Pough says Florida A&M tough

ORAnGEBURG -- Based on recent history, S.C. State would seem to hold some advantages over Saturday's opponent, Florida A&M.

Counting his days as a Bulldogs assistant under Bill Davis in the early 1980s and now as head coach, Buddy Pough is 9-1 against the Rattlers. S.C. State has also won all six meetings during his head coaching tenure, including the last two meetings at Saturday's game site, Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, by lopsided margins of 49-3 in 2005 and 49-14 two years later.

In addition, the Bulldogs are coming off what Pough called Monday his team's most complete effort in a 37-10 road rout of Norfolk State. Meanwhile, FAMU suffered its first loss of the season and had its seven-game winning streak snapped this past Saturday in a 48-16 loss at FBS Miami (Fla.).

There's also the specter of Saturday's game airing nationally (via tape delay) on ESPNU, a venue on which the Bulldogs are 17-2 under Pough, with no losses to historically black colleges.

Even with those favorable factors and earning its highest national ranking since 1982, Pough insisted at his weekly press conference on taking the underdog role heading into Saturday's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference first-place showdown.

"I guarantee you, this year is the year (FAMU) has a shot," he said. "As a matter of fact, they may be the favorites. Everything that I'm hearing is that they're the better football team from people who've seen both of us play. That worries me."

Concern number one for Pough is slowing down preseason All-MEAC quarterback Curtis Pulley. The transfer from Kentucky leads the MEAC in total offense (74-of-121 passing, 990 yards, seven TDs; 372 rushing yards) and passing, just ahead of S.C. State QB Malcolm Long in that category.

Three get MEAC honors

Long, Bulldogs defensive back Phillip Adams and kicker Blake Erickson all earned MEAC player of the week honors for their work in Saturday's win.

Long was 16-of-23 passing for 206 yards and one TD, and he ran the ball seven times for 22 yards with a rushing TD.

Adams had five tackles, four solo, and had a 31-yard fumble return for a touchdown.

Erickson was 3 of 3 on field goals (39, 30 and 32 yards) and was made all five PATs.