FAMU lucky to have Carter as coach

Photo: Head Coach Rubin Carter (right) and Offensive Coordinator /QB coach, Bob Cole

Column by Steve Ellis, DEMOCRAT SENIOR WRITER

TAMPA - Rubin Carter shouldn't have been available when Florida A&M went searching for a new coach in 2005.

With seven years of NFL coaching experience and even more than that in the college ranks, Carter had certainly warranted an earlier opportunity to lead a college-football program. For Carter to be there when FAMU abruptly said goodbye to the Billy Joe Era is easily one of the best things to happen to the school's athletic program in recent years. That is clear just a handful of days into his third year as the head Rattler.

It's not just beating rival Bethune-Cookman in overtime his first two seasons. Or finishing with a winning record despite NCAA-imposed scholarship limitations that historically can strangle even the best of programs.

The former Miami All-American and ex-Denver Broncos standout brought a blueprint to FAMU and vision built on a storied past. And it's being implemented in areas where college programs benefit the most - on the recruiting trail that now winds its way through high schools in this state rather than out West and in a summer program that reflects Carter's appreciation for hard work.

“We go to every high school in the state of Florida whether they have a player or not because it's all about building relationships,” Carter said. “Instead of going west to California and Texas and all the (junior colleges), we're staying in this state and doing a thorough ... evaluation.”

Carter also brings a voice to such events as Sunday's annual meeting with the state media that can only make Rattlers proud. Even his talking nice on Sunday about Bethune-Cookman and its head coach Alvin Wyatt, can be forgiven by Rattlers.

What Carter had to say in what amounted to a state-of-the-program address before the state's media is something for Rattlers to rally around.

“They always have dreams of yesterday, the way things were with coach Jake Gaither and Rudy Hubbard ... and Billy Joe,” Carter said of a FAMU fan base that drew him to Tallahassee. “Those are always tough shoes to fill.

“But I have a vision of the future for this program and where we need to be and things we need to do to build it so it can be a great program. We're doing that. One year at a time. And one game at a time, doing whatever it takes to get back where we were.”

Success never comes fast enough for any sports fan, and that likely includes Rattlers impatient to separate themselves from a 3-8 season in 2004 and a failed and misguided plan to become a Division I-A football program.

But patience: A quarterback ready to follow senior Albert Chester and stronger and quicker players in the trenches are all required ingredients as FAMU moves ahead. FAMU will be back to full scholarships in 2009.

"If I can get my first recruiting class to where they are juniors or seniors,” Carter said, “I think that will be enough time for us to get back where we were, not just as the conference but also on the national level.”

Carter said on Sunday that he already believes his program has taken important steps in a 2007 recruiting class that was the first one for which he had the needed 1 1/2 years to really evaluate. Another was the 7-4 2006 season.

“It's just amazing really we were able to have the record we ended up with knowing all the restrictions and conditions,” Carter said. “We're still in catch-up mode. It's been difficult. Our kids I think have shown a lot of resolve, a lot of perseverance.”

That resolve reflects a coach who, in quick time, has become a great hire and match for FAMU.