Staff report
SALISBURY ó Forget the big Top 25 matchups today like No. 3 Alabama vs. No. 23 Penn State. Thanks to some David Bennett schtik, the Coastal Carolina-Catawba game is getting plenty of national attention.
Bennett, never one to subdued, told a story about kittens and dogs during his press conference earlier in the week. On Friday, it was on SportsCenter and other ESPN afternoon talk shows.
Bennett may have been joshing around about the animals, but he became very emotional when talking about his 1-0 Chanticleers playing host to Division II Catawba tonight at 6 p.m. in Brooks Stadium in Conway, S.C.
Bennett coached Catawba before going to Coastal. He left Salisbury with a 63-17 record and was inducted into the schoolís Hall of Fame.
ěIt’s hard to believe the day’s finally come,î Bennett said of seeing old friends who can come from Salisbury for a football game and a beach trip. ěWe never thought weíd leave Catawba.î
It will definitely have a Catawba feel. Clyde Young is bringing his trumpet to play beforehand.
Bennett also mentioned names like Dick Williams, Sam Moir and the list goes on. People like Stratton, Russell …
ěTheir influence on us was unbelievable,î said Bennett, who took a number of his Indian assistants with him. ěWe’re all indebted to Catawba. Our time was truly blessed time.î
When the subject of football came up, Bennett mentioned the five turnovers that was the primary reason Catawba lost its opener to Saint Augustineís.
ěI think Catawba had a rough game last week,î Bennett said. ěThat means they’re gonna play really good. When you come off a bad game, you’re a lot more focused. It’s done all the time.î
Bennett, who is 120-52 overall, said his team would have to run the ball to be successful. In a 30-23 win over Furman last week, nine different ballcarriers were used and eight different receivers caught passes.
But he knows nothing is a given.
ěWhen the bullets start flying, you see who can handle it,î he said. ěThis will be a good test for Catawba and it’ll show if we can continue what we did last week.î

NOTES: As always, Buddy and Dan will broadcast the game on WSAT 1280 AM. … Coastal is looking to be 2-0 for the first time since 2005. … Catawba better be wary of Coastalís special teams. The Chanticleers have blocked 18 kicks during its nine-year history. … The Big South Network is carrying the game.
n Livingstone in Rocky Mount
Livingstone may be in trouble.
After being blown out in its opener at Chowan, the quarterback position will be a question mark when the Blue Bears face Elizabeth City State (0-2) today in the 14th annual Down East Classic in Rocky Mount.
Levon Stanley is injured and will not play. Livingstone is expected to start freshman Craig Murdock, who came into camp as a receiver. His backup is Miles Harris, the starting tight end and backup kicker.
Thatís not good news for a hapless offense that managed just a net 12 yards of total offense against Chowan and didnít complete a pass to a receiver. Back Jamel Moore caught three passes for a measly seven yards and was also the leading rusher with 13.
Defensively, Justin Johnson, Tyheim Pitt, Devonta Harmon and Travis Holliday all had double-figure tackles against Chowan. But the Blue Bears still gave up 454 yards, 237 through the air and 217 on the ground.
Live updates can be found by the fans at www.twitter.com/lcbluebears.