Record Season For Vann

Florida A&M's LeRoy Vann (Blake High) has used his junior season to rewrite the NCAA's record book for special teams.

During the 29th Florida Classic on Saturday, Vann had three kickoff returns for 119 yards and a score, one punt return for 8 yards and an interception return for 16 yards.

Vann has three punt returns and three kickoff returns for touchdowns this season, an FCS record. He also broke the record for kick returns in a season (66) and kick return yardage in a season (1,593). Other records: Most kickoff returns in a season (38) and most kickoff return yards in a season (1,121).

"I've been wanting to show people I can play football, that's basically it," Vann said.

"Nobody can really go into a season thinking they're about to break a record. You just have to play football and play your heart out."

NOT JUST FOR FUN: If there's ever a reunion at Middleton during the summer for football players, Florida A&M LB Victoriano Arboleda and WR Jonathan Sanders will have the last laugh. That's because Andres Harris and Joe White play for Bethune-Cookman.

They aren't the Tampa Bay area's only ties to the game. Also on the list are Gregory Clark (Durant) and Vann (Blake) for FAMU, as well as B.J. Atkins (Hillsborough), Stephen Berthelot (St. Petersburg), Ryan Davis (Blake), Greg Harvey (Largo) and Clifford Tyson (Riverview), who play for the Wildcats.

STRONG WINNERS: The Army presented its Army Strong award winners before the game. They were Bethune-Cookman senior S Travis Roland and FAMU sophomore TB Philip Sylvester.

CLASSIC ADVANTAGE: Since the Florida A&M-Bethune-Cookman rivalry was transformed into a classic in 1978, the Rattlers hold a 19-10 advantage. Since the series started in 1925, FAMU holds a 46-15-1 edge.

Entering Saturday's game, Bethune-Cookman had won four of the previous six in the series. Florida A&M's 58 points are the most scored by the Rattlers since their 58-52 overtime loss in 2004.