With two straight seasons of nine victories and finishing ranked in the Top 25, the South Carolina State football team is clearly on solid footing enter Year Five of the Oliver “Buddy” Pough era.

Nevertheless, with the start of spring practice today at 4:15 p.m., the Bulldogs enter camp with argubly as many question marks as they did during Pough’s inaugural camp. From replacing 16 seniors and integrating new coaches into the system to an anticipated three-way battle at quarterback, there’s plenty to keep an eye on at SCSU camp over the next three weeks.

1. Who will start at quarterback?

Cleveland McCoy has every reason to see himself as the starter until Pough says otherwise. In just his first full season as a starter, the redshirt sophomore set a new school record for completion percentage (.568), ranked second in total offense (1,692 passing yards on 108-190 passing, 13 touchdown, 475 rushing yards) and ranked 13th nationally in passing efficiency (116.3).

Yet waiting in the wings to give McCoy a run for the top spot are two very capable backups. Sophomore Bryan McCoy (6-2, 215) used last year’s spring practice to display his talents as he earned Most Improved Offensive Player honors during last year’s spring practice after completing 9-18 passes for 87 yards and rushing 13 times for 43 yards in the Garnet and Blue game. Hardy’s size, arm strength and running ability puts him on par with McCoy and is probably antsy at the chance for more playing time after two seasons on the bench.

If neither McCoy nor Hardy are careful, however, former Orangeburg-Wilkinson and Western Carolina transfer quarterback Russell Hemby could potentially propel himself into the starter’s role. Unlike Hardy, Hemby has gametime experience, having started three games and played in nine with the Catamounts during his two seasons there. He’s also earned raves for his play with the practice squad last season in performing against the first team.

Whoever earns the nod will have an experienced, physical offensive line which allowed the second-lowest number of sacks in the MEAC (19) last season.

2. How will the coaching changes affect team continuity?

Change was truly the name of the game during the winter months as the coaching staff had more shuffling taking place than at a poker table. Gone are defensive coordinator Robby Wells, offensive line coach James Spady and quarterbacks coach Billy Napier. Moving up to replace Wells is defensive backs coach Tom Evangelista, while assistant coach Joseph Blackwell shifts over from linebackers’ coach back to where he made a name for himself in the high school and college ranks as an offensive line coach.

Making their way to “Bulldog Country” are new quarterbacks coach Jonathan Pry, who spent the past two seasons at Auburn University, and defensive backs coach Mike Adams, who worked with Evangelista at West Georgia. A third new arrival is actually a returnee in former graduate assistant C.J. Frye. For his second go-round at SCSU, Frye will coach the tight ends and fullbacks.

Pough also promoted his most senior assistant, defensive line coach David Blanchard, to assistant head coach, and named running backs coach Gerald Harrison director of operations and pro liasion.

3. Who will step up to replace the departing seniors?

A trademark of the Pough era has been finding young players who can step in to fill the role of key starters. Last season, freshman BANDIT Marshall McFadden provided a seamless transition from Greg Brown and redshirt center Raymond Harrison almost made Bulldog fans forget about Rodericus Rogers.

This year, the Bulldogs have to find a replacement for versatile weapon Rondriekas Darby of North, fill the huge void in a secondary which lost Kevin Corley and Wesley Middelton and make sure they have adequate replacements for starting defensive linemen Matthew Briggman of Swansea and Joe Dickson of Orangeburg-Wilkinson.

4. Are there enough carries to satisfy a loaded backfield?

As deep as the quarterback position is for SCSU, there’s an embarrassment of riches in the running backs corps. Rising senior DeShawn Baker posted his second straight 1,000-yard season and should be healthy this spring after being hobbled by a torn meniscus.

Before injuries slowed him down late in the season, freshman Jonathan Woods provided a potent 1-2 punch as he rushed for 481 yards and eight touchdowns. The Bulldogs did not miss a beat as Jo Jo McFadden came on strong during the final two games to rush for 322 yards and seven touchdowns.

Add the arrivals next year of Prop 48 players Travil Jamison and Will Ford and it’s enough to perhaps have Pough re-consider his spread offensive in favor of a more run-oriented attack.

5. Can Pough lead the Bulldogs to the postseason?

From a record standpoint, Pough’s first four seasons at SCSU (33-11) almost exactly mirror his predecessor Willie Jeffries (33-10-2). The difference, however, is the Bulldogs had three MEAC titles and four postseason appearances between 1973-76 under Jeffries, with one co-conference championship and no postseason appearance under Pough.

It’s something Pough is hungry to change by focusing the team’s energies on winning the MEAC outright. There’s also the remote shot of an at-large bid should SCSU get key non-conference road victories over in-state rivals Wofford (Sept. 2) and Coastal Carolina (Sept. 23).

While many Bulldog fans have already marked Oct. 21 at Oliver C. Dawson Bulldog Stadium as “Judgment Day” when Hampton visits Orangeburg, they also know dangerous opponents like Bethune-Cookman (Sept. 16), Norfolk State (Oct. 14) and Delaware State (Oct. 28) are lurking to play the spoiler role.

For now, SCSU fans will have to settle on what promises to be a captivating spring leading to the April 8 Garnet and Blue Spring Game.

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