After Big Win at FSU, Princeton Men's Hoops Takes on FAMU

Princeton (7-7, 0-0 Ivy) at Florida A&M (2-11, 0-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)

Sunday, Jan. 1 at 3 p.m. at Al Lawson Center

Princeton head coach: Mitch Henderson (Princeton '98, first season, 7-7 overall/at Princeton)
Radio: WPRB 103.3 FM, GoPrincetonTigers.com (John Sadak, Play-by-Play; Noah Savage '08, Color)
Live Stats | Live Audio
All-Time Series: Princeton leads 1-0, 0-0 away, 0-0 at facility
Streak: Princeton 1 overall; (last meeting 1992)

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Princeton will try to climb above the .500 mark for the first time this season. The Tigers lost their first two in the midst of a 1-5 start and are 6-2 since. With Princeton's win at Florida State Friday night (Princeton 75, Florida State 73 3OT (12/30/11),  the Tigers have won two games on home courts of "big six" conference teams in the same season since 1966-67. Princeton won at Rutgers on Dec. 7.

Princeton snapped FSU's 51-game home win streak against teams outside the "big six" conferences. Florida International was the last team outside of a major conference to beat FSU at the Civic Center on Dec. 12, 2004.

The Florida State and Rutgers wins mark the first time Princeton has defeated two "big six" conference teams in the same season since 1998-99, when the Tigers beat Florida State, Texas (both neutral), Georgetown (at Princeton, NIT) and N.C. State (road, NIT).

Princeton is on a stretch in which it will play 12 straight Division I opponents on their home floors, something the program has never done. In all, Princeton will travel more than 3,900 miles to complete the 12-game road stretch. The last five games of Princeton's 12-game road stretch against D-I foes are Ivy games determined by the Ivy League. That means Princeton will have 7 of 9 games at home to close the regular season.

The Florida A&M game will mark the eighth new court on which Princeton has played this season. The Tigers had never played in the current buildings of N.C. State, Bucknell, Drexel, Rider, Northeastern, Siena or Florida State.

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FAMU's Lewis does some scouting on Princeton

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Reggie Lewis will be the first to tell you that a lot of his basketball success is due to his passion to get first-hand experience to improve his game. In a sense, that was exactly the reason the Florida A&M guard took the time to watch Princeton play FSU — in person.

FAMU plays Princeton today and Lewis didn't want to pass up the opportunity to see for himself what the Tigers will bring to the Lawson Center.

"They don't get rattled," Lewis said. "They take a lot of time off the shot clock. They try to get a lot of second-chance shots too."

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Rattlers ready to get back to work

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - LeDawn Gibson wasn't buying into the hype that says so much pressure comes with playing at home. And who can blame the Florida A&M women's basketball coach, considering the Rattlers are on a four-game win streak — coming during the longest road stretch they'll play this season.

"We don't see it as pressure," Gibson said Monday. "We accept it as a challenge; just come home and continue to play well for your fans."

FAMU (7-5, 1-0 MEAC) will end its Christmas break today to begin preparation for the University of Alabama-Birmingham (8-2) on Jan. 2 at the Lawson Center. The Rattlers will be going into the game with plenty of momentum that's reminiscent of the 2009 season when they won seven of their first 12 games.

 Lawson Center

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Auburn beats FAMU, overcoming poor shooting with tough inside play

AUBURN, Alabama - Rob Chubb tied a career high with 21 points and Frankie Sullivan had 16 points and a career-high nine rebounds as Auburn defeated Florida A&M 76-69 on Monday in Auburn Arena. Chris Denson scored 12 points and Kenny Gabriel tied his career high for the second-straight game with 13 boards.

"We got a win," said head coach Tony Barbee, who won his 100th career game. "I'm disappointed that we played to the level of our competition. Give Florida A&M credit. They played harder than us today, just like North Florida did the other night. When you do that, you are always a step behind.

"When you think you are going to raise your level against a so-called better opponent, you can't sustain it, because you are not used to doing it all the time. That is the point I am trying to get across, and they are not getting it."

Auburn shot 52 percent (12-of-23) in the second half to help the Tigers (7-1) to continue their best start since the 2003-04 season.

Photo Gallery

Box Score

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FAMU players set for HBCU Bowl

Tallahassee, Florida -- When the football season ended almost four weeks ago for the Florida A&M football team, offensive lineman Brandon Curry didn't stop working out. He didn't stop believing that he'd be playing at least one more game, either.

As it turns out, Curry and eight of his teammates who played their last season of eligibility as seniors, will be playing in the HBCU Bowl all-star game. Four of them also will play in the Battle of Florida All-Star game next month.

But first, all of them will spend this week in Atlanta showcasing their talent in front scouts from every professional league. They begin with today's combine and culminate the week in the HBCU game Sunday at the Georgia Dome.



Curry, 6-foot-6, 310 pounds, said playing in both all-star games will be a dream come true for him. And, of course, he likes his chances of impressing some of the pro scouts with his size and agility.

OFFICIAL ROSTER

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Florida A&M Rattlers Romp Over Southeastern U. Fire 82-64

TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Yannick Crowder scored a career-high 28 points as the Florida A&M Men's Basketball team picked up their second win of the season with a 82-64 win over Southeastern University (Fla.), here Thursday night at the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium.

Crowder finished with a double-double as he scored 14 of his 28 points in the second half, while pulling down 13 rebounds. Both Reggie Lewis and Brandon Hosely finished with 11 points each to round out the cast of Rattlers scoring in double figures.

Southeastern was led by Chris Carlyle as he scored 12 points from the bench, while Arthur Jackson led the Fire on the boards with seven.

FAMU (2-7) took a 21-10 lead on a Crowder put back with 11:22 to go in the first.

PHOTO GALLERY: FAMU vs. Southeastern (Fla.)

The Rattlers would then extend their lead to 31-16 on a Jeffrey Kennings jumper with 5:33 to go in the first half as they would take a 31-20 lead into the break.

FAMU would finish the first half shooting 37.1 percent (13-of-35) from the floor, while Southeastern shot 25.0 percent (7-of-28) from the floor.

Southeastern (9-5) would outscore FAMU 6-5 in the first two minutes of the second half, as they cut the Rattlers' lead to 36-27 on a Tim Jickell field goal with 17:54 to go in the game.

The Rattlers would return the favor with a 16-9 run as they took a 54-38 lead on a Lewis layup with 10:41 to go in the game.

FAMU took a 69-46 lead on a Markee Teal field goal with 7:33 go in the game capping a 15-8 run.

Southeastern would outscore FAMU 18-13 down the stretch, as the Rattlers would hold on for the 82-64 win.

The Rattlers will return to action on Sunday, Dec. 11 as they will travel to Tampa, Fla., to take on the University of South Florida in a 2 p.m. tip.

by Florida A&M Sports Information

Helmet cam debuts at FAMU practice

Coach Joe Taylor

Tallahassee, FL - From a distance the little silver gadget strapped to the helmets of quarterbacks Austin Trainor and Damien Fleming looked weird. It almost seemed like a distraction.

But both said the device, which is actually a helmet camera, can only make them better at their job from under center. Coach Joe Taylor said he approved its use for practices because it serves as a third eye that lets him and his staff see exactly what the quarterbacks see.

"I think it's going to have a pretty good amount of upside; it gives you a perspective from the quarterback's eyes," Trainor said. "We can't tell coach one thing and he sees another thing. It should help us in our development as quarterbacks; nothing but positives from it."

That's exactly what the team's videographer ...

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Lavante Page sets FAMU record at Atlanta Classic

Atlanta, Georgia - Lavante Page helped make sure Florida A&M wouldn’t start its first losing streak in the Atlanta Football Classic.

The Douglas County High graduate scored a school-record five rushing touchdowns Saturday in FAMU’s 38-33 victory over Southern at the Georgia Dome. Page scored the final three touchdowns for the Rattlers, who came back from a 33-17 deficit in the second half.

Page, who grew up in Oakland City, said he had countless family and friends among the announced crowd of 59,373. They watched him surpass the four rushing touchdowns scored by FAMU quarterback Oteman Sampson vs. Tuskegee in 1996.



“It feels real good,” said Page, who finished with 78 yards on 16 carries. “But I’m more happy with just getting the win. We were down, and on the sidelines people’s heads were down. I told the offense, ‘It’s going to be a shootout.”

The Rattlers (2-2) rallied behind Page, freshman quarterback Damien Fleming and their defense.

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2011 Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic Press Conference

This game will be televised live at 2:30 p.m. CT/3:30 p.m. ET nation-wide on the VERSUS Channel.

Florida A&M LB student of game

Atlanta, GA - Football is a game of hard hits and emotion, and through it all Florida A&M linebacker Demarius Folsom gleams a big, bright smile. A smile that coaches in the past may not have approved of. However, don’t be fooled by the fifth-year senior’s pleasant demeanor.

He is a down-to-business, fierce competitor. This was evident in Florida A&M’s 23-17 loss to Hampton on Sept. 8. After fellow starter Alvis Graham — the mainstay of the defense with 190 tackles in three seasons — left in the first quarter of that game with a knee injury that will lead to him missing the remainder of the season, the departure created a massive hole in the linebacking corps.

A void that Folsom gladly plugged in. “It became a lot more personal for me,” Folsom said. “Seeing him go down, I had to step up, and the coach looked to me. I had to put on my hard hat and go to work.”

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Georgia key territory for FAMU, Southern

Southern linebacker Franchot West was thrilled to make his first start last weekend, albeit in a crushing 28-24 home loss against Jackson State. This week, he’s even more excited. He’s going home. See, he grew up in Stone Mountain, Ga. It’s not a stone’s throw from Atlanta, but it’s not much farther.

West pulled for Michael Vick, Keith Brooking and the hometown Falcons. He’s even played football a few times in the Georgia Dome.

“Park ball. I played down there on the field a couple of times with my park-ball team,” West said. “You know how they do the halftimes at the NFL games, where they bring the little teams on the field to play? We were the show. Unfortunately, I couldn’t play in the dome when I was in high school, for a state championship.”

At 2:30 p.m. Saturday, in the same building where West once dreamed of playing, Southern (1-2) and Florida A&M (1-2) will renew one of the longest and hottest rivalries in black college football. To the fan bases, it’s a little more important than a high school game, let alone park ball.

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FLORIDA A&M at HAMPTON

FLORIDA A&M (1-0, 0-0 MEAC) at HAMPTON (1-0, 0-0 MEAC)
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. THURSDAY, SEPT. 8, 2011
TV: ESPNU
WHERE: Armstrong Stadium, Hampton, Virginia

THE BUZZ: The Pirates and the Rattlers open Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference season play in a clash of coaches who know each other very well. Donovan Rose, whose Pirates beat Alabama A&M 21-20 on Saturday, coached for many years on the staff of Joe Taylor, whose Rattlers are coming off a 28-22 win against Fort Valley State. Taylor went 136-49-1 in 16 seasons at HU before leaving in December 2007 for FAMU, where he's gone 25-9 in three seasons. Rattlers sophomore quarterback Austin Trainor threw for 348 yards and two touchdowns last week.



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FVSU Readies for Opening Game against Florida A&M

Fort Valley, GA - In Central Georgia, the Fort Valley State Wildcats look to erase the memory of last season, which ended with a playoff snub and two straight losses.

The road to redemption for the Wildcats starts on Saturday. Leading FVSU onto the field will be former standout Peach County quarterback Antonio Helton as well as his tag-team partners Chris Slaughter and incoming freshman Travis Richmond.

The blue and gold will travel to Tallahasse to face FCS foe Florida A&M in their opening game of the 2011 season.



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FAMU Rattlers set to strike with veteran team

Tallahassee, FL - The Florida A&M University Rattlers had another good season in 2010.

FAMU finished on a six-game winning streak. The Rattlers ruined archrival Bethune-Cookman’s bid for an undefeated season by beating them in the Florida Classic. FAMU claimed a share of the MEAC title but missed the FCS playoffs. Can this year’s squad do better?


Theme for Rattler Football Animation, with pictures from Rattler Booster Friday Night Strikes - pep rally. Held the Friday before every home football game at Bragg Stadium parking lot starting at 6 pm with special appearances by Coach Taylor and the football team, the Marching 100, junior cheerleaders and the FAMU cheerleaders.

At a glance

FAMU Rattlers (8-3, 7-1); co-MEAC champs in 2010
Head Coach Joe Taylor (25-9, fourth season at FAMU; 222-55-4 career)

Gone: RB Phillip Sylvester (968 rush yards, 10 TDs); DB Qier Hall (59 total tacks, one sack, one interception), DB Curtis Holcomb (41total tackles, 1.5 sacks, three interceptions); WR Isaac West (26 receptions/catches, 347 yards), QB Martin Ukpai (1,141 total yards, five total TDs transferred).

Back: QB Austin Trainor (580 yards passing, two TDs), WR Kevin Elliott (31 receptions/catches, 381 yards, one TD), LB Alvis Graham (55 total tackles, two sacks), RB Eddie Rocker (193 yards rushing, two TDs), RB Lavonte Page (185 yards rushing, six TDs), DE Jerry Willis (31 total tackles, 4.5 sacks), LB Demarius Folsom (58 total tackles, three sacs, one interception), K Trevor Scott (10/14 field goals, 25/28 extra points), P Brandon Holdren (40.1 average, five TDs) DB, Jon Ojo (57 total tackles, two interceptions), OL Robert Hartley, OL Branden Curry, OL Shelly Anthony.

New kids expected to impact: QB Damien Fleming, RB James Owens, RB/WR Al Terek McBurse, LB Kevin Nelson (transfer from Miami), DB Terry Johnson, OL Kawika Piepper.



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Hill takes windy path to FAMU tight ends coach

Tallahassee, FL - The road that former Troy State wide receiver David Hill Jr. took to becoming tight ends coach at FAMU has had a few twists and turns along the way that would make some folks wish they hadn't taken the journey. Not Hill, though.

He wouldn't trade the experience of having gone from college to high hopes of playing in the NFL only to end up with five years of arena football experience with five different teams instead. What he gained through it all is too valuable.

"I had the opportunity to play at the highest level, even though it was a little time," said Hill, who was the defensive coordinator at Jefferson County High School last season. "Throughout my years I've gained a lot of knowledge from different coaches. I learned a whole ton about the game of football."

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FAMU's Defensive Coordinator Earl Holmes talks with Franchise Sports

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Ammons intends to improve FAMU facilities

Dr. James Ammons, FAMU President

Tallahassee, FL - Smack-dab in the middle of a drive down Wahnish Way, through the Florida A&M campus sits the attractive Lawson Center, home of the Rattlers' basketball and volleyball teams.

From inside the glass-laden building, one view is of a section of athletic facilities that includes softball, tennis and a drawn-down Olympic-size swimming pool. A short walk through the state-of-the art Lawson Center brings into view Bragg Stadium, which hasn't had a major renovation in more than 30 years.

Three short blocks south of the Lawson Center sits FAMU's baseball field, which also is in need of upgrades. Just about every one of the venues where the Rattlers play is high on the must-do list of FAMU president James Ammons.

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FAMU's Taylor left wanting more

Tallahassee, FL - There was a little bit more pushing and shoving Monday afternoon — the first day in pads for the Florida A&M football team — but it didn't stop Rattlers coach Joe Taylor from wishing he'd seen a little bit more from his younger players.

"I don't think the effort was bad but there were too many questions, mainly with the second and third team," he said. "I guess that's that youth, but I think we're still on a good pace."

Monday was the start of what Taylor called "separation week," when he'd find out more about the personality of his team and which players will emerge as the ones who make the travel squad. They'll have the first of two two-a-days workouts scheduled this week, culminating with a scrimmage Saturday at 9 a.m.

The scrimmage will carry most of the weight for grading his players, Taylor said.

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Florida A&M University Launches New Website To Celebrate FAMU's 125th Anniversary

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida A&M University was originally founded in 1887 as the State Normal College for Colored Students that served the underrepresented and underprivileged.

Today, Florida A&M University boasts an extraordinarily diverse student body including citizens from across the State of Florida and the globe. For nearly 125 years, Florida A&M University has served as a beacon of hope for thousands of talented young men and women seeking to improve their lives through the pursuit of a college education.

To celebrate its rich history, Florida A&M University will kick off its 125th anniversary on October 3, 2011. The University is proud of its history and is dedicated and committed to providing “Excellence with Caring” to a new generation of scholars.

A year-long series of special events are planned to celebrate the aspirations and accomplishments achieved over the past 125 years as well as illuminate the university’s vision for its future.

FAMU Yesterday. FAMU Today. FAMU Forever.

President's 2011 Gala Honoring the Marching "100"
Florida A&M University will kick off its year long 125-year Anniversary Celebration during the President’s Gala on Friday, October 7, 2011. This year’s gala theme is “Marching for Excellence” and will pay tribute to the life of William P. Foster, the “Dean of America’s Band Directors,” and the incomparable Marching “100.”




In video #2, the late Dr. William P. Foster, conducting "Knocks Me Off My Feet" with the 1996 edition of the Florida A&M University "Marching 100". The arranger was Mr. Lindsey B. Sarjeant, Assistant Director of Bands and University Arranger, Florida A&M University.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO PURCHASE TICKETS TO THE 125TH CELEBRATION EVENTS -- VISIT: FAMU125.COM.

FAMU football team bonds with its fans

Tallahassee, FL -- Freshman offensive lineman Austin Edwards beamed with every stroke of the Sharpie he used to sign autographs for fans. The crowd around his table had thinned out a bit when his mother walked up. They both flashed huge smiles.

Shonnice Booker could hardly contain the pride she felt to see her son among the Florida A&M football players who met about 700 of their fans at the Lawson Center on Saturday.



"I'm very proud and I'm excited for him … seeing the community come out and support them," said Booker, who walked the complete circle inside the huge center to visit and mingle with her son's teammates. "To hear the guys saying how they plan on bringing back home a championship ring and to hear my son really, really want to be a part of that is really great."

Fans began to trickle into the building about 20 minutes before the event officially started. Some took individual photos with the players, and almost every fan made the rounds to get autographs and pick up team trinkets.

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Steven Robinson back at it for Florida A&M

Steven Robinson

Tallahassee, FL - For a while after Steven Robinson put down the crutches that he'd walked on for three months, things seemed surreal. His entire football career flashed before his eyes and he didn't like what he saw at first.

"I felt like I wouldn't be able to play football again," said Robinson.

But with every attempt he made to walk without the crutches, each step brought hope that he'd be back on the field with the Florida A&M football team. "It was stiff, but after a couple of months of walking on it getting those muscles back to working it started to feel like normal," he said.

Robinson, a 2008 Lincoln High School graduate who started his college career at Central Florida, began to feel an even greater sense of normalcy this week. He is back on the football field after months of rehab and a summer of grueling workouts that signaled his comeback would be on track.

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Former FAMU Rattlers Sylvester signs with Atlanta Falcons

Marianna, FL - Former Marianna Bulldogs football star Philip Sylvester has signed a contract with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, and will participate in the team’s training camp in hopes of making the final 53-man roster.

Sylvester, who spent the last four seasons playing for the FAMU Rattlers, wasn’t selected in the April NFL Draft, but was offered a free agent contract by the Falcons on Monday, and then left for Atlanta on Tuesday.

Efforts to contact Sylvester were unsuccessful, but the speedy running back’s former high school coach Don Dowling said he couldn’t be happier to see the mild-mannered former Bulldog get his shot.

“It’s a big deal. Someone mentioned to me that he was my first former player to sign an NFL contract, which I thought was pretty cool,” said Dowling, now the head coach at Sneads. “He’s one of those kids who deserve it. He has worked hard his entire career, and he’s a great kid. Back at Marianna, you wouldn’t have even known he was some big-time running back in the hallways. He’s just a regular kid.

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FAMU Football Keeps Fit in the Summer

Tallahassee, FL -- 58 days until FAMU opens its season against Fort Valley State and the Rattlers are staying as fit as they can in the summer months.

"Last year at this junction we had 12 athletes here," says director of Strength and Conditioning for FAMU Russell Barbarino. "This year for the first summer session we had 42 guys here. Now that the summer session two has started we have about 75 to 80 athletes because that includes some of the freshmen that are coming on campus."



"They are empowering each other," adds Joe Taylor. "They are there in the numbers."

Four days a week players are lifting and conditioning under their own free will. These workouts are voluntary as coaches can not instruct their players until practice begins.

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