Florida Classic 2008 - FAMU Marching 100

FAMU Marching 100 Pre-game Show

Appalachian State set to open FCS playoffs against South Carolina State

INDIANAPOLIS - Three-time defending national champion Appalachian State will open the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs Saturday at home against South Carolina State, while top-seeded James Madison will face Wofford.

Second-seeded Appalachian State (10-2) earned the Southern Conference's automatic berth for its 16th playoff appearance. James Madison (10-1), the Colonial Athletic Association champion, won the 2004 national title.

South Carolina State and Wofford are both 9-2.

Also Saturday, third-seeded Northern Iowa will play Maine (8-4), and fourth-seeded Montana (11-1) will open against Texas State (8-4). Montana, the 1995 and 2001 national champions, is making its 16th straight appearance and 19th overall.

In the other pairings announced Sunday, it will be: Colgate (9-2) at Villanova (9-2); Weber State (9-3) at Cal Poly (8-2); Eastern Kentucky (8-3) at Richmond (9-3); and New Hampshire (9-2) at Southern Illinois (9-2).

Pairings:

Wofford (9-2) at No. 1 James Madison (10-1)

South Carolina State (10-2) at No. 2 Appalachian State (10-2)

Maine (8-4) at No. 3 Northern Iowa (10-2)

Texas State (8-4) at No. 4 Montana (11-1)

Eastern Kentucky (8-3) at Richmond (9-3)

Colgate (9-2) at Villanova (9-2)

Weber State (9-3) at Cal Poly (8-2)

New Hampshire (9-2) at Southern Illinois (9-2)

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 - BCU Bands battle in show like no other

ORLANDO, FL -- Legend says the ancient Scots marched into battle to the sound of Highland bagpipes within their ranks. The eerie, menacing sound of the pipes would pummel the enemy from as much as 10 miles away, instilling dread in foes long before the first clash of swords. But those Scotsmen might be quaking in their boots and kilts if they were here Saturday afternoon on the turf of the Citrus Bowl. It's halftime at the annual Florida Classic football game, and the Bethune-Cookman University Marching Wildcats are taking the field.

Sure, the Marching Wildcats will play a hip-hop hit -- Plies' "Who Hotter Than Me." But the song by the Tampa rapper boasts a defiant, martial beat, propelled by the brontosaurus stomp of the 'Cats tuba section and the Roman centurion blasts of the trumpets in the 275-member band. Forget the Scots. This is battle music that Orcs -- those monster dudes in "Lord of the Rings" -- would love.

Indeed, the Wildcat band is marching into battle. The foe: the Florida A&M University Marching 100. At the Florida Classic, the competition isn't just between the football teams of Bethune-Cookman and FAMU. "Come halftime, it's on," Marching Wildcat trumpeter Fletcher Harley said in rehearsals days earlier, a slight grin creeping into his game face. "You either put out or get put off the field."

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FAMU Marching 100 - BOTB, Florida Classic 2008

Please Dont Stop the Music

If I Ever Fall in Love Again

FAMU Dance Routine

Mrs. Officer

Who Can I Run To

FAMU Percussion feature TUVOK

Florida Classic 2008 5th Quater

Bethune Cookman University Marching Wildcats - I love the Lord

Bethune Cookman Sudden Impact Percussion Feature

Bethune Cookman - Show Me What Ya Got

Vann does it all for FAMU

Rattlers junior LeRoy Vann runs another kickoff back for 84 yard TD against B-CU in the 29th Florida Classic.

ORLANDO, FL -- Fortunately for Florida A&M, LeRoy Vann isn't as erratic at the Dow Jones Industrial Average -- at least he wasn't Saturday in the Florida Classic. There were few lows and a lot of highs out of the Tampa junior, who was instrumental in the Rattlers' 58-35 victory over B-CU. Vann intercepted a pass, returned a kickoff for a touchdown, forced two fumbles, covered an onside kick and even had an 11-yard carry on offense on fourth-and-1.

"He's a real talent and a real competitor," FAMU coach Joe Taylor said. "Special teams, he does a great job there. He's an outstanding young man." The junior is known mostly for his returns on special teams, but he was so active Saturday one might have thought he never came off the field. "I like big plays. I'm a big-play special teams player. That's just in me," said Vann.

After a quiet first quarter, Vann got active on the sixth play of the second quarter when he intercepted a Matthew Johnson pass and returned it 16 yards to the B-CU 27.
Six plays later, Phillip Sylvester ran in a 7-yard score, staking the Rattlers to a 24-0 cushion.

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Attendance: 60,712 at Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida

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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