Already, first-year ETSU coach Tre Lamb has guided the Bucs into a money-game at Appalachian State and a daunting home tilt against perennial FCS power North Dakota State, a game in which the Bucs led deep into the fourth quarter.
Running from a challenge, the Bucs are not.
They're also at the mercy of Mother Nature.
And this weekend, especially, She is dealing some vicious hands around college athletics -- not to mention the vastly more important destruction being wrought throughout the Southeast.
ETSU already is en route to its scheduled game at The Citadel Saturday afternoon in Charleston, S.C., a contest set for a 2 p.m. ET kick.
Problem?
The Bucs' team buses are stranded in the Asheville, N.C., region and currently in a roadside parking lot.
Per a source with direct knowledge of ETSU's plight:
"ETSU's football team is another victim of Hurricane Helene in what is an unimaginable tragedy for so many families," the source exclusively told FootballScoop. "We're excited to play a really big SoCon game, but our team has had to cease travel due to Interstate closures.
"Our team, our players, our coaches, our football family, are safe, but they are uncomfortably delayed until roads are cleared.
"While this is a difficult trip, and our thoughts and prayers are with those dangerously affected by the storm, we're excited and want to play a rescheduled game on Sunday."
It's not just a roadside detour.
ETSU doesn't have any available hotel rooms in the area tonight; the logistics had been set to have the Bucs stay in Charleston, S.C.
WIth the lingering effects of Tropical Depression Helene, Furman University -- a Southern Conference brethren of both ETSU and Citadel -- already has postponed its clash against SoCon resident Samford.
Additionally, Appalachian State has cancelled its scheduled game against Liberty, and has indicated the program had not intended to reschedule the game.
Players have been unable to have any communication with their families; it was stressed to FootballScoop that ETSU has battled obvious logistical nightmares but had securely provided for all of its players, coaches and members of its travel party.
As of late Friday night, the Southern Conference has not announced any changes in the schedule to the ETSU-Citadel contest, but the Bucs are hopeful that the game will be played Sunday afternoon.
Stay tuned to FootballScoop for any and all updates on this developing story.