Charleston Southern head coach Jay Mills scanned the crowd in front of him at the Orangeburg Touchdown Club and delivered his message Thursday.

"Adversity is going to always be there," he said. "But, adversity sharpens the blade."

Mills' point was based on faith and the belief in that faith and one's self. He illustrated his points by telling the story of a man who was out walking without water. Mills told the crowd the thirsty man came across a well, but the pump wouldn't work. The man looked up to see a gallon jug of water with a note that encouraged him to pour the gallon into the pump to prime it.

"The man had a choice," Mills said. "He could drink the water or he could have faith and pour the water in the pump, prime it, and get all he could drink. The man chose faith."

Mills told the crowd that the man pumped two gallon jugs out of the well, drank both, and then pumped a third and left it behind with a note.

"In order to get something back," Mills said, "you have to give up everything you have."

South Carolina State head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough gave his South Carolina State report at the meeting, and said he was very pleased with the play of backup quarterback DeWain Clark in the Bulldogs' win over Howard. He also praised the local coaches as well as the fans for turning out for last Thursday's game.

Calhoun County quarterback David Sims, who amassed 455 yards of offense and accounted for eight touchdowns in his team's 63-14 win over Blacksburg, and Saints' wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, who hauled in eight passes for 143 yards and four touchdowns in the victory, shared Player of the Week honors.

T&D Sports Editor Brian Linder can be reached via 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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