How losing the Celebration Bowl is preparing South Carolina State to win it

By Kendrick Marshall
HBCU Sports
https://hbcusports.com/

South Carolina State head coach Chennis Berry doesn’t shy away from the lessons of the past.

A year removed from falling short in the Celebration Bowl last season versus Jackson State, Berry says experience has sharpened both his leadership and his team’s resolve heading into Saturday’s HBCU national championship showdown against Prairie View A&M in Atlanta.

“We’ve weathered the storm,” Berry said on Monday when asked about lessons gained from the team’s — albeit a different group — appearance in 2024. “The game of football is like life. Good things are going to happen — keep playing. Bad things are going to happen — keep playing. The key is to keep going, play the next play.”

Berry likened the upcoming matchup to a “heavyweight fight,” drawing a comparison to classic Mike Tyson-era boxing battles. “When you talk about a championship game, it’s two big dogs going at it,” he said. “They’ve got players, we’ve got players. When that ball kicks off, you’ve got 60 minutes — no excuses, no explanations. Let the chips fall where they may.”

Reflecting on last year’s 28-7 loss to Jackson State, Berry said the Bulldogs learned more than the box score revealed. “We didn’t put our best effort forward for 60 minutes, and that team was better than us that day,” he admitted. “But you learn from those moments — how you prepare, how you execute. We didn’t just lose; we learned.”

South Carolina State once again went unbeaten in the MEAC. The Bulldogs closed the regular season with a win over longtime conference power North Carolina Central and a Cinderella Delaware State team led by former NFL star DeSean Jackson. Those tests, Berry said, have sharpened his squad’s focus.

“It’s about separation in the preparation,” he said. “We respect all opponents but fear none. Our young men will be ready to go compete.”

Berry, who has guided the Bulldogs back to prominence with a process-driven approach, emphasized that execution remains the ultimate test.

“It’s about winning the day,” he said. “We’ll get down there early, get locked in, and be prepared for the moment. At the end of the day, it’s 60 minutes. We’ll be ready for that fight.”