Three weeks ago, South Carolina coach Buddy Pough was cautiously optimistic that his football program would be able to play football this spring.
“I don’t know if we can do this,” Pough told the media in late January. “We still have a lot of work to do. This virus is still kicking the buttock a little bit. We’ll see.”
After the dust settled in the MEAC, SC State is now one of three MEAC programs that plan to continue football. The conference announced on Thursday that it was suspending the season after Morgan State and North Carolina A&T became the fifth and sixth football programs to choose the spring season.
The state of South Carolina has decided that it will compete during a conference at home and at home and a spring football schedule outside the conference. The football program has had no positive test so far since returning this spring, according to officials.
“We consulted with our team doctors, medical professionals, coaches and student-athletes and determined that we are able to compete this spring in all of our remaining sports, including football,” said Stacy Danley, Athletics Director for the State of SC. “As we move forward, we will continue to make decisions based on the best interests of the health and safety of student-athletes.”
The program will continue a rigorous testing regime to help keep student athletes and technical staff healthy.
As for Pough, he revealed during the media day that he was working on contingency plans that may include some non-MEAC teams. The veteran coach said he was looking at the possibilities during the open weeks on the schedule.
“Anything can happen and it can happen very quickly.” Pough said at the time. “You have to adapt and adjust. We may end up playing someone else. “
“We can put a game there somewhere and try to see if we can play against one of those local teams that are nearby.”
Pough also acknowledged that if things go wrong, there is a chance to reverse the course. He says the program tests its players daily.
“If it works, we can try to expand it,” he said. “If it’s bad, we can try to reduce it. It’s kind of ‘let’s see what happens as we go. “