Photo: FAMU Head Football Coach Rubin CarterBy Heath A. Smith, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Florida A&M has been pretty good in overtime (3-0) under head coach Rubin Carter.
From the looks of the team's overtime drill in Thursday's practice, the Rattlers' overtime success might not change in 2007.
The first-team offense took just two plays to score a touchdown in the simulation of an overtime situation. It started with a big run from senior running back Greg Arline, followed by a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Leon Camel to senior receiver Derek Williams.
"The offense came out and we were able to score within the first two series," Carter said. "It was good. It was a confidence builder for our offense. It shows that we are capable of executing and putting the ball in the end zone."
The offense got a bit of payback Thursday after being out-performed by the defense Wednesday in the two-minute drills.
"In overtime, you always want to try and score as quickly as possible," said senior receiver Willie Hayward. "Arline made a great run. The offensive line made great blocks and we hit Derek with a good slant.
"I feel like the defense beat us yesterday in the two-minute drill. I felt we had to come back and try and redeem ourselves in the overtime drill."
Fan Day Canceled
Florida A&M has been pretty good in overtime (3-0) under head coach Rubin Carter.
From the looks of the team's overtime drill in Thursday's practice, the Rattlers' overtime success might not change in 2007.
The first-team offense took just two plays to score a touchdown in the simulation of an overtime situation. It started with a big run from senior running back Greg Arline, followed by a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Leon Camel to senior receiver Derek Williams.
"The offense came out and we were able to score within the first two series," Carter said. "It was good. It was a confidence builder for our offense. It shows that we are capable of executing and putting the ball in the end zone."
The offense got a bit of payback Thursday after being out-performed by the defense Wednesday in the two-minute drills.
"In overtime, you always want to try and score as quickly as possible," said senior receiver Willie Hayward. "Arline made a great run. The offensive line made great blocks and we hit Derek with a good slant.
"I feel like the defense beat us yesterday in the two-minute drill. I felt we had to come back and try and redeem ourselves in the overtime drill."
Fan Day Canceled
Fan Day for the Florida A&M football team has been canceled. The event was originally scheduled for Saturday at Gaither Gym.
The Rattler Boosters will host the Annual Kickoff Dinner on Aug. 25 at The Moon beginning at 5 p.m. Players and coaches will be available before and after to sign autographs and interact with fans.
Growing pains
The Rattler Boosters will host the Annual Kickoff Dinner on Aug. 25 at The Moon beginning at 5 p.m. Players and coaches will be available before and after to sign autographs and interact with fans.
Growing pains
Freshman defensive end Kendrick Washington got a chance to work out with the first-team defense during the overtime drill thanks to Marquis Matthews' equipment malfunction.
On the first play of the drill, Washington was swallowed up by redshirt-sophomore guard Anthony Collins, allowing Arline to get by him for a big gain.
"Welcome to NCAA ball," Carter said about the freshman. "That's Division I football, and it was a good play. That is why Anthony is a starter. Kendrick is a good young player for us. He'll learn from that experience, and I'm sure it won't happen again."
A humble Washington was just happy to get the learning experience.
"It was a great experience," Washington said. "The intensity is a whole lot higher with them dudes. I got in there and didn't know what the play was."
Another Hayward?
On the first play of the drill, Washington was swallowed up by redshirt-sophomore guard Anthony Collins, allowing Arline to get by him for a big gain.
"Welcome to NCAA ball," Carter said about the freshman. "That's Division I football, and it was a good play. That is why Anthony is a starter. Kendrick is a good young player for us. He'll learn from that experience, and I'm sure it won't happen again."
A humble Washington was just happy to get the learning experience.
"It was a great experience," Washington said. "The intensity is a whole lot higher with them dudes. I got in there and didn't know what the play was."
Another Hayward?
Hayward has been known to capture a spotlight or two during his career at FAMU, but he may have to share it this season with his younger brother.
Hayward said his younger brother Aja Hayward was planning to walk on to the team as a strong safety when school starts.
"He is not as vocal as me," Hayward said. "He's more humble, but on the flip side he's more aggressive. Instead of scoring touchdowns, he likes to hit."
The older Hayward walked on from Miami Jackson High School and worked his way up the depth chart to become the team's go-to receiver this season.
The younger Hayward is also coming out of Jackson and may try to take on his older brother in practice.
"He might try and take a poke at me at practice," Hayward said. "He's a hard worker and is always trying to get better. He will always want to try and go against good competition. Whomever he feels the best person is, that's who he wants to go against."
How it all started
Hayward said his younger brother Aja Hayward was planning to walk on to the team as a strong safety when school starts.
"He is not as vocal as me," Hayward said. "He's more humble, but on the flip side he's more aggressive. Instead of scoring touchdowns, he likes to hit."
The older Hayward walked on from Miami Jackson High School and worked his way up the depth chart to become the team's go-to receiver this season.
The younger Hayward is also coming out of Jackson and may try to take on his older brother in practice.
"He might try and take a poke at me at practice," Hayward said. "He's a hard worker and is always trying to get better. He will always want to try and go against good competition. Whomever he feels the best person is, that's who he wants to go against."
How it all started
So how does somebody end up becoming a long snapper anyway?
Senior long snapper Doug Peeler said he got his start as a sophomore at Lake City Columbia High School back in 2001.
"In the 10th grade I got moved up to varsity at the beginning of the season and the coach told me to learn how to do it," Peeler said. "I went back down to JV and learned how to do it. When we made it to to the playoffs my sophomore year that was the only way I got on the field."
Peeler has been FAMU's starting long snapper since halfway through his freshman year in 2004.
"If you look on the sideline, you'll see me and the whoever the backup kicker is working whenever the offense gets the ball," Peeler said. "I like to get four or five warm-up snaps in. You never know if the offense is going to be three-and-out or score a touchdown. Either way, you have to be ready."
Senior long snapper Doug Peeler said he got his start as a sophomore at Lake City Columbia High School back in 2001.
"In the 10th grade I got moved up to varsity at the beginning of the season and the coach told me to learn how to do it," Peeler said. "I went back down to JV and learned how to do it. When we made it to to the playoffs my sophomore year that was the only way I got on the field."
Peeler has been FAMU's starting long snapper since halfway through his freshman year in 2004.
"If you look on the sideline, you'll see me and the whoever the backup kicker is working whenever the offense gets the ball," Peeler said. "I like to get four or five warm-up snaps in. You never know if the offense is going to be three-and-out or score a touchdown. Either way, you have to be ready."
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