Oct. 13, 2010
By Dan Ryan - www.B-CUathletics.com
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Two days of non-stop review of South Carolina State game film have left Bethune-Cookman Head Coach Brian Jenkins blurry-eyed, drained … and succinct.
“All I can say is wow,” said Jenkins during Tuesday's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference coaches conference call.
The 23rd ranked Wildcats will face the 10th ranked Bulldogs Saturday in a key MEAC conference game in Orangeburg, S.C.
“I see the film and I can't tell if they're South Carolina State or the South Carolina Gamecocks,” Jenkins said “They're that good. They run well, they're physical. They don't give up the big play. They don't make mistakes. They tackle well. They rally to the football.
B-CU re-entered the FCS top 25 for the first time since 2003 this week, but Jenkins has kept his focus on Saturday.
“Rankings don't register with me. I just know we're a good football and they're a good football team,” Jenkins said. “The football field doesn't change [when you're ranked]. You still have to kick the ball off at a certain time and you still have the same rules. I'm happy to be in this position. [South Carolina State coach Buddy] Pough has a wonderful championship team and I'm hopeful we can compete with them.”
Pough, who spent more time talking about B-CU then his own team during his segment of the call, appreciates what Jenkins has done so far.
“You look at these guys on film and you see you better get yourself ready or they'll beat the starch out of you,” said Pough, whose team is 4-1 with the lone loss coming to Georgia Tech. “ You do have a little different sense of preparation for a week like this, but at the same time you have to be relaxed and confident enough that you don't go off the deep end.
Any time you're playing a hot team, it's gonna be tough to get ready,” Pough added. “They seem to be excited about what they're doing and anytime that excitement is there, the coaching staff is doing a great job.”
That's the aspect of B-CU's 5-0 start that's the most pleasing to Jenkins.
“The start has been humbling. It's been wonderful,” Jenkins said. The kids have bought into what we're teaching. I'm a strong believer that when you put in hard work, your expectations should be the best. You embrace it, but you have to stay humble. There's no limit what you can do when you pull together, work as a team, live as a family and align all things in order. “
