Florida A&M Coach Has Faith in His Rebuilding Program

Tallahassee, FL — When Joe Taylor took over as the football coach at Florida A&M, barely a month after the Rattlers lost six of their last seven games to finish 3-8 in 2007, he summoned every returning player for an individual conference. In each session, he asked the same question: why did things happen the way they did last season? And each player pointed the finger at someone else. Not one acknowledged any role. “There was a whole lot of what I call deflecting,” Taylor, 59, said in recent interview.

Coach Joe Taylor stands next to the statue of legendary Rattlers Coach Alonzo S. "Jake" Gaither on the campus of Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL.

Taylor said that he realized that the job facing him was more than returning Florida A&M to its customary success. He had to oversee a character makeover, which for him meant a regimen of churchgoing, class work and off-season training. As he said, “My whole idea is that if you can improve the person, you can improve the player.” Less than two years later, the results vindicate the thesis. Taylor’s 2008 team went 9-3, and after last Saturday’s 31-28 overtime victory against Morgan State, the Rattlers were 6-2 in 2009, with one of those losses to Miami.

Florida A&M now ranks in the top 25 in the N.C.A.A. Football Championship Subdivision poll for the first time in eight years. Before Saturday’s home game against North Carolina A&T, the No. 24 Rattlers were in second place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and third in the Sheridan Broadcasting System ranking of historically black colleges. Impressive as the improvements have been, the Florida A&M tradition demands even more. Taylor toils here in the shadow of Jake Gaither, one of the greatest college football coaches ever, who retired in 1969 with a career record of 203-36-4.



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Week Eight: No Suprises in MEAC/SWAC

Prarie View A&M head football coach Henry Frazier III and the Panthers are doing the laughing now as the team to beat in the SWAC.

Lookin' Ahead

As expected, South Carolina State is steamrolling everyone in the MEAC and Prairie View A&M is the class of the SWAC. We don't see South Carolina State stumbling with a remaining schedule consisting of Howard, Morgan State and North Carolina A&T. If the Bulldogs stay healthy, they should make some real noise in the FCS Playoffs.

The only unanswered MEAC question is--will the FCS Playoff Selection Committee invite Florida A&M with only two losses? FAMU loss two road games, to #11 ranked Miami and highly regarded MEAC power S.C. State. Just expect the Rattlers to continue to find a way to win with QB Curtis Pulley and electrifying kick returner, LeRoy Vann leading the way. The Rattlers remaining games starts with North Carolina A&T at home next Saturday. Coach Joe Taylor has a homecoming date with Hampton on Nov. 14. But the snakes must face an in-state rival with no place to go and nothing up for grabs other than state bragging rights. Look for the regular season final with Bethune Cookman to be a game where legends are born--for Curtis Pulley, LeRoy Vann and a host of Rattlers defenders. You don't want to miss this barn burner on Nov. 21 at the Orlando Citrus Bowl.

Close call, but expect to see Joe Taylor's FAMU Rattlers in the FCS Playoffs! Now, let's catch up on last week games.

Florida A&M 34, Norfolk St. 20
South Carolina St. 21, Hampton 9
North Carolina A&T 30, Howard 19
Delaware St. 35, Morgan St. 22
Winston Salem St. 16, Bethune Cookman 10
Alabama St. 24, Alcorn St. 17
Jackson St. 25, MVSU 16
Arkansas Pine Bluff 38, Edward Waters 12
Prairie View 16, Southern 14
Old Dominion 38, Savannah St. 17

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Florida A&M Rattlers 31, Tennessee State Tigers 12

FAMU Marching 100 Baritone Horn section get down in dance routine at Atlanta Football Classic.

FAMU wins again in Atlanta Football Classic

Florida A&M continued its dominance of Tennessee State in the Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic on Saturday, rolling to a 31-12 victory before a crowd of nearly 52,000 at the Georgia Dome. It was the eighth straight win in the series for the Rattlers (4-0), who were led by QB Curtis Pulley’s 315 passing yards and two second-half TD passes. Those passes helped FAMU pull away from the Tigers (1-3), who had a 12-10 halftime lead behind TD runs from Preston Brown and Calvin McNairl.

Florida A&M rolls

Tennessee State already knew Curtis Pulley could win a game with his legs. This time, he proved his arm was just as useful. Pulley, Florida A&M's quarterback, was 24-of-34 for a career-high 315 yards and two touchdowns to earn his second consecutive Bank of America Football Classic Most Valuable Player award and lead his team to a 31-12 victory at the Georgia Dome on Saturday. Most of Pulley's production came when it was most needed, as the Rattlers pulled away in the second half to remain undefeated.

The Tigers looked strong in the first two quarters, keeping Pulley from hurting them too badly and taking a 12-10 lead into the locker room. But 192 of Pulley's passing yards and both touchdowns came in the final 30 minutes, and the reason for A&M's resounding win was evident to Tennessee State coach James Webster Jr. "The difference in the ball game was the quarterback, Pulley," Webster said. "He took it to another level in the second half. Pulley made the plays with his legs and his arm. He found the receivers, and we didn't challenge the receivers like we should have challenged them."

FAMU cruises past Tennessee State, 31-12

ATLANTA — Quarterback Curtis Pulley stood on the small stage, the Atlanta Classic MVP trophy latched in his arms, while cameras snapped away. The eyes of the media might have been on Pulley, but he wouldn't forget the rest of the FAMU players that were spread around the field level. "It's great to have those guys as my teammates," Pulley said after leading the Rattlers to a 31-12 victory over Tennessee State at the Georgia Dome.

Later on, Pulley would thank his receivers who helped him to a career-high 315 passing yards. "It was just great to make plays with our receivers," he said. "We have been kind of balanced in the first couple of games, but we just opened it up. The O-line did a great job of not letting any pressure get back there (to the pocket) and the receivers did a good job of getting open." Pulley never stopped relying on what he could do with his arm, and for the first game this season he didn't outdo himself running the ball. He carried nine times for 23 yards, a career low.

FAMU receiver Elliott has good outing despite drops

ATLANTA — After dropping four passes last week against Howard University, FAMU receiver Kevin Elliott fired off a text to offensive coordinator Lawrence Kershaw. "I apologized and I told him I would never play like that again," Elliott said after finishing the Atlanta Classic on Saturday with six catches for 64 yards. "I'm real hard on myself." Elliott might have to beg Kershaw to give him more time in the passing game because he dropped three in FAMU's 31-12 win over Tennessee State. However, he was the second leading receiver behind Isaac West's 134 yards on a day that quarterback Curtis Pulley threw for a career-best 315 yards.
























FAMU WR Javares Knight fights for additonal yardage against TSU Tigers.

Preserving Atlanta Classic makes financial sense

ATLANTA — Ken Howard came early before a mid-afternoon downpour disrupted tailgating. He and his buddy Robert Mosby had to make the rounds. Always a lot of folks to meet and greet whenever they come to the Atlanta Football Classic. They don't know everybody who calls out their names in the tailgating crowd, but they respond. Been almost 30 years since they graduated from FAMU, where Howard was batter known as "White Man." They called Mosby "Big Dog," the names they heard a lot this weekend.

Howard is teaching music now and brings the message of what black college football meant to him as a younger man and what it still means. He still comes to these games, the high cost of driving from Fort Lauderdale notwithstanding. Reports of flooding in Atlanta weren't going to deter him, either. "It means a lot to us," he said, explaining why he spent $200 for tickets to share Saturday's experience. "I'm an educator and I tell my kids a lot of those black athletes played at FAMU." He doesn't have many to talk about right now, but maybe one day they'll be talking about the tandem of quarterback Curtis Pulley and receiver Isaac West who both had a career days in beating the Tigers 31-12.

Attendance: 51,950 at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA

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Tonight on ESPNU: FAMU Rattlers vs. Winston Salem State Rams

WSSU Rams Coach Kermit Blount: "I think we can neutralize their (FAMU) speed if it's a team effort," Blount said.

WSSU is likely to switch passers

Winston-Salem State most likely will have a new starting quarterback tonight when it plays Florida A&M at Bowman Gray Stadium. Senior Jarrett Dunston sprained his right ankle in last week's 19-10 loss to N.C. A&T, hasn't practiced all week and was limping noticeably yesterday at the WSSU field house. Coach Kermit Blount was coy about the starter, but every indication is that it will be redshirt freshman Branden Williams.

Kickoff will be at 7:30, with television coverage on ESPNU (Time Warner Ch. 143). The Rams had just 90 yards of offense last week, with two turnovers and several mishandled Shotgun snaps, and correcting those mistakes has been emphasized in practice. "I've had some people ask me about what's wrong with the offense," Blount said. "I had one guy ask me after the game, and I said, ‘Look, I don't come on your job asking you about things.' It's just a work in progress and considering we lost Jarrett during the game that was a huge loss for us."

FAMU's athletic director Hayes interested in WSSU job

Bill Hayes has applied for the athletics-director position at Winston-Salem State, sources have confirmed. Hayes, in his second year as the athletics director at Florida A&M, has sent in an application and is interested in the WSSU vacancy, according to one source in Winston-Salem and one in Tallahassee, Fla. Hayes was traveling to Winston-Salem yesterday for tonight's football game between A&M and WSSU and did not respond to a message left on his cell phone.
Hayes, 64, coached football at WSSU for 12 seasons in the late 1970s and 1980s, compiling a record of 89-41-2 and leading the Rams to seven CIAA championship games and three titles.

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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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Coach K won't say if Casey Printers his type

But ex-Ticat welcome at tryouts, Kelly says

He's been labelled a clubhouse cancer and a prima donna. And if you were to paint a picture to best describe quarterback Casey Printers' days with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, it would almost certainly involve a mushroom cloud, an enormous crater and several kilometres of scorched earth. And now, just a few weeks after vehemently denying any interest in his services, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are tap-dancing around weekend reports emanating from a Vancouver radio station that Printers is suddenly in their plans.

QB Casey Printers (Florida A&M Rattlers - 2002) has dropped in one season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from the top paid player in the CFL to unemployed professional quarterback.

"It's beyond me how this story has taken on a life of it's own," head coach Mike Kelly said from San Diego, where the Bombers conducted a free-agent tryout camp on the weekend. "Right now, we're just looking for good players (the club has two more camps scheduled in the next month). These are open tryouts. Joe Montana might walk out and say, 'Hey, I want to throw the ball around' and we'll say, 'OK, let's see what you got.' "I can't turn anybody away from these workouts."

That may be true, but despite his considerable skill set and his glowing credentials -- Printers was the CFL's Most Outstanding Player in 2004 -- the Bombers have until this point repeatedly spit out a polite "no thanks" when his name popped up in recent weeks. They vehemently denied interest in him in January when rumours surfaced that Printers would be traded to the Bombers for Kevin Glenn. And last month, when Printers was cut adrift by the Ticats, the Bombers took a pass on him as well.



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FAMU Well Armed At QB

There is no quarterback controversy for the Rattlers this Spring. When it comes to the two play callers that led the MEAC's top scoring offense in 2008, if the system's not broken, don't fix it. "We're going to probably start the way we finished with Curtis being the guy," Head Coach Joe Taylor said. "I just feel good that you got a guy that for whatever reason, he's winded or temporarily gets knocked out of a game, you got a guy like Eddie that can just come in and keep things going. Look to see Eddie playing, but the starter is definitely Curtis."

Last season, Pulley and Battle combined for the best pass efficiency in the MEAC, and tied for the fewest interceptions. It's a duo that understands the needs of the team come before the individual. Eddie Battle says, "He comes in, he's having an equal opportunity, knowing the system, but it's never combative. We're friends first and we're teammates, and then we compete for a spot, and that makes the both of us play better." Taylor adds, "You want to be able to create an atmosphere of competitive spirit, and certainly we're hopeful that there are going to be some battles."

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Taylor seeking reliable tight end for FAMU

Photo Gallery: FAMU football practice

As a tight end, the role might call for blocking on one play and making a catch on another. FAMU football coach Joe Taylor just wants to find the right player who could execute both roles well enough. If that player steps up during spring, he could very well end up with a significant role in the Rattlers' offensive scheme. Taj Jenkines proved himself to be the right fit in his final season last year, but it's a wide-open position with at least three candidates making a push.

"It takes a special kind of guy to get down there and do that three-point stance," Taylor said Thursday, following the third day of spring practice in soggy conditions. Max Purcell and Tobias Lee are the two leading candidates, but freshman Brandon Hepburn might make a case if he could mature fast enough. Fullback Mykel Benson could also be considered, Taylor said.

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Top-seeded Morgan State crushes FAMU in MEAC

Morgan State used three big offensive runs, a decided edge in rebounding and a solid effort from point guard Jermaine "Itchy" Bolden to race past Florida A&M 71-41 in a quarterfinal-round game of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament at Joel Coliseum last night. The top-seeded Bears opened the game with a 13-2 run, then posted a 15-0 stretch, which started at the end of the first half, to build a 44-22 lead with 16 minutes remaining.

The Bears held a 52-32 rebounding edge and outscored the Rattlers 26-14 in the paint.
Bolden, a 5-9 senior, finished with 12 points, six assists, six rebounds and two steals for Morgan State (21-11). The Rattlers pulled to 46-31 with a 6-0 run, but Morgan State came right back with a 13-0 burst that delivered the knockout blow in the rout. "Basketball is a game of runs, so it's who makes the most, the longest or the last (run)," Coach Todd Bozeman of Morgan State said. "We wanted to continue to keep playing and I kept telling the guys in timeouts, ‘Do not play the score.' We don't play that way; you want to keep playing the game."

The Bears will face the Coppin State-N.C. A&T winner in a semifinal-round game on Friday at 6 p.m. Reggie Holmes, a 6-4 junior and the Bears' leading scorer at 16.5 points per game, had a game-high 18 points and added nine rebounds, while teammate Marquise Kately chipped in with 10 points. Florida A&M, the tournament's No. 8 seed, finished the season 10-21, and had no players in double-figures scoring. The Rattlers shot a dismal 24.5 percent from the field and made only 12 field goals.

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Photo Gallery: Bears/Rattler Shots
Boxscore

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Pitching presenting problem for FAMU

Rattlers head baseball Coach Robert Lucas

Coach Robert Lucas realized one of his greatest fears about the FAMU baseball team – that his pitchers might have a disastrous day no matter how much hitting the Rattlers do. That became clear Tuesday afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field, where the Rattlers lost two seven-inning games to Campbell University. The Camels (8-1) took the first game 7-0 then FAMU's pitching collapsed in a 16-6 loss.

Yes, this is the same team that scored 41 runs in the two previous games. That gave Lucas a bit of optimism just four days ago, but inconsistencies by his pitchers spurred Lucas' ire. Pitching coach Brett Richardson was just as furious over what transpired on the mound. What he saw was enough to begin tinkering with the rotation, Richardson said.

"You can talk a whole bunch about confidence, but confidence is something you can't give a guy," Richardson said. "Either you've got it or you don't." Despite their troubles on the mound, the Rattlers out-hit Campbell in both games (9-8 and 15-10). FAMU never led in the second game and it left nine runners on base for a total of 18 in both games.

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Florida A&M stops Morgan's streak with 63-58 win

Photo Galleries:
FAMU Men Edge Morgan State 63-58
FAN CAM - FAMU vs. Morgan State

Brandon Bryant scored 16 points and Florida A&M hit five of six free throws in the final 30 seconds to beat Morgan State yesterday in Tallahassee. Reggie Holmes led the Bears with 16 points, and Jermaine Bolden added 11. Morgan's three-game winning streak ended. The Rattlers (5-10, 3-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference), who won their third straight game, are in a four-way tie atop the conference standings with Morgan (8-9, 3-1), Bethune-Cookman and Hampton.

Holmes' three-pointer with 17.5 seconds left cut the Bears' deficit to one. But Larry Jackson and Bryant each hit two free throws for the Rattlers in the last 17 seconds, and Bolden missed a three-point try. Yannick Crowder had 10 points for Florida A&M.

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FAMU's Marching 100 prepares for Obama inaugural parade

Photo Gallery: FAMU Marching 100 Preps for Inaugural Parade

YOUR Help Needed -- FAMU Marching 100 $23,000 short from achieving $175,000 goal to cover expenses to President Obama's Inauguration Parade.



It tops performing with hip-hop artist Kanye West at the Grammy Awards. It beats being featured with entertainer Prince. It outranks serving in numerous Super Bowl half-time shows. That’s how Florida A&M’s head drum major Michael Scott describes the band being picked to perform in the inaugural parade for president-elect Barack Obama. He said the words as if in awe: “The first black president of the United States.”

“It’s something you only dream about,” Scott, a 26-year-old music-education major, said. “But now that it has happened, (we’ve) got a chance to perform for the first black president of the United States. You won’t find too many people who will be able to say that.” On Jan. 20, FAMU’s Marching 100 will join nearly 90 other participants in Washington, D.C., for the inaugural parade. But before the nine buses and moving truck depart from the FAMU campus Jan. 18, administrators and students must meet certain goals.

Anyone interested in supporting the trip is asked to make a donation online at www.famu.edu/givetothe100

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Souverain exits B-CU as MVP

ORLANDO -- McKinson Souverain was named Bethune-Cookman's Most Valuable Player of the Florida Classic after Saturday's 58-35 loss to rival Florida A&M. But the award did little to soothe Souverain, who was hurting from the physical pain inflicted by a hard-hitting Rattler defense and the emotional agony that came along with a lopsided season-ending loss to FAMU.

"I'd trade that (award) for a victory," Souverain said softly as the Florida A&M band played loudly in celebration at the Florida Citrus Bowl. "I'd trade that for a playoff shot." Souverain, a senior, was hoping to go out with a bang -- a win over arch-rival FAMU that might have catapulted the Wildcats into a Top 25 ranking and an at-large berth in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

"Our part was just to win," Souverain said. "Everything else, whatever happens after that happens." B-CU won't have to worry about watching tonight's announcement concerning the FCS playoffs. FAMU (9-3, 5-3 MEAC) has a chance of getting an at-large bid, but B-CU (8-3, 5-3) can start planning for next season.

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Florida A&M tops Morehead State 79-74

Eagle Men Lose to FAMU Despite Monster Game From Faried

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Sophomore center Kenneth Faried had career high totals of 27 points and 24 rebounds, but it wasn't enough, as the Morehead State Eagles lost 79-74 to Florida A&M in the consolation game of the Billy Minardi Classic at Freedom Hall on Sunday (Nov. 23) afternoon. Faried earned all-tournament honors. "We're very disappointed with our loss today," said MSU Coach Donnie Tyndall. "We're still making way to many turnovers, and our assist-to-turnover ratio is not good. And, we've got to do a better job guarding the basketball.

"Kenneth (Faried) was outstanding. He played with great energy. There were some positive aspects that we can take from the game and build upon." MSU fell to 0-5 on the season, with four road losses and Sunday's neutral site loss. FAMU won its first game in five decisions. Faried hit nine-of-11 from the field, but only nine-of-18 from the free throw line. He also blocked two shots. As a team, the Eagles hit only 59.6 percent (28-of-47) from the charity stripe. In addition to Faried, MSU got 15 points from Leon Buchanan and 10 points in a reserve role from Terrance Hill.

The Rattlers were led by Lamar Twitty who scored 18 points. Dale Hughes had 12 points, Joe Ballard 11 points and David Buchanon 10 points. MSU out-rebound FAMU 42-to-35, but had 18 turnovers to only 11 for the Rattlers. Next up for the Eagles is a trip to Mexico for two more games in the Cancun Challenge. MSU will play Grambling at 3 p.m. EST on Nov. 29 and Central Florida at 6 p.m. on Nov. 30.

Click here to listen to the archived broadcast.

Box Score

FAMU wins 29th Florida Classic 58-35 over Bethune-Cookman

Florida A&M capped a resurgent 2008 season in style, throttling rival Bethune-Cookman 58-35 to win its third Florida Classic in four years. Just a year removed from a disastrous 3-8 finish and lopsided 34-7 loss in the 2007 Classic, the Rattlers punctuated new coach Joe Taylor first season with a quick striking offensive attack and stifling defense that took advantage of six Wildcats' turnovers Saturday.

FAMU got its biggest boost junior quarterback and University of Kentucky transfer Curtis Pulley, who accounted the four touchdowns (two rushing, two passing) as the Rattlers skated out to an early 31-0 lead and never really looked back. The Rattlers led 38-21 lead at the half, surviving what wound up being a very sloppy half of football as both teams combined for seven turnovers. But there were also plenty of early fireworks.

Pulley had both of his rushing scores in the opening 30 minutes, including a 51-yard scamper on his way to 153 yards in the half on just 10 carries. Running back Phillip Sylvester also added a pair of short touchdown runs and teammate Leroy Vahn also ignited the crowd with an 83-yard kickoff return for a score.

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FAMU hunts for playoff spot

TALLAHASSEE, FL — This is Florida A&M coach Joe Taylor's first experience with the Florida Classic, the rivalry game between the Rattlers and Bethune-Cookman University. He's heard about the atmosphere and the revelry. "The Classic is the fanfare," he said. "It's for people to come and party. But that's not why we're there."

The Rattlers (8-3, 4-3 MEAC) are there to earn at least a share of second place in the conference and line themselves up for a possible Football Championship Subdivision playoff berth, which they can do with a win over the Wildcats (8-2, 5-2 MEAC). Few thought FAMU would get to this point so quickly. The Rattlers lost six of their last seven in 2007 to finish 3-8. That led to the dismissal of coach Rubin Carter and the hiring of Taylor, who spent 16 years coaching Hampton University.

The Rattlers lead the MEAC in scoring offense and are third in passing offense and total offense. They've won five of their last six games, and linebacker Vernon Wilder said it's a different feeling around the program. "It's exciting," Wilder said. "The Classic is already exciting, but all this stuff on the table makes it even more exciting. "Winning cures a lot of stuff. A lot of things go smoother," Wilder said. "We're having fun."

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A&T loses early lead, game to Florida A&M

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- For a while on Saturday afternoon at Aggie Stadium, it appeared as though N.C. A&T might steal a MEAC victory from conference rival Florida A&M. However, Florida A&M was able to overcome an early 7-0 deficit, as the Rattlers' defense held banged-up N.C. A&T (3-8, 1-6), to 56 net rushing yards, and forced four turnovers, to rally to a 45-7 blowout victory.

A&M junior linebacker Bryan Parker's nine tackles, two sacks, and two fumble recoveries, helped spark the Rattlers' (7-3, 3-3 MEAC) defense. Meanwhile, A&T is now 1-2 in interim head coach George Ragsdale's third game since taking over for the fired Lee Fobbs. "Their defense played lights out today," said Ragsdale. "We've got to meet their intensity on the other side of the ball. When we came out, we didn't have the energy that we've had the past two weeks."

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Attendance: 7,036 (32%) at Aggie Stadium, Greensboro, N.C. (Capacity: 22,000).

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ESPN GameDay coming to FAMU, Saturday

Watch out FAMU and MEAC! ESPN will be coming to FAMU on Saturday.

The multimedia giant will bring its popular GameDay show to the Florida A&M campus this weekend, the first time the show will broadcast from the campus of an historically black university. The two-hour live broadcast will begin at 10 a.m. and precedes the MEAC showdown between the Rattlers and Hampton scheduled for 1 p.m.

“It is an honor to be the first historically black university to host ESPN’s College GameDay,” FAMU president James H. Ammons said in a release on the MEAC website. “We look forward to having ESPN on our beautiful campus as we take on the Hampton Pirates.”

FAMU is 7-3 overall and 3-3 in the MEAC while Hampton is 5-4, 4-2 MEAC.

The FAMU versus. Hampton game will not be broadcast by ESPN family networks, but can be viewed over the Internet on Florida A&M University's FAMCast Video Streaming Network at: http://www.famu.edu/famcast/famusports/ (Click Link).

Rattlers show their youth, but also show their future

Photo Galleries:
FAMU Homecoming game
FAMU Homecoming: first half
FAMU Homecoming Pregame
FAMU Inaugural Gala
FAMU homecoming parade

Just before leaving Bragg Stadium during the third quarter, Eddie Jackson spoke a few words that he might be repeating a few times this week. Used to be that Jackson had to explain a lot about athletics at FAMU when he was sports information director. Somewhere someone would ask him what happened on FAMU's homecoming. "I think over the next couple years," Jackson said. "you're going to see a great Rattler football team."

Morgan State Bears offensive line could not be stopped by the Rattlers defense--even with the Bears 2nd and 3rd String QBs playing the majority of the second half, spoiling FAMU's Homecoming with a 13-10 victory.

Quite a few folks might have gone home with the same feeling, sir. Watching FAMU play from behind then falling 13-10 wasn't what the 16,205 fans came to see. They sure weren't expecting to see James Meade kick a 39-yard field goal then leave just 12 seconds for FAMU to do something. But it's what they got on a night when the youth of the Rattlers showed. They had their opportunities.

If only they could have stood up.

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Attendance: 16,205 (63.5%) @ Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, FL (Capacity: 25,500).

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Rivalry is personal for TSU's Heffner

NO. 23 TSU (4-0) VS. FLA. A&M (2-1)
Where: Georgia Dome
Last meeting: FAMU 18, TSU 17 (2007)
Key matchup: FAMU RB Philip Sylvester vs. TSU DT Maurice Davis. Sylvester carried the ball 25 times for 131 yards in last year's game. Davis helped TSU hold Eastern Kentucky to 9 rushing yards last week and is tied as the Tigers' leading tackler among linemen with 13 total stops.
TV: Versus Sports Channel (LIVE nationally) -- Cable Systems, Dish Network and Direct TV
Time: 4:00 PM ET

Tennessee State quarterback Antonio Heffner made his way past a teammate being interviewed by a reporter earlier this week and offered a directive. "Talk about the team Cliff — it's all about the team,'' Heffner said to safety Eugene Clifford. This team is very special to Heffner. Just how special a team the Tigers are could be answered if they finally beat Florida A&M (2-1) at 3 p.m. today in the Atlanta Classic at the Georgia Dome.

TSU QB Antonio Heffner proposed to girlfriend after Southern Heritage Classic victory in Memphis on Sept. 13, 2008. She said "yes", and since he has the girl, he now plans to get first victory in his career against FAMU.

It has been a great start for the No. 23 Tigers (4-0), but today's test might be the stiffest they've faced so far. Playing before a large crowd that could be in excess of 50,000, TSU hopes to snap a six-year losing streak to an opponent Coach James Webster calls "our No. 1 rival." Heffner agrees. "Not only is this our No. 1 rival, (but) it's about the event, all the hype that comes along with this game,'' Heffner said. "We haven't beaten them in a long time and not since I've been here." More fanfare was added last week when the Versus cable sports network announced it would televise the game live nationally for the first time.

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