Walk-on player helps anchor Florida A & M defense

#28 Jason Beach defends pass in practice.

BY PERRY GATTEGNO, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

South Florida players help Rattlers stop run and pass

Florida A&M is looking to improve on a seven-win season and will rely on a number of South Florida players who can't wait to play.

The Rattlers are ready to contend in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and need their young defense, anchored by Deerfield Beach cornerback Michael Creary and Hollywood defensive tackle Demetrius Lane, to grow up quickly.

Coming off a 7-4 record that included a loss to Miami, the Rubin Carter-led squad returns 20 starters.

But FAMU hopes players such as Creary, a walk-on, and Lane, who was almost converted to offensive line because of a lack of "urgency," according to Carter, will allow a program like FAMU's to win.

"The job description is to be able to work with young men, to develop their skills and to teach," Carter said. "They're not going to come to our program as polished athletes. The other institutions will get those players. We're usually in development mode."

Creary is a sophomore Carter's staff found on campus. At 5 feet 9 and 180 pounds, he does not look the part of a traditional physical cornerback. Carter, though, was impressed by Creary's agility and athleticism and invited him to the team. "I think it's his ability to cover," Carter said. "He's an excellent one-on-one cover corner. He also has the physical attributes to hit receivers. He's a good tackler. He can balance and wrap up on his tackling. Those are assets you have to have."

Photo: Michael Creary prepares to defend WR.

Creary started nine games in 2006 and had 31 unassisted tackles and two interceptions. He is one of five players out of nearly 200 who tried to walk on in 2006 and one of only two — Miami's Donovan Johnson, another cornerback, is the other — to start. He said he has "some pretty high goals" that include winning the national title and becoming an All-American.

"I have to give 110 percent [and] work on my technique and fundamentals," he said.

Creary and all-MEAC free safety Jason Beach lead a secondary that allowed only 141.4 yards passing per game. It was the rushing defense that was primarily responsible for giving up almost 30 points a game, allowing an average of 215 yards. That's where redshirt junior Lane comes in.

Carter called the 6-2, 295-pound Lane a "late bloomer" who didn't initially have the speed and energy to play defensive tackle. And then?

"Overnight the light just came on," Carter said, "and he said, 'I can play this position.'"

Lane credited his ascent to a new mindset that calls for focusing, preventing repeated mistakes and attacking, as well as hard work.

"[I was] doing things I didn't want to do," Lane said about his offseason workouts. "I just wanted to make a mark on the university."

Lane played in only five games in 2006 but had three tackles for loss for a defense with only linebacker Dannel Shepard, hitting double digits in that category.

On offense, quarterback Albert Chester II and running back Anthony Edwards replace graduated wide receiver and return man Roosevelt Kiser. "I think you're going to see a lot of energy and effort out of our kids," Carter said. "They're going to play until the very last seconds remain on the clock, and anytime you do that, there's usually positive results.

SU's Richardson coy about QB rotation

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

When Bryant Lee edged Warren Matthews in a duel of sophomore quarterbacks this month in preseason camp, Southern University coaches said they’d plan to use both.

Asked how that would translate to the season opener, against Florida A&M on Saturday in Birmingham, Ala., SU coach Pete Richardson didn’t offer an exact plan, being perhaps expectedly coy so soon before kickoff.

Richardson wouldn’t reveal if the staff had scripted the alternation of quarterbacks.

“It all depends on how the game is going,” Richardson said. “I don’t think you can play scenarios on quarterbacks.

“Lee is our quarterback. He’s a young individual. He’s learning. Hopefully, we can get some help around him, so all the pressure is not on him.”

Injury, of course, is always a possibility and forced SU into three different starting quarterbacks last season.

With Southern’s quarterback expected to run more and thereby be exposed to more hitting, Lee, Richardson and SU offensive coordinator Mark Orlando talked much in the preseason about having Matthews ready.

Matthews has never played in college. A nonqualifier in 2005, Matthews joined the team last fall. He then developed rapidly in the spring and continued that progress in preseason camp to challenge Lee.

Lee started the final two games last season and went 1-1 while leading another victory when he came off the bench for an injured J.C. Lewis.

Lewis, a fifth-year senior who was the team’s No. 1 quarterback the last two seasons, is third on the depth chart. He has the most accurate arm of the three, but he has the least mobility.

George on Buchanan list

Southern senior free safety Jarmaul George is among 16 seniors on the Buck Buchanan Award watch list announced by The Sports Network. The award named for the former Grambling great goes to the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA).

George is the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s preseason Defensive Player of the Year and has been a first-team all-SWAC member in his two other seasons at Southern. George had 51 tackles, five interceptions and 10 pass breakups last season.

Photo: #16 QB Bryant Lee vs. ASU '06

West Virginia ties

Richardson said the staffs of both Southern and FAMU visited West Virginia over the summer. Richardson and staff used to visit West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez when Rodriguez was the head coach at Tulane. Calvin Magee, West Virginia’s assistant head coach/offensive coordinator and running backs coach, is also a former All-American and three-time All-SWAC tight end who is already in the Southern’s athletic hall of fame.

“It’ll be interesting to see which one can matriculate and operate it (better),” Richardson said.

Richardson said the FAMU and SU offenses are similar, depending on a quarterback who will run.

“It’s almost a mirror copy of what we do offensively,” Richardson said.

“They run basically the same thing we see every day in practice,” George said of the Rattlers.

Introductions necessary?

Though Southern and FAMU had black college football’s longest non-conference rivalry, running from 1946 to 2001, no current players have been in one of those games and the Rattlers have a new coaching staff.

“I’ve been in Baton Rouge, but I really haven’t heard too much about the rivalry,” said SU defensive end Vince Lands, of Glen Oaks High School.

While the rivalry seemed to be turning bitter toward its final seasons, Richardson said he’s happy to see the game back on the schedule.

“You’re talking about a rivalry that goes a long way back. I’m real excited about playing them again, because it’s a rivalry that’s surely needed between two great institutions,” he said.

Said FAMU coach Rubin Carter, who played at Miami, “There’s a great level of excitement going into the game. We want to represent the (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) well.”

Lagnniappe

The playing gear for SU sophomore center Ramon Chinyoung and junior running back Kendrick Smith was packed onto the team’s bus and went ahead of them as the Jaguars left Thursday, but Chinyoung and Smith did not travel, because they have yet to be cleared to play. If one or both get cleared by today, they could drive to Birmingham for Saturday’s game, SU spokesman Kevin Manns said. Southern’s defensive line has worked with its traditional four-man front as well as doing a lot of three-man looks in preseason camp (mostly because of a lack of depth). “However the situation plays out, we’ll be ready,” Lands said.

SU VIDEO: http://media.swagit.com/s/wbrz/The_Advocate_Sports/08302007-13.high.flash8.html

FAMU: A few more steps to go

By Izzy Gould, St. Petersburg Times

The Rattlers, steadily improving under coach Rubin Carter, look to catch the MEAC's elite this season.

Rubin Carter said he's feeling the pressure in Year 3.

The Florida A&M coach can only blame himself for exceeding expectations since his arrival. His Rattlers have endured everything from their coach's late hire in 2005 to scholarship limitations to the attempted jump to Division I-A.

FAMU's record has continued to improve each season from 6-5 in '05 to 7-4 in '06, including consecutive victories in the Florida Classic against rival Bethune-Cookman.

The scholarship sanctions handed down by the NCAA because of improprieties before Carter took over won't go away until 2009. That hasn't stopped him from bringing in the talent and depth he wants.

With one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and 18 returning starters, this could be the season FAMU contends with the likes of Hampton, South Carolina State and Delaware State - three teams Carter has not defeated - for the conference crown.

"Certainly we've had to overcome some adverse situations prior to my arrival and after my arrival my first year," Carter said. "We were able to overcome those and still go out and play with a lot of enthusiasm from our players and show perseverance through those adverse situations."

Winning will hinge heavily on the offense and the arm of Albert Chester II. The senior quarterback threw for 1,986 yards and 18 touchdowns with just five interceptions last season. He also rushed for 320 yards and four touchdowns.

"He's got to be a young man that leads us and guides us on the field," Carter said. "He's shown his ability to be able to do that. He's won some big games for us."

Chester is 12-5 as a starter, and to improve on that record he'll have to do it without Roosevelt Kiser, who was among the top receivers in 2006 with 63 catches for 647 yards and five touchdowns.

The receiving corps is still solid with Willie Hayward leading the way; he had 49 receptions for 674 yards and five touchdowns last season. Receivers Derek Williams and Ronald Wright combined for 679 yards and five touchdowns in 2006.

Success on the ground is up to Demetric Henry and Anthony Edwards, who combined for 896 yards and seven touchdowns last year. They'll run behind a line anchored by 6-foot-2, 328-pound tackle Justin Delancy.

Injuries hampered a defense that gets 10 starters back including top tackler Vernon Wilder, who had 89 tackles at middle linebacker, and outside linebacker Dannel Shepard, who had 14.5 tackles for losses.

"We had some problems stopping the run," Carter said. "That's a priority for us."

The secondary has a pair of leaders in safety Jason Beach 70 tackles, four interceptions and Michael Creary (39 tackles, two interceptions, five pass breakups).

And the line is highlighted by defensive ends Tyrone McGriff and Carlos Rolle.

FAMU also boasts one of the top kickers in the MEAC in Wesley Taylor (Riverview), who was 14 of 22 for field goals, 27 of 29 extra points and an punting average of 41.3 for first-team all-MEAC honors.

"This year is certainly going to be a very important year for me," Carter said. "It's the third season for me and I want to be able to show we've made some improvement in a lot of areas.

"We're starting to develop our program to where it really needs to be. We're doing things that are consistent for a Division I program."

Stakes High In B-CU Vs. Jacksonville

Photo: BCU Coach Alvin Wyatt, SR.

By BILL FAY, Tampa Tribune correspondent

The stakes surrounding Saturday's season opener between Bethune-Cookman University and Jacksonville University will be higher than either side dreamed when this contract was signed a year ago.

That's because former University of Florida quarterback Kerwin Bell has taken over as JU's head coach, bringing credibility and vision to a program that had neither its first nine years of existence (35-54 record).

Bell led Ocala Trinity Catholic to a state football championship in 2005 and runner-up finish in 2006.

Although the program competes in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA), it offers no scholarships and there are no plans to change that. Still, Bell thinks he can get the Dolphins competitive.

"I love challenges," Bell said. "I have a passion for doing things people say can't be done."

B-CU coach Alvin Wyatt likes the sound of Bell's aspirations. The current contract is only for two years, but if Bell is successful at quickly upgrading JU's program, this game could be the start of an annual series that would be profitable for both programs.

"I hope this does develop into a rivalry," Wyatt said. "That's going to mean a lot more people in the stands, a lot more interest in the game and I like being involved in games like that."

SU Richardson speaks on job security

The Southern Jaguars will open their season this Saturday against Florida A&M. Southern Head Coach Pete Richardson held his first press conference of the season on Wednesday and spoke briefly about his job security.

VIDEO: http://media.swagit.com/s/wbrz/The_Advocate_Sports/08292007-17.high.flash8.html

SU pair awaits NCAA ruling

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Southern sophomore center Ramon Chinyoung and junior running back Kendrick Smith have yet to be cleared to play Saturday in Southern’s season opener against Florida A&M in Birmingham, Ala.

Chinyoung is not listed on the team’s two-deep chart as of Wednesday, but Smith is, as the backup to senior Darren Coates.

“I haven’t received the paperwork back, and if I haven’t received it by the time we leave, those individuals will not take part in the first game,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said.

Southern leaves by bus this afternoon.

Chinyoung practiced Monday but not Tuesday and Wednesday.
Smith has practiced throughout the week, and Richardson said the school feels Smith will be cleared. The question is when.

“We’re in a situation now trying to get Smith straight from the NCAA,” Richardson said. “We feel confident from that aspect.”

Chinyoung, a Class 5A All-State selection as a schoolboy in Texas, emerged as the starting center during last season.

His development allowed Demarcus Stewart, who started the opener at center, to move to guard. Now, however, Stewart has slid back to center.

Meanwhile, Smith, who starred at Patterson High and Coffeyville Community College, sat out last season under NCAA transfer rules (because he had signed with Southern Illinois, a Division I-AA school like SU).

“They have parts of it,” Richardson said. “Hopefully, we can get parts of it straightened out.”

Richardson said he’s confident in Stewart.

“I feel comfortable with him, because he played center for us last year,” Richardson said. “He’s been playing center (in preseason camp) since we knew we had an issue at that spot.”

Starting right tackle Myles Williams, and sophomore Daniel Stephens, ineligible last season, are the other options.

Two-way Harry?

Junior Frank Harry, a transfer from South Florida in the spring, joined the offensive line, leaving his role as defensive tackle for cross-training at guard.

Richardson said Harry went back to the defense for brush-up work Wednesday.

“It’s a possibility (Harry plays on offense and defense),” Richardson said. “He played on offense in high school. We put him on offense to learn the system. We’re going to bring him back to defense (Wednesday) for our basic defense. He understands that.

“I’m not calculating he will play both ways, but that means he can.”

Welcome back

Besides the return of wide receiver Gerard Landry on Tuesday, SU had others return.

Alec Hawkins, the director of sports medicine, came back Monday. He had been out since Aug. 13, with Carl “Doc” Williams taking over in his place, for the birth of Hawkins’ son, Myles Sutton Hawkins. Hawkins said he’ll have to stay on campus for other activities this weekend and won’t make the trip.

Also, true freshman defensive tackle Calvin Cunningham (shoulder) returned Tuesday.

And junior quarterback C.J. Byrd at least wore practice gear — shirt and shorts but no shoulder pads like the rest of the team — for the first time Tuesday. He was in an automobile accident at the end of July.

Richardson, however, on Wednesday said again Byrd might miss this season.

“There’s a possibility we’ll probably have to redshirt him this year,” Richardson said, “because it looks like they may have to operate on his leg.”

Notes

FAMU is celebrating two anniversaries this season. The Rattlers went 11-0 and won the black college national championship in 1977 (a year before going 12-1 and winning the first Division I-AA championship along with another black college national crown). And they were 9-0 and won the black college national championship in 1957. FAMU leads the series 33-24-1. SU has practiced in at least some light rain Monday through Wednesday. The forecast for Saturday, according to weather.com as of Wednesday evening, was for scattered thunderstorms, a 50-percent chance of rain and a high of 83 degrees.

Tonight's game: Savannah State at Morgan State

Matchup: Savannah State (0-0) at Morgan State (0-0)

Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT

Site: Hughes Stadium (10,000)

LIVE AUDIO BROADCAST VIA WEB:

mms://streamer.morgan.edu/wmtencoder/weaa
(cut and paste address above to your browser)

LIVE FOOTBALL STATISTICS: http://livestats.internetconsult.com/morgan/football/

Outlook: Morgan is 4-0 against Savannah State, scoring a total of 100 points in the past two games, including a 55-26 win in 2005. The Bears would like a breakout night for their offense. They'll lean on RB Chad Simpson and the running game behind a big offensive line. QB Mario Melton has a nice combination of speed and possession receivers but needs to improve his accuracy. The Bears will play pressure defense and must improve in pass coverage, where they were especially weak in 2006. The Tigers, who play as an independent, went 2-9 last season, including a 55-6 loss at Bethune-Cookman.

-KEN MURRAY