Rattlers open camp

[Big Dawg]

Originally published August 6, 2008
RATTLERNEWS
FAMU football opens camp with speed drills
By Doug Blackburn
DEMOCRAT ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

You can't teach speed.

Philip Sylvester proved that with an exclamation point Tuesday morning during Florida A&M's first official preseason football practice.

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The sophomore speedster from Marianna was the first Rattler to break the 4.4-second barrier in 40-yard sprints, drawing appreciative reactions from teammates and coaches.

What was even more impressive was that Sylvester, FAMU's leading rusher in 2007, began with an awkward stance and got off to a wobbly start.

http://rattlernews.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080806/FAMU03/808060345

[Big Dawg]

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[Big Dawg]

FAMU Football




Originally published August 7, 2008
FAMU kickers have big cleats to fill
By Sam Hinchee
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

This season, for the first time since 2004, someone other than Wesley Taylor will be kicking the football for the Florida A&M football team.

After handling all kicking duties for the Rattlers the past three seasons, the three-time All-MEAC kicker/punter graduated, leaving a void in the special teams unit for first-year coach Joe Taylor.

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But after Wednesday's afternoon practice solely spent on the special-teams unit, Taylor was left pleased with the state of his kicking game.

http://rattlernews.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080807/FAMU03/808070332/1029

[Big Dawg]

Originally published August 10, 2008
Turnovers, injuries are why FAMU shapes up
Coaches realize fatigue hurt Rattlers late
By St. Clair Murraine
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Joe Taylor took one look at the statistics from last season and spotted where FAMU troubles were.

Turnovers and not enough participating players throughout the season.

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But even with last season's a 3-8 record, Taylor is already getting word from around the MEAC that his Rattlers won't be taken lightly. He understands that in part is due to his move from Hampton earlier this year and FAMU's reputation of winning in years long past.

Plus, there is more parity than ever in the league — obvious by Delaware State's turnaround to win the conference title last season.

http://rattlernews.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080810/FAMU03/808100314

[Big Dawg]

Originally published August 9, 2008
Day 1 of football practice good for Rattlers
By St. Clair Murraine
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Coach Joe Taylor was all about the basics, down to the Rattlers' activity on the sidelines Friday.

"We just need to be a little bit more focused," Taylor said following walk-through practice. "You've got to get better every day. We've got to practice our focus; I just heard too much chatter."

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But Taylor gave all three units of his team high marks overall, saying that his first-line players were ahead of schedule.

It was the second day of activity without pads for the Rattlers since they began preparation for the season-opener on Aug. 30 against Alabama State at Bragg Stadium. The humid afternoon was mostly about fundamental and knocking off the rust of being away from the field since spring practice.

http://rattlernews.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080809/FAMU03/808090318

[Big Dawg]

Originally published August 11, 2008
FAMU pride biting at this year's team
Column by St. Clair Murraine
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Watching the NFL Draft the last couple of years during his professional career wasn't easy for Earl Holmes.

There was a problem somewhere, Holmes thought.

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That no FAMU Rattlers' names were being called bothered him.

Other schools around the MEAC have been producing NFL caliber players consistently. Bethune-Cookman and Hampton have sent quite a few since FAMU's Quinn Gray went to the NFL in 2002.

And Gray had to take the free agent route to the NFL after graduating from FAMU.

"We are not the big dog anymore," Holmes said. "There were bigger fish in the pond and that got to me a little bit."

That has to be what they call Rattler pride.

http://rattlernews.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080811/FAMU03/808110322

[Big Dawg]

Originally published August 11, 2008
Rattlers' DB eager to return
By Doug Blackburn
DEMOCRAT ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The Florida A&M football media guide says Donovan Johnson didn't play in 2007.

It doesn't say why the defensive back from Miami wasn't on the field with his teammates.

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If there's a medical term for the redshirt junior's absence, it would be this: broken heart.

Johnson, perhaps the fastest player on the team, was prepared to be a starter last season. He had worked hard during the summer and, by all accounts, had a good preseason camp.

But the day before the season opener against Southern, Johnson was informed he had "paperwork" problems.

He switched majors after his sophomore year, choosing to pursue a degree in criminal justice instead of accounting. Even though he's on track to graduate in the spring after four years at FAMU, at the start of his junior year Johnson did not have enough credit hours toward his new major, according to NCAA rules.

http://rattlernews.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080811/FAMU03/808110324

[813Jag]

I'm gonna keep a close eye on the Rattlers. I'll be in ATL for the Tennessee State game. xthumbsupx

[Big Dawg]

I'm gonna keep a close eye on the Rattlers. I'll be in ATL for the Tennessee State game. xthumbsupx


I'm ready for the season to start and see what we're really working with.

[813Jag]

I'm ready for the season to start and see what we're really working with.
I'm gonna try to catch a couple of games this year. I have a cousin who is going to be an incoming freshman, he may walk on the basketball team.

[blackcaesar3k5]

Big DAWG: Will the Rattlers run spread offense silimar to Mike Martz system in San Francsiso?

[Big Dawg]

FAMU




Originally published August 12, 2008
Hard work paying off for FAMU's Sands
By St. Clair Murraine
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Every time FAMU offensive line coach Lawrence Kershaw tooted his whistle during an offensive-line drill Monday, tackle Chris Sands was one of the first off the block.

Each tap-tap-tap that Sands delivered to the hand shield was forceful — just one of the signs that the Leon High product has taken his game up a few notches.

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He is second at his position on the depth chart, but Kershaw likes the competition Sands is generating for the starting position.

"He comes out every day and he works hard," Kershaw said. "All I ever asked is for him to give the effort and I'll get him where he needs to be."

What Sands is showing is the dividend of his off-season commitment to conditioning. At 6-foot-9, he's shed about 10 pounds down to 330.

http://rattlernews.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080812/FAMU03/808120314/1009/FAMU

[Big Dawg]

FAMU




Originally published August 13, 2008
Weather wet, OK for FAMU workout
Defense shines early for Rattlers
By St. Clair Murraine
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Joe Taylor stepped back, applauding at midfield as a buzzer sounded to signal the end of the first day of practice in pads.

"In all honesty, it couldn't have worked out much better," he told the team, leaving no question about how he felt after seeing the Rattlers work out for two hours during a steady drizzle.

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"It was a double- whammy on them —- first day in pads and they had to deal with the elements," Taylor said. "It was a bonus for us. We got better as a result of that."

If there was a unit that could have been singled out for consistency, it would have been the defense.

http://rattlernews.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080813/FAMU03/808130369/1009/FAMU

[Big Dawg]

FAMU




Originally published August 14, 2008
FAMU WRs finding their way
By St. Clair Murraine
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Javares Knight and the rest of FAMU's receiving corps seemed to be enjoying every bit of the defensive challenge Wednesday afternoon.

No matter where the ball was thrown, a defender was right there. Not a single receiver backed down.

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"Right now we never can be comfortable," Knight said. "It's still a lot of time before the first game, so every day we have to come out and work harder."

Coming out of spring practice, the talk was all about Philip Sylvester, as the sophomore running back established himself as the anchor of coach Joe Taylor's offensive scheme.

But as good as Sylvester is, his effectiveness will depend on receivers making catches, especially when defenses crowd the box. Knight and his cohorts spent the summer readying themselves to be the distraction that Sylvester will need.

http://rattlernews.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080814/FAMU03/808140322/1009/FAMU

[Big Dawg]

Big DAWG: Will the Rattlers run spread offense silimar to Mike Martz system in San Francsiso?

Honestly right now I couldn't even tell you...I'm trying to get out there a watch them practice.