FAMU will play Miami this season

Three years after their last meeting and three decades since FAMU's stunning victory over the University of Miami, both teams will meet this season at Pro Players Stadium. The Oct. 10 match-up will be the fifth game on the Rattlers' 2009 football schedule, which was announced Wednesday. The Rattlers open the season on Sept. 5 against Delaware State, one of four games they will play at Bragg Stadium. The annual classics against Tennessee State and Bethune-Cookman University are scheduled for Sept. 26 and Nov. 21, respectively.

A specific date for homecoming hasn't been decided, although a Nov. 7 date with North Carolina A&T is most likely. The other option is Oct. 24 against Norfolk State, said sports information director Alvin Hollins. The date will be determined after FSU releases its schedule in order to avoid a potential crunch for hotel rooms. FSU can't announce its schedule until the Atlantic Coast Conference releases it.

"It's frustrating for our fans," Hollins said. The Miami game is the first of a two-year contract between the two schools. The deal, which athletic director Bill Hayes said guarantees FAMU more than $500,000, calls for the teams to meet in consecutive seasons. The back-to-back games are a first since the 1979 and 1980 seasons. FAMU opened that agreement by beating the Hurricanes in Tallahassee, but this time both games will be played in Miami.

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2009 Florida A&M FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 5 vs. Delaware State
Sept. 12 at Winston-Salem State
Sept. 19 vs. Howard*
Sept. 26 vs. Tennessee State
Oct. 10 at Miami
Oct. 17 at S.C. State.
Oct. 24 vs. Norfolk State*
Oct. 31 at Morgan State
Nov. 7 vs. N.C. A&T
Nov. 14 at Hampton
Nov. 21 BCU
Nov. 28 - NCAA FCS Playoffs -1st Round
Dec 5 - NCAA FCS Playoffs - TBD
Dec 12- NCAA FCS Playoffs - TBD

*—Conference games; @—Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic at Georgia Dome in Atlanta; #—Possible homecoming dates; $—Florida Classic at Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

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