a real effort to do well in their course work, get to know their teachers and represent the football team well in all their campus endeavors.
NOTE: SC State will conduct its annual “Meet the Players” Day Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. with a scrimmage at O.C. Dawson Stadium. The event, sponsored by the Bulldog Boosters – The STATE Club – will also include presentation of MEAC championship rings to the football, volleyball and men's and women's tennis teams, as well pictures, autographs and lunch with the Bulldog players.