FAMU receiver Knight back to practice, plans to play Saturday

By Heath A. Smith, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Florida A&M receiver Javares Knight said Thursday that he expects to be able to play Saturday against Tennessee State.

Knight, a redshirt sophomore from FAMU High, seemed doubtful Wednesday that he would be able to go Saturday because of a protruding bone in his mouth that was causing him a lot of pain.

Knight did not practice Wednesday, but was able to practice Thursday. Knight said he is taking medication for the pain, which may require dental work.

Knight, who has six catches on the season for 102 yards and a touchdown, had his wisdom teeth pulled just two weeks ago.


Photo: #15, FAMU WR Jarvares Knight

Couch potato alert
Comcast Cable announced that Saturday's game would be aired live on Channel 16.

Fox Sports South, based in Atlanta, is also televising the game on its regional network which includes Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina and portions of North Carolina.

FSN Florida (Comcast Channel 29), affiliated with Fox Sports, will pick up the game in progress at 4 p.m., or at the conclusion of the Florida Marlins-New York Mets baseball game.

FAMU takes over the ATL
If you are looking for more than just a FAMU football fix this week, Atlanta is still the place to be as five other Rattler teams will be playing in a variety of events.

The golf team is participating in the Coca-Cola Hall of Fame Classic in Atlanta through Saturday.
The men's and women's cross country teams will be participating in a meet hosted by Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College on Saturday morning.

The men's and women's tennis are competing in the HBCU National Tennis Championships, which is featuring more than 20 collegiate programs. The Championships started Thursday and will run through Sunday.

Defensive line is bottom line for FAMU's defense

By Heath A. Smith, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

So far this season, Florida A&M's defense has shown marked improved from last year, particularly against the run.

Depth on the defensive line may be one of the key contributing factors to the defense's overall improved play.

"Our rotation is great," said FAMU football coach Rubin Carter. "We have about six to eight defensive linemen that actually play during a game. The gap is much more narrow than when I first arrived here. The idea in training camp is to develop two units."

Redshirt-sophomore defensive tackle Lymon Reed has been one of the reasons FAMU has more depth on the defensive line this season.

Reed saw spot duty last season and started the season behind redshirt-sophomore Demetris Lane. When Lane broke his finger in camp and then re-broke just before the start of season, Reed was pushed into a starting role.

Reed has responded with 15 total tackles this season 1.5 sacks and five tackles for loss, which ties him for the team lead with linebacker Dannel Shepard.

"Lymon has really come on strong," Carter said. "He was a good player in high school and went to the Naval Academy first. He decided to come back closer to his family in the state of Florida.

"We've had the opportunity to work with him the past two years and he's shown that he's able to make a contribution to the defense."

Reed has made it hard for Carter to take him out the starting lineup, especially with his pass-rushing skills and ability to make plays behind the line of scrimmage.

"He has excellent quickness off the ball," Carter said. "He is an excellent pass rusher and uses his hands extremely well. He is getting better against the run.

"I love that (tackles for loss). You want to play on the offensive side of the line of scrimmage."

Reed said his play this season is just a product of hard offseason work.

"I worked hard over the summer," Reed said. "I kind of expected I would have success, I just knew I would have to take advantage of the opportunity when I got the chance."

Tennessee State's top sacker practices, could play

Photo: TSU head Coach James Webster has a word with his team late in the third quarter during the Tennessee State University vs. Alabama A&M John Merritt Classic football game.

By MIKE ORGAN, the Tennessean

Tennessee State starting defensive end Shaun Richardson practiced Thursday for the first time this week, leaving the door open for him possibly to play Saturday when the Tigers meet Florida A&M in the Atlanta Football Classic at the Georgia Dome.

Richardson, who leads TSU in sacks (4), tackles for loss (6) and quarterback hurries (3), suffered a bruised shoulder and sprained knee in last week's game at Southern. Earlier this week, Coach James Webster said Richardson was "doubtful" for the game against Florida A&M, but since Richardson was able to practice Thursday, he still could play.

"He knows my rule is if you don't practice on Thursday, you don't travel,'' Webster said. "He had to practice just to travel."

Webster said a decision on Richardson's playing status would be made closer to kickoff of the 2 p.m. game.

Branden Gouch, a freshman from Atlanta, replaced Richardson in practice and backed him up in last week's game. Gouch, who moved from linebacker earlier in the season, recorded four solo tackles at Southern.

"Gouch has done a really good job and is improving,'' Webster said. "He took a lot of snaps last week. That's one of those positions where you don't want a true freshman playing because there's too much to learn, too many adjustments, too many blocks to read. But he's done an excellent job considering he is a freshman."

Sophomore Kellen Woodard rotated with Gouch in the practices while Richardson was sidelined.

Cornerback returns: Defensive backs coach Randy Fuller said cornerback Marquez Hall would return to the first team after missing the past two games with a high ankle sprain.

Fuller said the unit had missed Hall, a freshman who transferred from Vanderbilt, in a big way.

"It's huge getting Marquez back,'' Fuller said. "He hadn't played in a college football game until our opener against Alabama A&M. Then he played half the game against Jackson State when he got hurt. He was getting experience and he was playing pretty good for us. So it's very important to get him back just to get him some more experience so we can have a solid corner on the other side (opposite of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie)."

Top 20: TSU has climbed to 19th nationally in total offense, averaging 421.8 yards per game (239.3 passing, 182.5 rushing), but is 69th in total defense, allowing 363.8 yards.

Photo: TSU quarterback Antonio Heffner (16) looks for a receiver during the Tennessee State University VS. Alabama A&M John Merritt Classic football game.

ATLANTA FOOTALL CLASSIC: Fantastic finishes for FAMU, Tenn. State

By STAN AWTREY, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The series between Florida A&M and Tennessee State has produced final-quarter theatrics for the past four years. Each of those games, all FAMU victories, has been decided by six or fewer points. Last year FAMU kicked a field goal to win in overtime.

"Those are great for the fans, but they're hard on the coaches," laughed FAMU coach Rubin Carter. "The overall atmosphere — the alumni from both schools, the venue, the bands — makes for an exciting game."

The excitement should continue Saturday in the 19th Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic. That's partly because both schools start quarterbacks who can generate a buzz throughout the Georgia Dome.

FAMU starts Albert Chester, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior from Miami, who threw for 1,986 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2006. A preseason All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference choice this year, Chester has thrown for 502 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed for 52 yards.

Tennessee State starts Antonio Heffner, a 6-2, 195-pound junior from Memphis, who originally signed with South Carolina. He threw for 1,668 yards and nine touchdowns last year and was first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference.

Heffner threw for a career-best 316 yards and three touchdowns last week against Southern, but also had two interceptions and lost a fumble. He has passed for 954 yards and leads the OVC.

"When you have a balanced attack it puts a lot of pressure on the quarterback," said Tennessee State coach James Webster. "We're like [FAMU]; so goes the quarterback, so goes us."

Both teams have exciting backs. FAMU freshman Phillip Sylvester averages 120.7 yards per game and has twice been named the MEAC's rookie of the week. He rushed for 221 yards against Howard. Tennessee State's Tavarris Williams, a junior who gained 1,233 yards in 2006, averages 106 yards per game. Williams rushed for a career-best 229 against FAMU last year.

"I think both teams match up well through all the personnel groups," Carter said. "The quarterbacks, the tailbacks ... you take that equality across the board with all the different parts of the game."

That could mean a continuation of the recent dramatics:

• 2006: Tennessee State scored 15 points in the final seven minutes to send the game to overtime. FAMU won on Wesley Taylor's 34-yard field goal.

•2005: After a turnover, FAMU stopped Tennessee State from point-blank range near the end of the game and preserved the win with a fourth-down interception.

•2004: FAMU took the lead with 2:12 left and stopped Tennessee State's last-minute effort with an interception.

•2003: FAMU blocked a field goal in the waning minutes and returned it for a touchdown to stun the Tigers, who had led most of the day.

"We're in the entertainment business," Webster said. "We want the people to enjoy themselves and have a good time. But this year we want our fans to be the ones jumping up and down at the end of the game."

19th ANNUAL ATLANTA FOOTBALL CLASSIC: FAMU vs. TSU

By Eric Stirgus, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The streets of downtown Atlanta will be covered with Florida A&M green and orange and Tennessee State blue this weekend as approximately 150,000 people are expected to attend the 19th annual Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic.

Classic events began Wednesday with a town hall meeting on childhood obesity, and will continue with a step show, a health and job fair, parade and Saturday's football game at the Georgia Dome (3 p.m. kickoff). Many of the Thursday and Friday events will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Next to the State Farm Bayou Classic, held each November in New Orleans, the Classic is considered the largest historically black colleges and universities football game and weekend. Slightly more than half of those who will take in some portion of a Classic event come from outside Georgia. The Classic is organized and hosted by 100 Black Men of Atlanta Inc.

"It has grown because we have tried to make it more inclusive," said John T. Grant, 100 Black Men's chief executive officer. "Our goal is to make it a Super Bowl event."

Classic organizers estimate it pumps $30 million into the city's economy. Some proceeds from the weekend's events will go to 100 Black Men of Atlanta's flagship charity, Project Success, a mentorship program for Atlanta Public Schools students.

Florida A&M and Tennessee State played each other in the first two Classic contests in 1989 and 1990 at Georgia Tech's Grant Field. Saturday's game will be the ninth consecutive year they meet in Atlanta. The two schools earlier this year signed a three-year extension to play each other at the Georgia Dome through 2010.

COUNTDOWN

5: Florida A&M's winning streak over Tennessee State

54%: Attendees from outside Georgia

78: Companies at the job fair

3,800: Parade participants

$70,000: Average household income of attendees

Source: 100 Black Men of Atlanta Inc., Atlanta Sports Council

THE SCHOOLS

Tennessee State University


>Mascot: Tigers

>Colors: Reflex Blue and white.

>Founded: Nashville on June 19, 1912, as the Agricultural & Industrial State Normal School, serving 247 students.

>Today: The present-day school, 65 buildings over 500 acres, exists as a result of a 1979 merger with the former University of Tennessee at Nashville. More than 75 percent of the school's 9,000 students are black; 46 states and 45 countries are represented. Since 1994, TSU has been listed in the U.S. News & World Report's "Guide to America's Best Colleges."

>Claim to fame: The Tigerbelles. Coached by Ed Temple and anchored by the great Wilma Rudolph, TSU's women's track team was perhaps the most dominant in history.

>Football: Simply put, TSU was a national power for decades, winning 10 black college national championships, stringing together a 27-game win streak in the early 1950s and producing nearly 100 All-Americans.

Six Great Tigers:

>Oprah Winfrey, media mogul.

> Harold Ford, Sr., politician.

>Ed "Too Tall" Jones, former NFL great.

>Carl Rowan, award-winning journalist.

>Wilma Rudolph, Olympic gold medalist.

>Moses Gunn, co-founder of the Negro Ensemble Company.

Source: Kina Cleveland, a media representative at the university and a 2001 graduate.

Florida A&M University

>Mascot: Rattlers

>Colors: Orange and Green, representing the citrus industry.

>Founded: Oct. 3, 1887, in Tallahassee with one building, two instructors and 15 students as the State Normal College for Colored Students.

>Today: African-Americans represent 92 percent of the school's 11,700 students. In 2006, Black Enterprise named it the best school in the country for African-Americans.

>Claim to Fame: Under William P. Foster, the Marching 100 has been the school's major public relations machine for decades. It marched in the Bastille Day Parade to celebrate the Bicentennial of the French Revolution and performed at the 1993 inaugural parade of Bill Clinton. Earlier this year, they played with Prince at the Super Bowl.

>Football: Beginning in 1945, under legendary coach Alonzo "Jake" Gaither, the school won 203 games in 25 seasons, captured six national titles and produced 36 All-Americans.

Six Great Rattlers:

> Julian "Cannonball" Adderley and Nat Adderly, jazz greats.

> Althea Gibson, tennis great.

>Kwame Kilpatrick, mayor of Detroit.

> Pam Oliver, sports reporter.

>LaSalle D. Leffall, former president of the American Cancer Society.

Source: Murell Dawson, archivist and curator of the Carrie Meek-James N. Eaton Sr. Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum and 1983 FAMU graduate.

FAMU vs Tenn. State: Atlanta Classic sure to be close

Photo: FAMU Head Football Coach Rubin Carter

By Heath A. Smith, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Considering the way the last four Atlanta Classics have finished, you can expect just about anything to happen when Florida A&M and Tennessee State clash for the 47th time Saturday.

"It's always a tough game against Tennessee State," said FAMU coach Rubin Carter. "They don't quit and we also have that identity. The game is a real fan pleaser. It's tough on the coaches, though. It's come down to the wire the past two years."

Each of the last four games has been decided by less than seven points, with FAMU coming out on top in all four. Carter has been on the sideline for the last two FAMU-TSU nail-biters.

Photo: Albert Chester II gets congratulated by Coach Carter for win over Howard.

Defensive tackle Steve St. Felix intercepted a pass in the end zone in the fourth quarter to preserve a 12-7 FAMU victory in 2005.

Linebacker Dannel Shepard used his head in overtime to knock the ball out of running back Javarris Williams' grasp to set up Wesley Taylor's game-winning field goal.

"I can't take all the credit for that play," Sheppard said. "There were 10 other guys out there. Without those other 10 guys executing their assignments that play wouldn't have been made."

The FAMU players at Tuesday's weekly press luncheon seemed prepared for another down-to-the-wire battle in the Georgia Dome.

"This game always seems to be close," said senior defensive end Tyrone McGriff. "You know every year it is going to come down to a couple points.

"Even though it is a nonconference game, it is a big game for us. Our nonconference games count for a lot if we hope to get an at-large bid to the playoffs."


Last go-around
For seniors such as Shepard and running back Anthony Edwards, Saturday's game will be the last chance to make memories in the Georgia Dome.

"The atmosphere is great," Shepard said. "When you walk out on that field, the first thing you have to realize is that you have to be focused. It's the biggest adrenaline rush you can imagine."

For Edwards, an Atlanta native, playing in his hometown once again is even more special.

"It's always good to come home and play," Edwards said. "All my family and friends can come watch me play. I get real excited going inside of the Dome. I grew up watching the Falcons play in middle school and high school and working at the Dome.

"I saw all the high-school games in the Dome. It's always a good feeling going there, and I won't let anybody down."

Love that surface
Although FAMU plays its home game on grass, the players seem to have a fondness for the artificial turf in the Georgia Dome.

Former linebacker Shedrick Copeland, who blocked a Tennessee State field goal that led to a winning touchdown in 2003, said he liked the spring of the carpet.

Senior defensive end Tyrone McGriff said the Dome turf plays into the Rattlers' principal strength.

"Our defense is designed for speed," McGriff said. "We have the advantage in that area against most teams we play. We're smaller than most teams, but we're faster. When we get on turf, it is the closest thing to a track meet."

Enjoying the bye
Sheppard said the bye week was just what his team needed, especially after picking up a win heading into it.

"There is nothing like going into a bye week with a victory," Sheppard said. "You walk around smiling, feeling real good wearing your colors. You feel like it's only going to get better. Coming off the bye week, I think we are focused and ready to do what we need to do."

Atlanta Classic now RB showcase

Photo: Freshman RB Phillip Sylvester was unstoppable against Howard U.

By Heath A. Smith, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

One of the major story lines heading into Saturday's Atlanta Classic is the matchup of running backs Philip Sylvester and Javarris Williams.

Sylvester, Florida A&M's freshman sensation from Marianna, is coming off a 222-yard performance Sept. 15 against Howard.

Williams, a junior from Texas, burned FAMU for 229 yards in last year's classic and almost led Tennessee State to its first win in five years against the Rattlers - until he fumbled the ball inside the 10 in overtime.

Both backs come into Saturday's game among the top rushers in the NCAA Division I championship subdivision and will be key factors.

"Watching him on film, (Williams) is a very smart back," said FAMU senior linebacker Dannel Shepard. "He reads his linemen, he knows how to cut his holes and he is a hard runner. I give him much respect for that. He doesn't play around when the ball is in his hands."

FAMU's defense struggled against the run last year, but has looked more stout through three games this season. Williams will provide another test.

"Against Howard, we really did a good job of controlling and attacking our gaps on defense," Sheppard said. "If we continue to do that we can minimize a lot of the yards (Williams) gets on the ground."

Atlanta native Anthony Edwards led FAMU with 101 yards rushing against Tennessee State last year. He says Sylvester's speed gives FAMU's offense another dimension.

"That boy is fast," said Edwards, a senior. "That 95-yarder he had against Howard - people ask me if I would have been able to make that run. Only thing I could come up with to tell them was that I guarantee I would have gotten the first down, but after everybody would have started running after me, I don't think I would have made it."

Sylvester, preparing for his Georgia Dome debut, said his focus will not be outdoing Williams.

"When I go into a game, I really don't try and compare myself to anybody else," Sylvester said. "What he does has nothing to do with what I'm going to to do or what I'm capable of doing. I'm worrying about our offensive scheme and their defense."

Saturday: 3 p.m. on FSN (joined in progress at 4 p.m.), WHBX (96.1 FM).

Tennessee State Hall returns to field; two others hurt

Photo: TSU RB Jarvarrius Williams rushed for over 200 yards against FAMU in 2006 Atlanta Football Classic.

By MIKE ORGAN, Tennessean Staff Writer

Tennessee State's defense may get one of its best players back, but could be without two others for Saturday's game against Florida A&M.

Starting cornerback Marquez Hall, a transfer from Vanderbilt who missed the last two games with a high ankle sprain, is expected to play when the Tigers meet Florida A&M in the Atlanta Football Classic at 2 p.m. in the Georgia Dome.

Starting defensive end Shaun Richardson and nose guard Harold Ayodele, however,
are "doubtful" for this week's game, according to Coach James Webster. Richardson is hampered by a bruised shoulder and sprained knee, while Ayodele has a sprained ankle.

Hall was back for Tuesday's practice. Richardson and Ayodele did not practice.

Hall sprained his ankle late in the Sept. 15 game at Austin Peay. The staff considered playing him last week at Southern, but rain and sloppy field conditions kept him sidelined.

"The field was in such bad shape — it was a grass field and it had lumps in it and holes and divots — that we just didn't want to take a chance because he's too valuable to us,'' Webster said.
Hall has a better chance of playing Saturday because the Georgia Dome has an artificial surface.

Travis Stubblefield, a freshman from Beech, replaced Ayodele in Tuesday's practice while several players were rotated at Richardson's position.

Richardson leads the team in sacks (4), tackles for loss (6), and quarterback hurries (3). He also has forced two fumbles and recovered one.

"Shaun has been huge — when he's healthy he's as good as there is,'' Webster said. "But right now he's beat up."

Work to do: After committing five turnovers in the second half of last week's 41-34 loss to Southern, the Tigers' offensive players spent extra time Tuesday working on ball-handling drills.

TSU has dropped to last in the Ohio Valley Conference and 113th out of 116
teams nationally in turnover margin at minus-2.25. The Tigers have committed
15 turnovers (8 fumbles, 7 interceptions) while gaining six (5 fumbles, 1 interception).

"We've been putting a lot of effort into protecting the football and we'll continue to do that,'' Webster said.

Top 10: TSU receiver Chris Johnson is ranked ninth nationally in receiving yards per game, averaging 98 yards a game. The junior from Glencliff High School had six catches for 119 yards and a TD against Southern.

Stopping Sylvester: TSU's defense will have its hands full trying to stop Florida A&M freshman running back Phillip Sylvester. He was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week after A&M's last game (Sept. 15) when he rushed for 222 yards on just 21 carries and returned a trap play 94 yards for a TD in a 30-17 win over Howard.

Tennessee State turnovers may force change

By MIKE ORGAN, the Tennessean

Heffner remains starter for now

Even after Antonio Heffner turned the ball over four times against Southern on Saturday night, Tennessee State Coach James Webster said he's not changing quarterbacks.

But he's not ruling out the possibility either.

If Heffner, a second-year starter, continues to be so generous with the football, he could end up on the bench.

All of Heffner's turnovers came in the second half and were big factors in Southern's 41-34 come-from-behind win over the TSU.

"When you have turnovers on your team there are two things you can do as a coach," Webster said. "You keep working on what's causing the turnovers, and then if you continue to turn the ball over you have to limit the opportunities of the individual who is turning the ball over."

Running back Javarris Williams also fumbled the ball away in the third quarter, as TSU had five turnovers in the second half after committing none in the first.

TDs and turnovers

The dilemma for Webster is that it was Heffner who helped TSU build a 27-6 first-half lead. He ran for a touchdown and passed for two others.

In the second half, however, Heffner threw two interceptions and fumbled twice. His first fumble led to a Southern TD and his second came on TSU's final possession of the game with 1:45 remaining.

On the season, Heffner has thrown seven interceptions and six touchdowns. With the two fumbles Saturday, he's been responsible for a total of nine turnovers in four games.

Webster said he was not ready to give freshman backup Calvin McNairl more time with the first team in practice.

"Heff is our starter and I still have all the confidence in the world in Heffner," Webster said. "He's just got to make better decisions with the football."

Webster has said since the preseason that Heffner pushes himself too far at times when trying to make something happen on the field. And too often, that ends up in a bungled play.

"I felt like (Saturday) he reverted back to thinking, 'I've got to make a play," Webster said. "He was pushing a little bit. He doesn't have to make a play — all he needs to do is manage the game."

Hall still out: Starting cornerback Marquez Hall, a transfer from Vanderbilt who suffered a high ankle sprain Sept. 8 against Jackson State, was still not able to play Saturday.

Starting safety Anthony Levine, who missed last week's game against Austin Peay with strep throat, returned and made five tackles.

Tennessee State University Aristocrat of Bands

Tennessee State coach says some fans gave up on Tigers

Photo: TSU Athletic Director Teresa Phillips

By MIKE ORGAN, The Tennessean

James Webster is most proud of his Tennessee State players for not giving up on themselves and hanging on to win Saturday's game against Jackson State.

The Tigers coach is perplexed, however, by those who did give up on his team before the game ever started.

Webster said he heard from fans that threw in the towel on the Tigers after their season-opening, 49-23 loss to Alabama A&M. It was the first thing he brought up after Saturday's 16-13 win at the Memphis Liberty Bowl.

"I think there were some people who gave up on us for the season after we lost by whatever we did to Alabama A&M,'' Webster said. "That is something I don't understand."

One person who didn't give up was TSU athletics director Teresa L. Phillips, one of the first to greet the Tigers Saturday night as they came out of the locker room after rallying to win.

"Our president (Melvin Johnson) didn't give up on us and our AD didn't give up on us,'' Webster said. "And that's all I worry about because they're my boss and they're leaders. They were very supportive of us and encouraged us, and that's what matters to me."

Mentally tough

Webster said his players proved their tenacity Saturday, not becoming frustrated despite scoring only two touchdowns, and hanging tough until the final play. That's when Eric Benson kicked a 35-yard field goal in the rain for TSU's only lead.

"There was no question about it, mental toughness was the main thing we improved on from the first game to the second,'' Webster said.

"If we would have had the same mental toughness in the Alabama A&M game that we had in this game, I think we would have won the Alabama A&M game. We showed it when we were behind the entire game (against JSU) but continued to play hard."

It won't get easier for TSU this week when the Tigers travel to Austin Peay, even though the Governors were picked to finish last in the OVC in their first year back in the league. They beat Indiana State Saturday 32-17 and are off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2002.

Hall's status: Starting cornerback Marquez Hall, a transfer from Vanderbilt, suffered a high ankle sprain in the fourth quarter against JSU. He is day-to-day.