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FAMU Looks For Classic Turnaround

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By Michael McGuffie/Tribune correspondent

Published: November 16, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - As a former All-America defensive tackle at the University of Miami, Florida A&M coach Rubin Carter knows a thing or two about in-state rivalries — the kinds of games where records and conference standings are simply left at the door.

Today's Florida Classic against Bethune-Cookman is one of those rivalry games.

Carter, in his third season with the Rattlers, finished his first two seasons on a high note thanks to consecutive wins over the Wildcats in Orlando, but he needs this one to salvage something positive out of his first losing season in Tallahassee.

''It will be a knock-down, drag-out fight,'' Carter said. ''I know everybody was looking forward to this game a year ago in December.''

But a lot has changed for the Rattlers since December — a month after then-junior quarterback Albert Chester II threw for 339 yards and a Florida Classic-record five touchdowns en route to a FAMU victory.

For one, the Rattlers will be without Chester, who has led them to consecutive wins over the Wildcats in each of the last two seasons. Citing injury and fatigue, Chester shocked FAMU faithful when he left the team in early October.

Since then, Florida A&M has lost five of its last six games while senior walk-on Leon Camel and promising redshirt freshman Eddie Battle have split time under center.

Camel has shown resilience filling in for Chester, but proven to be inconsistent and turnover prone. Through eight games, Camel has thrown eight interceptions and completed less than 40 percent of his passes.

Coaches have opened the door slowly for Battle, whose 125.0 passer rating through five games this season tops even Chester's. Despite Carter's decision to stay with a rotation, Battle earned his first start last Saturday against Hampton, after completing 15 of 24 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns in FAMU's homecoming win the week before.

Today, Battle will face a Bethune-Cookman defense led by senior linebacker Ronnie McCullough, the runaway favorite for MEAC Defensive Player of the Year. However, despite youth and injury, FAMU's offensive line has played well of late and B-CU's defensive front has mustered a league-worst seven sacks.

Led by sophomore left guard Anthony Collins at 6-foot-3, 355 pounds, Battle should get the protection he needs to look downfield. He will be looking for senior wideout Willie Hayward, who has notched 14 catches for 260 yards and three touchdowns in his last two games.

Defensively, it will be up to Rattler linebackers Vernon Wilder and Dannel Shepard to stop a Wildcat rushing attack that has picked up steam. With a double-slot option captained by senior quarterback Jimmie Russell, B-CU has pulled together to win two of their last three games.

In last week's 37-26 win over Howard, the Wildcats ran for 420 yards without completing a single pass.

''It's the classic,'' Wilder said. ''It's the last game of the season. We got to let it go.''

Like any good rivalry, the teams' status is not expected to have any effect on the turnout for a game that has brought more than 70,000 fans to The Florida Citrus Bowl in each of the past seven years.

''You're up for a better football game, because both of these teams will be going at each other, and neither one of them has anything to lose,'' B-CU coach Alvin Wyatt said. ''It will be all-out, gung-ho football.''

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