Oct. 18, 2005

Charleston, SC -

At 5:50 pm Saturday afternoon the very historic Johnson Hagood Stadium scoreboard read #5 Furman 39, Citadel 31, a final in three overtimes, but the real story comes from inside the right locker room of the Altman Athletic Center where the Bulldogs (2-4, 1-2 SOCON) sat quietly as their coach, first year man Kevin Higgins, addressed them after arguably the best game ever played on the banks of the Ashley River.

He spoke of heart, effort, and character, but also mentioned regrouping as a team before the trip to Statesboro on Friday because another tough challenge looms in eastern Georgia this weekend. Coach Higgins has been through a lot in his tenure as a football coach in both the college and NFL ranks, but Saturday with the Bulldog football entourage in complete silence, anyone could tell, even sense, that this one hurt the most.

The game was everything a coach could ask for out of his team. Physical. Competitive. Nerve-racking. Even a little fun. But there in the end the coaches were given the chance they always hope for: the ability to call a play that could have tied the game and moved this Instant Classic into a fourth overtime.

You can not blame the players for not executing that final play because they did. Justin Knox threw the pass where his receiver could catch it, but if Kinta Palmer's foot would or could have been smaller The Citadel would have probably been discussing what two-point play to run instead of being blinded by the never-ending questions of camera-men and reporters doing their job trying to dig deep inside the best game ever witnessed in the Lowcountry of South Carolina.

Instead they sat in silent confinement -everyone from the starting offensive line down to the student equipment managers -and reliving each play in their minds that could have made a difference in the outcome. The seniors, who seemed to hurt the most, were scattered around the locker room in their respective position's huddles, but with one look from Dusty Benefield to Shawn Grant and every senior in between, anyone could tell that this one was going to take awhile to sink in.

This article is not to remind the Bulldog football family of their close game against the Paladins, but to thank the players, coaches, and everyone involved for the effort and respect for this fine institution you not only gave me, an avid Bulldog fan, but all 12,880 fans in attendance and every Citadel follower around the world.

All of us know the routine. Late nights studying after grueling two-hour practices. An early wake up to get the day started and a full list of chores before the late nights begin again. But that is where the respect for Saturday's performance comes from and no better way to show that than to go toe to toe with Furman for almost four hours.

The players played their butts off and came up a little short against one of the best teams in the country in Division I-AA, but all the positives that come out of a game like that can help improve every aspect of this program for weeks, months, and years to come because this coach will not accept anything less. You can see it in his eyes when he relives a game, win or lose, every Monday at his weekly press conference. He seems to work hard each day of the week, but after his morning runs on Saturdays he works even harder on the sidelines, turning it up a notch. That is what he expects from his players and other coaches as well.

What else could the Bulldog faithful ask for?

But do not ever question this team's heart, effort, and character because it starts at the top and Coach Higgins is full of each characteristic and so if his players.

So if you see a Bulldog that supports this Military College of South Carolina every Saturday somewhere on campus, or out in Charleston for that matter, stop him and shake his hand, not for the result of a game or a free overnight, but the heart, effort, and character that he displays on the field week-in and week-out during the fall.

It is truly something to be thankful for and a pleasure to watch whole-heartedly.

Covy's Cove is written by senior outfielder Matt Covington, an English major here at The Citadel.