FAMU Rattlers have no doubts about competitiveness

While coaches around the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference think Saturday's Florida Classic is too close to call, there isn't a man associated with the Florida A&M football team that believes it can't end Bethune-Cookman's unbeaten streak.

Coach Joe Taylor especially took exception to his team is being label as potential spoilers. "We are in to win and I don't see it (as) being a spoiler," Taylor said during his weekly press conference. "The bottom line is whoever wins, wins the championship. I'm sure because of their record (10-0) we would probably be considered underdogs but that's for the media."

Freshmen confident going into Classic

Freshman tight end Michael Ethridge always gets a little hyper on the eve of a football game just because of the anxiety to get on the field. But this Friday night he might have be even more difficult for him to sleep.

The following day, Ethridge's Florida A&M team will face off with Bethune-Cookman University in the Florida Classic. It isn't just another game and with all that will be at stake Ethridge knows sleep won't come easy on the day before his first appearance in the Classic.

B-CU football could help Florida Classic produce sellout crowd

There is a bigger reward on the line than “bragging rights” for the 31st annual Florida Classic Saturday. Bethune Cookman, ranked No. 7 among Division I-AA by the Sports Network, needs a win against Florida A&M to get an automatic bid to the Football Championship Series. Should the team lose, and South Carolina State lose Saturday, then Florida A&M would earn the automatic bid to the playoffs.

With so much on the line, a stellar season, an intense rivalry and, of course, solid halftime entertainment, the Florida Classic could be looking at its first sellout crowd since 2006.

So far, over 50,000 tickets have been sold and Florida Citrus Sports executives say the sales are on pace to have 59,418 sold by Saturday, not including the walk-ups. A sellout crowd for this year’s game is 65,438 fans.

Former 'Dawg hopes to end career with title

Former Marianna Bulldogs star running back Philip Sylvester will have a chance Saturday to make a special ending for a special career, when his FAMU Rattlers take on Bethune-Cookman in the annual Florida Classic in Orlando. Sylvester, who starred for the Bulldogs from 2004 to 2006, has carried over his success to the college level, and will have a chance to reach a pair of significant milestones Saturday.

The 5-foot, 10-inch, 185-pound running back is 178 yards away from the first 1,000-yard rushing season of his career, and is 148 yards from passing the 3,000-yard mark for his Rattlers career.

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