Rattlers win shootout: Florida A&M 52, Southern 49

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FAMU 52, Southern 49
FAMU vs. Southern first half photos
FAMU Pregame

Vann's late return helps FAMU to win over Southern

BATON ROUGE, La. — This time there was no late field goal — just trickery and LeRoy Vann's magic. Vann retuned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown to ignite two quick strikes by FAMU in the fourth quarter and the Rattlers held off every comeback by Southern for a 52-49 victory Saturday night. FAMU dodged the biggest bullet after the Jaguars marched 30 yards to FAMU's 1 following an interception of quarterback Curtis Pulley's pass that was intended for Philip Sylvester. But on his way to the end zone, Southern receiver (and former Godby High standout) Del Roberts lost the ball after a hit by FAMU's Fabian Wilson.

Wilson recovered the ball and the Rattlers ran out the clock — thanks in large part to a fourth-and-1 conversion from their own 11-yard line with 1:54 remaining. FAMU's victory at Mumford Stadium was the third consecutive for the Rattlers on Southern's home field. The previous two were decided on field goals in the closing minutes.

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Southern Jaguars: A matter of inches

Photo Gallery: FAMU 52, SU 49

Rattlers win another wild one over Jaguars

A game in which the two teams combined for 995 yards of offense came down to a matter of inches in the final four minutes. First, Southern University receiver Del Roberts was denied a touchdown on a pass play that would have given the Jaguars the lead. Then, Florida A&M quarterback Curtis Pulley plowed forward and fourth-and-1, clinching a wild 52-49 victory over Southern on Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium. It was the third straight time FAMU (5-2) has scored 50 or more points in a win over the Jaguars (4-3) in Baton Rouge. The other wins came in 2000 and 1998.

Roberts, a Tallahassee native, caught a pass from Bryant Lee and appeared to cross the goal line before fumbling the ball. Fabian Wilson recovered the ball at the FAMU 3 with 3:28 remaining, setting the stage for Pulley to perform one last dramatic act. “I didn’t come in here looking for a shootout, but we got one,” FAMU coach Joe Taylor said. “We made a lot of mistakes tonight, but this is a quality win and we’ll take it.”

Jaguars QB Bryant Lee torched the Rattlers defense for 64 yards rushing - 3 TDs, 407 yards passing and 3 TDs, completing 25-42 with one INT.

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Attendance: 15,107 (53%) at Ace W. Mumford Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA (Capacity: 28,400).

Season Record: Florida A&M Rattlers, 5-2, 1-2 MEAC; Southern Jaguars 4-3, 3-0 SWAC.

Gen. Colin Powell Endorses Sen. Barack Obama for President

Washington, D.C. - Former Secretary of State Colin Powell crossed party lines this morning to endorse Sen. Barack Obama for president, the most prominent GOP defection yet of the 2008 campaign. Obama has courted Republicans all along, but in Powell he gets party crossover plus military credibility. Powell is a retired U.S. Army general and served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under the first President Bush.

As Secretary of State under the current President Bush, Powell helped to build the case for the Iraq war, a role that hurt him with many Democrats and moderates, who had viewed him as somewhat apolitical. Powell made his endorsement today on the NBC program "Meet the Press." Powell said he had watched both Obama and Sen. John McCain in the last "six or seven weeks," since the national political conventions, and paid special attention to how they reacted to the nation's worsening economic situation.



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TSU survives scare with late field goal Tigers eke out win over Govs

Nashville, TN -- It wouldn't be easy for Tennessee State's Eric Benson to top his heroics from last year's game against Austin Peay. But the Tigers' placekicker did just that Saturday night in a rematch at LP Field. On Saturday night, he kicked a 29-yarder with just two seconds left to give TSU a 37-34 win. Last year, he booted a 43-yard field goal with nine seconds left to send the game into overtime. TSU won on a blocked extra-point attempt.

"I thought about last year's game when I stepped out there for that last kick,'' Benson said. "I knew I'd done it before and I could do it again. I just had to concentrate." Benson's kick helped TSU (6-1, 3-0 Ohio Valley Conference) avoid disaster before a crowd of 9,358. TSU came into the game in first place in the conference and Austin Peay (0-7, 0-4) was in last. Benson kicked two other field goals. His second, a 31-yarder on the final play of the first half, gave TSU a 27-12 cushion. It appeared the Tigers would coast through the second half.

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Attendance: 9,358 (13.6%) at LP Field, Nashville, TN (Capacity: 68.800).
Season Record: Tennessee State Tigers 6-1, 3-0 OVC.

A transfer of power: HU speeds past NSU

HAMPTON, VA - It was just one of three big scoring plays Hampton University used to defeat Norfolk State 35-17 on Saturday, but for Damon McDaniel, it was the sweetest. Early in the second quarter, with the Pirates up just 7-0 and facing third-and-27 from their 30-yard line, HU quarterback Herb Bynes launched a deep ball in McDaniel's direction. Norfolk State defensive back Don Carey was in front of McDaniel and in prime position to knock the ball down, but instead he went for the interception.

But a gust of wind blew the ball through Carey's hands and into the waiting arms of McDaniel, who turned to see a completely clear path to the end zone and a two-touchdown lead that gave the Pirates the momentum for good. The TD also provided some redemption for McDaniel, who transferred to Hampton from Florida State but had to sit out the Pirates' first four games because of NCAA penalties related to last year's academic scandal at FSU.

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Attendance: 12,034 (70.8%) at Armstrong Stadium, Hampton, VA (Capacity: 17,000).
Season Record: Hampton Pirates, 5-1, 4-0 MEAC); Norfolk State Spartans, 2-5, 1-3.

UAPB Lions gain 88 yards in loss to PVAMU Panthers

Pine Bluff, AR -- Entering the season, UAPB coach Monte Coleman expected his offense to be led by a powerful rushing attack. With veterans Martell Mallett and Mickey Dean returning to the Golden Lions’ offensive backfield, Coleman had visions of his team gaining victories by grinding the football on the ground. But, through seven games this season, these expectations have gone largely unfulfilled. Behind a young and suspect offensive line, UAPB’s offense ranks last in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in three of several offensive categories.

These offensive woes only got worse Saturday, as the Golden Lions (0-7, 0-3 SWAC) gained only 88 yards of total offense in a 15-0 loss to Prairie View A&M (6-1, 3-1). In the loss, UAPB allowed six sacks and have now allowed 30 sacks in seven games this season. “Unfortunately, our line is young,” Coleman said. “We want to take the ball out of any quarterbacks hands and give it to those two guys (Mallett and Dean), unfortunately we haven’t been able to do that all year.

“When we lose, we lose as a team,” Coleman continued. “I’m not going to blame it on the line. Do we have some shortcomings on the line? Absolutely. Do we have shortcomings at linebacker? Absolutely. We have some break downs as a team. One week it’s this one. One week it’s that one, and that’s the reason we’re 0-7 right now.”

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Attendance: 5892 (36.8%) at Golden Lion Stadium, Pine Bluff, AR (Capacity: 16,000).
Season Record: UAPB Golden Lions, 0-7, 0-3 SWAC; PVAMU Panthers 6-1, 3-1 SWAC.

DSU's defense makes it look easy over NCAT

Photo Gallery: DSU 42, NCA&T 7

DOVER, DE -- None of them are easy. According to Delaware State linebacker Josh Pope, they just look easy. He was talking about turnovers, but he could have been talking about Delaware State's victory on Saturday, too. Pope contributed in forcing four turnovers to give the Hornets a 42-7 homecoming victory over North Carolina A&T before 6,089 bundled-up spectators on a chilly afternoon at Alumni Stadium.

Delaware State's defense generated one fumble and three interceptions. Pope's second-quarter forced fumble set up a touchdown as Delaware State earned its most lopsided victory of the season and second straight win in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
"I don't think I'd say they were easy," Pope said. "These turnovers came on pure discipline. It was about being where you're supposed to be. There was so much energy over the game. It's about looking at reads and assignments. I think that's only gotten better for us."

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Attendance: 6,089 (89%) at Alumni Stadium, Dover, DE (Capacity: 6828).
Season Record: DSU Hornets 3-3, 3-1 MEAC; NCAT Aggies 2-6, 0-4 MEAC.

Substance trumps style in Grambling's victory

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Grambling halftime show, 10/18
Grambling you cam, 10/18

GRAMBLING, LA — For pure entertainment and instant gratification at a Grambling State football game this season, the halftime show is still your best bet. Watching the football team perform requires more patience for a Grambling fan. Stick around for the end result though and you're bound to go home satisfied with the final result. "A win is a win," Grambling's Jeffrey Jack said. "As long as we keep winning and have a chance at a championship — I'm happy."

Grambling won its fifth game in a row Saturday afternoon, beating Alabama State 27-7 at sun-splashed Robinson Stadium. The large, bustling homecoming crowd might be hard pressed to recall many signature moments in the contest, but they left knowing their team knocked off yet another Southwestern Athletic Conference foe. "That's a good win," Grambling coach Rod Broadway said. "I'll say it once and I'll say it again — all wins are good wins and I'll take it." Broadway isn't concerned with style points right now. If this team were tailgating fare, it would be red beans and rice — hearty and filling.

GSU head football coach Rod Broadway

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Attendance: 16,974 (86.6%) at Robinson Stadium, Grambling, LA (Capacity: 19,600).

Season Record: GSU 6-2, 3-0 SWAC; ASU 1-5, 0-3 SWAC.

Southern-Florida A&M Matchups

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Southern WR Del Roberts
26 catches, 222 yards, 2 TDs

Roberts has always been an “X” factor receiver. If the Jaguars can get him in space, he can create plays with his nimbleness. With the success of Juamorris Stewart, look for room for other receivers, and Roberts is dangerous with room. He’s also the team’s lead return man and is always a threat to go the distance. From Tallahassee, Fla., this is a pride game for Roberts. “It’s a definitely intense rivalry,” Roberts said. “FAMU is a high-quality team, high class. It’s going to be a good game. … It’s just about getting into a comfort zone, finding your place on the team. Guys are making plays, myself included.”

Florida A&M RB Phillip Sylvester
87 carries, 382 yards, 3 TDs

Sylvester, a sophomore, was the MEAC’s Rookie of the Year last season and has been compared to FAMU greats like Bob Hayes and Willie Galimore. A former Class 2A 100-meters runner-up at the state meet, Sylvester had 101 yards and two TDs on 14 carries against Southern in his first collegiate game last season. While plenty of focus is on FAMU’s two-quarterback shuffle, Sylvester keeps the defenses honest with his home-run capability (he had an 82-yarder earlier this season). He also can catch the ball out of the backfield (11 catches for 86 yards).

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Getting back on track

FAMU volleyball's 98-game MEAC winning streak ends

FAMU Coach Tony Trifonov provides instructions to Maria Gomez, as the Lady Rattlers historic 98 game MEAC winning streak is ended by the Lady Bulldogs.





ORANGEBURG, S.C — The South Carolina State volleyball team did what no other team in the conference could do in 98 regular season matches over a 10-year period: they defeated the seven-time defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion Lady Rattlers of Florida A&M, 3-1, (25-23, 25-19, 18-25, 25-19), and thus ended what has been a dominant streak.

This was FAMU's first conference loss in seven seasons. The Lady Bulldogs (9-18, 2-2 MEAC) controlled the match from the first point and with each point thereafter, S.C. State's confidence increased. Despite dropping the third set, the Lady Bulldogs remained poised to close out FAMU (6-10, 3-1 MEAC). The Lady Bulldogs won in a team effort led by freshman middle blocker Shabree Roberson had a big game as she put down 14 kills with nine assists.

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FAMU's Taylor does it on own terms

FAMU Head Football Coach Joe Taylor (201-77-3 Career Record).

College football’s coaching landscape has changed over the years. Midseason firings and bitter contract disputes sully yesteryears images of coaches patrolling dorm hallways with cowbells ringing, ensuring that every student-athlete made it to class. After a successful 16-year stint at Hampton University, Joe Taylor left for Florida A&M on his own terms.

“It was tough leaving because when you’ve been in a place 16 years, you become a part of the fabric,” said Taylor, who ranks sixth in career winning percentage (.719) amongst coaches at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, ahead of both former Southern coach A.W. Mumford (.717) and current SU coach Pete Richardson (.711). “But I tell people I really didn’t move, I expanded the neighborhood. I’m doing the same thing and the thrill of having the opportunity to try to revive or revitalize the great tradition built by the legendary Jake Gaither was overwhelming.”

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FAMU MARCHING 100

Future looks bright for Prairie View football program

Look how far they’ve come: No longer a football laughingstock, these Panthers are stalking a SWAC championship

PRAIRIE VIEW — Mark Spivey wanted to savor the moment, his last chance to celebrate homecoming as a member of the Prairie View A&M football team. Almost 30 minutes had passed since the Panthers defeated Alabama State 27-6 at Blackshear Stadium in front of 9,257 people, most of whom sported purple and gold while watching Spivey throw for 270 yards and two touchdowns. “It’s an unbelievable feeling to have so many fans here,” he said. “This is much, much different from the first homecoming I played in.”

The sixth-year senior epitomizes the change in attitude and expectations for the Panthers, who enter Saturday’s game at winless Arkansas-Pine Bluff with a 5-1 mark and in the hunt for the school’s first trip to the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game. Winning is no longer treated like the pleasant surprise it brought for most of the 31 seasons before last’s year’s team finished 7-3. Saturday’s victory assured the program of consecutive non-losing seasons, a feat that hasn’t been seen at Prairie View since the 1967 squad finished the last of 22 straight campaigns of at least .500 ball.

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SWAC to roll out first Webcast for Alabama State-GSU game

The Southwestern Athletic Conference will Webcast its first football game this week - Alabama State at Grambling State. Fans can log on to www.swac.org to watch the broadcast. "I think we want to do a lot more," SWAC commissioner Duer Sharp said. "This will be a test run for us. Just to see how it looks.

"We feel confident about it. We'd like to do a lot more, not only with football and men's and women's basketball, but with our Olympic sports. Kind of have it take on the feel of SWAC television." Sharp said the Webcast events will air live, but also be archived for viewers to watch replays at their convenience. Televised games and events will not be Webcast because of those contracts.

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SWAC coach gets official reprimand

UAPB coach apologizes for comments

PINE BLUFF - The Southwestern Athletic Conference won't come down hard on Monte Coleman after the first-year Arkansas-Pine Bluff Coach publicly criticized game officials following UAPB's 21-10 loss to Jackson State last Saturday. SWAC Commissioner Duer Sharp said in a statement Wednesday that the conference would formally reprimand Coleman, adding that "with all athletic competitions, emotions do run high, but that does not condone the comments of Coach Coleman."

Coleman opened his postgame press session Saturday by criticizing referee Anthony Johnson for charging him a time-out during the fourth quarter. "Absolutely horrible,"Coleman said after the game. "Anthony Johnson, he needs to get a zero for this game. He wanted to cost me a time-out because I asked him a question." Coleman also attacked the crew for what he believed was an unnecessary roughing the passer penalty.

"This is the worst officiated game I've ever been a part of in my life,"Coleman said. "They should not get paid. They should be suspended. Every last one of them."

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'07 thriller sets rematch's stage: Hampton vs. NSU

Hampton University (4-1, 3-0 MEAC) coach Jerry Holmes suffered a sudden, convenient bout of amnesia as he tried to remember last year's game against Norfolk State. "What happened last year?" Holmes asked. He turned to the Pirates players sitting beside him at HU's weekly media luncheon. "Do y'all remember?" With no answers forthcoming, Holmes, in his first year as head coach following three seasons as the Pirates' defensive coordinator, faced his audience again. "Any more questions?"

What happened was that Norfolk State (2-4, 1-2 MEAC), which had won just two games against Hampton since 1992, stunned the Pirates with a 20-19 victory when HU kicker Carlo Turavani's 49-yard field-goal attempt with two seconds left sailed wide right. "It felt really good," Spartans senior defensive lineman Dennis Marsh said. "The first year I got here (from Maryland), in '06, they beat us pretty bad (42-13). They try to set themselves apart from us, and for us to come out and beat them, it felt really good."
























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Rivalry brings out emotions--SU vs. FAMU

Cornerback Joe Manning grew up cheering for Florida A&M, the school Southern University will host Saturday night, and rooting against SU, the school he plays for now. “I used to go to the FAMU games and root for FAMU, since that’s the home town,” said Manning, who went to Lincoln High in Tallahassee, Fla., and lives about a 10-minute drive from the FAMU campus. “I grew up hating them (Southern).” There is no more hate for Southern from Manning. Now there is an appreciation that comes from seeing both sides of one of black college football’s best rivalries.

“I love the fans at Southern,” Manning said. “I think the rivalry is great, because the schools have the same type of fans. It makes it like the old days.” Manning, a Florida State transfer, and SU receiver Del Roberts, a North Carolina transfer, are two seniors from Tallahassee, and both said this matchup took on a more emotional element than other games for them a year ago, when SU beat FAMU 33-28 in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.

Southern University Human Jukebox Marching Band


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Carter takes SCSU hoops into cyberspace

Getting close to South Carolina State men’s basketball coach Tim Carter is now as easy as entering cyberspace. At www.CoachTimCarter.com, Bulldog fans can get the inside word about the program directly from the second-year sideline leader. The Web site contains a blog by Carter as well as his biography, information about S.C. State University and comments from fellow head coaches and former players.

“I just wanted people to have more of an insight into kind of what we’re doing,” Carter said. “So I kind of got my bearings having been here a year, and I wanted to make sure that our fans not only here, but our fans ... we’ve got a lot of fans all over the country. Georgia, Virginia, Florida. It gives them just a little bit of an insight to kind of what’s going on.”

Up and operating since August, Carter has provided such nuggets as:

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Update of Week Seven - MEAC/SWAC Football

Sorry for being missing in action this past week, but had to travel to South Carolina/North Carolina for consulting tasks for key Agency client. Unfortunately, it was a secure environment on a Federal facility (no outside Internet access) and my hotel had whacked Internet service and no ESPNU. I nearly went nuts, unable to access MEAC/SWAC Sports Main Street nor receive FAMCast of the Rattlers game with the WSSU Rams.

The best I received was 45 second packets of streaming audio of FAMU's game standing outside the hotel front doors and having to re-boot every 60 seconds. Folks thought I was crazy for holding the laptop upside down, at ground level, trying to receive the hotel's Internet signal.

More importantly, I got the opportunity to watch my son's soccer team (Cary, N.C.) play two great teams in Fayetteville and Wilmington, N.C. over the weekend. The kid has skills scoring 2 goals in a 2-1 victory (Sunday) and being a defensive force in the 0-0 tie on Saturday. I could retire in the Carolinas (Apex or Carolina Beach, N.C.), but must have excellent Internet service and Dish Network. Otherwise, you are in HBCU sports purgatory. Happy to be back!

If you live in the Savannah River basin, here's what happen last week in the MEAC/SWAC, as you wouldn't know this from the local press. Talk about being blacked-out, the South Carolina locals are oblivious on the happenings in HBCU sports...

• FAMU (4-2, 1-2) kicked Winston Salem (1-5, 0-2) as expected 23-0, with 15,448 (60.5%) attending on a Thursday night affair for ESPNU--that 95% of America will never see this game on television. The highlight of the night was the cute little Winston Salem State Marching Band that came to Bragg Memorial to challenge the FAMU Marching 100.


• Morgan State (3-3, 1-1) went to Greensboro and steamrolled North Carolina A&T 41-3 before 21,500 Aggie Fans. Are the Bears really that good or has A&T (2-5, 0-3) slipped back a notch?


• South Carolina State (5-2, 3-0) has just about wrapped up the MEAC conference title, crushing the hopes of Norfolk State Spartans 24-23 at Dawson Bulldog Stadium. S.C. State packed in 16,003 for the big payback to the Spartans (2-4, 1-2) for last season's upset.


• Delaware State pulled an upset of the Bethune Cookman Wildcats 26-20 at Municipal Stadium in Daytona Beach. A crowd of 9,136 saw the BCU Wyatt-bone get contained by the Hornets (2-3, 2-1). BCU fell to 4-2, 2-2 on the season.


• Tennessee State was Idle.


• Prairie View A&M (5-1, 2-1) crushed the Alabama State 27-6 before 9,257 home fans at Blackshear Stadium. The Hornets are 1-5, 1-1 and still has shot to win the SWAC.


• Grambling State (5-2, 2-0) gave AAMU a lesson in football on its home field, 27-7. The Bulldogs fans (15, 170) were not happy with the outcome or the season record of 2-5, 1-1.


• Jackson State (2-4, 1-1) gave UAPB (0-6, 0-2) another beatdown to keep the Golden Lions winless under former Redskins great Monte Coleman. Is it Coleman or UAPB is really that bad? Oh, the final score was 21-10 with 10,600 attending at Pumphrey Stadium, Pine Bluff, AR.


• Alcorn State beat Mississippi Valley 35-21 on the road with 7,852 attending. The Braves are 2-5, 1-1 and the Delta Devils fall to 1-4, 0-2 in hopefully--Willie Totten's last season as head coach. Valley fans should be tired of losing.


• Southern University (4-2, 3-0) rained on Texas Southern (3-4, 0-2) 45-14 in their homecoming party at Mumford Stadium. 25,512 watched as the Jaguars prepares to face the FAMU Rattlers this weekend in an important rivalry game.


• Charleston Southern had a rough time beating Savannah State 29-20 on the Tigers home field. Coach Robbie Wells has surprised most with a record of 3-4, starting a freshman QB and players he recruited in his first season as a head coach. A total of 3, 457 fans came out to support the Tigers.


• Presbyterian (3-4) beat North Carolina Central 28-24 before 2,987 home fans. The Eagles (1-5) are finding the competition difficult in their second season at the D-IAA level.

We are now all up to date and are ready for Week Eight in the MEAC/SWAC.

Hayes enjoying the AD job at FAMU

(L) William "Bill" Hayes and (R) FAMU president, Dr. James Ammons shares a laugh as part of the three headed monster--Ammons, Hayes and (Joe) Taylor that is giving the rest of the MEAC conference nightmares.

Prediction he would not like administrative work turned out to be wrong

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Many people who move to Florida late in life are often ready to retire. Not Bill Hayes. He's still hard at work. "It's about trying to build another program," Hayes, a former Winston-Salem State football coach and now the athletics director at Florida A&M, said last week as he watched FAMU defeat WSSU 23-0. Hayes, 65, has a soft spot for WSSU, where he coached from 1976 through the end of the 1987 season, and always calls it home when talking about his favorite stop. He made the Rams one of the most powerful programs the CIAA has ever seen, leading them to unbeaten regular seasons in 1977 and 1978 and becoming the school's leader in career coaching victories with 89.

Hayes still holds the record, but one of his former players, Kermit Blount, is two wins away from taking it. Hayes left WSSU in 1987 to take over at N.C. A&T, and eventually became that school's career victories leader, too. He compiled a 195-105-2 record in 27 seasons. Hayes was forced out at A&T after the 2002 season. Instead of pouting or holding a grudge, he made a seamless transition from coaching to administration.

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WSSU struggles in loss to FAMU

Rams able to cross midfield only once; band the main highlight

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Winston-Salem State's not-ready-for-prime time Rams had a rough go of it last night against Florida A&M. The game was televised by ESPNU, but the Rams probably wished nobody had seen a 23-0 loss in which they crossed midfield once. About the only bright spot for WSSU was the performance of its band at halftime. It more than held its own against the more famous FAMU band that has nearly 450 members.


The same couldn't be said on the field for the Rams, who fell to 1-5. The Rattlers (4-2) had a lethal combination -- an efficient offense that picked apart the Rams' secondary, and a defense that was relentless. The best chance the Rams had to score came early in the third quarter when linebacker Marcus Coates stepped in front of a pass from Curtis Pulley in the flat, but Coates couldn't handle it. Had he caught it, he had 25 yards of daylight in front of him and a sure touchdown.

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FAMU Marching 100 - "Cash Flow"


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ATTENDANCE: 15,448 (60.6%) @ Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, FL (Capacity: 25,500).