Harris to stay on as FAMU men's basketball head coach

WINSTON SALEM, N.C. — Florida A&M men's basketball coach Eugene Harris wants more time to turnaround the program after three losing seasons, and it appears that he will get it, at least to the end of his current five-year contract. The Rattlers finished the season with a 9-22 record, the worst since Harris took over the program three years ago. FAMU was eliminated from the MEAC tournament by Bethune-Cookman University on Tuesday night, after coming in as the No. 10 seed with a 5-11 conference record.
























FAMU retains Eugene Harris as men's basketball coach with career record 34-60 (20-29 MEAC) and home game attendance average at all-time low of 1,539.

Fans have been calling for Harris' ouster since the team's 0-10 start, but with FAMU's athletic budget in the red, buying out the remainder of $150,000-a-year contract apparently isn't an option. The outcry reached a fever pitch last week when signs were placed around campus urging that Harris' firing. Rumors also have been circulating that some of his players might not return. But FAMU president James Ammons said he is honoring the university's contract with Harris.


"Coach Harris is our coach," Ammons said during a telephone interview Wednesday. "We are as disappointed as he is."

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FAMU Men Bounced From MEAC Tourney by rival Bethune-Cookman Wildcats

FAMU Coach Eugene Harris has not lived up to RattlerNation expectations with another first game exit from the MEAC Tournament. Harris has compiled a record of 19-43 with his recruits in the past two seasons, with attendance averaging at 1,539 in the new 10,000 seat Al Lawson Center.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Arch rival Bethune-Cookman ended the Florida A&M University Men’s Basketball 2009-10 season as they defeated the Rattlers 64-53 in the opening round of the 2010 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament, here Tuesday evening at the Lawrence Joel Veteran Memorial Coliseum. “I thought when our guys took the floors, we were ready to play, but we had some untimely turnovers that dug ourselves in a hole and was never able to recover,” said third year Men’s Basketball Coach Eugene Harris.

Brandon Bryant was the high man for FAMU (9-22) as he scored a team high 11 points. Both Rasheem Jenkins and Christopher Wallace finished with 10 points each. The Rattlers were led on the boards by Larry Jackson with nine rebounds, while Jenkins dished out five assists. B-CU (17-15) was paced by Clifford Reed, Jr., as he scored a game high 23 points and dished out five assists. Stanley Elliott added 12 points, while Kevin Dukes dropped in 10. The Wildcats were led on the boards by Elliott, who finished with a team high eight rebounds.

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The Florida A&M University Rattlers have the best Division I basketball arena in the South with the 10,000 seat Al Lawson Center, opened in late 2009.

The Coach Eugene Harris File:

Florida A&M University: NCAA Division I

Salary: $155,000 annually (Completed 3rd season of 4 year contract)

Seasons: 3 (2007-2010)

FAMU Career Record: 34-60, (0.361) Winning Percentage

MEAC Conference Record: 20-29 (0.408) Winning Percentage

MEAC Conference Titles: 0

NCAA Tournament Teams: 0

NIT Tournament Teams: 0

All-Americans: 0

NBA Draft Picks: 0

Average Wins per season: 11

Average Losses per season: 20

Blowout Games (decided by >19 points: 1-25) - 0.038%

Arena: Al Lawson Center (2009) - Capacity: 10,000 seats

Men's home attendance: Low: 202; High: 5419;

Total men's team home attendance for 12 games: 18,469

Average men's game home attendance: 1,539

Winston-Salem Rams flatten by Florida A&M Rattlers

Winston-Salem State took time on Saturday afternoon to honor the school's last two CIAA title teams in 1999 and 2000. Turns out, it could have used some of those players after falling flat against Florida A&M yesterday at the Gaines Center.

The Rams wound up losing 75-61, and had no answers for the Rattlers' effective zone. "We were just flat," said Coach Bobby Collins of the Rams. Perhaps suffering a hangover from last Monday's exciting victory over N.C. A&T in Greensboro the Rams never showed the same sense of urgency. Leading scorers Paul Davis and Brian Fisher, who were both averaging 11 points a game, combined for just seven points and eight turnovers and were non factors throughout.

The Rattlers (8-20) defended the Rams (11-16) with a man-to-man starting out but once the Rams ran to a 10-point lead Coach Eugene Harris switched to a zone. The Rams were never the same, and Harris stayed with the zone the rest of the way. "We couldn't penetrate the zone like you are supposed to do," said guard Lamar Monger. "We couldn't get the ball down low to Paul and it was just tough to get through it."

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FAMU Harris: His time came

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Eugene Harris always thought one day he would be a college basketball head coach. And though there were times when he might’ve seemed was a long way from that goal, Harris himself kept thinking it eventually would happen.

“I always thought I was ready for a head coaching job,” said Harris, a Scottsboro native. “You have to persevere. I’ve been one of those guys that never gives up on anything.” Last September, Harris’ patience was rewarded. That’s when he was selected from among an applicant pool of 200 to become the new head men’s basketball coach at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Fla.

Harris was heading into his first season as an assistant at Georgia State when the FAMU job opened after the former coach left under a cloud of controversy.

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Work ethic to remain high for FAMU transfer Bryant

Brandon Bryant had no clue that Florida A&M would be the Division I school where he'd play college basketball. He just knew wherever he ended up that he'd be prepared.

Bryant also knew his 6-foot-3 frame was a little too lean at 160 pounds. So he spent the past two seasons honing his skills, working with what he had. He also gained 20 pounds in the process while playing at Snead State Community College in Alabama.

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Florida A&M recruit named Florida's 1A Player of the Year

Photo: #4 Ashley Hampton shot 70 percent from the floor this past season.

Ashley Hampton, Ocala St. John Lutheran, has been named the Florida 1A Player of the Year for the 2007/08 season. She is now one of six finalists for the Miss Basketball Award.

The awards are sponsored by Florida Dairy Farmers, Inc., and the Florida Athletic Coaches Association to honor the top high school girls’ basketball player and coach for the 2007-08 season.

Hampton averaged 28 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists per game and shot 70 percent from the floor, leading her team to a 22-6 record and the Class 1A Final Four. She holds school records for career points (2,107) and rebounds (1,088).

Hampton has signed a national letter of intent with Florida A&M University for the 2008/09 incoming class. She has maintained a 4.42 GPA and plans to major in Pharmacy at FAMU.

The 5-9 guard was coached by Kim Pompey-Bell (her mother) at St. John Lutheran and is slated to play the three -guard position for the Rattlers. More than seven family members of Hampton have graduated from Florida A&M University and she is the second to receive an athletic scholarship with the Rattlers.

FAMU knocks off UMES 70-58

Photo: FAMU's Lamar Twitty scored 19 points and had 11 rebounds in a superb effort against the UMES Hawks.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The defending MEAC champions look right at home at the RBC Center.

On the same floor that it won the MEAC tournament a year ago, the Florida A&M men's basketball team took its first step toward repeating by beating Maryland-Eastern Shore 70-61 in the first round of the conference tourney.

The sixth-seeded Rattlers (15-16) saw a 10-point halftime lead trimmed to one midway through the second half before finally pulling away from the 11th-seeded Hawks.

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Both Rattlers teams played extremely well today, and the Lady Rattlers can hold their heads high for putting a scare into the Lady Aggies. Our men's team will give Norfolk State more than they handle tomorrow. The Rattlers are still defending MEAC Tournament Champions for another day, and anything can happen.

Former Jefferson star accepts leader role for streaking FAMU Rattlers

Photo: Rattlers senior guard L.C. Robinson.

L.C. Robinson is no stranger to the leader’s role.

He was league MVP while a senior at Jefferson. He was the scoring leader as a sophomore at Highland Community College. And now he’s on top of his game, and on top of the scoring charts for Florida A&M, as the Rattlers approach his final postseason.

“It’s been one of those years. It’s been a lot — a lot — of fun,” Robinson said during a phone interview Monday night. “It’s been a different role for me this year than it was last year. I’ve had to be a leader a lot more this year. I’ve been there before, though; it felt natural to me.”

Robinson, the 6-foot, 180-pound senior, started in 32 of 35 games last year, averaging 11.3 points while finishing second in the MEAC in 3-point field goals made (103).

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SCSU set to battle FAMU, men's game to be televised on ESPNU

Tallahassee, Fl. -- The South Carolina State men's and women's basketball team will play Florida A&M in a pivotal Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference contest, with the women's game beginning at 5 p.m. The men's contest will be televised live on ESPNU at 8 p.m.

SC State men's (11-18, 7-8) pulled out an emotional victory over Bethune-Cookman 85-81 in overtime on Saturday, while the Lady Bulldogs (11-15, 8-7) suffered a heartbreaking 54-53 loss to the Lady Wildcats.

The Rattlers (12-16, 7-7) on a three-game winning streak will be looking for their fourth straight victory after a 68-61 win over Winston-Salem State on Saturday. The Lady Rattlers (12-15, 2-12) won an impressive 59-32 routing over the Lady Rams of Winston-Salem State.

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FAMU spoils UMES homecoming

Photo: FAMU's Byron Taylor better games have come against UMES--scores runner to win game. Taylor is a 5-7/150 redshirt junior guard from Florida H.S., Tallahassee, FL., majoring in Business.

Hawks' rally falls a layup short of OT; Coach Smith: 'We couldn't have gotten a better shot'

PRINCESS ANNE, MD -- Byron Taylor's runner in the lane gave the Florida A&M men's basketball team a 62-60 lead with 8.6 seconds remaining, and Marc Davis' baseline layup attempt at the other end was no good, as the Rattlers held on to spoil homecoming for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

"We couldn't have gotten a better shot," UMES coach Meredith Smith said. "It was right there. A layup is the highest-percentage shot in basketball. We got the shot that we wanted. It just didn't fall."

Junior guard Ed Tyson led the Hawks with 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting and was 5-of-5from the free-throw line. The Rattlers paid him extra attention on the final play, leaving a lane to the basket for Davis.

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FAMU loses to N.C. A&T in two OTs

It was Thomas Coleman, however, who left Tallahassee with the last laugh Monday evening after he sank two free throws to lift his North Carolina A&T Aggies past the Rattlers 80-78 in double overtime. Coleman was fouled by FAMU senior guard Leslie Robinson with 1.1 seconds left in double overtime.

Thomas, who was 0 for 2 on his previous trip to the line, including the air ball, swished both shots to give his team the lead. The Rattlers, who at one point in the first half led by as many 16 points, tried to get off a desperation shot, but junior Joe Ballard's long inbounds pass was picked off by Aggies guard Steve Rush.

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SCSU men come from behind to beat Florida A&M

Playing with the lead is a luxury the South Carolina State men's basketball team has rarely enjoyed in the new year. Monday's contest against Florida A&M at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center marked the seventh time in eight outings the Bulldogs found themselves facing an uphill climb at halftime..

For the third straight time at home, the comeback formula proved to be a winning one as SCSU rallied in the second half to defeat FAMU 65-59 to even its mark in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

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SC State Bulldogs to face Florida A&M Rattlers

Both South Carolina State basketball teams will be trying to extend one-game winning streaks Monday when they host Florida A&M in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference doubleheader, beginning with the women's contest at 5:30 p.m. The men's game will follow at approximately 7:30 p.m.

The Lady Bulldogs will have a different look as they will wear pink uniforms to support the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's "Think Pink" initiative to bring awareness to breast cancer. Attendees are encouraged to wear pink and bring a donation for the organization.

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FAMU coach Clark says she has fond memories of WSSU

Photo: Lady Rattler Jarquella Woods, 5-1 freshman guard, Hardaway HS, Columbus, GA.

She had a 111-85 record in seven seasons on the Rams' sideline.

Coach Debra Clark said she will allow herself to be a little nostalgic when she leads the Florida A&M women against Winston-Salem State at 5:30 today at the Joel Coliseum Annex. Clark, who is in her seventh season at FAMU, was WSSU’s coach for seven seasons, from 1994 through 2001. “It’s kind of ironic that I’m coming back to Winston to play them; it’s going to be interesting,” she said. “I look forward to seeing a lot of folks that I know, so it will be a nice trip.”

“We’ve been hurt by injuries and everything else,” said Clark, whose Rattlers are 9-9 overall and 1-6 in the MEAC. “While it’s nice to be playing Winston, we are trying to get a win and get some momentum.”

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Coppin State Lady Eagles set records against FAMU Lady Rattlers

Photo: 5-8 senior shooting guard Rashida Suber had a birthday blowout with a career 33 points over the Lady Rattlers. She is from Reading H.S., Reading, PA.

BALTIMORE -- Seniors Rashida Suber and Shalamar Oakley combined to score 58 points and Coppin State set a school record for shooting percentage as the Eagles defeated Florida A&M 90-62 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game on Monday in the Coppin Center.

Suber celebrated her birthday by pouring in a career-high 33 points, which eclipsed her previous best of 32 set last season against Florida A&M. Suber finished the game 12-of-18 from the floor and 5-of-8 from three-point territory and came up two points shy of tying the Coppin Center record of 35 points held by Kiesha Brooks.

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The Lady Rattlers simply left their defense in Tallahassee for this East Coast trip. That 9-0 Lady Rattlers start has turned into a 9-7, 1-4 MEAC drop in the standings. What is wrong with our Rattlers?

FAMU Lady Rattlers falls to Savannah State

Photo: Junior forward Denise Tate pulls down career high 21 boards for Lady Rattlers against SSU.

The Savannah (Ga.) State University Lady Tigers cashed in 21 second half free throws to overhaul the Florida A&M Lady Rattlers, 74-66 in a non-conference women's basketball affair Friday evening in Gaither Gymnasium. The visiting Lady Tigers (8-6) trailed 36-30 at the break, but went inside the lane against FAMU in the second half, drawing fouls enough to get to the charity line.

The Lady Rattlers were led by junior forward Denise Tate had a career high 21 rebounds along with seven points, Stephanie Foster's 18 points and six rebounds, followed by 14 points from Joslyne Jackson and 10 points from junior Taniyah Dawson.

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In a game that was scheduled as a tune-up for the 9-3 Lady Rattlers, Savannah State (8-6) brought their "A" game and taught FAMU a lesson on inside lane play and clutch free throw shooting. As FAMU embark on MEAC league play next Saturday at Howard University, followed by three road contests, hopefully it was a lesson learned.

Game Ball goes to Rattlers Denise Tate for 21 rebounds.

See you Rattlers at Howard University--bring you heavy coats, hats and gloves, Floridians; it's 32 degrees this morning in Bison Country. That's the high; low was 16 degrees with wind chill at 8 degrees.

-beepbeep

Florida A&M signee stepping up game

Photo: FAMU has received a commitment from 6-9/290 center/forward Cecil Bent, Swainsboro (GA) High School for 2008/09 incoming basketball class.

After the Bulldogs dropped their first two games at the 12th annual Holiday Hoopfest, Dunnell Webb carried Thomasville High School past Brooks County 61-49 and to seventh place.

Thomasville (5-5) has suffered with offensive lapses during its up-and-down season. After the Trojans rallied from a 10-0 hole to pull within 16-15 midway through the second quarter, Webb put the Bulldogs on his back. Six points in the final 15 seconds of the half pushed Thomasville ahead 30-17 and then the Florida A&M University signee took over in the second half.

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Dunnell Webb is a 6-5 forward that was signed by FAMU Coach Eugene Harris during the early signing period. Webb is currently averaging 25 points, 4 rpg for the 1-AA Thomasville (GA) High School program.

The Rattlers have also received an oral commitment from 6-9/290 center/forward Cecil Bent, Swainsboro (GA) High School, who is averaging 12 points/8 rpg. Big Cecil is still growing; he was only 6-7/240 two years ago when he played on the Atlanta Celtics AAU team and has good hands and foot work for a big guy.

Both are exceptional students and will be part of Coach Harris first recruiting class at FAMU. Coach Harris is noted as an extremely great recruiter and evaluator of talent.

The Rattlers are expected to open their new 9,000 seat teaching gym/basketball arena in February 2009.

-Compiled by beepbeep

Florida A&M gets blown out by bored Texas A&M

Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon thinks his team is getting bored after five straight wins by 20 points or more. Josh Carter scored 18 of his 20 points in the first half and the 14th-ranked Aggies beat Florida A&M 83-54 Saturday in their latest blowout victory.

"I think our guys need competition," Turgeon said. "We've been a little bit bored out there and we're playing that way. We need a stiffer test."

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The Rattlers have dropped five of their last six, including losses at Connecticut, Florida and Kansas State.

"Playing against very good players, it really helps us to try to build a team where maybe someday we can be ranked," first-year Florida A&M coach Eugene Harris said. "We were around a good basketball atmosphere. This will help us in the long run if we get to the conference tournament and have this same type of atmosphere."

Note to FAMU Coach Harris:

Coach Harris, we understand that you are working with the players that were left when you were hired by Florida A&M, so please go out and recruit the type of Division I players that will allow FAMU to beat the Texas A&Ms, Florida, Kansas State and others.

It's real simple--the FAMU fans goals are to get ranked, win more than 22 games every season, sell out our new 9,000 seat arena, lead the MEAC in home attendance and go to the big dance (NCAA Tournament) and get past the first round each season. We recognize you are undermanned in 07-08, but don't expect the same results in '08-09 from Rattlers basketball.

Let's make a run in the MEAC as we still have an opportunity to make it a good season. Go Rattlers!