S.C. State to Host Winston-Salem State on September 2

Orangeburg, SC - South Carolina State, which was seeking to fill a date in its 2000 football schedule after the Sept. 2 contest with intrastate rival Benedict was canceled, has found an alternate opponent for that date.

The Bulldogs on Friday announced that they have reached an agreement with Winston-Salem (NC) State to fill the vacancy, created when the S.C. State Benedict contest was canceled after the two schools were unable to agree on a site for the game (in the wake of issues surrounding the Confederate flag and a tourism boycott of the Palmetto State).

The starting time for the game, the season opener for both the Bulldogs and the visiting Rams, will remain at 7 p.m., according to SCSU athletics director, Dr. Tim Autry.

The agreement with Winston-Salem State, whose head coach is former SCSU assistant Kermit Blount, is for just one year according to Autry, who said that the loss of the Benedict game was a disappointment, however, he added that the Bulldogs were fortunate to be able to find an opponent to fill the Sept. 2 date.

"When we renewed the series with Benedict last year," Autry said, "we had hopes that it would become a long and prosperous rivalry. And, that can still happen if we are able to reach an agreement in the near future to play again. I believe the alumni and supporters of both institutions would want the game to continue."

"But, we feel fortunate," he continued, "that we were able to find an opponent to fill the date. Winston-Salem State has a strong football tradition and is coming off a great season. We think this game will be an attractive one that alumni of both universities will support."

The Rams, coached by former S.C. State assistant Kermit Blount, completed an 8-3 campaign last year and defeated Tuskegee 23-7 in the Pioneer Bowl at Atlanta.

Coach Willie Jeffries, whose Bulldogs were 4-6 last season, called the upcoming meeting with his former offensive coordinator a welcomed one, but a challenge as well.

"Winston-Salem State has a real fine football team," Jeffries said. "Coach Blount and his staff won the CIAA last season and defeated Tuskegee pretty decisively in the Pioneer Bowl."

"They (the Rams) are Division II," continued Jeffries, "however, you have to look at them as one of the top programs in Division II. So, we know it's going to be a challenge for us. Winston-Salem State has some great athletes and Coach Blount has put together a solid football program since leaving here."

"We have always pulled for Coach Blount over the years, but for one day this season, we will have to quit that. But, I count it a real fine treat to be playing a coach and former assistant that I admire a great deal."

The two schools have met just twice, with the last encounter coming during the 1994 season, when the Bulldogs, on their way to a sparkling 10-2 campaign and a Heritage Bowl triumph, defeated the Rams 48-27 in a game that was played at The Citadel's Johnson Hagood Stadium in Charleston while SCSU's Oliver C. Dawson Stadium was being renovated.

Blount, who served assistantships under Jeffries at Howard (1984-88) and S.C. State, (1989-92) was in his first year as head coach for Winston-Salem and Jeffries was on the sidelines for the Bulldogs.

In the only other meeting between the two schools, SCSU prevailed 10-7 in the 1977 Gold Bowl. Jeffries was the Bulldog head coach, while Blount was the Rams starting quarterback.

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