Poor shooting dooms FAMU at Morgan State

Photo: Joe Ballard led Rattlers with 8 points and 8 boards in loss to Morgan State.

BALTIMORE, Md. - The Florida A&M Rattlers made their patented second half rally here Saturday afternoon, but the home standing Morgan State Bears managed to hold off the visitors in a 57-41 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's basketball game at Hill Field house. Florida A&M (5-11, 1-3 in MEAC) dropped their second straight, while Morgan State (8-8, 3-1) won for the second time in their last three games Saturday.

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Holmes shares vision for Hampton U football

HAMPTON - There's a new man in charge of Hampton University football, but little else appears to have changed. Jerry Holmes said Thursday during his introduction as the Pirates' coach that his primary goal is to build on the success of departing coach Joe Taylor.

The biggest change on the horizon is a first-ever game against a Division I-A opponent, perhaps as early as 2009. HU athletic director Lonza Hardy listed several schools he's interested in contacting: Duke, North Carolina, Army and Navy.

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Why the change of philosophy by Hampton University to schedule "money games" with Football Bowl Subdivision (D-1A) teams? This did not happen during Joe Taylor's 16 years over the Pirates program, nor does it happen often in Hampton University basketball program. Is Hardy beginning to assert himself as athletic director?

The above mention schools are at the same difficulty level of a Princeton or Southern Illinois at the FCS level; so, why not get paid $250,000 for a road game with them, as we don't expect that Hampton with be seeing the FCS playoffs anytime soon. Before Hamptonites get upset with our statement, let us provide our rationale.

It's the Joe Taylor factor--recruits and D-I transfers want to play for Coach Taylor, not the other guy. Expect the blue chip talent to take the detour to North Florida henceforth, and become Florida A&M University Rattlers.

Hampton without Joe Taylor is like Burger King without the Whooper.

-beepbeep

Alabama A&M notebook

Huntsville Times



Harper slated to start against Texas Southern

Defensive tackle Justin Harper, who was named Alabama A&M's co-defensive Player of the Week for his effort against Grambling last week, will start Saturday against Texas Southern, defensive line coach Ben Blacknall said Wednesday.

Harper, who lost his job to Whitney Garrett last spring and had surgery on his thumb during preseason practice and missed the season opener against Tennessee State, will start at left tackle in place of Renaldo Askew, Blacknall said. Garrett will make his fifth consecutive start at right tackle.

"He played better than any defensive tackle we had," Blacknall said of Harper's effort against the Tigers. "He deserves an opportunity to start."

The Bulldogs, who have annually been among the league's best against the run, are seventh in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in rushing defense, allowing 127 yards per game.

Harper, a 6-foot-2, 252-pound junior from Gulfport, Miss., was credited with nine tackles, including six solos, two tackles for loss and a sack while grading out 92 percent.

Early starter: Texas Southern coach Steve Wilson said if he had to do it over again he would have redshirted quarterback Tino Edgecombe.

A 6-2, 185-pound senior from Miami, Edgecombe was pressed into action as a freshman and Wilson said that has affected him throughout his career.

"Tino had to come through a situation where we had to play him as a freshman and we didn't have people to protect him and that hindered his growth," Wilson said. "He had some breakout games last season, but we haven't been able to get him in a rhythm this season.

"Part of it is our offensive line being unsettled. He made some plays last week (against UTEP) that proved he can be an outstanding quarterback."

Edgecombe is fourth in the league in passing yards per game, averaging 162.5 yards.

He has completed 64-of-112 passes (57.1 percent) for 650 yards, three touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Smith likes ball distribution: A&M tight end John Smith admits he would like to see a few more balls thrown his way, but he says he can't complain with the way quarterback Kelcy Luke is distributing the football.

Ten players have caught passes and six different players have caught touchdown passes.

Wide receiver Thomas Harris and tight end Charles Moody have 17 catches apiece. Smith has eight followed by wide receivers Rashad Johnson and Gerald Stockdale, who have six apiece.

"The distribution is pretty good," said Smith, who has eight catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. "We've got a lot of talent out there. No one person is above the team."

Reggie Benson