Sept. 30, 2002

Charleston, SC - Before the season started, Citadel football coach Ellis Johnson looked at the Bulldogs' early schedule and said, "We could be a pretty good little football team - and still be 0-5."

With one game left in that opening stretch - which has included games against three ranked teams and a trip out west this week to Division I-A Wyoming - the Bulldogs are 1-3, a game ahead of that 0-5 projection.

But the nature of the Bulldogs' last two losses - by 37-34 to Western Carolina and 37-28 to No. 5 Appalachian State Saturday - have added extra helpings of frustration to what Johnson knew would be a difficult start to a schedule ranked as the second-toughest among Division I-AA teams.

"I think they are a little bit frustrated, as they should be," Johnson said of his players after The Citadel could not hang on to a fourth-quarter lead at App State. "I'd think something was wrong with them if they were not disappointed.

"If we win another game out of these first five, that's great. If we don't, I don't think that says anything about where the program is."

Johnson is more worried about the physical toll the opening month has taken on his team. The Citadel faces 12 games without a week off this season.

"I don't think they'll give out of gas," he said. "But I'm more worried about the physical wear and tear. You can't play a schedule like we're playing without some physical wear and tear. We've had good luck with injuries for a while, but you start getting kids with bumps and bruises and they can't practice, not to mention the kids who are out of the game.

"If we're going to get this thing on track, we can't continue to do that. There's no way."

The Bulldogs played Saturday without senior tailback Nate Mahoney (dislocated elbow) and junior tackle Jared Perdue (flu). Mahoney hopes to return this week.

THE GOOD

After averaging 17.2 points per game (eighth in the Southern Conference) and 81.3 passing yards (last) in 2001, the Dogs have made strides, averaging 24 points and 226 passing yards this season with Jeff Klein at quarterback. Klein was 18 of 33 for 246 yards and two touchdowns without an interception at App State.

With Mahoney out, the Dogs struggled to run the ball in the first half, gaining just 28 yards on 17 carries. But sophomore Nehemiah Broughton came on to finish with 100 yards on 24 carries, his second straight 100-yard game. Receiver Bud Pough made a big special-teams play with his 100-yard kickoff return for a TD.

THE BAD

The Citadel defense, third in the SoCon last year allowing 18.3 points per game, is giving up 32.3 per game this season. Western Carolina - which lost by 27-7 to East Tennessee State Saturday - and App State had success working the corners of The Citadel's 3-5 alignment, combining for 703 passing yards the last two weeks.

The Bulldogs forced four turn-overs Saturday, but hurt themselves badly with two fumbles, one on a kickoff return, that set up easy App State touchdowns. Kicker Travis Zobel averaged 45.8 yards on five punts, but missed field goals of 48 and 42 yards.