FAMU Rattlers arriving early to take care of studies

Tallahassee, FL - Florida A&M running back James Owens went home to Orlando for a brief stay, then returned to the grind of offseason conditioning. This week he began an even more important chapter in his summertime routine — attending classes.

For Owens and most of the 65 other players who didn't go home for the summer, attending classes is an option they decided they'd take. It's one way of easing the fall semester workload in the classroom and keeping them on course for on-time graduation.

"I probably would be at home watching a lot of TV and doing nothing," said Owens, a walk-on who earned a scholarship following an impressive spring. "Now I'm in Tallahassee working out and studying I know I'm doing the right thing."



For the football players, who have demanding fall semesters packed with playbooks, traveling and practices in addition to their class work, summer school means they could carry fewer than the average 16 hours during the season. But there are some like defensive tackle Padric Scott, who doesn't have much of a choice when it comes to summer school because of their majors.

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FAMU's Robinson to miss rest of season

Offensive tackle Steven Robinson will miss the rest of the season with the Florida A&M football team after undergoing surgery to repair a broken left ankle that he sustained in Saturday's win over Delaware State University.

The loss of the former Lincoln High School standout will create a bit of shifting of personnel on the line, but coach Joe Taylor said Monday that he didn't expect the unit to see any drop off in talent. Jarian Moreland, a 6-foot-5, 320-pound transfer from the University of Central Florida, will replace Robinson at left tackle, Taylor said.

Robinson went down early in the fourth quarter of FAMU's 17-14 victory over Delaware State University. FAMU also had to play the second half without running back Philip Sylvester, who twisted his right ankle.



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FAMU to begin practice with walkthroughs

Not long after Mike Caldwell began coaching in the NFL, he was invited by Joe Taylor to talk with his football team. Taylor himself had a few questions, including one about what Caldwell would have done differently if he had to return to coach on the college level. The response from Caldwell, who coached several college teams, was pretty simple. More walk-through practices.

Taylor, who begins his third season at Florida A&M, took heed and has since started each of his preseason camps with several days of walk-through drills that allow his players to focus mentally on their roles. And, so it will be when the Rattlers begin practice on Wednesday afternoon.

"It's big because we are learning mentally so when we get on the field and put on the pads nobody is slow and nobody gets hurt," said defensive end Kendrick Washington. "The mental aspect is knowing yourself and knowing what your opponent can do." Players tend to be more attentive during the days that they have to concentrate on theory rather than banging bodies, Taylor said.

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Education and ministry focus of leadership for Rattlers' Blue

Former FAMU Rattlers defensive back Dr. Tyrone A. Blue is currently the principal of Grand Park Education Center in Jacksonville, FL and senior pastor at First Missionary Baptist Church of Gainesville, Florida. The West Nassau High School alumnus earned all-county honors as a Warrior student-athlete and was the first player in Nassau County to play in the North/South All-Star Game, competing in 1984.

As a former Warrior standout, Tyrone A. Blue took opposing teams to school. Now that he's an educator, he helps lead students and athletes down the path for success. Blue has served for four years as the principal of Grand Park Education Center in Jacksonville, which houses a wide gamut of students who have been forced out of the mainstream education system.

"This in itself is a ministry," he said. "Part of my ministry every day is to give them hope that they can be successful, but it's dependant on them to make good choices."

Education wasn't exactly the ideal career path for Blue, who had high ambition for the NFL as a defensive back for Florida A&M University. Two days prior to an NFL camp in the summer of his junior year, Blue suffered a broken neck from a car accident that permanently sidelined his career on the field. Being forced to rethink his path, Blue soon found the answer that would change his life.

"Through the experience, God spoke intimately," he said. "He told me, 'You saw yourself in the NFL, but I see you doing other work: my work.' That wasn't easy for me to take."

Before his career in education, Blue was a superior student athlete for West Nassau and FAMU. In 1984, he was the first player in Nassau County history to play in the North/South All-Star game in Winter Park. Despite losing a close game to the South team, Blue was blown away at the opportunity to be selected.

Florida A&M Releases 2010 Football Schedule

Florida A&M University has released its football schedule for the upcoming 2010 football season. To say the least, it has balance for the Northeast Corridor alums and for those that seldom travel outside of Florida and Georgia. The season opens on the road with the Rattlers traveling to Sun Life Stadium to face the University of Miami Hurricanes on September 2. After receiving a much needed $600,000 payoff from Miami, the Rattlers hit the road to face MEAC conference foe Delaware State Hornets on September 11, in Dover, Delaware.

The following week, September 18, the Rattlers are on the road again to play Howard University in Washington, D.C. Then, its off to Atlanta for the annual get together with rival Tennessee State at the Georgia Dome on September 25. in the Atlanta Football Classic.

Only four home contests are scheduled with the Rattlers facing the three challenger for the MEAC crown at Bragg Memorial Stadium. First up is a home date on October 2, with 2-Time MEAC champion, South Carolina State Bulldogs. This game will decide the MEAC championship, not that anyone is looking past the other conference foes. An open date is scheduled for October 2, followed by an October 16, home contest with FCS Independent Savannah State Tigers.

The next home game is scheduled for October 30, with the defensive-minded Morgan State Bears. This is FAMU's homecoming and it always is a difficult contest when the Rattlers and Bears get together. The final home date is November 13, when Joe Taylor's former team, the Hampton Pirates visits Tallahassee for the big payback.

The only surprise on the schedule is Norfolk State scheduling the Rattlers for their homecoming on October 23, at Dick Price Stadium. FAMU will have a tough contest with North Carolina A&T on November 6, in Greensboro, N.C. The Aggies are a few years away from competing for the MEAC crown, but can be the spoiler in 2010.

FAMU closes out the regular season on November 20 in Orlando, Florida, with Bethune-Cookman in the annual Florida Classic. With a soft road schedule in 2010, the Rattlers should be primed to do some damage in the FCS Playoffs, starting on November 27. Fans are expecting a regular season record of 10-1 and the MEAC Championship being returned to its rightful place in Tallahassee.

FAMU Rattlers 2010 Football Schedule
9/2 at University of Miami, Miami Gardens, FL
9/11 at *Delaware State, Dover, DE
9/18 at *Howard, Washington, D.C.
9/25 at Tennessee State, Georgia Dome, Atlanta (Atlanta Football Classic)
10/2 *South Carolina State, Tallahassee, FL
10/9 OPEN
10/16 Savannah State, Tallahassee, FL
10/23 at *Norfolk State, Norfolk, VA (Spartans homecoming)
10/30 *Morgan State, Tallahassee, FL
11/6 at*North Carolina A&T, Greensboro, NC
11/13 *Hampton, Tallahassee, FL
11/20 *Bethune-Cookman, Orlando, FL, (Florida Classic)

11/27 FCS National Playoffs

-beepbeep

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Florida A&M Coach Has Faith in His Rebuilding Program

Tallahassee, FL — When Joe Taylor took over as the football coach at Florida A&M, barely a month after the Rattlers lost six of their last seven games to finish 3-8 in 2007, he summoned every returning player for an individual conference. In each session, he asked the same question: why did things happen the way they did last season? And each player pointed the finger at someone else. Not one acknowledged any role. “There was a whole lot of what I call deflecting,” Taylor, 59, said in recent interview.

Coach Joe Taylor stands next to the statue of legendary Rattlers Coach Alonzo S. "Jake" Gaither on the campus of Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL.

Taylor said that he realized that the job facing him was more than returning Florida A&M to its customary success. He had to oversee a character makeover, which for him meant a regimen of churchgoing, class work and off-season training. As he said, “My whole idea is that if you can improve the person, you can improve the player.” Less than two years later, the results vindicate the thesis. Taylor’s 2008 team went 9-3, and after last Saturday’s 31-28 overtime victory against Morgan State, the Rattlers were 6-2 in 2009, with one of those losses to Miami.

Florida A&M now ranks in the top 25 in the N.C.A.A. Football Championship Subdivision poll for the first time in eight years. Before Saturday’s home game against North Carolina A&T, the No. 24 Rattlers were in second place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and third in the Sheridan Broadcasting System ranking of historically black colleges. Impressive as the improvements have been, the Florida A&M tradition demands even more. Taylor toils here in the shadow of Jake Gaither, one of the greatest college football coaches ever, who retired in 1969 with a career record of 203-36-4.



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FAMU player shot by gunshot; suspect arrested

Sunday morning update - 6:15 a.m.

Florida A&M Police Department informed students by text alert that a suspect has been arrested in Saturday night’s shooting. The text alert was sent to students at 3:59 a.m. Sunday. It says, “All clear/arrest made. An arrest has been made in the shooting incident on FAMU campus.” No other details were given about the arrest. The shooting occurred Saturday around 10:10 p.m. after FAMU’s football opener. FAMU athletics officials confirmed late Saturday that running back Lonvontae Page was "grazed" in the arm by the ricochet bullet.



As many as two other people also were hurt in the campus shooting incident, said Lt. Norman Rollins of the FAMU Police Department. Two groups of people were arguing on the steps of Gibbs Hall near the stadium, Rollins said.

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There should be zero tolerance of guns and other weapons on any college campus. The penalty, in addition to locking their butts up and melting the key, should be automatic expulsion and a lifetime band from attending any State University in the U.S. Let'em attend some private thug college with high tuition and no federal dollars assistance. This type of foolishness may have an adverse impact on FAMU home game attendance as folks will be more concerned for their safety than being entertained by a great Marching 100 band and a superb Rattler football team. Time to bring out the metal detectors and guards--just like at the airports and get these armed fools off the FAMU campus.

-beepbeep

'Crow' could fly: Bob Hayes' legendary career began in Jacksonville

"People are coming by the bus loads; it's going to be an amazing sight," said Bob Hayes Jr., a Dallas resident who will help present his father for induction along with Roger Staubach, the Cowboys' Hall of Fame quarterback." Many of Hayes' Gilbert High classmates and football players from the 1958 black state championship team are taking a charter bus to Canton. Dr. James Ammons, the Florida A&M president, and three past presidents of the school will also be in attendance.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — You called him "Bullet." But they called Bob Hayes "Crow." Long before he became the world’s fastest human by winning double gold medals at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo — and well before he came to Dallas to play for the Cowboys, earning a Super Bowl ring and in the process changing the game — he was "Crow."

On the brink of his posthumous induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his former high school teammates and childhood friends shared their memories of Hayes as a youth. Not of the world-renowned "Bullet" Bob Hayes, who is still the only man in history to win an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring and was so fast that opposing teams had to revise how to play zone defenses. But of "Crow:" the playground speedster yet reluctant athlete who honed his skills in the sand and muck on the east side of Jacksonville in an area called the black bottom.

Sitting in a wheelchair outside a beat-up old house on the corner of Odessa and Iona, Charles Sutton started to laugh. "I would say 'Bullet’ and he would say, 'Stop that, Knotts,’ " said Sutton, whose childhood nickname was Knotts because he would bump his head so many times that it would swell up in, well, knots. "I said, I can’t call you Bullet. They call you Bullet. He said call me what you been calling me."

2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement
WHEN: 7 p.m., Saturday.WHERE: Canton, Ohio. TV: ESPN/NFL Network. Inductees: Bob Hayes, Ralph Wilson, Randall McDaniel, Rod Woodson, Derrick Thomas, Bruce Smith.

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USA wins the 4 x 100m relay at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics in a then World Record time of 39.06 seconds. The improbable victory was made possible by the phenomenally swift anchor leg run by FAMU's (#702) Robert Lee "Bullet Bob" Hayes.

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FAMU blasts Howard Bison

PHOTO GALLERIES:
FAMU at Howard Pregame
FAMU 51 Howard 24

Even a certain gentleman who lives in a big white house several blocks from here would have struggled to bail out the hometown Howard University Bison. Like the Bison, he probably would have never had time to react to a Florida A&M football team that simply came on too strong -- too early. Now 17 days removed from a game they lost in overtime, the Rattlers appeared to need little time to overwhelm the Bison on their way to a 51-24 road win.

In less than one minute, the Rattlers turned a 3-0 lead in the first quarter into 17-0 with two long defensive touchdowns. First, FAMU defensive end Joseph Wims picked up a fumbled snap and made a mad 65-yard dash for a touchdown, the first of his career. "Before the game, (head coach Joe Taylor) was talking about 'Start out fast. Start out fast,?' " Wims said. "When they made errors, we just capitalized on it. We just do our job. We expect to win. That's why we got up at 5:45 in the morning all spring -- for this."

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ATTENDANCE: 5,297 (53%) at William H. Greene Stadium, Washington, D.C. (Capacity: 10,000).

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Leon's Patterson, Miami native Joseph seek second chances at FAMU

They use summer workouts to angle for spot on Rattlers

Anytime during the upcoming football season that coach Joe Taylor decides to show living examples of perseverance, he might just call Darrius Patterson and Marcus Joseph to the head of the line.

Like the other walk-ons who have been toiling through the offseason, they've got their stories. Patterson had to shed the demon of academic ineligibility. Joseph just refused to take no for an answer in pursuit of his dream to play college football.

Their journey had similar beginnings. Patterson played well enough to earn a starting role at linebacker on Leon High School team, and Joseph was a better-than-average cornerback at Miami Columbus. Neither drew interest from major college scouts.

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FAMU Rattlers defense shuffles its options

Wisdom from FAMU Coach Joe Taylor: "I always tell a young man don't let a dollar bill decide your value; even if you come and you're not on scholarship," he said. "If you do what's important, do what necessary-- you easily come on money."

During his first two seasons playing defensive end at Florida A&M, Dozell Varner always felt like he should be playing another position. With that, FAMU football coach Joe Taylor didn't have to look too far to find a fit for the new defensive scheme that he's putting in place this spring.

Varner has been making the transition to linebacker, part of Taylor's switch of FAMU's defensive scheme to an odd-man front which will require an extra linebacker on the field. Varner's switch is one of four that Taylor has made on defense, with one on offense that moved Kalum Harris from halfback to fullback.

Taylor didn't hesitate when Varner requested the change before he knew it would fit Taylor's plans perfectly.

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FAMU Walk-ons working to impress

Photo: #3 Former FAMU Rattler WR Willie Hayward, Miami Jackson Senior High School, Miami, FL. , vs. WSSU Rams in last season's Circle City Classic.

Aja Hayward heard the voices. They were telling him to play receiver like his older brother, Willie. He refused, deciding to play safety instead.

Willie is no longer a Rattler, leaving at the end of last season with legacy as one of the best receivers to play at FAMU in the last two seasons. Now it's Aja's turn to try to make become a Rattler as a walk-on, the same route that his brother took to join the team.

It has not been an easy quest through the first two and a half weeks of spring practice, though. FAMU has plenty of experience in the secondary, but Aja isn't backing down as one of a handful of players who are trying to earn their keep without scholarships.

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FAMU coach Taylor not expecting to remember everyone

FAMU coach already seeing some separation

There are some names that Florida A&M football coach Joe Taylor won't even try to remember. Then there are those that he won't ever forget, even if it's just the first or last names.

"Some guys are not going to play," Taylor said bluntly. "When 10 guys do their job and the ball gets to you, you've got to catch it. If you call yourself a team player, that's what a team player does."

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Florida A&M University announce football signings

Florida A&M first day national letter of intent signings are as follows:

1. Joseph Hall, DE/T, 6-2/265, Metuchen, NJ
2. Corey Dawe, OG/OT, 6-3/275, Orlando Dr. Phillips
3. Lavontae Page, RB, 5-11/215, Douglas Ga.
4. Oye Ojo, FS/WR, 6-4/190, Florida High, Tallahassee,FL
5. Bryant Frazier, LB, 6-2/230, Meadowbrook HS, Chesterfield, Va.
6. Martin Ukpai, QB, 6-3/180, Fort Lauderdale High, Coral Spring, FL
7. Michael Greene, DB, 6-1/183, Lovejoy HS, Hampton, Ga.
8. Kevin Noble, LB, 6-3, 218, Burlington HS, Burlington, N.C.
9. Jerrell Steward, CB, 5-9/165, Deerfield Beach, FL
10. Nicardo Blake, K, 5-10/160 Boyd Anderson HS, Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
11. Derrick Warthen, CB/RB, 5-10/175, Boyd Anderson, Lauderdale Lakes FL
12. Sean Rush, SS, 6-1/203, Otay Ranch HS Chula Vista, California

Michael Greene is rated a two-star player by both both Rivals.com and Scout.com. Greene was a quarterback up until this season, when he was moved to safety. He had 60tackles this season after throwing for 925 yards and rushing for 404in 2006. He also finished second in the high jump in the Class AAAA state meet last spring with a jump of 6 feet, 6 inches.

Bryant Frazier, DL, Meadow brook: Monarchs' DE was Central District player of the year. Had 51 tackles, including 17 for losses and six sacks. Contributed two blocked kicks and 11 QB hurries.

Martin Ukpai is a dual threat quarterback that is rated 2-stars by Rival.com; Brantley and Greene are rated 2-starts, also.

FAMU begins hiring process for new athletics director and head football coach

Audio of Florida A&M University President Dr. James Ammons press conference - November 20, 2007, including questions and answers with press corps.

Audio Link: http://tallahassee.com/assets/mp3/CD921311120.MP3

FAMU president released the following statements today involving the termination of the Rattlers athletic director and head football coach.

Press Release: November 20, 2007

Tallahassee, Fla. - Florida A&M University (FAMU) President James H. Ammons said today he would begin the hiring process for a new Athletic Director and Head Coach.

Athletic Director Nelson Townsend resigned today and will be on administrative leave with pay until February 12, 2008, his last day of employment. Head Football Coach Rubin Carter, received a "notice of non-reappointment and employment separation." He has been placed on administrative leave with pay. His last day of employment is April 22, 2008.

Ammons said that he would fill the positions by the end of the year. He announced to the staff in the athletics department this morning that Allen Bogan, an assistant professor and former assistant football coach, would serve as interim until a permanent director is hired.

"I am appreciative of tremendous work Mr. Townsend and Coach Carter have done during the period when we were working to address the NCAA sanctions," said Ammons. "We want to move in a new direction with the athletics program. I'm moving forward with the hiring process."

Townsend began his tenure at FAMU in January 2006 as the athletics director. He has had more than 30 years of experience in athletics and education. He previously served as director of athletics at FAMU from 1986-1987. He also served as athletic director at University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Delaware State University and the University of Buffalo.

Carter was appointed head coach in July 2005. He was an All-American defensive lineman at the University of Miami in 1974 and had a 12-year career in the National Football League with the Denver Broncos. Prior to coming to FAMU, Carter had more than 18 years of professional and collegiate coaching experience.


Compiled by beepbeep

The Morning After the Florida Classic

by beepbeep

Florida A&M University 2007 football season was terrible, uninspiring and certainly not entertaining unless you were expecting to watch a horror flick.

I'm not going to waste the winter, spring and summer months dissecting why the Rattlers were so bad. It really doesn't matter, as ultimately the head coach is totally responsible. So, look no further than the top guy, the all-pro, the talent selector, recruiter, X and 0 man for all the answers. I'm sure the excuses will be plentiful and it won't change the outcome--the Rattlers are 16-17 the past three years. If you want to add the 2004 1-A season to the mix, make that 19-25.

For ole Rattlers like me, that more than I can stomach.

FCS No. 5 ranked Southern Illinois University of the Gateway conference recently had the same problems as FAMU.

This is the 10-1 Salukis program that trampled former three time MEAC champions Hampton University yesterday 45-27 (in Hampton, VA), on their way to the 2007 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. Southern Illinois will be making their fifth consecutive appearance in the playoffs as the #4 Seed and their only loss this season came from Gateway foe, No. 1 ranked FCS Northern Iowa (#1 Seed), the Gateway conference champions. The Salukis also beat Division I FBC Northern Illinois.

Prior to the hiring of head coach Jerry Kill in 2001, Southern Illinois had 11 consecutive losing season. The Salukis had never won a gateway conference championship and now, they've won three straight. They had been to the playoffs only once in school history and now its five straight playoffs appearances. In 2005, the Salukis beat Eastern Illinois to win their first playoff game since 1983. The Salukis spent 10 weeks atop the I-AA polls, and Kill was named the winner of the Eddie Robinson Award honoring the Coach of the Year in I-AA in 2004.

But it wasn't always that way.

Kill first season was 1-10; his second 4-8 before the over achiever's resurrection of Saluki football with consecutive playoff campaigns beginning in 2003 with 10-2, 10-2, 9-4, 9-4, and 10-1 in 2007. In 2004, his squad was remarkable with the defense ranked #1 in the nation in points allowed, while the offense ranked #3 in points scored. The team set a record for consecutive home wins with 12 and broke numerous statistical records on offense and defense.

Southern Illinois 2004 season came on the heels of a exceptional 2003 campaign in which SI shocked the world of I-AA football by winning its first 10 games and advancing to the playoffs for the first time in 20 years. Kill was runner-up for the Eddie Robinson Award in `03.

Raised in a working class family, Kill became the first member of his family to graduate from college, earning a teaching degree with a minor in biology for Division II Southwestern College, Kansas. His head coaching gigs were at Division II Saginaw Valley State (Mich) and Emporia State (Kan).

Much closer to home, Grambling State's Melvin Spears once had similar problems like FAMU.

After Spears firing, Rod Broadway who built North Carolina Central University into a Division II powerhouse in four years, steps in with vision and experience. In one season, Coach Broadway moved Grambling State forward with an undefeated conference record 8-0 SWAC and two competitive losses to Football Bowl Championship division Big East Conference Pittsburg (L 34-10) and Louisiana -Monroe (L 28-14) of the Sun Belt Conference. The Tigers will face Jackson State for the SWAC Championship on December 15, after playing Southern University next weekend in the Bayou Classic.

Not bad for a coach that is using the other guy's players. Broadway has the opportunity to end the season at 10-2, with an FCS No. 18 ranking or higher if the Tigers take care of business with Southern (Bayou Classic) and Jackson State in the conference championship game.

Under Spears, Grambling State was 3-8 in 2006.

"I'm really proud of these kids," Broadway said. "We have some good kids that wanted to be a championship-type football team. They've done a good job of listening, learning and buying in. "You should have a chance to be successful here. Not being critical, but we've got to recruit a better athlete than what we have. If we can do that, we can be really successful in this league."

When Prairie View A&M University went searching for a program change, it reached down to Division II and East to Bowie State University. There, it selected Henry Frazier III to resurrect a program that had 20 head coaches over the past 31 years, without a winning season. In fact, PVAMU holds the modern era NCAA Division I record with 80 consecutive losses.

Frazier believed he was given the opportunity to head the best Division I program in America. Never mind the fact that Prairie View last winning season was when Frazier was in third grade and that the school had the second smallest budget in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

None of that fazed Frazier and he steadily improved the program, moving from a 3-8 record in 2006 to the school's best record in 41 years at 7-3, 6-3 SWAC.

Prairie View second place finish behind Grambling State in the West Division is a tremendous improvement for the program and a confidence builder that you can move mountains with solid coaching, hard work, vision and initiative.

No one questions the facts that having good facilities, administrative support, commitment of the fan base and top student-athletes can help the advancement to the top quicker.

Take for example, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe Norfolk State University.

For ten years, the Spartans faithful laid the foundation with top-notch facilities, financial and fan support and increased scholarships in their methodical transition from Division II, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association to Division I, MEAC. For seven years, NSU won nothing more than the rights to be on every one's homecoming schedule.

This all changed when the University president went outside the box and hired Pete Adrian three years ago. Adrian had 38 years of coaching experience, 33 at the collegiate level. At Rhode Island, he was on staff for three Yankee Conference championships and NCAA playoff teams.

Coach Adrian has been named one of 16 finalists for the 2007 Eddie Robinson Award, given annually by The Sports Network to the national Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Coach of the Year. His Spartans are tied for second in the MEAC with SCSU, with a slight outside chance of going to the FCS playoffs.

After taking over a program that won two games combined in 2003 and 2004, Adrian has turned NSU into a winner in just three years. After consecutive four-win seasons his first two years (2005 and 2006), Adrian guided the Spartans to a 8-3 record in 2007. Under Adrian’s guidance, NSU clinched the program’s first winning record in the Division I era (since 1997), won a program-best six MEAC games (6-2 record), a final Top 30 FCS ranking (#28)and lead the program in its first FBS Division I game against #5 ranked Rutgers.

I don't know about you--Rattlers, but it has been so long that I cannot recall the last time a FAMU football team was ranked in the Top 25 in the division nor loss 25 games over a four year span. I find no peace in measuring the Rattlers against North Carolina A&T State University and their 27 consecutive losses or having our beloved Rattlers viewed as a conference and FCS cupcake. What are (Mighty) Rattlers without the mighty but just plain old garden snakes with no bite.

Even a patient person runs out of patience--just ask a Prairie View, Aggies or Rattlers fan.

Statement from 'former' FAMU starting QB Albert Chester II

After reading Chester's statement, I have one final comment on this matter. No time is a good time to leave, be it before the season or before the 5th game. So, let's treat his decision like a season ending injury with no eligibility left for a fifth year senior. No need to over analyze or second guess his rationale for leaving. Life goes forward, especially for Rattlers!

Thank you for all your services to the FAMU RattlerNation, Mr. Chester and God bless you... (beepbeep)


Albert Chester's statement announcing his decision to leave the Florida A&M football team:

Today I come to you as a man - as a man who has to make a decision on my current well-being and my future. Throughout my career as a Rattler football player, I've sustained numerous injuries to my right arm. In January 2005, I first injured my elbow and I promptly took a trip to the world-renown Dr. Andrews at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. This is when I was first diagnosed with an entrapped nerve. During the same year, I dislocated my right shoulder.

In 2006, I broke my left middle finger and severely sprained my right thumb and my wrist; all on my right hand. During 2006, I also had to leave and have two abscesses removed off my leg during the season.

This brings us to 2007. I sprained my right shoulder and the nerve in my elbow was re-aggravated for trying to come back too early. I'm not saying this to complain because you have to love this game to play it; and I do. But to make a long explanation short, my entrapped
nerve has caused me to lose the feeling in my right hand and extreme pain in my forearm and extreme pain in my biceps and triceps. Playing this year has been a painful experience.

I spoke with my physician and my family and we've come to a decision that will be in my best interest to no longer play football. The possible damage that lies ahead if I keep playing could possibly affect me for the rest of my life.

I would like to thank the many that recruited me, even though we've had our squabbles in the past, (and) coach Billy Joe and coach (Rubin) Carter for allowing me the opportunity to be a FAMU football player, quarterback and captain on the team. Both have touched me in
ways they'll never understand.

To my teammates; I wish them the best of luck for the rest of the season and in life. To Isaac West, Eddie Battle, Philip Sylvester and Tobias Lee; hope you all remember the things I've said and become the great players and great men I know you all can be.

As far as my life if concerned, the story doesn't end here so don't be sorry for me. I'm a fifth-year senior, a Pharm.D candidate, so you'll probably see me in the pharmacy filling your prescriptions or trying to counsel you on your medicine. I'll also be around town and with different organizations.

I will like to say I love everyone all over Rattler nation, even though some of you don't like or never did like me. It's been a roller coaster ride, but like Whitney Houston said, "the ride with you is worth the fall." I wouldn't trade it for the world. I give all the glory and honor to God and Jesus Christ who is the center of my life.

In closing, I want to leave with saying I love you and I appreciate all of you. It would be really nice if the people who supported me stand by me as I go through this troubling time and make this life-changing decision.

This for the most part is final, but it could change, maybe later. But I seriously doubt it.

Sincerely,

Albert Chester


We dedicate this song to you, Al Chester II...

Florida A&M University Marching 100

Howard quarterback Johnson will challenge FAMU

Photo: Howard University's QB Brian Johnson, 6-0/190 Sr., Gardenia, Calif./LA Southwest C.C.

By St. Clair Murraine, Democrat Staff Writer

Brian Johnson carried the ball 14 times for 79 yards and was Howard's leading rushing against Hampton University. That's Brian Johnson the Bison's quarterback.

Johnson's ability to pass and run the ball has been more than just casual talk around FAMU's fieldhouse this week. He has been one of the primary concerns for the Rattlers as they prepare to face the Bison in a match-up of winless MEAC teams.

"He's very athletic," coach Rubin Carter said. "He moves around and could cause some problems because it's hard to defend that type of mobile quarterback. We will have to make sure that we have good schemes to defend what Howard is doing."

For the second consecutive year - and three straight 0-2 starts - FAMU is facing Howard (0-1) in a pivotal game. FAMU began to turn its season around last year with a win over the Bison.

But even with a first-year head coach in Carey Bailey, Howard could still pose some challenges for the Rattlers.

Johnson is the main reason. In addition to his rushing yards, he completed 21 of 37 pass attempts for 244 yards in a 31-24 loss to Hampton on Saturday.

Johnson, a 6-0, 190-pound senior, took over as quarterback late last season when he started the Bison's last fives games, winning four. He solidified his claim to start this season with a strong spring.

"He is a very, very smart football player," Bailey said, assessing Johnson earlier this week. "He's been able to take a grasp of our offense and know it inside-out. He was able throughout the game to make checks.

"The only thing we asked him to do is to not try to create a play that is going to be impossible. He did a great job of making smart decisions."

Bailey is aware that FAMU has shown deficiencies against the pass and rush in both of its games As a result the Rattlers are ranked seventh in both areas in the league, but Bailey isn't counting on FAMU continuing that pattern.

"Florida A&M poses a lot of different challenges," Bailey said. "One, they have an extremely fast football team. Two, that environment down there is very difficult to play in. And three, we know right now they're a very hungry football squad. They're very, very motivated."

FAMU Jazz Ensemble

It's Final! Former MEAC QB highest paid player in CFL

Photo: Quarter-back Casey Printers as former member of Kansas City Chiefs

Congratulations are in order for former Florida A&M University and MEAC quarterback Casey Printers. The former NFL quarterback returned to the CFL and inked a three year deal today, worth roughly $500,000 a season, with a fourth option year with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

"I'm well-compensated," Printers said at a news conference. "I don't know if I'm the highest-paid, but I am happy and that's the most important thing."

Casey Printers Joins Ti-Cats, Becomes CFL's Highest-Paid Player.

After assuming their perennial position at the bottom of the CFL's East Division for yet another year, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will try just about anything, and on Thursday that anything was throwing a whole bunch of money at Casey Printers.

The hard-luck club inked the former NFLer Thursday, with the two agreeing to terms on a three-year deal worth roughly $500,000 a season.

In U.S. football terms that might not be a lot of dough, but the deal makes Printers the highest-paid player in the CFL, surpassing Edmonton Eskimos quarterback Ricky Ray, who earns about $460,000.

Printers became a viable option for CFL clubs after the 26-year-old was released by the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs ahead of the start of the NFL season. But in Canada Casey is still mighty, and there was no shortage of interest north of the border for the league's outstanding player in 2004.

Printers put up monster numbers that season, throwing for 5,088 yards and 35 touchdowns with the B.C. Lions.

Five CFL teams reportedly were interested in securing Printers, with Hamilton, Montreal and the Toronto Argonauts believed to be the frontrunners. Printers was reportedly ready to fly to Montreal and join the Als, but that was before the Ticats made him an offer he couldn't refuse, especially after spending last season on the Chiefs practice roster.

Coincidentally, Printers is the second ex-Chief to rejoin the CFL in the last week, after lanky slotback Marc Boerigter joined the Argos.

Printers said he thinks Hamilton was the best fit for him.

"The people here are hard-working, and that's the way I am," Printers said.

At first glance, the B.C. Lions seemed to be the most logical landing spot for Printers. However, he did ruffle the organization's feathers in '05 when there was a constant quarterback controversy regarding whether Printers or veteran Dave Dickenson would play. Also, Printers turned down a three-year, $1-million contract extension from the B.C. club before the start of the 2005 season, opting instead of leaving Vancouver in the off-season to sign a three-year deal with the Chiefs.

However, Printers never made an impact with the Chiefs, spending most of last year on the club's practice roster.

--Canadian Press, CityNews, ca and beepbeep