What will South Carolina State head coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough be thinking when he rolls out of bed early Thursday morning, two days before his team faces the Clemson Tigers?

The answer: just another day on the job.

“You feel pretty much just like you do every Thursday,” Pough said. “When you have been doing this for as long as I have, these days sort of run together. A certain portion of it is the preparation, but besides that it’s just another day. You get yourself to the point where you just go through the motions. It’s game four. We will be through one-third of the season after we play this Saturday, and it seems like it’s happening so fast and we are so busy. There’s no time to think about nervousness.”

Wednesday, Pough ran his team through what he called a “pretty enthusiastic” practice, and while he added that it was relatively uneventful the Bulldogs have had plenty to do this week in getting ready to face Clemson. The first order of business: find a replacement for Devon Dawson, who went down in the first half of Saturday’s win over Bethune-Cookman with an ankle injury, at left guard.

The best answer the Bulldogs had come up with as of Wednesday night was to slide reserve Juavahr Nathan into the right guard spot and move right guard Travis Ashford into Dawson’s former spot. But, Jake Johnson and Chris Nelson could end up figuring into the equation as well. Taking care of quarterback Malcolm Long against the Tigers and opening holes for standout tailback Will Ford figures to be vital in protecting SCSU’s push toward a MEAC title, but Pough was taking the loss of Dawson for the Clemson game in stride.

“You have to move some guys around,” Pough said. “At this time of year, it’s game four, and it’s not unusual to have a guy a week out.”

Thursday, the Bulldogs are scheduled to focus on special teams.

Of interest

--The South Carolina State roster is full of players that were once courted by Clemson.

“We have guys with all kinds of little relationships and past association with (Clemson),” Pough said. “But, most of them are far enough removed from that where it doesn’t quite hold the same significance to them as maybe a person that is a fan of the teams. A guy like Malcolm Long is two years removed from the recruiting process. Although he may have had some feelings of interest at some point ... that is pretty much gone now. The biggest thing is that they have all of their stuff in place and they make sure they are ready to play good and show these people they may have made a mistake by not taking them. That is probably their biggest concern.”

-- Ever since creating a short-lived Internet sensation with his candid T&D interview prior to last September’s contest against the University of South Carolina, defensive lineman Xavier Littleberry has kept a very low profile.

In fact, the team has not allowed Littleberry to conduct another interview. With Littleberry making his return to Clemson University, where he spent his freshman year, the Bulldogs’ coaching staff has not changed its stance. Littleberry missed the Sept. 6 game against Benedict College with a concussion.

-- South Carolina State fans may have to wait until next year to see “Superman” in action.

Freshman wide receiver Lennel Elmore will most likely red-shirt this season, Bulldog head coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough said following Tuesday’s practice.

The multi-medal track and field champion and Shrine Bowl selection out of Allendale-Fairfax has not suited up this season and is currently battling the flu and pneumonia.

Elmore arrived at S.C. State after choosing the school over defending three-time Football Championship Subdivision champion Appalachian State. During his past two seasons at Allendale-Fairfax, Elmore amassed over 4,500 yards and 40 touchdowns on the football field and helped the Tigers win back-to-back Class A track and field championships.

n T&D Sports Editor Brian Linder can be reached by e-mail at blinder@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5553. Check out his blog, Welcome to Linderland, at www.TheTandD.com.

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