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Rattlers QB Chester Quits Because Of Injuries

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 5, 2007

Strange happening on the Florida A&M campus this week.

Albert Chester II, the Rattlers' starting quarterback the past 2 1/2 seasons, quit the team, ostensibly because of injuries. The tone and manner in which Chester left, however, suggests there could be more to the story.

The most curious part of the story could be the final line of Chester's 543-word statement, which was released to a reporter from the Tallahassee Democrat.

It read: 'This for the most part is final, but it could change, maybe later. But I seriously doubt it.'

Chester quit without telling FAMU coach Rubin Carter. He still had not talked to Carter as of Thursday.

Chester's statement detailed numerous injuries during his FAMU football career, most notably nerve damage that cause him to lose feeling in his right hand this season.

Carter said he had no idea Chester's injuries were that severe. Carter started the senior in all four games this season, but Chester's performance has been less than expected. He has passed for 586 yards, three TDs and three interceptions.

It may be hard for a stadium full of people to gasp at the same time, but it sure sounded like 42,606 gasps at Central Florida's Bright House Networks Stadium last Saturday when Kevin Smith went down and struggled to get back up after the last of his 33 runs.

Smith had run for a career-high 223 yards and three touchdowns, but something he called a 'stinger' put him out for the final 11 minutes of UCF's 37-19 win against Louisiana-Lafayette.

'My arm was going numb, and I couldn't feel anything,' Smith said, 'but the feeling came back and I'm OK.'

That was his second 200-plus yard effort this season and moved him back to No. 1 in the nation in rushing with 178.25 yards per game.

Arkansas Heisman Trophy candidate Darren McFadden is second at 164.25.

UCF has started a very quiet Heisman campaign for Smith, but it's really aimed at getting him enough notice to receive All-American consideration, if he continues to shine this season.

Bethune-Cookman University went 1-1 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference last weekend. Unfortunately, the victory was not on the football field.

The MEAC ruled in favor of the Wildcats in a dispute with game officials over an offensive formation used against Norfolk State.

The officials told the Wildcats the formation - a base set-up that Coach Alvin Wyatt says he has been using for 10 years - was illegal.

They assessed the Wildcats a 15-yard penalty and advised them more of the same was coming if they used it again.

MEAC commissioner Dennis Thomas admitted the mistake and apologized to B-CU. He also suspended three officials involved in that decision.

The favorable ruling came the day before the Wildcats took on Morgan State in a homecoming game, but it didn't help.

Even with the approved formation, B-CU turned in its worst offensive performance of the season, gaining only 146 yards and turning the ball over five times. The Wildcats defense scored all their points in the 33-9 loss.

Bill Fay

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