Friday, August 31, 2007

FAMU: A few more steps to go


By Izzy Gould, St. Petersburg Times

The Rattlers, steadily improving under coach Rubin Carter, look to catch the MEAC's elite this season.

Rubin Carter said he's feeling the pressure in Year 3.

The Florida A&M coach can only blame himself for exceeding expectations since his arrival. His Rattlers have endured everything from their coach's late hire in 2005 to scholarship limitations to the attempted jump to Division I-A.

FAMU's record has continued to improve each season from 6-5 in '05 to 7-4 in '06, including consecutive victories in the Florida Classic against rival Bethune-Cookman.

The scholarship sanctions handed down by the NCAA because of improprieties before Carter took over won't go away until 2009. That hasn't stopped him from bringing in the talent and depth he wants.

With one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and 18 returning starters, this could be the season FAMU contends with the likes of Hampton, South Carolina State and Delaware State - three teams Carter has not defeated - for the conference crown.

"Certainly we've had to overcome some adverse situations prior to my arrival and after my arrival my first year," Carter said. "We were able to overcome those and still go out and play with a lot of enthusiasm from our players and show perseverance through those adverse situations."

Winning will hinge heavily on the offense and the arm of Albert Chester II. The senior quarterback threw for 1,986 yards and 18 touchdowns with just five interceptions last season. He also rushed for 320 yards and four touchdowns.

"He's got to be a young man that leads us and guides us on the field," Carter said. "He's shown his ability to be able to do that. He's won some big games for us."

Chester is 12-5 as a starter, and to improve on that record he'll have to do it without Roosevelt Kiser, who was among the top receivers in 2006 with 63 catches for 647 yards and five touchdowns.

The receiving corps is still solid with Willie Hayward leading the way; he had 49 receptions for 674 yards and five touchdowns last season. Receivers Derek Williams and Ronald Wright combined for 679 yards and five touchdowns in 2006.

Success on the ground is up to Demetric Henry and Anthony Edwards, who combined for 896 yards and seven touchdowns last year. They'll run behind a line anchored by 6-foot-2, 328-pound tackle Justin Delancy.

Injuries hampered a defense that gets 10 starters back including top tackler Vernon Wilder, who had 89 tackles at middle linebacker, and outside linebacker Dannel Shepard, who had 14.5 tackles for losses.

"We had some problems stopping the run," Carter said. "That's a priority for us."

The secondary has a pair of leaders in safety Jason Beach 70 tackles, four interceptions and Michael Creary (39 tackles, two interceptions, five pass breakups).

And the line is highlighted by defensive ends Tyrone McGriff and Carlos Rolle.

FAMU also boasts one of the top kickers in the MEAC in Wesley Taylor (Riverview), who was 14 of 22 for field goals, 27 of 29 extra points and an punting average of 41.3 for first-team all-MEAC honors.

"This year is certainly going to be a very important year for me," Carter said. "It's the third season for me and I want to be able to show we've made some improvement in a lot of areas.

"We're starting to develop our program to where it really needs to be. We're doing things that are consistent for a Division I program."

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