List 'impressive' for FAMU job

Tallahassee, FL - While several high-profile names are circulating as applicants for the vacant men's basketball coaching job at Florida A&M, athletic director Derek Horne hedged on confirming what sources are calling an impressive list.

"Right now because it's still ongoing we just want to make sure that we do our due diligence to make sure that we bring the right person in," Horne said.

FAMU has been without a men's basketball coach for almost a month since Eugene Harris was fired in March. At that time, Horne said he would like to fill the position this month, but Tuesday he said he hopes to have the process completed before schools break for the summer.

Horne didn't say when the final interview process will begin.


Videographer: FAMUTube1887; The All New FAMU e-Rattler Online Store launches in...6 Days.  VISIT: www.e-rattler.com.  

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SSU sweeps FAMU in baseball

Savannah, GA - Savannah State University swept Florida A&M, 6-5 and 3-2, in a baseball doubleheader Saturday at Tiger Field. SSU (19-15) scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the first game. The Tigers’ Matt Nowacki was 2-for-3, including a home run and two RBIs, and Matt Oglesby was 1-for-5 with two RBIs.

SSU starter Kevin Herlihy earned the win, striking out six, walking one and allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits in nine innings.

In the second game, the Tigers scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to win. Kyle McGowin earned the win for SSU, striking out eight, walking three and allowing two earned runs on seven hits in seven innings.

Savannah State Rallies Past FAMU

SAVANNAH, Ga. (April 9) - Savannah State used a pair of late inning rallies to rally past the Florida A&M University Baseball as they won game one 6-5 and game two 3-2 in a doubleheader here Saturday afternoon at Tiger Field.

In the first game, the Tigers score three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning for the come from behind win. FAMU (10-24) finished with nine hits, while SSU (19-15) finished with seven. The Rattlers had three players to finish with two hits each in Tobi Adeyemi, Cory Franklin and David Duncan, while Matthew Nowacki finished with two hits lead the Tigers.

Kevin Herlighy picked the win for SSU as he went the distance giving up nine hits, four earned runs and striking out six in nine innings on the mound.

Stephen Dollar (2-2) received the loss for FAMU as he gave up one hits, three earned runs, and striking out one in two-thirds innings of relief. A two-run homer by Jarryd Reid gave the Rattlers a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.


Videographer: GCubeVision
Tiger Talk Live is Savannah State University's first live television show! Geno & Dferg claw at the issues and trending topics that affects your everyday college students. What makes this show special? You! Not only is it a talk show but it's also an interactive show between Savannah State University students & our host. You can Tweet us @SSUTigerTalk or Facebook us your ideas & comments for the show!

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FAMU Rattlers Eye MEAC Golf Title

Florida A&M is looking to win the first-ever, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Golf Showcase in Savannah, Ga. The MEAC Showcase will pit FAMU against fellow Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference teams in a fifty-four hole tournament. The teams will play 36 holes on the first day of competition and 18 holes on the second day.

The tournament will be held at the Henderson Golf Club. Coach Marvin Green described the course as straight forward yet challenging."What you see is what you get, but there are a lot of hazards out there," Green said.

Junior Shephard Archie III said that Henderson is one of the tougher courses the team will play all year. Archie and Green both described the course as tight. The Henderson Golf Club website says that accuracy and finesse are needed to succeed.

Consistency has been an issue with ...



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FAMU Rattlers fall 12-11 in extra innings to Alabama State

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (April 5) - Alabama State University held off the Florida A&M University baseball team, as they scored a run in the bottom of the 11th inning to hand the Rattlers a 12-11 loss in extra innings, here Tuesday afternoon at the ASU Baseball Complex.

Both FAMU (10-23) and ASU (11-14) finished with 14 hits each.

The Rattler were led by both Tobi Adeyemi and Jimmie Terrell as they both finished with three hits each for FAMU, while Jourdan Mott and Gerald Washington both finished with three hits apiece for the Hornets.

Ron James (1-0) picked the win for the ASU as he pitched two and one-third innings giving up two hits and striking out one in relief, while Stephen Dollar received the loss for FAMU as he gave up two hits, two earned runs and striking out two in two and two-thirds innings of relief.

The Hornets took advantage of a FAMU infielder’s error to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning as both Drew Quinney and Reginald Mitchell scored on the Rattler error.


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McCloughen FAMU's do-everything man

Naysayers told him he couldn't play football at the college level. He's defied that by becoming essentially a utility player on the Florida A&M football team.

Then, a teammate dared Kory McCloughen to let his hair grow out. That was 20 months ago. McCloughen wasn't sure he'd let his hair grow that long, but he got a little inspiration one day when he was taking a walk through a local mall. He saw a young child who had lost all of his hair because of treatment for leukemia and decided then that he'd do what he could to help.

McCloughen decided to let his hair grow as long as it could by the end of the upcoming season. Then he will donate it to the Leukemia Foundation for making a wig for a patient. His curly blonde hair is at least three inches longer than shoulder length. The cause is worth every inch his hair grows, McCloughen said.



FAMU's Hollinghead to move to defensive end

Coming into spring practice, Nicolas Hollinghead wasn't totally surprised that he was the one called on to fill the void at defensive end for the Florida A&M football team.

Last summer, he was put on notice in a brief conversation with coach Joe Taylor, Hollinghead recalled Monday. So now that Marquiste Ramos and Kendrick Washington have used up their eligibility, Hollinghead is proving he is the one to beat for the position.

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Discover What You Can Become at FAMU: Study Abroad

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NCA&T Aggies Close Out Series With Loss to FAMU

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida A&M took two out of three from North Carolina A&T on Sunday with an 11-1 victory. The Aggies were held to just two hits on the afternoon. Florida A&M starter David Duncan struck out 11 and picked up the win to improve to 2-3. Brent Moore (1-4) endured the loss.

The Aggies only run of the day came in the sixth inning. Marquis Riley hit an RBI single to right field to score Carvell Copeland who reached on an error and stole second base. Tobi Adeyemi led the Rattlers by going 3-for-5 with four RBIs.

The Aggies dropped to 8-18 overall and 2-3 in the MEAC. They will be back in action Tuesday evening as they head to Boone, N.C., to face Appalachian State at 6.



Rattlers take series with Aggies with 11-1 win

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (April 3) - The Florida A&M Baseball team was able to bounce back in game three as the Rattlers defeated North Carolina A&T, 11-1 to win the series in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game, here Sunday afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field.

FAMU (10-22, 2-4 MEAC) pounded out 12 hits, while N.C. A&T (8-18, 2-3 MEAC) garnered two.

The Rattlers were led by Tobi Adeyemi as he went three-for-five from the plate, driving in four runs and scoring one, while both Andre McKoy and Marquis Riley finished with a hit a piece for the Aggies.

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FAMU vs NC A&T Gallery

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Courtesy: North Carolina A&T State University Sports Information and Florida A&M University Sports Information.

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A Look Back: The day FAMU's Bob Hayes came home an Olympic champion

Jacksonville, FL -  I can remember it as if it were yesterday.

Joe Livingston, who did public relations for the city, came into the newsroom on the fourth floor of The Florida Times-Union building at 400 W. Adams St. with a release that said in two hours, the city parks and recreation department along with the Florida A&M band would stage a parade downtown to welcome home Bob Hayes.

The Matthew Gilbert High School and Florida A&M football and track athlete was to be welcomed home from the 1964 Summer Olympics in Japan, where he won two gold medals.

Executive Editor John S. Walters happened to be in his office and I took Livingston's release in to him. After glancing at it, Walters told me to put it in the Star Edition's mailbox. The Times-Union started the Star Edition on Jan. 1, 1950, to report on "news for and about the colored people." It was distributed to the city's African-American readers.

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Videographer: jesudomine
Bob Hayes (#702)  winning the 100m final in a time of 10.0 seconds, equaling the world record. Taken from Kon Ichikawa's documentary Tokyo Olympiad (東京オリンピック Tōkyō Orinpikku) from 1965.



Videographer: sportnotv3
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 Robert Lee "Bullet Bob" Hayes (#702).  His leg was quite possibly the fastest ever (8.50 seconds hand timed) according to many pundits. This relay race was Hayes' last race as a track and field athlete, as he permanently switched to NFL football (Dallas Cowboys) after the 64' Olympic games.

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FAMU's Scott preaches his sermon

LLOYD, FL — After he'd been on the pulpit at Mount Zion AME Church for about 10 minutes, sweat began to roll down Padric Scott's face.

"Let God step in and show out," he urged the congregation that gathered last Sunday to hear him preach his trial sermon at the small church located about 20 miles east of Tallahassee.

Scott, a defensive tackle on the Florida A&M football team, kept his listeners spell-bound. His father, Edward, a prominent Tallahassee dentist who also is the church's minister, sat at his left and hardly batted an eye. Coach Joe Taylor, sitting at his left, seemed captivated. "We make a big deal out of it, especially when...


Videographer: hhorns2002; Continuing the Legacy: 1996 FAMU Marching 100 - "Knocks Me Off My Feet"

FAMU players set for the spring game

Players hoping to be starters or at least secure a spot on the three-deep depth chart for the Florida A&M football team will get their job interviews today in the annual Orange and Green game at Bragg Stadium.

The questions will come in the form of plays from coach Joe Taylor and his staff. The players will have to respond by executing on the field. "I've told them that all of them will be evaluated and we'd have it on film," Taylor said.

The attraction, of course, will be the quarterback matchup between designated starter Austin Trainor and Memphis transfer Tyler Bass. They will go head-to-head in the first quarter, with Trainor starting for the Green team, while Bass will be the one under center for the Orange team.

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FAMU launched new website - www.famuathletics.com

Florida A&M athletics took off into cyberspace Thursday night with a new website that not only promotes sports but also creates an avenue for advertisers to support the university.

One of the main attraction on the site will be streaming video of live sports events, primarily football, baseball, basketball and softball games. Fans also will have access to videos that feature some of its former greats, including football coach Jake Gaither and Olympian Bob Hayes.

Interim sports information director Vaughn Wilson said those will be added to the site in about three weeks.

"One thing that had frustrated some of alumni and fans from afar is not having a platform that gives them a FAMU experience," Wilson said. "We are going to give them a snapshot of everything that's going on in the athletic department through this website."

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FAMU's Ethridge making strides at tight end

During a drill with receivers Thursday afternoon, the ball was being thrown everywhere — long, short and laterally. One of the short passes went to tight end Michael Ethridge. He made the catch and he looked more experienced than a sophomore doing so. He even plowed his way to a few extra yards after the catch.

"The attitude I have is that I have to catch every pass that comes to me; good pass, bad pass, I have to catch it," Ethridge said afterward. Then a few passes later, the maturity of the Godby High School graduate was tested. The ball was thrown around his ankles. He grappled with it for a few seconds before losing control.

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FAMU's Terry Johnson proving worth to coaches

In an odd kind of way, Terry Johnson believes a knee injury that sidelined him last year might have hastened his development.

While he couldn't play last season when he was a freshman coming out of Rickards High School, Johnson watched his Florida A&M teammates from the sidelines. It wasn't the happiest time in his young college football career, but Johnson admits that having a year to watch seniors Curtis Holcomb and Qier Hall helped him understand how to become a better cornerback.


Videographer: TheFranchisesports; FAMU QB Battle

FAMU offense shines in spring scrimmage

The display that the Florida A&M offense put on during the first spring football scrimmage was enough to give on-lookers the impression it had more than just four days of practice.

Both quarterbacks Austin Trainor and Tyler Bass won praise from coach Joe Taylor and running back Eddie Rocker made it his personal showcase on an overcast Saturday morning. When they got through the 77 plays, the offense was almost flawless in terms of penalties, with just one called for a delay of game.

FAMU coaches not letting players slide

There is no time for slouching during spring football practice. Day after day the Florida A&M coaches make that clear to every player, whether they're on scholarship or they're walk-ons.

Case in point, associate head coach George Smalls, who usually is mild-mannered, got up close and personal with one of the players on his defensive unit earlier this week.

"Get set," Small said. When he didn't get much of a response, Smart turned up the volume a little louder. "Get set; you're standing around fooling," he bellowed.  Not a detail goes unnoticed, especially when the team gets into segment drills. Coaches on both sides of the ball are seemingly doing more nit-picking because the expectations are greater for the upcoming season following a finish last year that won the Rattlers a share of the MEAC title.

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FAMU 2011 National Alumni Association Gala - Washington, D.C.

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Florida A&M University Pro Day 2011

Tallahassee, Fla. - Fourteen NFL professional scouts came to Tallahassee to see the FAMU senior football players workout in front of a crowd of fans, family and other supporters. The workouts took place at the Hansel Tookes Recreation Center. The weightlifting and jumping drills took place inside the center, with the running and sprinting drills being held at the newly laid intramural turf fields.





1. Videographer: TheFranchisesports 2. Videographer: FAMUSPORTS 3. Videographer: RattlerBoosters 4. Videographer: FAMUSPORTS; Day #1 of Rattlers Spring Football Practice.



FAMU begins its quest to win the MEAC Championship outright in 2011. The Rattlers shared the 2010 championship with S.C.State and B-CU. Coach Taylor has reloaded the Rattlers, and with just nine players exhausting eligibility last season, the Rattlers will bring an experienced group to the task.

Carter finds way to Florida A&M after all

 Rattlers Head Football Coach Joe Taylor

A little more than a year ago, when Jimmie Tyson was recruiting Ravonne Carter out of Hialeah High School, Tyson saw all sorts of possibilities. Tyson, secondary coach at Florida A&M, saw a lot of Carter at cornerback, but figured he'd be the perfect nickel back. Special teams was also an option.

Tyson felt that the special relationship he'd developed with Carter meant he was on his way to FAMU. He went to New Mexico State instead. But right after the Lobos completed their second 1-11 season, Carter headed out. One of his first calls was to Tyson, who didn't hesitate to let Carter know he could come to FAMU.

"Things didn't work out as I had planned, and I felt like I needed to be closer to home," said Carter, who was a highly-touted player in high school. "FAMU was my only hope.

FAMU High grad set to make mark with Rattlers

At the urging of some parents who were watching him coach a pee-wee flag football team, George Stanley inserted his son, Jordan. Jordan was only 4 years old, but what happened next pretty much explains why he excelled at FAMU High and is hoping to do the same at Florida A&M.

"He scored a touchdown," the older Stanley said, recalling his son's first touchdown. "He was so happy, he took off running. He didn't realize that we had to finish the game. He didn't care. He was having fun."

Jordan Stanley, 5-feet-9, 190 pounds, is having even more fun nowadays for two reasons: First, he is playing his favorite position at running back; and second, he'll be playing the next three seasons as a Rattler. He's already making an impression in spring practice as he competes against Eddie Rocker and LaVante Page for a spot on the depth chart.

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Florida A&M's Rocker steps up as man to beat

Sophomore Eddie Rocker will tell you that he is not Philip Sylvester. He also will tell you that he's seen enough of the former Florida A&M running back to learn well.

Rocker finds himself as the one to beat for the starting running back job as the Rattlers go through the first week of spring practice. It wasn't supposed to be that way. But when Rutgers transfer Casey Turner didn't pan out, Rocker became Sylvester' heir apparent.

"Playing behind Phil is some big shoes to fill, but I know I can't be Philip Sylvester; I can only take from him what I've learned and capitalize on it," Rocker said after Tuesday's practice.

FAMU working out the kinks at spring practice

Just as soon as the play was over, receiver Kevin Elliott trotted off the field. He started a conversation with quarterback Austin Trainor.

They were quickly joined by almost every other receiver who wasn't involved in the ensuing play on the field. Trainor double-checked with Elliott to make sure they had the sequence of the play they'd just run.

"You've got to be able to play confidently otherwise you're going to play slow," Trainor said. "We definitely need everybody, me included, to figure it out."

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Bethune-Cookman Reaps Bay Area Talent, Hopes To Use It To Defeat FAMU

If Florida A&M alumni around the Bay area are still wondering what happened on Signing Day, yes that was your rival Bethune-Cookman coming around here and signing four players to your zero.  Going forward, this 2011 class for the respective rival HBCU schools could be a perfect test study for comparing Bay area prep prospects to those from north Florida. Has the Bay area been overlooked as one of the best training grounds in all of the country?

While both schools plucked some talent from south Florida high schools, FAMU concentrated it’s signings to the northern part of the state and Alabama and Georgia. Meanwhile, Bethune-Cookman head coach Brian Jenkins landed one of the top FCS 2011 signing classes by recruiting all over but was heavy with players on the state road 60 corridor.

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Trainor, Bass set to battle for FAMU QB job

Quarterbacks Austin Trainor and Tyler Bass are brimming with confidence. That much came across as they participated in their first joint interview to discuss their highly-anticipated competition for the Florida A&M starting job.

Their showdown begins today, with Trainor as the incumbent and Bass as his challenger. It should make for the most interesting spring practice since coach Joe Taylor took over the program three seasons ago.

"I welcome it because competition makes you better," said Trainor, who led the Rattlers to a strong finish with three victories to earn a share of the MEAC championship last season. "If there is no one to push me, how am I supposed to get better? I'm excited about the season because I feel like I've worked really hard and I'm ready to show what it is for the spring."

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FAMU looks to fill coaching vacancy

Tallahassee, FL - The wait might not be too long before the Florida A&M men's basketball team finds out who its next coach will be. Athletic director Derek Horne said Friday that the university will move expeditiously in an effort to have a replacement for Eugene Harris in place by mid-April. Harris was fired Thursday, but remains on FAMU's payroll until June 10.

Harris was terminated after four seasons after leading the Rattlers to as 46-80 record. His five-year contract expires in April 2012 (not Sept. 2012 as previously reported), but Horne hedged on saying specifically how FAMU will settle the remaining 10 months that Harris was contracted through.

Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium-- Home of the FAMU Rattlers Basketball and MEAC Championship Volleyball Teams. 

(The on-campus facility is 135,000 s.f. and has seating for 9,639 fans. Completed on April 4, 2009 at cost of $40 million).

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FAMU men's basketball parts ways with Harris

Eugene Harris was fired Thursday afternoon, one week after he coached the Florida A&M men's basketball team to a one-and-done appearance in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament.

FAMU announced Harris' termination in a news release about five hours after he had a mid-afternoon meeting with athletic director Derek Horne. Harris will be on administrative leave with pay until June 10, the university said in its release.

During his four seasons, the Rattlers won 46 games and lost 80. Harris, who was hired in September 2007, had one year remaining on a five-year contract with an annual salary of $150,000.

FAMU gives Harris his pink slip

After four seasons of "underachieving", Florida A&M has parted ways with former head basketball coach Eugene Harris. Harris was notified of his termination in a four-paragraph letter he received in an afternoon meeting with Athletic Director, Derek Horne.

During his tenure as head coach, Harris amassed a record of 46-80. Over the course of the past two seasons, the losses are double the total of the wins at 21-42. This season completed his third consecutive of 20-plus losses.

Harris was in the fourth year of a 5-year contract at an annual rate of $150,000 per year. He will remain on administrative leave with pay until June 10, according to the FAMU press release.

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FAMU Shows Off at Pro Day

Tallahassee, FL - Six seniors from last year's MEAC championship winning team showcased their skills in front of scouts today.

Lincoln grad Isaac West impressed at wide receiver. Marianna (FL) speedster Philip Sylvester also turned some heads as well. Curtis Holcomb made his impression on the defensive side of the ball. Qier Hall, Marquiste Ramos, and Kendrick Washington also participated in Wednesday's Pro Day.



FAMU football players give their all during workout

They gave their best shots in front of 14 NFL scouts during Wednesday's Pro Day testing. The next best thing would be a phone call with an invitation to attend one of the team's training camps.

"I think it was a good impression overall," said running back Philip Sylvester, one of the Rattlers' leading prospects for playing at the next level. "We did well; did what was expected. I've been working out six days a week and I met my expectation.

"It was just going out there and doing your business. That's all you can do." What they did was a battery of physical tests that included weight lifting, running the 40-meter dash and vertical jumps during the two-hour workout.

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