FAMU, Tennessee St. prepare for Dome showdownIt’s that time of year again for the Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic at the Georgia Dome. Florida A&M and Tennessee State square off Saturday at 3 p.m. in a contest which highlights a weekend of parades, step shows, tailgating and good ‘ol reminiscing. The scene at the Dome tomorrow will likely rival that of an Atlanta Falcons home game. So with thousands coming north from Florida and south from Tennessee to the ATL for the game, there’s one burning question that remains – is this the year Tennessee State finally breaks the drought?
TSU hopes quarterback brings points to offense
Maybe having two quarterbacks with starting experience will provide the boost Tennessee State's offense needs. Dominic Grooms, who started the opener, returned to practice this week and will be available along with Calvin McNairl, who replaced him, for today's 2:30 p.m. game against Florida A&M (3-0) in the Atlanta Classic at the Georgia Dome. The Tigers (1-2) are 112th out of 118 Football Championship Subdivision teams in passing (106.7 yards) and 102nd in total offense (239.7).
McNairl, a sophomore who recovered from a preseason knee injury and started the last two games, took most of the snaps with the first team in practice this week and will start today. McNairl is the Tigers' leading rusher with 187 yards on 25 carries and has passed for 129 yards on 13 of 36 completions with three interceptions. The coaching staff also plans to get Grooms, a junior transfer from Missouri, back in the mix, see how his hamstring holds up, and try to get the passing game off the ground again.
Keys to the game: Florida A&M vs. Tennessee State
When FAMU has the ball...Curtis Pulley has been the MEAC's Offensive Player of the Week three times already this season. The senior leads the conference in total yards per game and second in rushing. In the Rattlers' 48-10 victory over Howard last week, there were numerous drops from the wide receivers. Kevin Elliott texted Joe Taylor after that victory and promised such an episode will not happen again.
Tennessee State's defense has kept the Tigers within striking distance in each game this season. Despite allowing 361 yards per game, the Tigers' defense has been able to limit big plays. Defensive ends Kellen Woodard and Rodney Fritz have harassed quarterbacks and each have three sacks on the young season. Overall, opponents have scored only eight times is 14 opportunities, though seven of those scores have been for touchdowns. Of the seven touchdowns allowed, six have been through the air so Elliott, Isaac West, Adrian Smith and others may have a chance to atone for the Howard performance.
Tennessee State won't avoid proficient punt returner
Special attention is being paid to the special teams at Tennessee State this week. That's because the Tigers face Florida A&M's LeRoy Vann, who has captured national attention with four punt returns for touchdowns in the past two games. TSU (1-2) meets Florida A&M (3-0) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Atlanta Football Classic at the Georgia Dome. The 5-foot-9 burner had runbacks for 95 and 80 yards for touchdowns in the Rattlers' Sept. 10 win over Winston-Salem State and two more from 40 and 66 yards in a Sept. 17 win against Howard.
Vann's returns were featured each week on ESPN's "Top Plays," he was a topic of discussion on the network's Around The Horn and was interviewed this week by former Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard for Saturday's College GameDay. He also was featured in Sports Illustrated and The New York Times. "Everybody in the country is talking about the guy,'' TSU Coach James Webster said. "He's one of the best, if not the best, punt returners in all of college football."
FAMU's RB Philip Sylvester is the forgotten man with blazing speed and a passion for destroying the TSU defense.Recession doesn't look to slow FAMU, TSU fans at Atlanta Classic
The longstanding rivalry between Florida A&M and Tennessee State has not only been competitive, it's been quite lucrative. Despite the longest recession in the past 80 years, the Atlanta Football Classic will generate yet another $20 million for the metro Atlanta economy, according to the Atlanta Sports Council. This is quite a jump from the $3 million in economic impact the Tallahassee area sees for the typical FAMU home football game. Hoteliers, restaurants and retailers have not been the only beneficiaries, according to the 100 Black Men of Atlanta Inc. The game has raised $2.1 million for the athletic departments of the competing schools, and another $2.9 million for the organization's Project Share program over the past five years.
Fans need right TV plan to see FSU, FAMU
Local fans can watch the Florida State and Florida A&M football games on television today — if they have the right cable or satellite package. VERSUS, the channel carrying today's game between Tennessee State and FAMU at 3:30 p.m. in Atlanta is part of the digital starter package and is on channel 55 or channel 448 in high definition. Comcast recently added ESPNU, the channel carrying today's game between South Florida and FSU at noon. ESPNU is channel 735 or channel 396 in high definition. The channel is also available on DirecTV and Dish Network.
FAMU's Creary bounces back from injury
When FAMU safety Michael Creary put the stop on Alabama State's receiver Cedric Harris midway through the second quarter of their game last season, Creary had no clue about the consequence of the hit. The pain he felt afterward was enough to get him out of the game. He thought he'd get to continue the great game he was having up to that point with five tackles. But the longer he waited for the pain to subside, the larger the swelling around his left knee got. He wouldn't play another down, as he watched the Rattlers finish 9-3.
Watching the unfolding of the turnaround season for the team was agonizing from the sidelines, he said. As the team won, he watched on crutches following surgery to his damaged ACL. It was agonizing for the redshirt junior, to say the least. "I was happy for my team but I was down about it because I was prepared," Creary said. "I had really prepared for the season and I really wanted to be part of it. It was tough."
TSU (1-2) VS. FLORIDA A&M (3-0)
Where. Georgia Dome, Atlanta.
When. 3:30 p.m. EST. today
TV/radio. Versus/1470-AM
Last meeting. FAMU 28, TSU 21 (2008)
Story lines. Florida A&M has beaten TSU seven consecutive years. After giving up six sacks in the first two games TSU’s offensive line did not allow a sack in last week’s 21-17 loss at Southern. The Rattlers feature the nation’s top Football Championship Series punt returner in LeRoy Vann, who has four for TDs in the last two games.
FAMU's Vann does it again, wins weekly award
Florida A&M returnman Leroy Vann, Liberty quarterback Mike Brown and Richmond defensive tackle Nicholas Battle have been named The Sports Network's FCS national players of the week.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK Leroy Vann, Florida A&M, 5-9, 185, Senior, KR/PR-DB, Tampa, FL. Vann led Florida A&M to its second-straight nationally-televised victory with two punt returns as the Rattlers beat Howard 48-10 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference contest. It is the second week in a row that Vann has been named national special teams player of the week after returning two kicks for touchdowns. Vann tied an NCAA Division I career record with seven punt returns for touchdowns and tied the single-season FAMU mark of four punt returns for TDs, which had previously been established by Howard Huckaby (1985-88). The NCAA mark was originally set by Kenny Shedd of Northern Iowa (1989-92).
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