No doubt, this summer has been different on the campus of South Carolina State University.

Due to the economic downturn, there was less money to go around and that meant less players on campus for summer school and fewer player-organized summer workouts. With Grambling State and Bethune-Cookman scheduled to open the season -- two road games in six days -- you can bet the turn of events has made for a few sleepless nights for Buddy Pough.

“It could be disastrous for us to not be able to condition our kids and to let them do some of the throwing exercises and drills that they can do among themselves that we’ve done the previous 3-4 summers here,” Pough said in an article in The T&D on June 11. “I’m kind of shaking in my shoes a little bit because the people that we play early will all be further along than us if the situation goes on right now as it looks like it probably will.”

But in tough times, strong teams pull together, and Bulldogs’ standout linebacker Marshall McFadden says that’s what the defending MEAC champions are doing. McFadden estimates around 25 Bulldogs are on campus and working out. Yes, that’s fewer than in past years.

“It is a concern to a certain extent, but we have trust in our guys that if they are not going to be here, they are at home working out,” McFadden said after wrapping up a workout Monday afternoon. “Me and Markee (Hamlin) send out texts to make sure everybody is working out and things like that. Hopefully, everybody is on the same page. When they get here we will find out.”

Assuming the texts are truthful, Mcfadden says, the Bulldogs are all working hard.

“With our guys, they are so competitive,” he said. “If they are not here they are at home working out. That’s the one thing that is good with our team. They are competitive, and if they see one guy is working out they are working out just as hard as so they can come back.”

The Bulldogs open camp Aug. 6, and until then, McFadden said he, Markee Hamlin, Marquais Hamlin and Rafael Bush will continue trying to be on-campus leaders. At some point, he said all the Bulldogs plan to gather on campus for a few practices.

Surprised? Don’t be. Remember this is what good teams do.

“Man, you know, I’m not the type of guy that brags,” McFadden said. “But I can tell you this, ‘This is going to be one of the most exciting years to watch the South Carolina State Bulldogs play.’

“On the defensive side of the ball, we have a lot of experience coming back,” he said. “In the secondary we have Desmond Benjamin, Phillip Adams, Markee Hamlin, and with the five linebackers that played last year, all were in the rotation. With Tony (White) gone, it doesn’t hurt as bad. Linebackers, that is not a problem. We lost a lot of guys on the defensive line, but we are going to be OK. That’s one reason I think we are going to be excited about the defense. And, basically, our whole offensive line is back. Will Ford ... really, you don’t have to say too much about him. Malcolm Long, Tre Young, Richard Christie ... overall, we are going to be a very good, sound football team.”

T&D Sports Editor Brian Linder can be reached via e-mail at blinder@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5553.

 

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