South Carolina State Vs. Georgia State: Bill Curry Says This Is Not Last Year's Panthers

Georgia State got off to a rough start to the season in their 33-6 loss to South Carolina State on Thursday night. The offensive line couldn't support the new hurry-up offense the Panthers wanted to run, as S,C, State's defensive front pressured the back field. S.C. State had six sacks for the game.

Perhaps even more telling of the beatdown, though: Georgia State's defense was on the field for 78 plays. The Panthers got worked in the opener. Here are some thoughts from head coach Bill Curry, via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

"Clearly this was a huge disappointment. We will not concede anything. We will go back to work tomorrow morning and keep working until the way we perform the way we can. ... We will be a good football team this year."

*When asked how this year's team, and this result, different from last year, when the team went 3-8?

"I don't think you can avoid that comparison but we aren't the same group that we were a year ago at all. Not the same attitude, not the same work ethic. We have drastically improved those things and now we have to improve the performance on the field."

Read more on Georgia State football at SB Nation Atlanta.

Georgia State Football Vs. SC State Final Score: Panthers Offense Stifled In 33-6 Opening Loss

The Georgia State Panthers didn't get their football season off to the start they wanted on Saturday, as South Carolina State quarterback Richard Cue passed for 300 yards and three touchdown passes en route to a 33-6 win for the Bulldogs. It was a home game at the Georgia Dome, to make things worse.

South Carolina St. got things started quickly, with Cue hitting Lennel Elmore for a 72-yard scoring pass on their third offensive play. They took a 14-3 lead into halftime when Cue hit Tyler McDonald for his second touchdown pass and McDonald's first of two touchdown receptions. The second one came in the third quarter to put the Bulldogs up 21-6.

A pair of field goals from Nick Belcher and a 68-yard fumble return by Dominique Mitchell in the fourth sealed the deal for the Bulldogs. The only offense the Panthers were able to put up was a pair of field goals, in the second and third quarters.

Freshman quarterback Ben McLane struggled, completing just 7 of 15 passes for 54 yards. Still, he was sacked a total of five times (fellow quarterback Kelton Hill absorbed the team's sixth sack of the game) and Georgia State's plan to run the hurry-up offense was axed before it could really begin. You simply can't run that kind of offense without protection from the offensive line.

Matt Ehasz missed two of his four field goal attempts, including one from just 24 yards out. The entire offense finished with just 229 yards, while the Bulldogs had 300 yards passing and 188 yards rushing. Certainly not the way they hoped to start things off.

For more Georgia State Football news check out SB Nation Atlanta. For more news and notes from around college football head over to SB Nation's College Football page.

Georgia State Football Vs. SC State: Panthers Look For Opening Win

Georgia State football will launch a huge weekend of college football on Thursday night at the Georgia Dome when they face South Carolina State at 7:30pm ET.

The Panthers are coming off a disappointing 3-8 campaign in 2011 and are determined to prove last season is behind them and starting redshirt Freshman quarterback Ben McLane feels he can lift the team's confidence:

"That’s the job of a quarterback," McLane said. "You have to make other people believe in you and make them believe in themselves. And then the whole team can start believing and win some football games."

McLane will have a stiff test in front of him as he has not taken a live snap in a game since high school where he led Brookwood HS to the Georgia AAAAA state title. McLane has plenty of weapons to lean on offensively including a stable of running backs led by Donald Russell and the wide receiving trio of Albert Wilson, Danny Williams and Jordan Giles.

Defensively, the Panthers will unleash their new 4-2-5 defensive scheme under defensive coordinator Anthony Midget. This defense, employed by TCU, South Carolina and Midget's alma mater Virginia Tech, is designed to slow the spread and read option which South Carolina State triggers with QB Richard Cue.

Expect another huge crowd as the Panthers have traditionally drawn very well on week night home games and the game has been picked up locally on CSS which could lead to a larger audience.

South Carolina State Vs. Georgia State: Quarterback Ben McLane Made People "Believe"

Redshirt freshman Ben McLane will start at quarterback for Georgia State Thursday in the Panthers' season opener against South Carolina State. During spring practice, McLane earned the faith of his coaches and teammates before eventually being named the team's starting quarterback, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"That's the job of a quarterback," McLane told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "You have to make other people believe in you and make them believe in themselves. And then the whole team can start believing and win some football games."

Since winning the job, McLane has taken on more of a leadership role.

"I've told him, ‘This is your football team and you have to be more aggressive in your leadership,'" offensive coordinator John Bond told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "He's done that."

Led by McLane, Georgia State will make its FBS debut -- the Panthers joined the Sun Belt Conference during the offseason -- against South Carolina State in a nationally televised contest on CBS. The Panthers and the Bulldogs face off in the Georgia Dome at 7:30 p.m. ET.

South Carolina State Vs. Georgia State 2012: Game Time, TV Schedule, Spread And More

Georgia State starts life as a bonafide member of the FBS this weekend against FCS foe South Carolina State in the Georgia Dome. Bill Curry will coach his final season with the Panthers since coming as the program's inaugural coach to guide GSU to Division 1 football starting in 2012. This season will mark GSU's first as a full member of the FBS, and they'll also join the Sun Belt Conference.

State was 3-8 in its second season in 2011, while South Carolina State arrives in the Georgia Dome with 11 consecutive winning campaigns. Twice State has opened their season with easy 41-7 wins over non-scholarship teams, but they lost on the road at SCSU last year, 23-13.

Date: Thursday, August 30, 7:30 p.m. ET

Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

TV: CSS

Radio: NewsTalk 1160 AM

Streaming: Georgia State Official Site

For more Georgia State Football news check out SB Nation Atlanta. For more news and notes from around college football head over to SB Nation's College Football page.

Notes from Georgia State's weekly Press Conference- 8-28

Georgia State Coach Bill Curry held his first weekly press conference of the season this afternoon at the Georgia State practice facility. Curry was joined by redshirt freshman quarterback Ben McLane, who will start on Thursday, and junior outside linebacker Akeen Felder. Here are some of the notes and quotes as the Panthers prepare to kickoff the college football season in just two days.

Curry Opening remarks- “We are are so glad to have finally gotten to the regular season and to be able to play. Our team has demonstrated marvelous work ethic from the very beginning. The day after last season we went to work. Football is no longer a six month sport. If we are serious about competing we have to go to work every day.”

“Our opening opponent is formidable. South Carolina State is one of the perennial fcs powers and have a tradition of excellent football.”

“Our game with the last year was a lesson. We played hard. They played harder. We have used film of them to show our team how to play and they always have 11 people flying to the ball. The game was a good physical match and was won by the team that was more determined. We have got to do that. We have got to be more determined in the fourth quarter. We have improved in many ways but we have got to do it when it counts.”

Curry quick hits on SCSU- They have a good running quarterback and run the read option as well as anyone…. Their turnover margin in 2011 was +10, that is how you win football games…. They have two excellent running backs. We are hearing Asheton Jordan may be injured, but I never believe that stuff. We want to see them at their best… Tammerick Hemmingway is a freshman running back that could be a weapon for them, but not sure if the coach is playing games and just building him up… They have a veteran offensive and defensive line… Joe Thomas (starting middle linebacker) is all man. He had 100 tackles last season and we are very impressed with him…. Their secondary is led by Darius Drummond who is also an excellent punt returner… SCSU kicking game is a question mark. Starter has a calf injury.

- The offensive captain for this game is Jordan Giles. Defensive Captain is Demazio Skelton. Special Teams captain is Scott McQueen

- GSU is relatively injury free. Two season ending injuries but neither were expected to be contributors ( I believe it is Nick Henderson and Jamaal May ).

- Still no word from NCAA on Delic and Agnew. Delic has a high ankle sprain and probably wouldn’t be available for Thursday either way.

- Curry singled out Demarius Matthews, John Kelly, David Huey, and Joe Peterson as guys he has been very impressed with. Said he doesn’t know if he’s ever had two true freshmen that will make as much of an impact as Joe Peterson and Joe Lockley. Said you will see why immediately why Peterson is starting.

- Said he wouldn’t trade Grant King and Ulrick John for any tackles in America.

- Benvenuto will be suspended for the first game. If keeps his nose clean it will remain only a one game suspension. Said based on his performance he wouldn’t be the starter anyway. Miller is the starter but Ehasz has made an incredible push over the last week.

- Said he is excited to open the college football season on Thursday night. The players love doing it and the fans seem to like it also.

- Talked about the no huddle and said football has become a track meet. Defense has to play football full speed for sixty minutes, and that is how they will play on offense now too. Said the team structured their entire off season towards being an up tempo football team.

- Felder on Petrerson and Lockley- Said he could tell from the first day that Peterson is going to be a big leader on this team. Said he already is. Felder said he gets confused sometimes, but when he is where he is supposed to be he is pretty close to perfect. Said Lockley is the strongest guy on the team.

McLane on how to prepare for a big game like this- The only way to prepare for a big game like this is to not make a big deal out of it. We have had a long a rigorious training camp, there is a lot of lead up to this game, so we have to slow down and just approach it like any other game.

- Curry said Felder is the embodiment of what they want at Georgia State. He came to GSU as a walk on, paid his own way for a while, and has earned his spot.

- Felder talked about the affect Curry has had on him and how he has taught him to be a man.

- Felder then went off on a tangent I barely understood. He was asked about the keys that he looks for when defending the read option. Talked about the different sets and how those can give you a hint of whats coming, how the way the wide receiver releases gives a hint, and how the first step of the offensive tackle can give a hint of what is coming. It was very impressive.

- Curry said you will see a good deal of Kelton Hill on the field Thursday. Would not go into more detail obviously for game planning reasons.

- Michael Davis is suspended for the first series because of an altercation in practice. Ronald Martin will be the center for the first drive. Curry said Davis has handled the situation well and how he has played and carried himself since the incident is why it is only for one series. Curry praised Davis and said he has taken his game to a whole other level. Also said Georgia State could have started a freshman at that position, but would rather not do that (Mark Ruskell).

- Jamal Ransby has been banged up but will be ready to go Thursday night.

South Carolina State Injury Update

South Carolina State’s starting running back, Asheton Jordan, will miss the Georgia State game on Thursday according to Panthertalk.com. Jordan ran for 774 yards and five touchdowns last season as the Bulldog's leading rusher.

Georgia State is beginning it’s final season under prominent head coach Bill Curry, who announced he will retire after the season.

Georgia State vs South Carolina State: Previewing The Panthers Offense

Previewing Georgia State's offense for the season opener against South Carolina State.