Derek Horne formally introduced as FAMU AD

The cell phone ringtone interrupted the speaker's voice Tuesday afternoon just as the words "Mr. Derek Horne" were spoken. The theme song to the old "Superman" television series blared loud enough for everyone in the banquet room at the Al Lawson Center to hear. "That was planned," someone yelled from across the room. Maybe," came the response. Though Florida A&M President Dr. James Ammons may not have hired Superman to run the university's athletics department, he certainly found a man many people believe has the strength, wisdom and instincts to help reshape the future of the Rattlers' sports programs.

Derek Horne, formally introduced Tuesday as the new director of athletics, wasted little time endearing himself to a crowd of nearly 100 FAMU employees, trustees, alumni, friends and media representatives. "I'm humbled and honored to stand before you today as the next director of athletics at Florida A&M University," Horne said. "Of all the places in the world this day, I can't think of another place I'd rather be."

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Competition is on at FAMU for quarterback

FAMU senior quarterback Eddie Battle is a strong and smart competitor. Don't count Battle out, yet!

After Martin Ukpai's spectacular performance in the Florida Classic last season, the consensus has been that the sophomore established himself as the front-runner in what should amount to a three-player battle for Florida A&M starting quarterback job. He gets his shot at proving that wrong or right beginning Monday when the Rattlers open spring practice. Ukpai will face off against senior Eddie Battle and Austin Trainer, who showed a strong arm last season with the practice squad.

Battle played sparingly behind Kentucky transfer Curtis Pulley, but Ukpai made a strong case that he might actually be the one to beat after leading FAMU to a one-sided win over Bethune-Cookman. But FAMU coach Joe Taylor said Ukpai won't be a shoo-in to replace Pulley. Every effort, from warm-up to on-the-field drills, by the three quarterbacks will be evaluated, Taylor said. "It's going to be an open situation, but as coaches we are going to have to really evaluate it accurately; just look at who is under center and what's happening with the offense," Taylor said. "The best way is to let them separate themselves. That's why it's so good to have spring football.

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It’ll take more than coaching to keep S.C. State ahead

Florida A&M’s new $26 million Teaching Gymnasium, which will hold 9,639 fans: "There’s been plenty of talk in recruiting circles that FAMU’s new building helped dissuade potential Bulldog men’s basketball recruits from coming to Orangeburg."

There’s one common belief among all college head coaches, regardless of the sport.

When trying to recruit a high school prospect, a winning tradition and geography are high selling points. However, the quality of the facilities is more than often the deal maker or deal breaker. Take a look at the most successful Division I college football programs this decade (Florida, Southern Cal, Ohio State). In almost all cases, the facilities are second to none. The same is true even in the lower divisions in which former three-time defending Football Championship Subdivision champion Appalachian State can raise $32 million toward an athletic-enhancement campaign that already has produced three facilities.

Truly, the adage “if you build it, (they) will come” is as true in college sports as it was in the movie “Field of Dreams.” In the case of South Carolina State head coaches like Oliver “Buddy” Pough (football) and Hardeep Judge (tennis), renovations to their facilities have only further bolstered their proven ability to produce winning teams without the advantages of state-of-the-art athletics facilities.

FAMU's Teaching Gym Basketball Court

It’s no secret that S.C. State has managed to overcome a distinct disadvantage among its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference brethren when it comes to location and facilities. Out of the nine conference schools competing in football (not including Winston-Salem State, which remains non-eligible for MEAC title play), S.C. State has the smallest population and most rural setting:

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Florida A&M defeats Coppin State 60-56

Twitty leads FAMU to victory; Senior scores 21 points in a win.

Photo Gallery: FAMU Men Silence Coppin State 60-56

Senior forward Lamar Twitty takes his leadership role on the FAMU basketball team seriously. He demonstrated that Monday night when the Rattlers needed it in a pivotal MEAC game. Twitty scored a season-high 21 points to lead the Rattlers past Coppin State 60-56 to complete a four-game home-win streak at Gaither Gym. As if to put an exclamation mark on his work, Twitty sank the last two points of the game from the free-throw line.

"I just have to keep working hard — keep shooting," said Twitty, who also had six rebounds. "I can't lose my confidence as leader on this team. A couple of the conference games, I wasn't knocking it down. "As a leader on the team, I've got to go to the line and knock them down." As the Rattlers' only other double-digit scorer, freshman guard Dale Hughes got all of his 12 points on shots from behind the 3-point line. Three Coppin players scored 10 points or more, led by Sam Coleman's 14. Twitty gave FAMU its biggest lead of the night with a 3-pointer that put the Rattlers in front, 35-19, with 6:50 to play in the first half. FAMU connected on 8 of 18 from 3-point range in the first 20 minutes.

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FAMU athletics certified by NCAA

Florida A&M's athletic program, which has struggled with academic problems in recent years, received good news from the NCAA on Wednesday. The Rattlers' program received a designation of certified from the NCAA Division I Committee on Athletics Certification.

FAMU, which underwent an athletic peer review session in October, was one of 35 institutions designated as certified. Two other schools were certified with conditions. All 326 active Division I members participate in the certification process.

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The following 35 institutions were certified, including MEAC members FAMU, Morgan State and Hampton University (with conditions):

• University of Arizona
• Austin Peay State University
• University of California, Irvine
• Chicago State University
• The Citadel
• University of Connecticut
• Duquesne University
• Florida A&M University
• Georgia Institute of Technology
• Georgia State University
• University of Houston
• McNeese State University
• Morgan State University
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)
• Nicholls State University
• Pennsylvania State University
• Pepperdine University
• Purdue University
• Robert Morris University
• Sacred Heart University
• St. Peter’s College
• University of South Florida
• Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
• University of Oklahoma
• University of Texas at Arlington
• University of Texas at Austin
• University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)
• University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)
• University of Toledo
• Utah State University
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
• Western Michigan University
• University of Wisconsin, Green Bay
• Wofford College
• Xavier University

In addition, two Division I institutions have been certified with conditions:
• Hampton University
• New Mexico State University

This classification means that the institution is considered to be operating its athletics program in substantial conformity with operating principles adopted by the NCAA’s Division I membership. However, problems identified during the course of the institution’s self-study and the peer-review team’s evaluation were considered serious enough by the Committee on Athletics Certification to cause it to withhold full certification until those problems have been corrected. The NCAA does not divulge specific information related to an institution’s self-study or peer-review visit or specific information concerning the conditions set forth for certification.

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FAMU makes cuts in athletic department

Florida A&M Athletic Director Bill Hayes has fired three key administrators within the department, including former head baseball coach Joseph Durant. Hayes also fired Senior Associate Athletics Director for Operations and Compliance Robert Raines and Associate Athletic Director of Academic Services E. Dwayne Robinson.

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