Joe Taylor Era at FAMU starts with a dominating victory

Make no mistake about it: Rattler Nation is buzzing.

The curtain rose on the Joe Taylor Era on Saturday, and the opening night revues are calling it a smash-mouth hit. Playing before an enthusiastic crowd of 18,088, Florida A&M turned back Alabama State 30-20 in its season-opener. "Everybody is excited for this football team," FAMU linebacker and team captain Vernon Wilder said. "We have a chance to be great.

"It was real electric here tonight." The Rattlers played opportunistic football. Alabama State won the statistical battle, putting up 378 yards of total offense to FAMU's 201. But the only numbers that count after the final horn are the ones on the scoreboard, and that's where the Rattlers were the undisputed champions.

FAMU vs. ASU Hornets Photo Gallery

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Attendance: 18,088 Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, FL (Capacity: 25,500)

FLORIDA A&M vs. ALABAMA STATE

Time: 6 p.m., Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, FL

FAMU offense vs. ASU defense

For the first time in his career, FAMU quarterback Eddie Battle is the undisputed starter heading into the season opener with the Hornets. Battle was named the starter after impressing new head coach Joe Taylor in the spring. He's shown over the summer why Taylor tapped him to be the starter: He is a leader capable of guiding an offense down the field. It's highly unlikely new Kentucky transfer Curtis Pulley will see any time today. There's little doubt who the star of the offense will be, however, and that will be sophomore running back Philip Sylvester.

The 2007 MEAC Rookie of the Year, Sylvester joins Demitric Henry and fullbacks Mykel Benson and Kalum Harris as veterans of the backfield to give FAMU a potentially scary running attack. With Willie Hayward gone, Jarvis Funderburk, Adrian Smith, Javares Knight and tight end Taj Jenkines need to provide FAMU with a formidable receiving corps for the Rattlers to succeed through the air this season.

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Cowboys' Bob Hayes (FAMU) and Falcons/Eagles Claude Humphrey (TSU) gets Hall nod as finalist

CANTON, Ohio — Claude Humphrey (Tennessee State University) and Robert Lee ("Bullet Bob") Hayes" (Florida A&M University) were nominated by the seniors committee Wednesday as finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Hayes, an Olympic gold medalist as a sprinter, played for Dallas from 1965-74 and for San Francisco in 1975. He averaged 20 yards a catch for his career and led the NFL with a 20.8-yard average per punt return in 1968. He was a seniors finalist in 2004 but did not get the necessary 80 percent of the vote to make the hall. He died in 2002 at the age of 59.

Hayes was the first player in the history of the Dallas franchise to surpass 1000 yards receiving in a single season and he did that in his rookie year by finishing with 1,003 yards. Hayes was the first person to break 6 seconds in the 60 yard dash with his indoor world record of 5.9 seconds. He was named to the Pro Bowl three times and All Pro four times and is the only person so far to win both an Olympic gold medal (1964 Tokyo Olympics) and a Super Bowl ring (1971). Bob Hayes finished his 11-year career with 371 receptions for 7,414 yards and 71 touchdowns, giving him an impressive 20 yards per catch average. (Both career TDs and yds per catch average remain franchise records.)

Humphrey was a regular finalist two years ago, his final year of eligibility. He played 11 seasons with Atlanta before finishing his career with Philadelphia from 1979-81. He was considered one of the best pass rushers in the game during an era in which sacks were not an official statistic. Humphrey was selected out of Tennessee State University in the first round of the 1968 NFL Draft with the 3rd overall choice by the Falcons.

They will join 15 modern-era finalists yet to be determined in the final selection the day before the Super Bowl in Tampa on Jan. 31. The two seniors finalists are voted on separately. A total of seven can be elected — the two seniors and up to five modern candidates.

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Only award that matters for FAMU LB Wilder is title

NORFOLK, Va. — Less than an hour after FAMU linebacker Vernon Wilder got through telling reporters how he could have made a few more tackles last season, he got some incentive Friday to try harder. Wilder was one of three Rattlers selected to the MEAC All-Conference preseason first team. Running back Philip Sylvester and receiver Taj Jenkines also were first-team selections by the league's coaches and sports information directors.

Wilder, a senior who led FAMU in tackles the past two seasons, is gunning for the bigger prize. "I just want to try to get that MEAC ring," he said in a conference room packed with members of the media, coaches and players. "I want to lead the nation in sacks, and I feel this is the year."

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All-American Vasquez hired as FAMU's special-teams coach

What was just an idea for former FAMU kicker Juan Vasquez is now a reality after several years of volunteering as a special-teams coach. "After a while of being successful, I started thinking, 'Wow, I could really do this for a living,'" Vasquez said Tuesday. "What a better way to do something that you like to do as a livelihood."

He got his opportunity to do nothing but coach for a living when head coach Joe Taylor hired him as kicking coach. An official announcement of his hire was delayed until the process was recently completed. "This is a dream come true," he said. "I didn't know this would really happen, and I want to thank coach Taylor for giving me the opportunity. I've put in a lot of hard work, but you never know when the opportunity is going to come."

Coach Vasquez has been successful in mentoring former Rattlers All-American kicker, Wesley Taylor, #20.

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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 Taylor will lean on Lee at backup QB

Rattlers' coach likes freshman athleticism

A second look was all it took for Tobias Lee to return to playing quarterback for Florida A&M. After all of the film-watching and performance evaluations from spring practice, coach Joe Taylor was impressed with Lee's athleticism.

Taylor was even more impressed with the 3.5 GPA Lee maintained while carrying 18 hours in the classroom during the spring. "He has not only got it physically, but he has it mentally," Taylor said Monday. "That's the kind of kid you want at quarterback because he's very intelligent." So Lee will go into the fall practice as the primary backup to Eddie Battle. The move reverses Taylor's decision after spring practice to shift Lee, a redshirt freshman, to tight end.

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Rolle reloads Miami Northwestern for another title run

MIAMI -- Tyresse Jones, the sinewy running back from Miami Northwestern High, was pondering his future Friday. He was concerned for the dearth of college interest when coach Billy Rolle emerged from the office.

"Here you go," said Rolle, tossing a bundle of mail with nearly 50 college pitch letters and offers. "Now you have choices, Tyresse."

With that the torch was passed. Jones felt like a hot prospect, knowing he'll have multiple college choices. "It feels good," said Jones, while smiling. "I didn't know where I stood (with colleges)."

Miami Northwestern High School Bulls (FL) vs. South Lake Carroll High School Dragons (TX) - 2007



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Former Rattler Billy Rolle was inducted into the Florida A&M University Hall of Fame in 2003.

AFCA honors FAMU legend Jake Gaither

Florida Governor Claude Kirk visited Jake Gaither, the nationally renowned coach of the Florida A & M University football team, circa 1967-70. (photo provided by Florida's Division of Historical Resources)

Coaches group lauds Rattlers great with Trailblazer Award

Almost 40 years after he coached his last football game, Jake Gaither is still winning.

Gaither, who became a legend during a 24-year coaching career at FAMU, was recently named winner of the Trailblazer Award, a posthumous honor. He is the fourth winner of the prestigious national award that is given by the American Football Coaches Association.

The award recognizes black coaches who became greats of the game during an era when their accomplishments were seldom recognized. Gaither is considered on the same plateau with legend Paul "Bear" Bryant, who Gaither once recruited during the 1950s to assist with a coaches' clinic.

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READ: Jake Gaither
http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/FAMU/70824026

READ: Jake Gaither, 90, Successful And Influential Football Coach:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D07E0D9153BF93AA25751C0A962958260&sec=&spon=

Parsons to play at NCAA Division I, MEAC and SWAC schools

As far as Snead State Community College men’s basketball coach Rodney Hampton is concerned, two members of the 2007-08 team set the standard for all Parsons to come. Brandon Bryant, of Tuscaloosa, and Gerald January, of Macon, Ga., have signed scholarships with NCAA Division I schools.

Bryant, a 6-2 guard, has signed to play with Florida A&M University, while January, a 6-7 forward, signed to play with Alabama A&M University. “Both Brandon and Gerald have really exemplified the true student-athlete. They embody the character and the skill level that coaches only dream about,” Hampton said.

“They have been good leaders here at Snead. We had a team of mostly freshmen, and under the circumstances, Brandon and Gerald have been integral parts of the team’s success over the last two years.”

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Bethune Cookman baseball sweeps FAMU Rattlers

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida A&M Baseball team grabbed an early 2-0 lead before Bethune-Cookman rallied to complete a sweep of their weekend Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference series with a 16-6 victory here Sunday at Moore-Kittles Field.

Florida A&M (2-11, 0-3 in MEAC) struck first Sunday, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Jared Grace, who reached safely via a one-out single, scored from first on a Jared Jeffries infield hit and a throwing error by B-CU pitcher Eric Thomas.

Bethune-Cookman (14-7, 3-0 in MEAC), which outhit FAMU, 9-7, scored three runs in the top of the sixth to take the lead, 3-2, but broke the game open in the seventh, scoring seven runs on two hits and two errors, aided by several Rattler wild pitches, for a 10-2 lead.

The BCU Wildcats won Saturday games against the Rattlers with scores of 10-0 and 9-1, scoring 35 runs in the three game series.

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Florida Classic faces trouble

For a couple of days late last month, it looked like Bethune-Cookman's football team would be participating in two major events in Orlando next season. But the presidents of B-CU and Florida A&M quickly ended that speculation.

On Feb. 26, ESPN Regional Television announced its MEAC/SWAC Challenge game will move from Birmingham, Ala., to Orlando's Florida Citrus Bowl for at least next season. The game will be played Aug. 31, which is Sunday of the Labor Day weekend.

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This article title is totally incorrect--It should read: MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Trouble. The Florida Classic is going nowhere with a strong base of 68,000 -71,000 fans making it the largest game in history for the Florida Citrus Bowl facility.

Without the participation of FAMU and BCU, the MEAC/SWAC Challenge will be seeking a new home regardless of the sponsorship. This is a meaningless "made for cablevision" game. Folks have to remember the product IS the HBCU football teams, not the stadium, or the classic name, or whether the game will be televised.

Jackson State football means as much to Floridians as Delaware State football--they are not on the radar.

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FAMU snatches win from rival Bethune Cookman

Photo: Senior guard Leslie Robinson has had a breakout season leading the Rattlers in scoring averaging 15.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 1.1 apg.

Akini Akini's double-double helps FAMU beat rival Bethune-Cookman

It was billed as Senior Night. It ended up being one heck of a house party.

With more than 3,600 fans dancing, chanting and stepping the night away at Gaither Gymnasium, the Florida A&M men's basketball team spanked rival Bethune-Cookman 69-50.
The victory meant little to the Rattlers' seed in next week's MEAC tournament; FAMU is slotted as the sixth seed and is expected to play 11th-seeded Maryland-Eastern Shore on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Raleigh, N.C.

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The Rattlers are clearly a dangerous team to be reckoned with in the MEAC Tournament with momentum and a five game winning streak. First year coach Eugene Harris is proving to be a very good coach with an undersized team. Finally, the Rattlers are getting his system, but lacks the size and depth to deal with the regular season MEAC champions, Morgan State and second place teams Hampton and Norfolk State.

No doubt looking at the entire body of work in a 29 game season, the Morgan Bears are poised to make some real noise in March Madness. Both Todd Bozeman and Eugene Harris have done an amazing job, but Bozeman had much more talent to work with this season with potential MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, Boubacar Coly. And let us not forget about the sharp shooting guard Jamar Smith and consistent forward Marquise Kately.

FAMU however, matches up well with the Bears and have proven they can beat them. The difference has been the Rattlers Akini Akini, who must have a double/double to neutralize Coly for the Rattlers to have any chance repeating as MEAC Tournament Champions and going to the NCAAs.

In spite of the odds against the Rattlers, we like their chances to upset the rest of the MEAC as they have no pressures, finishing the regular season five games back from Morgan State. The Rattlers seem to do more with less which makes for an exciting MEAC Tournament, where legends are made.

Akini Akini--It's your time. Do your thang!!

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DSU men suffer letdown against FAMU

Photo: FAMU high scorer Leslie Robinson hit for 24 poinsts, 3 reb., and 1 assist. The 6-0/180 senior guard is from Rockford, IL/Highland CC.

DOVER, DE — One was fun. They said two proved the program grew. And three was sweet victory. But the Delaware State men’s basketball team’s dream of four is no more. DSU’s quest to win at least a share of its fourth straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular-season title came to a whimpering halt tonight with a 70-58 loss to Florida A&M before a groan-filled crowd at Memorial Hall.

The Rattlers (11-16 overall, 7-7 MEAC) beat the Hornets (12-14, 9-5) in almost every aspect to become the first MEAC opponent to sweep a season series from DSU since 2004-05.

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UCF Completes Sweep in 17-2 Win over Florida A&M

Photo: FAMU head baseball coach Robert Lucas has a young squad that will require time to develop into championship form.

ORLANDO, Fla. - The UCF baseball team set a school record for most runs in a three-game series after defeating Florida A&M, 17-2, Sunday at Jay Bergman Field. In all, the Knights (3-0) racked up 50 runs over the weekend vs. the Rattlers (0-3), and will now host No. 6 Missouri Monday at 3 p.m.

A total of 3,208 attended the three-game series vs. FAMU, marking the third-largest series in stadium history.

Junior southpaw Mitch Herold (1-0) collected the win by going 5.0 innings with six strikeouts and five hits allowed, including not surrendering a hit until the fourth inning. On the basepaths, UCF swiped 10 bases, highlighted by junior Josh Siebenaler's three steals.

UCF posted 16 hits on the day, led by sophomore Chris Duffy who went 3-for-5 with two RBI. Junior Chadd Hartman delivered with the Knights' first home run of the season with a three-run shot in the seventh. Sunday marked the second-straight game that all nine Knight starters scored a run.

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Sweat's Career-High Eight Strikeouts Lead UCF Past Florida A&M, 16-2

Brown drives in four runs, Duffy scores four times in the win over the Rattlers.

ORLANDO, Fla.- After suffering through a lengthy rain delay before first pitch, the UCF baseball team moved to 2-0 on the season with a 16-2 win over Florida A&M Saturday at Jay Bergman Field. Junior starter Kyle Sweat delivered with a career-high eight strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work for the victory.

The Knights racked up 15 hits in the win over the Rattlers (0-2), led by senior Dwayne Bailey and sophomore Shane Brown, who each posted three hits. Brown also posted a career-high four RBI, and sophomore Chris Duffy set a personal mark with four runs scored.

UCF climbed on top of FAMU and starter Anthony Espin (0-1) in the second as Duffy reached on an error and senior Ryan Richardson blasted a double high off the center-field fence. Following an intentional walk to Brown, freshman Evan Stobbs was issued a free pass with the bases juiced for the first run.

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UCF Baseball Pounds Out 17 Runs in Opening-Day Win over FAMU

Photo: FAMU starting pitcher Cirilo Manego had a difficult day on the mound pitching 2.1 innings, giving up 12 hits, 10 runs and 3 strikeouts to UCF Knights.

Knights defeat Rattlers, 17-1, to tie school record for most runs in a season-opener.

ORLANDO, Fla. - A festive crowd of 1,282 ventured to Opening Day at Jay Bergman Field Friday and had a lot to cheer about as UCF routed Florida A&M, 17-1. The Knights' 17 runs tied a school record for most in a season-opener, as they also accomplished the feat vs. Rollins in 1998.

Senior Jaager Good (1-0) got the start for the Black and Gold and gave up just two hits and struck out eight in 5.2 innings of work, including striking out the side in the first. At the dish, senior Dwayne Bailey came one hit shy of matching the school mark for hits in a game, as he went 5-for-5 with four runs scored. Meanwhile, senior Tyson Auer tied his career high by scoring four runs as well.

"As long as you win by one run, it's a W," said head coach Jay Bergman, who enters his 26th season with UCF. "I thought we played very well tonight, particularly defensively, and Jaager was in control of his game. The team played with a lot of enthusiasm and what we call synergy."

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Tip-In Extends Coppin State Win Streak at FAMU

Photo: CSU 6-3 small forward Antwan Harrison made the game winner on a tip-in. The senior is from Beltsville, MD/Gonzaga College H.S. and is majoring in Sports Management.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Senior Antwan Harrison scored on a tip-in with four seconds remaining lifting Coppin State to a 69-68 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory over Florida A&M on Monday in Gaither Gymnasium and extending the Eagles winning streak to five straight.

Harrison, who scored 12 points, followed up a miss by Julian Conyers with the game-winning basket giving Coppin State its longest winning streak since the 2004-05 season.

Tywain McKee sealed the victory for the Eagles with a steal on Florida A&M's final possession.

Coppin State (9-19, 4-8 MEAC) shot 63.6 percent from the floor in the second half and a season-high 51.7 percent for the game. Florida A&M (9-16, 5-7 MEAC) was led by Leslie Robinson who scored a game-high 24 points.

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Ashley Hampton leads St. John to the Final Four

Photo: Ashley Hampton blasted Merritt Island Christian with 29 points and 17 rebounds to move her team to the final four in Class 1A.

OCALA - The Ashley Hampton Express is headed to Lakeland.

The St. John forward and Florida A&M University Lady Rattlers basketball signee continued her postseason onslaught, hanging 29 points and 17 rebounds on second-ranked Merritt Island Christian Saturday night, and moving the Lady Saints into their first-ever Class 1A final four.

Sixth-ranked St. John (22-5) sprinted out to an 11-0 lead and cruised to the 57-45 victory in the 1A-2 region finals. "We're going to state," Hampton said after her fifth straight postseason double-double. "I'm unexplainable excited right now. "For three years we've been getting to the same point . . . but now we've got the determination and the drive, and the chemistry - it always goes back to the chemistry - we're just really lucky to have that."

St. John head coach Kim Pompey-Bell, who also happens to be Hampton's mother, couldn't hide her pride after leading the Saints to the final four in just her second season at the helm.

"It's amazing to watch (Ashley)," Pompey-Bell said. "I've taught her since she was 3-4 years old, so to see her grow and prosper and develop. She's amazing. And she gets better and better every game." "But it's a team effort. (Ashley's) got her talents and so do the other girls. Without the rest of them, she wouldn't be where she is now."

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Kim Pompey-Bell in her prep days was a basketball superstar at Vanguard High School, Ocala and at Division I, University of South Alabama, where she still holds the school record for 3-point shots made. In this case, the apple didn't fall too far from the tree for this blue chip student-athlete carrying a 4.42 grade point average.

WSSU struggles past FAMU Rattlers

Winston-Salem State broke its three-game losing streak, but by no means was it easy. The Rams stumbled out of the Joel Coliseum Annex last night with a 59-57 victory over Florida A&M. Missed free throws and bad decisions down the stretch nearly cost the Rams. Clinging to a two-point lead with nine seconds left, Roy Peake of the Rams missed a front end of a one-and-one opportunity. The Rattlers got the rebound, went down the court and Leslie Robinson, their best shooter, had a chance to win the game with a wide open 3-point attempt from the left baseline.

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