Mary M. Felder sat in her chair watching the South Carolina State University Marching 101 Band play at Memorial Plaza in downtown Orangeburg Tuesday night.

She has been a S.C. State Bulldogs fan since her family moved to Orangeburg in 1971.

The band brought beautiful music to Felder’s ears. Felder said another MEAC championship for the Bulldogs this season would do the same.

“I’m hoping it’s the same. I want them to have a successful season,” Felder said.

Felder was among the several hundred people who came out to support the Bulldogs and local high school football teams at a pep rally on Russell Street. The event was sponsored by the Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Association.



“We’ve got to bring the community and S.C. State together because they’re our team,” said Orangeburg County Community of Character Executive Director Don Tribble.

Bulldogs defensive end Zach Middleton and the rest of the team are aiming to win their second consecutive MEAC Championship. The Bulldogs are coming off a 2008 campaign where they went through conference play undefeated and appeared in the FCS playoffs for the first time in 26 years.

Middleton, who is also the S.C. State student government president, says the team is looking solid in practice.

“I think if we stay on course, we can definitely stay in contention. That’s the key. We have to maintain focus and not allow distractions off the field to kind of dictate the way we play on the field,” Middleton said.

He said it was great to see the community come out to support the team.

“This is a great beginning to see that we’re respected in the community and people are coming out to support our team and our athletic program. It makes us really feel like a great part of the community,” said S.C. State President Dr. George Cooper.

Cooper predicts the Bulldogs will repeat as MEAC champs this season.



“It’s just a matter of playing the best we can each week,” he said.

The pep rally also featured the Jarvis Brothers and football players and cheerleaders from Edisto, Orangeburg Preparatory and Orangeburg-Wilkinson High Schools. Former Bulldogs Coach Willie Jeffries was the master of ceremonies.

Cooper, Tribble, S.C. State Athletics Director Charlene Johnson, City of Orangeburg Mayor Paul Miller, T&D Publisher Cathy Hughes and Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Chief Wendell Davis all spoke at the pep rally.

S.C. State alumna Evia Thomas said the size of the crowd warmed her heart.

“It’s great for Orangeburg,” Thomas said.

Thomas believes the Bulldogs will get off to a winning start when they play Grambling on Sept. 6. She predicts the Bulldogs will win the game 21-18. “It doesn’t get any better than that,” she said.

For more coverage of the pep rally, visit TheBulldogzone.com.

T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060.

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