COLUMBIA, SC—The South Carolina State Bulldogs open the 2014 season against intrastate rival Benedict in the annual Palmetto Capital City Classic Saturday (Aug. 30) at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium. Kick-off is 5 p.m.

SC State enters the contest having won the last six meetings during the Pough era. Last season the Bulldogs routed the Tigers, 59-6, at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.  Pough and the Bulldogs went on to finish the season with a 9-4 overall, 7-1 MEAC, and clinched a share of the league crown.


GAME FACTS
THE GAME
South Carolina State Bulldogs (MEAC) at Benedict Tigers (SIAC)
 
THE KICKOFF
Saturday, August 30, 2014 – Kickoff at 5 p.m.
 
THE SITE
Charlie W. Johnson Stadium (11,000 Artifical surface)-Columbia, SC
 
 THE RECORDS (2013 SEASON)
SC State (9-4 overall, 7-1 MEAC); Benedict (4-5 overall, 2-4 SIAC)
 
QUICK HITS
* Pough enters his 13^th season as head coach.
* The Bulldogs captured their 15^th Mid-Eastern Athletic Championship in school history.
* South Carolina State holds a 6-0 record over Benedict during the Pough era.
* Senior All-American defensive ends Alex Glover and Andrew Carter have earned numerous preseason honors.
* The Bulldogs were picked to finish 2^nd behind last season's Co-Champion the Bethune-Wildcats. SC State had 13 players named to the Preseason All-MEAC Team.
* Pough three wins away from 100^th career victory. He is the second winningest coach in school history behind legendary coach emeritus Willie Jeffries.

LAST SEASON
SC State finished tied for 1^st in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference race. The Bulldogs clinched a share of its 15^th league title while making an appearance to the prestigious FCS Division I-AA playoffs. The Bulldogs finish among the top in the nation in defense.
 
THE COACH
SCSU: Oliver "Buddy" Pough is in his 13th season as head football coach at South Carolina State, his alma mater. Since succeeding head coach emeritus Willie Jeffries as Bulldog head coach in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). During 12-year tenure at the school where he earned a bachelor's and a master's, as well as All-MEAC honors as an offensive lineman, Pough has compiled an overall record of 97-43 and a 75-20 MEAC worksheet. His teams have also captured two MEAC titles (2008 & 2009) outright, shared three others (2004, 2010 and 2013), and made four trips to the prestigious FCS playoffs (2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013). His overall and conference records at SC State trail only Jeffries.With the longest serving tenure in the MEAC, Pough has earned several top conference and national coaching awards such as several Coach of the Year honors as well as being named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award for the top coach in FCS Division I-AA. Pough and his wife, Josie are the parents of two sons--Oliver "Bud" IV and Lee Judson and a daughter-in-law, Dr. Natalie Odom Pough. He is also the proud grandfather of one granddaughter Taylor Michelle.


SC STATE VERSUS BENEDICIT (*Under Pough 2002-13)
1999    Benedict 23, SC State 26
*2002  SC State 52, Benedict 7
*2003  SC State 41, Benedict 7
*2004  SC State 51, Benedict 0
*2008  SC State 42, Benedict 3
*2010  SC State 61, Benedict 20
*2013  SC State 59, Benedict 6