Bulldogs’ Pough enjoying dream job

Buddy Pough is living his dream.

Growing up in Orangeburg, all Pough wanted to do was be part of his hometown team at South Carolina State.

And for the majority of his life, he has done just that whether it has been as a fan, player or a coach.

Now in his seventh season as head coach, Pough gets to lead the Bulldogs into their first playoff game in 26 years when S.C. State faces three-time defending FCS champion Appalachian State on Saturday.

“It’s been an interesting journey,” Pough said. “To get the program back on our feet when other state universities are having problems has been a positive note.”
From his coaching style his emotional pregame speeches, Pough’s passion and love for his university are evident.

“He lives and breathes S.C. State football,” said Bulldogs receiver Phillip Morris, a Timmonsville native. “He is a great guy all around and great for the university.”
At an early age, Pough began hearing about S.C. State from his parents, who both attended the school.

When it was time for Pough to choose where he was going to play college football, S.C. State was the most logical choice even though he had some other offers, including The Citadel.

“My dad made sure I was going to go to State,” Pough said with a chuckle.

Pough had a successful playing career as an offensive lineman and was part of two MEAC championships as a junior and senior in 1974-75. He returned to the school as an assistant in 1979 and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1980 where he was a part of the school’s only two I-AA playoff appearances prior to this year.

Pough went on to a successful high school coaching career at Fairfield Central and Keenan. He won the Class 4A title in 1996 at Fairfield and earned the state’s coach of the year honors on three occasions.

Pough left the high school ranks to coach running backs at South Carolina with Lou Holtz for three years. Pough returned home to guide his alma mater when Willie Jeffries, one of the most successful black coaches in college football history, retired after the 2001 season.

“I had been a high school assistant and head coach and a college assistant … so it was a natural progression that I become a collegiate head coach,” Pough said when he was hired. “And to do it at home makes it better.”

When Pough took over, the Bulldogs were at a crossroads, suffering three losing seasons in Jeffries’ final four years.

But under Pough, the Bulldogs haven’t had a losing season. This year’s 10-2 mark ties the school record for wins with the only losses coming against Division I foes Clemson and Central Florida.

Despite the success, one thing eluded Pough - a trip to the playoffs. The Bulldogs came close twice, finishing 9-2 in 2004 and ‘05.

“It was frustrating to be as close as we were,” said Pough, who is 57-23 at S.C. State. “It was disheartening. We were about to jump off a cliff.”

This year has been a different story. S.C. State dominated the MEAC, going 7-0 and outscoring opponents 226-93.

“We kind of kicked the door in,” Pough said. “You could tell from the beginning. It’s been fun to see these guys and what it takes to win a championship.”
Winning or losing Saturday, Pough said, won’t have an effect on this team’s accomplishments.

“(Coaching S.C. State) is my dream,” he said. “My mom is still here and I have been S.C. State all my life. I’m happy and have no plans to go anywhere else.”