Fresh off one of the biggest victories in the history of ETSU football, the Bucs will not be looking past the Buccaneers of Charleston Southern this weekend.
ETSU defeated the No. 1 ranked Georgia Southern Eagles, 19-16, last Saturday night in Memorial Center. It was the first time the Bucs had knocked off the nation’s top team in four attempts.
“I’m proud of the effort that our players competed with in that game,” said head coach Paul Hamilton. “We talked all week long about winning (against Georgia Southern).
“I commend our players for their effort and intensity they gave against Georgia Southern.”
A big key to Saturday’s upset of the top team in the nation was the Bucs’ ability to take advantage of Georgia Southern turnovers, as they scored 12 of their 19 points when the Eagles coughed up the football.
“I give a lot of credit to our defense,” Hamilton said of the Bucs’ defense, which forced five fumbles by Georgia Southern.
“When we got turnovers we turned them into scores in the game.”
The Bucs were not lacking any confidence going into last week’s game against perhaps one of the best football teams in all of college football.
“Coach said all year long ‘we’re going to beat Georgia Southern,’ ” said starting quarterback Matt Wilhjelm, who completed six of 18 passes for 104 yards with two touchdown passes and no interceptions.
“He said a lot of things that inspired us and pulled the team together . to do something to be proud of.”
Wilhjelm silenced some of his own doubters after he was criticized by several members of the media last week, leading up to Saturday’s game.
“I chose not to read them (the newspapers), it would not be productive,” said the Bucs quarterback. “All my teammates were supportive and it’s good to be a part of a win like that.”
The Bucs now turn their attention to Charleston Southern and will not be looking past a team that they defeated, 55-7, last season in Memorial Center.
“We will probably be their biggest game of the year,” Hamilton said. “They will see this as their Super Bowl and I know they will be ready to play.”
ETSU holds a 4-0 series advantage against the Buccaneers of Charleston Southern and have scored at least 30 points in all four meetings, as Charleston has scored more than seven points only once.
Even though the series has been one-sided and on paper Charleston Southern looks to have little chance against ETSU, Hamilton is still concerned about Charleston’s quarterback position and it’s defense.
“They have an excellent quarterback with a strong arm that has good receivers,” he said. “Defensively, they are going to blitz us and they can give you problems.”
With the big three of Appalachian State, Furman and Georgia Southern out of the way and no more schedule interruptions, the Bucs may now be ready to play their best football of the season.
“Our schedule could end up being positive for us,” said Hamilton of the Bucs’ remaining games, in which they face only one team without a losing record, that being Charleston Southern.
“I’m glad to have four football games left to play, our younger are getting better and our quarterbacks are getting better with each snap.”
After two consecutive 6-5 seasons, the Bucs have a chance to put together a 7-4 record if they run the table, as Hamilton has been telling his team to be “1-0” each week.
“We’ve faced some tough times,” Wilhjelm said. “This can be a special season for us, coach has been telling us to be 1-0 each week.”
Hamilton said, “It (a 7-4 record) could be a long-term good for our football team, we have to be excited about the youth of the team, but there is no way (we are going) to look ahead to any week throughout the rest of the season.”
Coming into this season the Bucs have been the fourth winningest program in the Southern Conference, behind Georgia Southern, Appalachian State and Furman, which has given them the confidence in big games against ranked opponents.
“Our players expect to win now at East Tennessee,” Hamilton said.
“The football players at ETSU expect to go out and win . believing in their hearts that they should win.”
The kickoff for Saturday’s game against Charleston Southern is set for 1:30 p.m. at CSU Stadium in Charleston, S.C.

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