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Post by captaggie on Apr 4, 2007 12:31:17 GMT -5
www.thetandd.com/articles/2007/04/04/sports/doc461319891c5ba712234204.txtSCSU’s annual rivalry game may be moved to Charleston By THOMAS GRANT JR., T&D Senior Sports Writer Wednesday, April 04, 2007 The “Carolinas Classic” could become known as the “Lowcountry Classic” this fall. South Carolina State University has reportedly inquired with The Citadel about holding its Nov. 20 contest against North Carolina A&T at Johnson Hagood Stadium. The contest was initially scheduled to occur at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium after taking place the past four years in Charlotte, NC. While Ray Whiteman, senior associate athletics director for internal affairs at The Citadel, said Monday the school had made the 23,025-seat stadium available for that November date, neither he nor SCSU officials would confirm any ongoing contract negotiations. This would mark the second straight season and third time since 2003 that SCSU would play a home game at Johnson Hagood Stadium. Last year’s planned home-opener against Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 16 was moved from Orangeburg to Charleston in order to complete stadium enhancements, which included the replacement of the grass field with synthetic turf and the installation of a state-of-the-art electronic scoreboard with video replay capabilities. In front of 15,825 spectators, the Wildcats handed the Bulldogs their worst loss under head coach Oli,ver “Buddy” Pough by a score of 45-14. Back on Sept. 23, 2003, SCSU routed Savannah State 53-0 before 10,200 people in the inaugural “Lowcountry Classic.” If the game is moved to Charleston, it would also be just the second meeting since 1995 between the two long-time rivals which did not take place in Charlotte. The previous time was in 2001 when the Bulldogs rallied at home from a 14-3 deficit with two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to defeat the Aggies 15-14. The victory in Willie Jeffries’ next-to-last game as SCSU head coach snapped a three-game losing streak to North Carolina A&T and started the Bulldogs’ current six-game winning streak in the series. SCSU leads the all-time series 25-17-2.
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Post by Bigboy on Apr 4, 2007 12:57:31 GMT -5
It's their home game so I guess they can play it anywhere that they want. The travel time to Charleston is about the same as going to Orangeburg, plus there is more to do in Charleston compared to Orangeburg.
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Maxell
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Post by Maxell on Apr 4, 2007 13:08:21 GMT -5
I guess if I just revamped my stadium, I would have it at home. Unless the Citidel lets them use the stadium for peanuts.
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Post by stateclub on Apr 4, 2007 13:37:13 GMT -5
We were mad about it too....until we found out that SCSU gets all of the proceeds (has to split nothing with teh citadel) and the city of charleston is paying all the reatla fees, and is even adding all the marketing and promotion fees....that is how bad the city of charleston wants the game... so basically its free for us......knowing that, I aint mad at them.. before that, we were pissed......wondering why we spent all that money on the stadium just to move the game...but now, fiscally, it makes sense we are having a big discussion on at it on our message site www.scstatefans.comits set up just like you guys board......and you guys are always welcome
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Post by captaggie on Apr 4, 2007 14:12:32 GMT -5
Welcome to bluedeathvalley stateclub.
Personally, my preference is Charleston (even though its farther away). With more entertainment opportunities and good weather (Nov avg. 68/53), it could improve the gate.
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Post by stateclub on Apr 4, 2007 14:24:40 GMT -5
I agree. I think that with us playing you guys,and Charleston being our strongest alumni city, I am sure the game will sell out, and then some
I am hearing that there will be a battle of the bands that weekend, as well as other things
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Striktly
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Post by Striktly on Apr 4, 2007 22:12:12 GMT -5
Oh well, I guess that gives me an excuse to go to Hyman's Seafood.
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Post by superaggie on Apr 8, 2007 18:45:01 GMT -5
Amen to Hymans!!!! ;D
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pitbull
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Post by pitbull on Apr 9, 2007 17:55:49 GMT -5
Hyman's huh...I have never been there before....I'm gonna have to take a 3 day weekend for this game....Works out though...I have relatives down there I could crash with... ;D
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Post by aggiejazz on Apr 12, 2007 8:09:24 GMT -5
Thursday, April 12, 2007 Rivalry game moving to Charleston By THOMAS GRANT JR. T&D Senior Sports Writer Thursday, April 12, 2007 The rechristening of the "Carolinas Classic" into the "Lowcountry Classic III" is now closer to reality. On Wednesday, both South Carolina State Athletics Director Charlene Johnson and Robby Bennett, assistant athletics director for ticket and events management for The Citadel, confirmed they have an agreement to hold the Bulldogs' Nov. 17 football regular-season finale against North Carolina A&T at Johnson Hagood Stadium. Johnson began talks with the Charleston school after the SCSU Board of Trustees gave their approval last week for moving a game originally slated to take place in Orangeburg to Charleston for the second straight year. Last year's home opener against Bethune-Cookman was moved to Johnson Hagood Stadium out of necessity because of incomplete refurbishments to Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. Citing profits and attendance figures, the largest non-Homecoming audience (15,825) for an SCSU home game last season, Johnson sees the move as a "good opportunity" for the school to make revenue. SCSU head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough was also on board with the decision. "It's a good agreement for our university," he said. "I think they've made this decision based upon sponsorships and some of those other kind of things that have an impact on these kind of decisions. "They asked me to put a football team together and show up at a site and that's what I do. Wherever we play, it's pretty much fine with me. I just need to make sure that when we get there, we play well." Johnson and Bennett are currently involved in finalizing contract details, a process that could take more than a week. Because of ongoing construction work to the West section of the Charleston facility by contractors Ellis Donn, Bennett said The Citadel will also have to negotiate an amendment to the original contract with the company in order to allow the stadium to be used by SCSU. Ellis Donn and The Citadel had originally planned for six events at the stadium during which no construction work would take place. The 23,025-seat stadium in Charleston is undergoing the third of a five-phase renovation that involves construction of a press box and suites. The project is expected to be complete by 2008. This will be only the second meeting since 1995 between the two longtime rivals that did not take place in Charlotte, N.C. The previous time was in 2001 when the Bulldogs rallied at home from a 14-3 deficit with two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to defeat the Aggies 15-14. The victory in Willie Jeffries' next-to-last game as SCSU head coach snapped a three-game losing streak to North Carolina A&T and started the Bulldogs' current six-game winning streak in the series. SCSU leads the all-time series 25-17-2. This also will be the third appearance in the Port City in five seasons for the Bulldogs. SCSU routed Savannah State 53-0 in the inaugural Lowcountry Classic in 2003 but were treated in similar fashion by Bethune-Cookman 45-14 in 2006. "It's a little bit of a sore spot still left there because Bethune-Cookman was beating on us last year," Pough said. "I'd like to have an opportunity to go back and play better in front of the Charleston folks because we did not play well there last year and I was not pleased." The "Lowcountry Classic" will be a part of the SCSU 2007 season ticket package, which this year costs $125. For additional ticket information, interested persons may call the Bulldog Ticket Office at 803-536-8579 or toll free at 800-298-9157, or visit the school’s Web site at www.scsu.edu.
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Post by aggiejazz on Apr 12, 2007 9:48:15 GMT -5
Citing profits and attendance figures, the largest non-Homecoming audience (15,825) for an SCSU home game last season, Johnson sees the move as a "good opportunity" for the school to make revenue. SC State home attendance tally for football last year is a sad commentary on the state of support for the Bulldog program. This team had a 9-2 record the previous two years. Although they lost to two in-state schools in a sort of HBCU vs PWC at the start of last season they were still in the running for the MEAC championshp and 15,825 for one home game was the best they could do I wonder how many Bulldogs fans will show up for home games after SC State takes a drumming from the Air Force Academy and U of South Carolina next season?
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Post by DOOMS on Apr 12, 2007 10:34:14 GMT -5
Tons of their fans tailgate and just don't bother to go inside the gate. Kinda like we might end up doing.
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Post by numberonebrave on Apr 12, 2007 15:57:35 GMT -5
Think they would be ready to see SCSU kick some a$$ after 2 defeats to 1-a schools...The business community in Orangeburg should be upset, they helped redo the stadium and now SCSU takes their next big game out of town.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Apr 12, 2007 17:39:58 GMT -5
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Post by aggierattler on Apr 24, 2007 16:22:55 GMT -5
I still think that losing a home game to a place that can max out at under 16,000 is not a good deal, no matter what.
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