Quotes about the CSU trip

CPC = Charleston Post and Courier

About their game in Hawaii, CSU coach Jay Mills said:
"This game really fits the new mission statement of our university. Originally it was to be regionally recognized as a university that integrates faith with higher education. Now it's been altered to say nationally recognized, and this gives us a venue and an opportunity for some additional exposure." (CPC)

CPC Note: "Charleston Southern's financial deal is not bad. Hawaii pays all the Bucs' expenses, including airfare, lodging and meals. CSU gets $150,000 on top of that. "


About playing UH, the highest ranked team they have ever faced, Mills said:
"Like most FCS (formerly I-AA) programs, you aspire to have some FBS (formerly I-A) games on your schedule. The guarantee, the exposure and the opportunity for a major college experience for the young men within your program is tremendous." (CPC)


About taking the game, Mills said:
"I actually hesitated about this game. But the thing that weighed things over in favor of this game was the fact that a couple of years ago we played a game at Howard University and after the game we stopped the team bus at the National Mall and let the young men get out and visit the Vietnam and World War II memorials.

Later, a number of the players came to me and thanked me and I was shocked that although we are only eight hours away from our national capital, a good portion of our team had never been to Washington, D.C." (CPC)


About their activities before the game, Mills said:
"We're going to take them to Pearl Harbor and we'll attend a luau on Friday night." (CPC)


About UH, Mills said:
"They're pretty good. I kidded Herman Frazier, their athletic director, that the final thing I wanted in the contract was that Colt Brennan could only play two series in the game — one in the first half, one in the second half. If he played more than that he'd have to play for CSU." (CPC)


Seeing this game as a big challenge for them, Mills said:
"Every man desires by innate nature a battle to fight and an adventure that involves risk taking. Through the game of sport, particularly football, those two opportunities are provided. This kind of game answers the question, on a play by play basis, do I have what it takes?" (CPC)