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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 2, 2007

McCullough Having Player Of Year Season

This has not been a good year for the Bethune-Cookman football team, but it has been a good one - maybe even great one - for LB Ronnie McCullough.

McCullough, a Hillsborough High graduate, leads the nation in tackles. He's had double-digit totals in six of the last seven games. In two of those games, he made 20 tackles. He's been MEAC defensive player of the week three times in the last four weeks.

"I've got NFL scouts in my office right now watching films of him," B-CU coach Alvin Wyatt said Tuesday. "He plays so hard every down and has a super attitude about him. I'm going to enjoy watching him play on Sundays, but right now, I'm really enjoying watching play on Saturdays."

McCullough's rise to prominence - he's the leading candidate for MEAC Player of the Year - has helped Wyatt find a positive spin for a season that's been far less than expected. The Wildcats snapped a four-game losing streak last week with a 24-20 last-minute win against North Carolina A&T, a team that has lost 25 straight games.

Knights Impressive On Both Sides Of Ball

Central Florida has looked pretty impressive on both sides of the ball in beating Tulsa and Southern Miss the last two weeks to move within a half-game of the Conference USA East Division lead.

In those games, QB Kyle Israel was 33 of 45 for 386 yards and three TDs and no interceptions for an offense that outscored its last two opponents 78-40.

TB Kevin Smith has run for 345 yards and five scores in the two games and is now the school's career rushing leader.

The defensive improvement has been astounding.

The Knights have forced eight turnovers the last two weeks, after getting zero the previous four games. Seven of the turnovers have been interceptions.

"We're getting after people more with blitzes and stuff like that and letting our players be more athletic," UCF coach George O'Leary said. "Anytime you can pressure a quarterback, make him move his feet, there is a chance for an errant throw and that's what some of those throws were."

Downward Spiral Continues for Rattlers

Florida A&M is 2-6 for the first time in 50 years, hardly the sort of welcome you want to give alumni during homecoming week.

Trailing 14-12 last week at Morgan State, the Rattlers had fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line and opted for a field-goal attempt.

East Bay's Wesley Taylor pushed the kick wide right and the Rattlers assured Rubin Carter his first losing season as a head coach.

The good news is this week they face the ultimate MEAC cupcake, North Carolina A&T.

The Aggies have lost 25 straight games.

"Yeah, but you can see they're improving every week and they scare me to death," Carter said. "I know there's a lot of fanfare around homecoming and a lot of friends and family coming to town, but we can't let that distract us from preparing for the game. We've got to keep fighting to turn this season around."

Bill Fay

AROUND THE STATE

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