Coach Oliver Pough was in the stadium with the 1974 South Carolina State championship team. He pointed upwards at halftime, reminding the crowd that the Bulldogs knew how to win.

The 18 MEAC Championship signs around the Oliver C. Smith press box prove that winning has a place in the history of the football program. Today, current Orangeburg team head coach Chennis Berry serves as a beacon for their field.

“I fell in love with the process,” Bulldogs senior linebacker Aaron Smith said. “We really adopted the 1-0 scheme and dug deep.”

After the scoreboard read “0:00”, Chennis Berry and the “DII” player team continued to be respectful. Still, they got the “receipts” from critics and pundits who predicted their Bulldogs would finish No. 4 in the preseason conference standings.

“I’m keeping the receipts,” coach Chennis Berry said in his post-game interview. “I’m not throwing them away. But they’re down there somewhere, but that’s okay. I still have to go play the game.”

Thursday night’s thrilling 24-21 victory over NCCU should remind you of two things:

1. Chennis Berry is an excellent coach
2. South Carolina State hired the right coach
3. Expect additional MEAC Championships in Orangeburg
4. The Bulldogs are on the verge of _________________.

Although Chennis Berry, his team and the young Bulldogs appear to be on the verge of winning the MEAC championship and heading to the 2024 Celebration Bowl, the season is not over yet. SC State has three games left on its schedule.

First, they will head to our nation’s capital to battle last year’s MEAC champion Howard Bison. The following week, the Bulldogs will face a well-coached and determined Morgan State squad. Later, Coach Odums and his dangerous Spartan team pay tribute at the season finale in Orangeburg.

Coach Berry reminded the media and himself, “This is definitely a giant step. Let me tell you, it was a big game because it was the next game.” 1-0 is one of his favorite mantras. Look to win the next three games before the South Carolina State faithful begin booking Saturday, Dec. 14 in Atlanta.

For now, Commissioner Still’s office at MEAC divides the road from Durham to Orangeburg for the Celebration Bowl. But the Bulldogs need to stay focused to avoid relegation, just like NCCU did last season when Howard took the Eagles to the woodshed. In the end, the Bison captured the conference championship and Central’s dreams were over.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about putting these players in the best position to succeed, and I was so proud of our young men today,” Berry said. “They played very hard, very hard, very fast and very physical, and they play with great confidence.”

Over the next three contests, Coach Berry and the Bulldogs will need confidence to stay on task. Going on a road trip to compete for the 2024 HBCU National Championship will be challenging, but taking down the nationally ranked NCCU Eagles was a great start.

Can they reach the Celebration Bowl in Year 1?

Let’s see.

HBCU LEGENDS PODCAST WITH KYLE T. MOSLEY AND COACH DARYL STEWARD