The Coastal Carolina and South Carolina State University football programs have a lot in common.

Both had impressive 9-2 seasons last year, but failed to make the Division 1-AA playoffs. Both entered this season with high expectations, but are grappling with 1-2 records and coming off losses last week.

As Coastal head coach David Bennett addresses the Orangeburg Touchdown Club today, SCSU coach Buddy Pough is guest speaker at the TD club in Conway. Both will undoubtedly talk about the importance of a win on Saturday.

"The bad thing is somebody's going to be 1-3," Bennett told the Florence Morning News Wednesday.

SCSU does have the upper hand as far as making the playoffs goes. With a loss to the Bulldogs, Coastal would have to win the rest of the games on its schedule, with still no guarantees as the Big South Conference does not have an automatic bid into the I-AA playoffs. Should SCSU lose, it still has a chance to win the MEAC and earn an automatic bid. However, that would be no easy task as it still faces Hampton and would need Bethune-Cookman, who defeated them handily last weekend, to pick up a pair of losses.

Bennett is in his fifth year as head coach at Coastal Carolina, his fourth as the on-field leader, where he has amassed a record of 25-8. Coastal was the Big South co-champions last season.

After leading the Chanticleers to a 6-5 record in the program's inaugural season in 2003, Bennett guided Coastal to a 10-1 mark in just its second season of play and a perfect 4-0 record in the Big South Conference to earn the league title. He became the first-ever head coach at CCU on Dec. 21, 2001.

During the historic 2004 season, Bennett had 14 players earn All-Big South Conference accolades, including Offensive Player of the Year Patrick Hall and Freshman of the Year Jerome Simpson. Bennett also earned the Big South's Coach of the Year honor and was named American Football Coaches' Association Region Two Coach of the Year for the first time at the I-AA level and fourth time in his career. He was also honored for his efforts by the All-American Football Foundation.

Bennett, born in Greer, S.C., came to Coastal Carolina after serving seven years as the head coach at Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C. In seven years, Bennett posted an overall record of 63-17, leading the Indians to three consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs, including a run into the national semifinal round in 2001.

A 1984 graduate of Presbyterian College, Bennett lettered in football and golf while earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and social studies with a minor in coaching. He began his coaching career at Presbyterian, working with the wide receivers as a student assistant.

Bennett earned his master's degree in guidance and counseling from Clemson University in 1986, where he worked with the running backs on the Tigers' 1986 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship squad. While at Clemson, he coached in the Independence and Gator Bowls.

In 1987, he served as the offensive coordinator at Goose Creek High School. Bennett then coached at Newberry College before accepting the position at Catawba.

He and his wife Melanie have a daughter, Hayes (13) and a son, Jeb (10).

Broderick Raysor of Blackville-Hilda High School will also be recognized as the Coca-Cola/ Orangeburg Touchdown Club Player of the Week.

The OTC meeting begins at 11:30 with a buffet lunch.

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