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FAMU to let Joe's contract run out

TALLAHASSEE - Florida A&M said Monday it wouldn't extend the contract of coach Billy Joe beyond the 2005-06 season, leading him to predict the demise of the program at the economically strained school.

But a school official insisted the program would continue, adding that only budget cuts were discussed at the Monday meeting where Joe learned of his future.

"I've never heard of this in the annals of football history," Joe told WCTV-TV in Tallahassee. "I've never seen or heard of this take place ever. But the athletic director informs me that there is no money and we have to shut down financially as far as the football program is concerned."

"We haven't really cut anything at this point," sports information director Alvin Hollins said. He said those decisions could come as soon as next week.

The school finished 3-8 and lost the Florida Classic against rival Bethune-Cookman for the third straight season. The Rattlers were playing a vastly upgraded schedule after an aborted attempt to move into Division I-A.

Joe, a one-time NFL fullback, has led the Rattlers to an 86-46 record in 11 years.

Hollins said the school would release a statement today explaining why the coach's contract won't be extended.

After learning about his contract, Joe spoke to local reporters about the department's budget.

"To further exacerbate the situation, the program is shut down from a financial standpoint," Joe told WCTV. "We can no longer recruit and I cannot hire a defensive coordinator."

Hollins said there would be a defensive coordinator and recruiting. He added that ticket sales were down this year and in September, the athletic department had a 20 percent budget cut.

In February, the school ended its effort to attempt to move to I-A. It competed as a I-AA independent this season and will re-enter the I-AA Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference next season.

- TIMES WIRES

TAMPA - Senior defensive lineman Matt Groelinger is out for the final game against Pittsburgh Saturday with a thumb injury, and senior defensive tackle Cedric Battles (knee), junior receiver Joe Bain (groin) and senior kicker Santiago Gramatica are questionable, USF coach Jim Leavitt said.

Bain, who wore street clothes to Saturday's game against Memphis, practiced. Freshman receiver Johnny Peyton was limited because of a sore foot, Leavitt said. Peyton is listed as probable.

"We're banged up right now, but so is everybody else in the country," Leavitt said.

- THOMAS SIMONETTI, Times correspondent

CORAL GABLES - After years of battling for supremacy in the Big East, Miami and Virginia Tech will now do the same in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

In their first meeting as ACC rivals, the Hokies and Hurricanes play Saturday with a conference title and Bowl Championship Series bid on the line.

No. 10 Virginia Tech would claim the outright ACC title if it beats Miami for the second straight season. If No. 9 Miami wins, it would finish in a three-way tie atop the league with the Hokies and Florida State.

Miami, though, would be certain to end the year as the top-ranked team of the three in the BCS standings, winning the league's tiebreaker.

"It's pretty cool that it comes down to us," Miami quarterback Brock Berlin said. "We were at the ACC meetings and everybody was saying, "You guys are the new guys, you guys don't know if you can play with us.' Well, we kind of showed everybody that we can play in this league and we were meant to be here. It's a credit to both universities."

- TIMES WIRES