Florida A&M Rattlers at Morgan State Bears

Photo: r-freshman Eddie Battle (6-2/215, Titusville, FL Astronaunt H.S. ) should get his first start at Morgan State University on Saturday.

Florida A&M University Rattlers (2-5, 1-3) are scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. football contest with the Morgan State University Bears (4-4, 3-2) on Saturday. FAMU will be there in force with East Coast Rattlers' fans. However, the question is will Morgan State come ready to play?

It appears that Morgan State heads may still be mentally stuck on the game that got away last week in Dover, Delaware at conference co-leader, Delaware State University. The DSU Hornets are currently ranked #12 in the Football Championship Subdivision, tied with a 5-0 conference record with FCS #23 ranked, Norfolk State University Spartans.

Reports have been published today by both the Baltimore Sun and The Baltimore Examiner, respectively, that MSU athletic director Floyd Kerr and head football coach Donald Hill-Eley have asked Dennis Thomas, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) commissioner to declare the MSU versus DSU game a "no contest."

Kerr also has asked university president Dr. Earl S. Richardson to become "involved" in the appeal process. Morgan State loss to Delaware State 25-17 in the televised homecoming game for the Hornets.

The MEAC admits that its officials did make two incorrect calls in the game. One call denied the Bears a touchdown, that was ruled on the field as a MSU fumble at the goal line, with a DSU recovery that was run back 100 yards for a Hornet touchdown. The other call was on the recovery of a block DSU punt, that was recovered by MSU, fumbled by MSU and recovered by DSU. Delaware State scored a field goal two plays later.

For crying out loud--this is the worst whining we have ever seen in the MEAC or SWAC. Before the MEAC commissioner attempts to initiate instant replays whereas, 99 percent of the conference games are not televised nor audio/video streamed over the Internet, that we first invest in getting the latter item accomplished for the conference fans. Currently, the MEAC and SWAC only televises a few games a season on ESPNU or ESPN Classic that does not reach all cable systems within the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions.

Head football coaches Donald Hill-Eley, Morgan State (MEAC) and Henry Frazier III, Prairie View A&M (SWAC) names are becoming synonymous with the word, "whining." No conference is perfect and every coach deals with bad or incorrect official calls at one point or another.

It appears that the Rattlers are facing the Bears at the right time with their minds mentally tuned in to the DSU Hornets and the MEAC commissioner's office.

Expect FAMU to start red shirt-freshman quarterback Eddie Battle, who has completed 60 percent of his passes in the last two games against Norfolk State and South Carolina State in very limited action. Battle does not have to win this game himself as he has available a stable of good running backs lead by freshman Philip Sylvester who has rushed for 696 yards on 119 carries in seven games.

Sylvester is the fourth leading rusher in the MEAC and first in all-purpose yards averaging 182.1 yards per contest.

FAMU will need to play a mistake free game, which is expected to be played on a wet field turf surface with 90 percent chance of rain. The Baltimore/Washington region has been in a drenching rain pattern since Wednesday with temperatures in the mid-50's at night and 62-67 during the day. More of the same is expected by game time.

FAMU's thin defense will have to step up to contain senior running back Chad Simpson. He is averaging 124.1 yards per game and runs with tremendous power and speed. Simpson leads the MEAC in rushing with 993 yards in eight games, ahead of Norfolk State's Daryl Jones, who burst loose for 256 yards against the Rattlers last week.

Morgan State junior starting quarterback Mario Melton has completed 47.4 percent of his passes (55 of 116, 3 TD, 7 INT) for 666 yards. Senior quarterback Byron Selby has completed 52.1 percent of his passes (38 of 73, 3TD, 2 INT) for 530 yards, and serves as the other half of Coach Hill-Eley two quarterback system.

Photo: Morgan State University Head Coach Donald Hill-Eley will try to get the Bears back on the winning track as the Bears host FAMU Saturday.

Here is what we can expect:

Morgan State Offense vs. FAMU Defense

Morgan State averages 26.2 points per game on offense (4th in MEAC), 149.6 yards per game in passing (5th in MEAC) and 233.8 in rushing yards (2nd in MEAC). The Bears strength is the Rattlers primary weakness-- inability to stop the run. Morgan has only scored 6 touchdowns by the pass and 17 by the run. More importantly, the Bears lead the league in Red Zone Offense converting 85.3 percent of their opportunities into scores.

FAMU defense gives up an average of 28 points per game, 169.3 yards passing (6th in MEAC), 228.7 rushing (9th in MEAC) and 398.0 yards per game in total defense (9th in MEAC). MEAC offenses have averaged 5.9 yards per play and 26 TD which gives FAMU the rank as the MEAC worst defense.

ADVANTAGE: MSU

FAMU Offense vs. Morgan State Defense

FAMU has been inconsistent in the quarterback position for the entire season. The Rattlers are scoring at an average of 20.9 points per game (#7 MEAC) and completing 47.8 percent of their passes for a 149.6 yard average (#4 MEAC). The FAMU ground game is averaging 156.0 yards per game (#5 MEAC). However, turnovers have plagued the Rattlers with seven fumbles and ten interceptions (#6 MEAC) for a turnover margin of -0.43 per game.

FAMU special teams play has been very good and the Rattlers lead the conference in punt returns averaging 17.5 (#1 MEAC). But the Rattlers are at the bottom of the conference in both Red Zone Offense (#7 MEAC) 66.7 percent and last in Red Zone Defense (#9 MEAC) 89.7 percent.

Morgan State is #1 MEAC in Red Zone Offense (85.3 percent) and #5 MEAC in Red Zone Defense (74.1 percent). Translation: Morgan State will run the ball down FAMU's throat in scoring position and FAMU will be unable to stop them. In other words, watch Chad Simpson run and watch James Meade kick field goals.

ADVANTAGE: Morgan State

Special Teams

FAMU Wesley Taylor will need a breakout game in order for FAMU to have a chance to pull out a victory. The old Wesley Taylor needs to show up and control field position on punts and kickoffs. Taylor must also make every PAT and field goal attempt. Morgan State is a team with 16-18 Floridians that would love to knock off FAMU. Expect Philip Sylvester and company to produce and set up the FAMU offense in scoring position.

ADVANTAGE: FAMU

Outlook

The Rattlers must play mistake free football for four quarters and tackle the ball carriers on the first hit. Morgan State is a solid defensive team that FAMU should be able to beat with team speed, special teams and their running game. FAMU has seen bad MEAC officiating forever, so that should not distract from the mission at hand. Expect Morgan State to continue to pile up drive stopping penalties. The pressure is on Carter to find a way to get the Rattlers back on the winning track. The FAMU offensive line will be the key to the Rattlers success in Baltimore. Expect the FAMU defense to show some Rattlers pride and stop Chad Simpson for under 100 yards rushing.

Expect the MEAC officials to stay consistent and make three bad calls. Coach Hill-Eley can continue his silly path of trying to overturn conference games by filing formal protests with the league office, but it will not change the game day outcome of getting beat. Bad calls are just a part of the college football landscape and no one should be surprised by a human error.

Final Score Prediction: FAMU 24, Morgan State 20

-beepbeep