College coaches spend significant time self-scouting and analyzing every detail of their program in an effort to secure more success.
Charleston Southern head coach Gabe Giardina performed his review of the program with extra scrutiny after the Buccaneers finished 2024 with a 1-11 record.
While the coach recognized the many positive things that were happening off the field, the on-field performance had to change.
“We had the highest team GPA in the history of our program,” said Giardina, who begins his third season at CSU this fall. “We saw dozens of young men affirm their love for Christ and we baptized eight players. Our football team has shown leadership within our University and they are active on campus. We’re very proud of all those things, but we gotta win games. We have to turn it around.”
CSU opens the 2025 season on Saturday at Vanderbilt.
After all the soul searching, the head coach came to the realization that he needed to change his ways. As the offensive play-caller and head coach, Giardina was spread thin. He came to believe that he needed to give up play-calling and turn it over to a full-time offensive coordinator.
Giardina hired Seth Strickland, a young but up and coming offensive mind, to run the CSU offense. No more triple option, though some aspects remain. But the Bucs will look to open up the offense a bit.
“Having seen his work during the spring and summer, seeing how he works and how the players respond to him, I have no doubt in Seth’s ability to run the offense,” Giardina said. “It allows me to manage the entire team and program in a way I haven’t been able to. I think this change will pay off for us.”
The new offense, which Giardina is sharing few details on, will be guided by a talented quarterback, Zolten Osborne, who, because of injury, has not been able to showcase his full potential.
Osborne earned the starting nod as a freshman two years ago but a knee injury sidelined him in the seventh game. He tried a comeback last season but that was short-lived and the Fort Dorchester High product took a redshirt. He is back healthy and appears to be well-suited for the offense.
“We all know how talented he is and we hope that he can be the guy we recruited a few years ago,” Giardina said. “Physically he has changed his body. He is built for the long haul, we hope.”
The Bucs return Tyler Greenwade at running back but Giardina feels the position will include several ball-carriers. He says the receiving corps is the deepest and most talented in three seasons, and the offense will make better use of the tight end position.
Defense has been the strength at CSU and that unit should be solid, despite major personnel changes on the front and back end. The linebackers are as good a unit as any in the OVC/Big South.
When looking back at last season, it’s easy to see how close the Buccaneers were to winning five or six games rather than one. CSU lost the opener to The Citadel by a point in a game they dominated for three and half quarters.
CSU lost by three points to Gardner-Webb and Eastern Illinois, lost by four points to Tennessee State and lost by five to Tennessee Tech.
“We didn’t finish games, games that we had huge opportunities to win,” Giardina said. “If we win those games, six or seven wins doesn’t hurt so bad in year two. But, the bottom line is we have to go win games. It’s not enough to be in position to win. We have to learn how to finish, how to win. Our players and coaches know that.”
CSU Schedule
Aug. 30: at Vanderbilt, 7 p.m.
Sept. 6: at Coastal Carolina, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 13: Lindenwood*, 4 p.m.
Sept. 20: at Wiliam & Mary, 4 p.m.
Sept. 27: S.C. State, 6 p.m.
Oct. 4: at Gardner-Webb*, 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 11: Tennessee Tech*, 4 p.m.
Oct. 18: at Western Illinois*, 4 p.m.
Oct. 25: Eastern Illinois*, 2 p.m.
Nov. 1: at SE Missouri State*, 2 p.m.
Nov. 15: at UT Martin*, 2 p.m.
Nov. 22: Tennessee State*, 2 p.m.
*OVC-Big South game
